The Husbands: A Novel

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• The book is inspired by the 1972 novel The Stepford Wives. The term “Stepford wife” has since entered the popular lexicon. What does this term connote to you? How did your understanding of a Stepford wife inform your expectations of The Husbands?
• Consider the novel’s ending and its epilogue. Did it provide a satisfying resolution? Why or why not?
• Compare and contrast themes addressed in The Husbands to those presented in Chandler Baker’s 2019 novel Whisper Network. If you haven’t read Whisper Network, what other works would you compare this one to?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

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

• Think back to your childhood and adolescence: What gender roles did your parents, guardian, or other family model? Which roles do you adhere to in your adult life, and which have you departed from?
• The internet articles that follow some of the chapters address many of the conflicts that Nora faces. Consider the role of the internet or social media in your own life: Have you turned to such articles for help before? To what extent has sharing personal trials on social media helped you or harmed you?
• How realistic did you find Nora and Hayden’s dispute? Is this a uniquely heterosexual issue, or must couples of the same gender navigate the division of household labor and their expectations of one another in similar ways?
• One of the novel’s themes is the persistence of gendered double standards.