Sometimes, I pretend to be too sophisticated to choose books by their covers or titles. But I’m totally guilty of it. Aren’t we all? When I first spotted Michele Campbell’s It’s Always the Husband, I have to admit the title is what my caught my attention.
However, the storyline of this mystery is what kept me quickly turning the pages. It’s Always the Husband is part college coming-of-age story, mixed with mid-life crises and a mysterious death. A perfect trifecta of crazy, in my opinion.
The story vacillates between past and present and the points of view of its three main characters, Kate, Jenny and Aubrey. The characters’ dispositions and the prestigious Northeastern setting gave me some serious Gossip Girl vibes. I pictured Serena, Blair and Jenny Humphrey as Kate, Jenny and Aubrey (in that order).
What I liked best about It’s Always the Husband is that you get the sense that none of the characters are reliable narrators. Everyone is equally crazy in their own rite and could be capable of murder/suicide. My favorite kind of fictional characters! There were a few twists that had me gasping audibly, and this book kept me guessing up until the very end. It isn’t until the last chapter, last page, last paragraph before we learn the truth. That said, be careful thumbing through a copy if you don’t want the ending spoiled inadvertently.
Aside from It’s Always the Husband being a good literary distraction…it was pretty fun to hold this book and give my own husband suspicious looks while reading. He didn’t appreciate the sideways glances, but I was entertained.
Thankfully, my husband has never tried to get rid of me. At least not that I’m aware of…. just kidding!
Have you read It’s Always the Husband? Feel free to contact me. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
If you liked It’s Always the Husband, then try…
After the family matriarch mysteriously commits suicide, her estranged daughter-in-law searches for the truth behind her mother-in-law’s death.
A jealous, social climber strategically befriends the wife of a wealthy businessman to insert herself into their marriage.
A young married couple keeps secrets from each other, but their nine year-old neighbor knows more than they think. Their worlds unravel when she returns to their doorstep 12 years later.
Set in a creepy, remote forest (in case the title didn’t give that away); a bachelorette party gone horribly wrong reveals years of secrets and betrayal.
Leave a Reply