Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

18 reviews

alisonvh's review against another edition

adventurous funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

My mediocre response to this book has more to do with my expectations for it more than the actual book. I thought I was getting a light-hearted vacation read, when I was really getting a much more thoughtful book about the choices we make and the ripple effects those choices have.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Domestic abuse

elderwoodreads's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this one! Reminded me of the Sylvia Plath poem about the fig tree. I enjoyed the thought experiment and the story generally, a bit slow in the middle but not bad. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

kathleenivy's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, Stalking, Car accident, Alcohol, and Classism

hinkleh's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Gun violence and Vomit

cdkm9's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book was both entertaining and thought-provoking. At times it was funny or lighthearted, and at other times more serious and reflective. It was refreshing in that it was not an overdone storyline, the only other book I know of with a similar concept is The Midnight Library, but the vibe is very different. I was very impressed to learn this was a debut novel, and look forward to what she writes in the future!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, and Abandonment

blueskyreview's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was an entertaining read, but I'm glad it wrapped up when it did because the main character was starting to get on my nerves. I will say I wasn't able to guess who she ended up with, so props to the author for that 👏 

P.S. - Little rant without being spoilery, when our MC Lauren is talking to someone about previous relationships, and they say they haven't had just girlfriends. My first response wouldn't be "Oh have you had a fiancé? A wife?" 

No, Lauren - He's queer and he's saying he's been with other genders!

And to then proceed to stumble over using the word partners instead of girlfriends for his past relationships...idk, maybe it's just me, but I felt that with Lauren having a queer sister, who she is close to and is in a sapphic marriage, that Lauren shouldn't have been so awkward about it. 

Not that some families aren't like this, but I was annoyed by it lol.

P.P.S The above interaction was irksome but only lasted about a page. It was other questionable decisions that made me ready for the story to be done.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence

There is non-consensual drug use. It's only a chapter or so but wanted to note it.

vaykay's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Generally enjoyed reading it. I read this in tandem with my partner, which meant we would laugh over the jokes together. Good humor, good insight on diverse versions of men. Lauren is boring, and I felt that the twist at the climax made me realize we don't really know who Lauren is at all. I couldn't make sense of most of her actions, and the ending served as a reminder of her selfishness. This is a perfect example of either too short or too long; this could've been a novella or it must be 400+ pages long. Unfortunately, the last 100 pages felt rushed and as if the author just needed Lauren to do whatever (and very extreme things) just to rush the plot toward the finish line. Disappointing with little payoff. I enjoyed the tone and the characters as well as the concept and setting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Car accident and Pregnancy

blissofalife's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A new favorite for sure! Gramazio artfully explores the "what if?" thought exercise to the extreme. I saw so much of myself in Lauren, and couldn't help but wonder if I would go to similar extremes were I in her position. I thought the added details of the apartment changing with each husband and an entire history rewrite were brilliant! I felt her relief, her grief, and her mounting frustration and desperation. Her burnout was nearly palpable. 

The ending was satisfying, I think it was the perfect solution and provided a clean wrap-up of events. Part of me hopes that there will be a sequel where we get to explore the final decision and its aftermath, and part of me recognizes how perfect this was as a stand-alone novel. I look forward reading any future works by Holly Gramazio! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Cursing, Blood, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

spaghettireads's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol