The Husbands: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel

The Husbands, an instant New York Times bestseller and a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick, is a witty and thought-provoking novel that explores love, choice, and the endless search for the “perfect life.”

The story follows Lauren, a London woman who comes home one night to find a man named Michael in her apartment—claiming to be her husband. The problem? Lauren has never seen him before. Yet everything around her—her friends, the photos on her phone, even her redecorated flat—suggests they’ve been married for years.

As Lauren struggles to understand this strange reality, Michael goes into the attic to change a lightbulb and suddenly vanishes, only to be replaced by another man—another “husband.” Each time the attic door opens, a new version of her life unfolds, complete with a new partner and new possibilities.

Caught in this surreal cycle, Lauren realizes that her attic can generate an infinite number of husbands, each representing a different version of the life she could have lived. As she experiments with these alternate realities, she begins to question what truly matters: finding the perfect partner or learning to live—and be content—with herself.

Blending humor, mystery, and emotional depth, The Husbands is a brilliant, imaginative reflection on modern relationships, self-discovery, and the illusion of endless choice.