Reviews

The Husbands by Chandler Baker

kwintyler's review

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dark mysterious tense 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

3.5

jrayereads's review against another edition

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3.0

 I really enjoyed Baker’s writing style which was captivating and infused with lots of humor. The dialogue was painfully real and very believable and I was invested in Nora’s story. There was a solid amount of tension built at the beginning, both in Nora’s marriage, and also with the other women in the neighborhood. Unfortunately that tension didn’t really go anywhere? The twists were pretty predictable and bland. I was waiting for things to get CRAZY and they just didn’t.

3 stars for it being mostly enjoyable and I would definitely read something else written by this author. It mostly just needed stronger payoff for so much build up. I appreciated the feminist themes that Baker attempted to weave in, but they would’ve hit so much harder if the plot had been tighter.

Also a minor pet peeve is that the therapist character should NOT have basically all her neighbors/friends as clients. Not that she was that ethical of a therapist anyways, which is obviously the point, but still. 

tkaryn's review

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

4.75

NOW THAT'S A BOOK! Captivating from the very beginning, this story twists and turns in a way that makes you wonder how everything will be pulled together, but then it just does 🤌🤌. 
For fans of The Power and The Collective 
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chicks50's review

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

laurareads5's review against another edition

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2.0

2 1/2 stars. I really wanted to like this book, but, frankly, it bored me. I had to power through & skim read the last half.

libras's review against another edition

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

3.75

Good book! A slow start, and the reverse Stepford Wives-esque plot was interesting once it got started. Really loved the antagonists. Unfortunately, the ending was just ... a bit dull? Kind of fell flat and just kept going longer than needed. I felt it could've been more exciting.
(Also woooow this book is so white middle class and I know that's the point but WHEW. It was very eye-rolling at moments I don't think the author intended.)

dunnadam's review

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5.0

It's not enough for a book to have a catch. It has to have a catch and.... I put down The Measure to read this, and this has a catch and makes you think, and a great story, and it's well written. I really enjoyed this one.

aphennekes's review against another edition

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dark mysterious
  • Loveable characters? No

2.25

This felt like an in-your-face diatribe by all the people I follow on Instagram who rightfully preach about the invisible labor of motherhood. And while I agreed and resonated with so much Nora complains about, it felt exhausting to listen to on audio. I was very annoyed with her husband but also with Nora throughout the whole book. The between-chapters online posts with comments were all that I hate about the internet, so I didn’t feel that added to the book at all. Overall this left a bad taste in my mouth and I was ready for it to be over, didn’t really care what happened to Nora.

tscott907's review

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3.0

It’s derivative but like…… what domestic thriller isn’t? Easy to read in one sitting. I preferred Cutting Teeth but had fun with this one. 

jessi_cat629's review against another edition

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

3.75