Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

9 reviews

knkoch's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

This was my choice for a book club discussion, and I think it generally fit what I was looking for pretty well. I found it similar to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Midnight Library. I probably liked it about on the level of those two books, which means it was a little bit of a letdown from what I was hoping. Unfortunately, in being similar to those books and other stories (movies like 'Groundhog Day' and the extraordinary 'Palm Springs'), this felt a bit formulaic and mechanical to me, the sort of thing I've started to see the seams on. The overall arc and some of the experiences within it didn't necessarily surprise me, as I think someone stuck in a situation like this

(a magical revolving door of husbands)

usually has to get out of it or end up in roughly the place you'd expect by the end nine times out of ten. I suppose the humor and desperation of the main character impressed me the most, as well as some of the well-drawn specifics of her life and situation. I liked the way time kept moving, and that the alternate realities were ultimately realistic and somewhat connected. Overall, this isn't the sort of story I'm likely to keep heading towards in the future, but it was a fast and entertaining read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Medical content

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

ssolov's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy

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

mandi_lea's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

emma_sky's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Drug use, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury

heytherekaity's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

beate251's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren is single but one day she comes home and there is a man in her flat, and he's her husband, as countless photos prove. Somehow her attic acts like a magic husband portal, and as soon as she sends one back, a new one emerges. Why is never explained - Lauren just has to deal with a neverending stream of blokes.

I'm not sure whether the prospect of an endless supply of husbands from the loft is thrilling or disturbing - especially as they feel like arranged marriages, but with a great return guarantee - you don't like the way he chews? Just send him into the attic.

A new husband always means a new life - sometimes it's only subtle wall colour changes, sometimes more profound. The people around her, neighbours, friends, family seem to stay the same at least.

Unfortunately, it brings out the worst in Lauren, she hardly goes to work anymore as she knows she can just reboot her life with the next guy, and if there is just the tiniest problem, she just sends the current husband into the attic, consequence-free.

I really started to dislike Lauren - she makes no attempt to be a good wife, just judges her husbands and sends them back, sometimes within minutes. Her life becomes an exhausting, chaotic mess. I doubt she remembers anymore where she is supposed to work nor how much money she has or what her husband's name is. In all this, she never seems to once fall in love with any of them, though she likes some more than others. The situation is becoming a curse and she knows she needs to take drastic action if she ever wants this scenario to end.

This is a debut novel and for that it's quite accomplished but maybe we could have had more time with fewer husbands to make it less repetitive. The ending is a bit abrupt, and I can't say we get a great love story - just a resigned "love the one you're with" realisation. Points for originality though.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail