The Husbands

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What was your initial emotional reaction to Lauren’s magical attic? How did your impressions of this uncanny world change by the novel’s end?
• What did you most relate to about Lauren’s character? What did you find most frustrating about her character, her decisions, or her response to her world?
• Does The Husbands remind you of any other works of magical realism? What do you think sets The Husbands apart from other books in this genre?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Lauren cycles through numerous husbands throughout the novel. Do you think she should have settled with one man earlier in the narrative? Which husband would you have chosen?
• Do you think Lauren would have had a more stable life if she’d stayed with Felix? How did you interpret her response to this relationship versus her response to Carter?
• How did you emotionally respond to Lauren traveling to Colorado to find Carter? Did you expect Carter to react differently? Would you have handled this situation in the same way Lauren did?
• How did you respond to Lauren threatening Zach with the air gun? Do you think her emotional response was appropriate in light of her relationship with Zach? What would you have done if you’d wanted to get rid of Zach?
• Imagine that you returned home one day to find you had a new partner and a magical attic like Lauren.