A Whimsical Ride Through the Multiverse of Marriage
Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you’d made different choices? If you’d said yes instead of no, or taken that job across the country, or married that person you met at a party years ago? Holly Gramazio’s delightful debut novel “The Husbands” takes this universal wondering and turns it into a quirky, thought-provoking romp through the multiverse of marriage.
At its heart, “The Husbands” is a love story—but not in the way you might expect. It’s a love story about learning to love yourself, about the choices we make and the lives we build, and yes, about the sometimes messy, often funny, always complicated business of loving another person. Or in this case, persons. Plural. Because our protagonist, Lauren, finds herself cycling through an endless parade of husbands, each one a glimpse into a life she could have had.
A Magical Attic and an Identity Crisis
The premise is deliciously absurd: Lauren comes home one night to find a strange man in her flat who claims to be her husband. Confused and more than a little freaked out, she soon discovers that her attic has become a sort of husband-generating machine. Every time someone goes up there, they come down as a different husband, complete with a whole new life for Lauren.
It’s a setup that could easily veer into silly territory, but Gramazio handles it with a deft touch. The humor is there, certainly—some of the husbands are ridiculous, and Lauren’s attempts to navigate her ever-changing life are often laugh-out-loud funny. But there’s also a deep undercurrent of melancholy and searching that gives the story its emotional heft.
A Protagonist You Can’t Help But Root For
Lauren is a wonderfully relatable protagonist. She’s flawed, sometimes selfish, often confused, but always trying her best. As she cycles through husband after husband, we see her grapple with questions of identity and purpose. Who is she, really, when everything around her keeps changing? What does she want out of life? And how can she possibly choose one path when there are infinite possibilities?
Gramazio’s writing shines in Lauren’s internal monologues. The stream-of-consciousness style perfectly captures the chaos of Lauren’s situation and the tumult of her emotions. You can practically feel her frustration and confusion leaping off the page.
A Parade of Memorable Characters
The husbands themselves are a colorful cast of characters. There’s Michael, the first husband, who sets the whole thing in motion. Jason, the gardener with a penchant for dad jokes. Carter, the American who steals Lauren’s heart (and made me wish I could reach into the book and give her a hug when things don’t work out). And many, many more.
Each husband represents a different life Lauren could have had, and Gramazio does an excellent job of making each world feel distinct and lived-in, even when we only spend a short time there. It’s like flipping through a photo album of alternate lives, each one tantalizing in its possibilities.
Themes That Will Make You Think
The Paradox of Choice
One of the central themes of The Husbands by Holly Gramazio is the paradox of choice. In theory, having infinite options should make us happier. But as Lauren discovers, sometimes having too many choices can be paralyzing. How can you commit to one path when you know there are countless others you could have taken?
This resonated with me deeply. In our modern world of endless options and FOMO, it’s easy to get caught up in always wondering if we could have done better. Lauren’s journey is a poignant reminder that sometimes, the grass isn’t greener on the other side—it’s greenest where you water it.
Identity and Self-Discovery
As Lauren navigates her ever-changing life, she’s forced to confront questions of identity. Who is she, really, when everything around her keeps shifting? It’s a fascinating exploration of how much our circumstances shape who we are, and how much is inherently “us” regardless of the life we’re living.
The Nature of Love and Commitment
At its core, The Husbands by Holly Gramazio is an exploration of love and commitment. What does it mean to truly choose someone? How do you know when you’ve found “the one”? Through Lauren’s experiences with her various husbands, Gramazio offers a nuanced look at different kinds of relationships and what makes them work (or not).
Gramazio’s Writing Style: A Perfect Match for the Story
Gramazio’s writing style is as dynamic and unpredictable as Lauren’s situation. She seamlessly blends humor and pathos, often within the same sentence. One moment you’ll be laughing at a husband’s ridiculous quirk, and the next you’ll be hit with a profound observation about the nature of love and choice.
The pacing is spot-on, keeping you turning pages even as it allows for moments of reflection. Gramazio has a knack for vivid, often quirky descriptions that bring each new world to life. I particularly loved her attention to small details—the way a husband cuts his toenails, or the specific shade of yellow of a neon piano in one of the houses.
A Touch of Magical Realism
The magical element of the story—the attic that generates husbands—is handled with a light touch. Gramazio doesn’t get bogged down in explaining how it works; it simply is. This allows the focus to remain on Lauren’s emotional journey rather than getting sidetracked by sci-fi elements.
A Few Minor Quibbles
While I thoroughly enjoyed “The Husbands,” there were a few minor issues that pulled me out of the story at times. The ending felt a bit rushed, and I would have liked to see a bit more resolution with some of the secondary characters, particularly Lauren’s friend Elena.
Additionally, while the constant changing of husbands and lives is central to the story, there were times when it felt a bit repetitive. A few of the husbands blended together in my mind, and I found myself wishing for a bit more depth with some of them.
Comparisons and Context
“The Husbands” is Holly Gramazio’s debut novel, but it doesn’t read like a first effort. Her background in game design and interactive storytelling shines through in the playful structure of the novel and the way she engages the reader in Lauren’s decision-making process.
For readers who enjoyed the multiverse exploration of Blake Crouch’s “Dark Matter” or the relationship focus of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “Maybe in Another Life,” “The Husbands” offers a delightful blend of both. It also reminded me a bit of Audrey Niffenegger’s “The Time Traveler’s Wife” in its exploration of love across different timelines, albeit with a much lighter touch.
Final Thoughts: A Debut That Promises Great Things
“The Husbands” is a stellar debut that announces Holly Gramazio as a writer to watch. It’s a book that will make you laugh, make you think, and maybe make you look at your own life choices a little differently.
Is it perfect? No. But its flaws are minor compared to the sheer joy and thoughtfulness of the story. Gramazio has crafted a tale that’s both wildly imaginative and deeply relatable, using its fantastical premise to explore very real, very human questions about love, choice, and identity.
As I finished the last page, I found myself both satisfied and wanting more. I wanted to know what happened next for Lauren, yes, but I also found myself reflecting on my own life, my own choices. And isn’t that what the best books do? They entertain us, but they also change us, just a little bit.
So if you’re in the mood for a book that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, that will make you laugh out loud one moment and ponder the nature of love and choice the next, pick up “The Husbands.” Just don’t blame me if you find yourself eyeing your attic a little suspiciously afterwards.