What Would You Do With an Infinite Supply of Husbands?
Holly Gramazio's debut novel "The Husbands" presents readers with one of the most original premises in contemporary fiction: what if your attic could generate an endless supply of husbands? This wildly inventive comedy explores the perils of endless possibility while asking profound questions about commitment, choice, and knowing when enough is enough.
The Story That's Taking Readers by Storm
When Lauren returns home to her London flat late one night, she discovers a husband named Michael waiting for her—despite never having been married. Evidence throughout her apartment, from photos on her phone to updated decor, suggests years of shared history that she cannot remember.
The situation becomes even stranger when Michael ventures into the attic to change a lightbulb and disappears completely. In his place, a different man descends the ladder—a brand new husband with his own personality, quirks, and an entirely revised history together. Lauren slowly realizes her attic is creating an infinite supply of husbands, each one replacing the last whenever she sends them back upstairs.
What follows is a whirlwind journey through hundreds of potential life partners, each bringing their own version of a shared life with Lauren.
A Novel That Defies Genre Conventions
"The Husbands" masterfully blends multiple genres into something entirely fresh. The novel combines magical realism with romantic comedy, literary fiction with speculative elements, creating an experience that feels both fantastical and deeply grounded in real relationship anxieties.
The narrative initially moves at a rapid pace, with Lauren exchanging husbands within days, sometimes hours or even minutes. This breakneck speed mirrors the overwhelming nature of modern dating apps and the paradox of choice that defines contemporary relationships.
The book explores fascinating territory by refusing to explain the mechanics of the magical attic. Instead, Gramazio focuses on the psychological and emotional journey of her protagonist, examining how unlimited options affect decision-making and satisfaction.
Meet the Author: Holly Gramazio
Holly Gramazio is a writer, game designer, and curator from Adelaide, currently based in London. Her background in game design heavily influenced "The Husbands," and she even created a "Husband Generator" tool during the writing process to help develop the hundreds of different spouses that appear throughout the novel.
She founded the experimental games festival Now Play This and wrote the script for the award-winning indie video game Dicey Dungeons. This unique perspective brings a systematic, rule-based approach to storytelling that makes the novel's absurd premise feel surprisingly logical.
The Husbands You'll Meet
The novel features an incredible variety of potential partners, each distinctly characterized:
The husband who's suspiciously perfect (surely there's a catch)
The one who playfully pretends to make music on Lauren's toes
The husband who transforms everything into inappropriate jokes
The one who makes an extraordinary breakfast sandwich
The spouse who can quiet Lauren's racing thoughts with just a touch
The husband who emerges from the attic without pants, sparking genuine laughter
Each husband brings subtle or dramatic changes to Lauren's life—different careers, altered friend groups, varied home improvements, and shifting daily routines. These variations force Lauren to confront questions about identity, agency, and the role relationships play in shaping who we become.
Critical Acclaim and Commercial Success
"The Husbands" has achieved remarkable success since its April 2024 release. The novel became a New York Times bestseller, USA Today bestseller, and was selected as the Read With Jenna April Book Club pick. It also earned recognition as a Library Reads pick, voted for by library workers across America.
The book appeared on numerous best-of-2024 lists including the Sunday Times, NPR, Parade, and The Washington Post. Critics have praised its originality, humor, and emotional depth.
Reviewers have drawn comparisons to "Groundhog Day" meeting "Bridget Jones's Diary," highlighting the novel's ability to balance comedic absurdity with genuine emotional stakes. The book has been described as entertaining while simultaneously offering insightful commentary on modern relationships and decision-making.
Themes That Resonate
Beyond its comedic premise, "The Husbands" grapples with deeply relatable questions:
The Paradox of Choice: In an age of dating apps and seemingly infinite options, how do we know when to stop searching for something better? Lauren's endless supply of husbands becomes a metaphor for the paralysis that unlimited choice can create.
Commitment in Modern Life: The novel asks when we should settle down and commit versus continuing to explore possibilities. It examines the tension between optimizing for the best outcome and simply choosing to be content.
Identity and Relationships: As Lauren's circumstances change with each husband, the story explores how much of our identity comes from our partnerships and how much remains inherently ours.
Time and Opportunity Cost: Unlike a typical time loop, time continues advancing as Lauren cycles through husbands. This raises questions about how we spend our finite lives and what we sacrifice in the pursuit of perfection.
Why Readers Love (and Debate) the Ending
The novel's conclusion has sparked considerable discussion among readers. Some find it disappointing after such an entertaining journey, while others consider it the perfect resolution. Many readers report needing days to process their feelings about how Gramazio chooses to conclude Lauren's story.
The ending refuses easy answers, staying true to the novel's exploration of difficult choices and uncomfortable truths about relationships. It's an ending that respects readers enough to let them wrestle with ambiguity rather than providing simple closure.
The Audio Experience
The audiobook version, narrated by Miranda Raison, receives exceptional praise from listeners. Raison manages to add emotional nuance that enhances the story, bringing each husband to life with distinct characterization and capturing Lauren's evolving emotional state throughout her journey.
Should You Read The Husbands?
"The Husbands" succeeds as both entertainment and thoughtful exploration of contemporary life. It's perfect for readers who enjoy:
Fresh, original premises that commit fully to their absurd concepts
Romantic comedies with substance and philosophical depth
Magical realism that explores real emotional territory
London settings and contemporary British fiction
Debut novels that announce exciting new literary voices
Stories that balance humor with genuine feeling
The novel works best for those who appreciate character-driven narratives over plot-driven mysteries. Readers seeking explanations for the magical attic will be disappointed, but those willing to embrace the premise and focus on Lauren's emotional journey will find a rich, rewarding experience.
Final Thoughts
Holly Gramazio's "The Husbands" is a remarkable debut that uses fantasy to examine very real anxieties about modern relationships, choice, and commitment. It's genuinely funny, surprisingly moving, and refreshingly original in a crowded literary landscape.
The novel asks readers to consider their own lives: Are we endlessly searching for perfection instead of appreciating what we have? When should we stop optimizing and start living? And what does it mean to truly commit when we're constantly aware of alternatives?
In a world of endless swipes and infinite options, "The Husbands" offers both escapist entertainment and uncomfortable truths. It's a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and quite possibly make you reconsider your next trip to the attic.
