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. Have you ever experienced a double standard (related to gender or otherwise)? What was the experience like?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• What does feminism look like to Nora? Which aspects of her definition of feminism do you see reflected in contemporary feminist figures? Are there aspects of her definition that you find problematic or unrealistic?
• Are the issues of sexism and gender inequality that the book addresses unique to the United States? Cite examples from other countries or cultures to support your position.
• Does the novel provide a solution to the problems it critiques? What would an ideal world look like to the women in The Husbands? 

4. Literary Analysis 

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• What role does the setting of Dynasty Ranch play? What stereotypes or tropes of suburban life does the novel rely upon?
• How does the novel blend various genres? What is the effect of this?
• How might key aspects of the novel, such as its tone or themes, change if Hayden were the narrator? What function does Baker’s choice of narrator serve? 
• Consider Nora’s strengths and failings as a character. In what ways does she create or contribute to the novels’ conflict?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Read Holly Gramazio’s (unrelated) 2024 novel, also titled The Husbands. Do the wives in both novels have similar experiences? What does each novel suggest about what makes an ideal husband?
• The novel contains a “gender reveal” party; however, such parties are controversial for their conflation of sex and gender. Imagine you were throwing a party for your unborn child: What other aspects of the child could you celebrate, and how?
• The novel refers to the act of “deprogramming” men so that they no longer view women as the primary caretakers of the household and domestic sphere. If you could “deprogram” some aspect of modern-day society, what would you choose, and why?

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