Baker portrays the despair of overwhelmed women like Nora yet barely acknowledges the plight of other mothers who take on the work Nora herself cant handle women who receive no help of their own. The Husbands also gestures at the workplace but turns the bulk of its attention to the inadequacies of the nuclear family, where women are expected not only to have it all, but to do it all, too. Here, all the wives are accomplished and all the husbands are serenely dotingStepford in reverse. But lately, Nora's been exhausted and wishes her husband would do more without having to be repeatedly reminded. lives in Austin with her husband and toddler, where she also works as a corporate attorney. Cornelia explains that she and Thea have been manipulating the husbands' minds in order to make them into the people they want them to be. When a few of the women approach Nora about taking on a wrongful death suit, the result of a devastating house fire that killed one of the husbands, her initial hesitation about taking a case involving people who might soon be her neighbors doesnt last. By meditating on this single fictional suburb in Austin, Baker suggests that the solution to marital problems isnt hypnotism; its both partners compromising, practicing give and take, and actively listening to their partners needs. When she agrees to help with a residents wrongful death case, she is pulled into the lives of the women there. If you continue reading, you will be exposed to spoilers about the above book. . Indeed, the novel does double duty as a survival manual, packed full of good advicefor instance, try not to get wounded, for injury turns you from a giver to a taker. We cant read each others minds (yet), so we cant expect our significant others to know what would be helpful to us. It took me a bit to get into b/c the first few chapters just sounded like a straight-up bitch-fest. Flatiron Books, 2021. A very original plot with a feminist edge, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2022. A former girlfriendturned-stalker wastes no time in finding and attacking Layla. Stepford-esque Men Create True Horror in The Husbands, the pandemic has revealed all of the unseen work, X Is a Slasher Film with an Important Message about Sex Work and Pornography. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges. Somebody please hand her the knife and Nora will be happy to stab that saucy bitch right in the back. Then Nora visits an idyllic community where the homes are beautiful, the women are top line professionals, and their husbands? Everyone equally participates in keeping house without being asked or prodded. A perpetually timely page-turner that is anything but subtle. Adam Baker. GENERAL SCIENCE FICTION | A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK. Nora burned it, rather than turning it over to authorities. She is the author of several young adult novels and her adult debut, Whisper Network, was a New York Times bestseller and Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine pick. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! The case is a double opportunity: a way to prove her value to the firm and a chance to make the kind of new friends she so desperately needs. She has one child, 4 year-old Liv, and is pregnant with a second. How do so many women inspire such supportive husbands? 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 womena tech CEO, a neurosurgeon, an award-winning therapist, a bestselling authorwith enviably supportive husbands. , Dimensions Thats not to say that men dont do any work, but our society has raised women to quietly burden the majority of housework for the peace of the family writ large, which is exactly what Nora has done despite her exhaustion. It shot up like a rocket when Reese Witherspoon chose it for her Hello Sunshine discussion group, and book clubs loved aspects of her story about sexual harassment in the workplace. This is a good read. Publisher: Little, Brown Book GroupISBN: 9780751575163Number of pages: 352Weight: 590 gDimensions: 236 x 156 x 36 mm. The Husbands: A Novel By Chandler Baker From Chandler Baker, the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network comes The Husbands, a novel that asks: to what lengths will a woman go for a little more help from her husband? The Husbands was also hysterical in many parts and told with such a witty, sharp voice. I think . Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2022. Pub Date: June 1, 2021. This is one that gives readers a point of reference as we contemplate how to make progress as a society. Chandler Baker, queen of the feminist thriller, has delivered once again! I laughed my way through while feeling validated. by Gone is her special spark, her quirkiness, and the connection that had entranced Leeds months before. In the same scene, Alexis mentions to Nora that the neighborhood doesnt have a lawyer yet, as if theyre only welcoming residents based on if they have a career that could benefit the overall community. Categories: Layla spends months recovering in a hospital, and it seems the girl Leeds fell for might be forever changed. The Husbands is scheduled for release on August 3, 2021.The Husbands is the story of a woman (Nora) attempting to have it all. by Or get faster shipping on this item starting at $5.99 A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK "Chandler Baker, queen of the feminist thriller, has delivered once again! MEDIA REVIEWS. She is the author of several young adult novels and her adult debut. Audio CD. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE | The Husbands: A Novel has been added to your Cart. Nora's continued frustrations with her husband lead her to confide in Cornelia. Flatiron, $26.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-250-31951-7. . Learn more about the program. The Husbands is a poignant exploration of what it would take for women to have it all." Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Good SisterTo what lengths will a woman go for a li. While The Husbands never confronts same sex or queer marriages, the commentary is universal: we rely on one person to earn money and one person to take care of the home. Chandler Baker The Husbands: A Novel Hardcover - August 3, 2021 by Chandler Baker (Author) 3,725 ratings Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction See all formats and editions Kindle $11.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover $19.04 96 Used from $1.76 24 New from $4.35 Paperback ISBN: 978-1-9821-6013-5. The Husbands by Chandler Baker Publication Date: April 12, 2022 Genres: Domestic Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Flatiron Books ISBN-10: 1250205387 ISBN-13: 9781250205384 Her husband works hard too but why does it seem like she is always working so much harder. Proceed with caution. : : Her husband, software salesman, Hayden, always says he will help, but somehow he always manages to disappear whenever hes needed. The Husbands. Not something Id normally read but overall not that bad. The novel appeared on both TheNew York Timesand the USA Todaybest-seller lists. New York Times bestselling author Chandler Baker lives in Austin with her husband and two small children. The novel follows a linear progression through time. Chandler Baker, the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network, talks about her latest feminist thriller, The Husbands. Loved the scene where Hayden sends Nora a video of Liv having a temper tantrum and demands that Nora leave work to come and deal with it as its not normal. One of Noras workmates identifies Hayden as the lazy traveler in the marriage, and the description rings true. or obsessing over true crime. Where were you? She sounds like a detective trying to intimidate a suspect into providing his alibi. Copyright 2023 Kirkus Media LLC. With the clicking of a very specific pen, given to every wife in Dynasty Ranch, Cornelia hypnotizes the husbands in her therapy sessions, but Nora doesnt immediately know that. Its wickedly funny, but also dead serious in its piercing social commentary., Chandler Bakers delightful and furious take on, A dark and hilarious tale you dont want to miss., another pulse-racing thrillera modern exploration of motherhood, marriage and the myth of having it all., will make you think twice before asking your dear beloved to take out the trash., A fascinating thriller about the lengths women will go to get the support they deserve., dark exploration of modern family dynamics. The Husbands is an entertaining read. Shes a mother of one small child, with another on the way, and a plaintiffs attorney for a firm. 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. Dynasty Ranch resident, psychiatrist Cornelia White suggests couples therapy, and so the games begin. As her pregnancy progresses, Nora decides that her two-story Austin home is too confining for her growing family. Because Nora is up for partner at her legal firm, she tries to remain focused, though she is eager to speak with Isla. : In the world Baker has imagined here, we have a sort of inverted Stepford Wives situation, with husbands who willingly go out of their way to make life easier for the wives they know work so hard. Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. After a night out with her friends, Hayden's lack of support frustrated Nora and she reverted him back to the hypnotized state. Her critique of the heteronormative American family and the malicious ways men uphold sexist power structures is straightforward and unsubtle. And this is the problem with being stretched so thin. GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE | Penny Marchs house burned down with her husband, Richard, inside. Nora and Hayden agree. Her husband Hayden is your typical nice guy husband who feels he's pulling his fair share. The fire is the books central mystery, but not its most compelling. speed, overspending at bookstores, or obsessing over true crime. : (2011) (388) (3.64) A skeleton crew of 15 is working on a derelict refinery platform moored in the Arctic Ocean when apocalypse ends the world. While I try to avoid learning too much about a novel before I read it for review, I had the strong impression this was going to be a role reversal of the Stepford Wives. Every home is a model home, perfect, a promise of domestic bliss. Please try your request again later. That may be why I also didnt like the Audible version. Trade ISBN: 9780733642746 Nor was I prepared for my reaction to Noras dilemma. imagines a world where the burden of the second shift is equally sharedand what it may take to get there. (Is the light on the left side of your keyboard green? she asks.). She's a mother of one small child, with another on the way, and a plaintiff's attorney for a firm. Bakers thriller is a commentary on the fact that we arent talking about this consistent inequality even as we flaunt a more equal society, as Haydens mother tried to do at their gender reveal party. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2021. If you love The Husbands, you'll also love The Therapist by Helene Flood (review coming in the next couple of days at this link ). My head is still spinning. Nora comes clean about her frustration around Hayden seemingly having no clue about whats going on in their house. RELEASE DATE: Dec. 8, 2020. The amount of housework that women do still greatly outweighs the men in their household, and the pandemic has revealed all of the unseen work that women perform day in and day out. The commentary Baker makes through Nora's experience of her world was wildly spot-on. - : The Husbands : Baker, Chandler: .sa After a get-to-know-you dinner party, Hayden is not so keen to move inhe finds he has little in common with the husbands who dont use the golf course but instead ooze enthusiasm when discussing various ways to remove stains from clothing and the joys of closet organization. She'll be working with Chandler Massey, who plays Will Horton in Days of Our Lives. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Or has he learned clever avoidance techniques which allow him to hold on to the label of modern husband who is always there to help when the reality is that hes just as hands-off childcare/housework as a 50s spouse? The husbands have unfettered access to a gorgeous golf course, but theyre so focused on KonMari-ing their pantries and making sandwiches, they rarely seem to enjoy it. Granted, the MC sounds like my own self when Im in the muck of the day, but I personally didnt want that right off the bat. Whats wrong?. When friends from high school reunite after one of them sends an ominous text, you quickly realize that what bonds them is way more than friendship. Welcome to First Draft with me, Sarah Enni. Addissyn House is a college senior studying English and Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Kalamazoo College (MI) but is from Los Angeles. Not only do they have lovely children, but all of their husbands willingly help with the household responsibilities and laud their wives for all of their hard work. In a nutshell, the beginning was well-written, just not my cup of tea. . Magazine Subscribers (How to Find Your Reader Number), Kristen Wiig To Star in Film of The Husbands, The Husbands Is New GMA Book Club Pick. GENERAL SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | The book reads like a direct descendant of Ira Levins 1972 feminist classic, Baker insists that, while a sexist society may be the culprit behind mothers distress, it makes villains of us all. We say we think when really we know. We use probably when we mean definitely. Even worse, we sit back and say nothing at all., Womenespecially wives and motherswill love Chandler Bakers insightful, deliciously funny, and cunning novel that puts a truly modern twist on. The Husbands Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to and to add further enticement, it's set to become a film starring Kristen Wiig., is a poignant exploration of what it would take for women to have it all. If it sounds like a moralistic sledgehammer of a novelwell, it would be if Harris were any less good. Learned uselessness. A zombie apocalypse is one thing. Prior to the gender reveal party, Nora realizes that the wives of Dynasty Ranch, even with their perfect lives, have experienced marital discord, just like [Nora]. The Husbands: A Novel Author: Chandler Baker Narrator: Allyson Ryan Unabridged: 12 hr 12 min Format: Digital Audiobook Publisher: Macmillan Audio Published: 08/03/2021 Genre: Fiction - Contemporary Women Synopsis Along the way though, the author does a great job of covering the ins and outs of the household division of labor, and how most of it settles on womens shoulders without seeming to have been placed there. When we first meet her, she and her husband, Hayden, are looking for a house in Austin, Texas. Baker presents an insightful and poignant exploration of motherhood, marriage and even the workplace in a thriller that is as gripping and timely as it is fun and compulsively readable . When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. I know so many of you understand the value of feeling heard, which this book did in spades. However, I was not prepared for the inbuilt sociology, the realism, in this story. The Husband's Secrethas been purchased by CBS, and Blake Lively has signed on to star in the television adaptation. : Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. The book reads like a direct descendant of Ira Levins 1972 feminist classic, The Stepford Wives, but while Levin lampoons the housewife archetype as a machine in service of a man, Baker depicts the contemporary, leaning-in working mother as one who needs to pacify her husband just to get to the end of the day. If you like Ms. Baker's men-bashing this is another one for you!!! Taking up our resources, our time to care for you. Brooks presents a case for making room for Bigfoot in the world while peppering his narrative with timely social criticism about bad behavior on the human side of the conflict: The explosion of Rainier might have been better forecast had the president not slashed the budget of the U.S. Geological Survey, leading to immediate suspension of the National Volcano Early Warning System, and theres always someone around looking to monetize the natural disaster and the sasquatch-y onslaught that follows. The question is how much you blame them when they snap. 'Taker looked at me, he goes, 'Yeah, I got some advice. GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE, by $42.64 2 Used from $35.25 10 New from $33.45. SUSPENSE | My head is still spinning. GENERAL ROMANCE | When she does communicate, Noras inner monologue admits to never [feeling] less sexy than when she keeps a scoreboard of her and her husbands contributions to their family. 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