The Husbands: A Novel by Chandler Baker
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“Chandler Baker, queen of the feminist thriller, has delivered once again! The Husbands is a poignant exploration of what it would take for women to have it all." —Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Good Sister
To what lengths will a woman go for a little more help from her husband?
Nora Spangler is a successful attorney but when it comes to domestic life, she packs the lunches, schedules the doctor appointments, knows where the extra paper towel rolls are, and designs and orders the holiday cards. Her husband works hard, too… but why does it seem like she is always working so much harder?
When the Spanglers go house hunting in Dynasty Ranch, an exclusive suburban neighborhood, Nora meets a group of high-powered women—a tech CEO, a neurosurgeon, an award-winning therapist, a bestselling author—with enviably supportive husbands. When she agrees to help with a resident’s wrongful death case, she is pulled into the lives of the women there. She finds the air is different in Dynasty Ranch. The women aren’t hanging on by a thread.
But as the case unravels, Nora uncovers a plot that may explain the secret to having-it-all. One that’s worth killing for. Calling to mind a Stepford Wives gender-swap, New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network Chandler Baker's The Husbands imagines a world where the burden of the “second shift” is equally shared—and what it may take to get there.
“Utterly engrossing and thoroughly timely, The Husbands is both a gripping, well-crafted mystery and an insightful critique of motherhood and marriage in the modern age--working mothers everywhere will feel seen in the best possible way.”
—Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Marriage
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Community Reviews
No wife or mother (or even caregiver) has ever not at some point felt crushed under the pressure of demands life expects from them. If you know someone who says otherwise, they’re lying! And this book is a delicious, fantastical exploration of what could be. It’s about the often unequal responsibilities and expectations that fall on mothers—especially working mothers. It’s about a group of women in a suburban neighborhood that have somehow challenged the norm.
BUT, while the idea of fathers handling more of the domestic duties at home is tantalizingly appealing—and would be so easy to accept after centuries of women being the dominant caregiver in a family—Nora can’t help noticing that something isn’t right in Dynasty Ranch. While she longs for the friendship the women provide, her job is to seek answers. And seeking answers only leads to questions she can’t ignore.
While I was reading, I kept thinking surely this book has already been optioned to be adapted. Well, it has! And starring Kristen Wiig, which I think is perfect. There’s definitely a vein of dark comedy running throughout the book, and I’ll be excited to see it come to life.
The Husbands was pretty close to perfect for me. Well-written, well-paced, interesting characters, and enough mystery to keep me turning pages. Baker has only improved and this one gets five very entertaining stars from me!
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
Check out my review at A Book Wanderer
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