Disclaimer: In this My Husband by Maud Ventura review I included links to the book’s Amazon listing in case you’d like to purchase. As an affiliate I earn a small percentage of qualifying purchases. This book is geared towards ages 18+, please check parental guidelines and trigger warnings before reading.
My Husband by Maud Ventura
Year published: 2023
Book # for author: 1
Genre: emotional thriller
Setting: France
My Husband book synopsis
Meet our main character: a nameless, cultured and sophisticated high school teacher. She also translates books as a side hustle (and btw, this book was translated from French).
She craves order. In her mind, each day of the week has its own color. Throughout the day she looks for objects of that color to calm her down. She also wants everything about her to be just so: her table manners, clothing, anything she says. But most importantly, she needs her relationship with her husband to be perfect. Because even after 15 years of marriage, she’s obsessed with him.
Her life revolves around him: if he remembers to say he loves her or not, if he sits too far away from her on the couch, or omits her from a story he’s telling by saying “I” instead of “we.” She’ll analyze it all to get to the bottom of the question: does he still love her back?
My Husband by Maud Ventura review
I knew I wanted to read My Husband (on Amazon here) and get into this woman’s spiraling mind after reading the first few pages. And it was a fascinating read: something like Gone Girl meets The Silent Patient minus the gore.
The cover illustration, description and first few pages (I tend to gloss over prologues) had me thinking the book was lit fic…but just as I was almost done I saw it was labeled as an emotional thriller. Kind of a disappointment. (Note to self: Never assume!) I’m more into lit fic and “no plot, just vibes” style books. In general, the thrill can take away from the actual story if you know what I’m saying. That’s not to say that this book wasn’t excellently done. It’s well worth the read even if you’re more into lit fic.
Wrap up to my thoughts for those who have read the book *includes spoilers:*
It easily could have been lit fic if the author took away the prologue and epilogue, and added a bit more depth into her character (not just that being in love with love ran in the family)…and tweaked the ending. I’m glad it ended like it did but the other way would have been an analysis of an unhinged woman and the human psyche as a whole, something I would have appreciated more.
My rating: 8/10.
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