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Carol Guttery
The Husbands reads like one blind date after another. Lauren has been on hundreds – and she’s married to each of them! Lauren’s ability to swap her husband via a magic attic reveals helps her refine what she’s looking for in a romantic partner, and what she values about the lives they build together. The tone of the book is fun and breezy, but the time slipping element raises a lot of interesting questions about how to manage your life.
The following books for for people who loved The Husbands and want more of that vibe.
If you read The Husbands for book club, be sure to use our discussion guide for the book.
(This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase, I’ll make a small commission.)
Books for Fans of The Husbands
The Midnight Library, Matt Haig
The Midnight Library is the story of Nora who, in her very lowest moment, has the opportunity to discover what her life would have been like if she could correct the regrets and wrong turns of her past. Like The Husbands, this is the story of parallel universes and endless opportunities, where our main character confronts their own choices and what it means to live life ‘the right way.’ Triggers for topics of mental health and suicide.
If you want to read it for book club, we have a Midnight Library discussion guide.
The One, John Marrs
Is there just one perfect match for everyone? And if so, what lengths would you go to be with ‘the one’? This book explores a society in which relationships are genetically destined and how this impacts the value and outlook on relationships. If you also like thrillers, and enjoyed the speculative nature of The Husbands and dissecting relationship dynamics, then The One may just be your next great read!
The Idea of You, Robinne Lee
If your leaning into the smart, steamy romance genre, check out The Idea of You by Robinne Lee. The main character, Solene, is smart, successful, and sophisticated. With her career and teenage daughter to focus on, she’s not looking for a relationship. So when she attracts the attention of a much younger (and famous!) musician, it’s just supposed to be a fling. As feelings grow, she’s forced to examine what she’s really looking for, how much she’s willing to compromise, and what’s most important in relationships.
The Seven Year Slip, Ashley Poston
In this instance, the romantic interest isn’t falling out of the attic, but rather he’s part of a time slip and actually lives seven years in the past. You see, Clementine’s aunt had always said that she had a magical apartment. And when Clementine inherits it, right when she’s at an emotional crossroads, the magic kicks in for her.
The romance is sweet and wholesome and romantic interest Iwan is a great chef with a southern drawl and golden retriever vibes.
Oona Out of Order, Margarita Montemore
Oona, on the other hand, is experiencing a whole different kind of time slip, triggered by New Year’s Eve. On the first one, she wakes up to find herself 51 and married (where are these husbands coming from?)
And every year, she keeps waking up in a different time, framed by a different versions of her life. Her jumps are less about choices that she’s already made, and more about how her life plays out…but in a non-linear timeline.
Her jumps are somewhat guided by letters and missives from her older self, but she still has to navigate her disorienting condition…every single year.
Oona’s time jumps are definitely a mind-bender and the book provides a lot of emotional fodder for her relationships and personal growth.
More Book Ideas like The Husbands
We noted The Midnight Library above. If you’ve already read and loved it, then check out are whole list of books that are similar to it.
If you like the time slip/time travel element, we have a series of book club guides that sit in that genre. Even if you aren’t in a book club, each guide has a non-spoiler synopsis on the top and a link to Amazon where you can check pricing and reviews.
- The Cargographers: A magic map hides a town stuck in time and there are some dark doers who want to keep it that way.
- The Unmaking of June Farrow: Twisty time-travel with a strong romance as June Farrow tries to figure out just where (and when) she’s from.
- The Ministry of Time: A London secret agency is experimenting with a time travel portal that they truly don’t understand. They bring in some folks from the past and these fish out of water have to try to cope in modern times.
- The Book of Doors: The book of doors opens a portal to different places (and times). But there are other types of books with different kinds of strong power…and someone is out there trying to take them all.
Meet our Writers:
Carol Guttery
Carol is the founder of Libro Maniacs. She's a serious book nerd and recovering bookseller. She reads 60+ books a year and loves nothing more than helping others find a great read.
