Good Husbands: 'Absolutely staggering, insanely gripping and wholly unputdownable' May Cobb

Ffion
A book that I could not put down, every time I considered taking a break from it I just had to read another chapter. The author really managed to highlight the perspectives and ideas that people have of sexual assault and rape, can it be blurred lines? What exactly is consent- because yes people flirt and can enjoy each others company without wanting to sleep with the other person at the end of the night, I know it can be a shock to some!
What I found most interesting was the wives thought processes of finding out about the historical rape and what that meant for their families and the men they loved- trying to merge the two halves and seeing what that left if anything.
The sad story of Nicky and Holly was a powerful read. I do wonder if more could have been written about the tragedy of their lives because of the rape- but I imagine that would be a difficult thing to write and to ask a reader to read.
I’m unsure what to make of the manipulative nature that we saw of Holly at the end of the book - it did make me like her less and feel less compassion for the life she’d lived and I can’t work out why! I finished the book 2 days ago and I’m still asking myself questions and processing my thoughts. I’d absolutely recommend the book and I’m tempted to read it again myself to see if anything changes for me. I’d give the book and 8/10.

Rachel
I was drawn in by this book from the start, and I really enjoyed how the three very different women processed the reality of finding out their husbands' true nature. All three were flawed but very likable, and I could empathise with the difficulty of their situation. Reading about Nicola and the truth about what happened to her was very painful, but very skilfully done, and I liked how the situation made the three main characters question their own perception of sexual abuse. While I thoroughly enjoyed most of the book, the ending felt like a departure in tone, as this wasn't the sort of story which needed a 'twist' for the sake of it, and it almost felt like it cheapened the message of the story. 9/10

Arleen
I found this book very interesting and very down to earth. I liked the fact that the name of the three ladies were easy to identify by the name of the writer that was written at the beginning of each chapter. No need to keep turning back or getting lost as to who was who. It was certainly a page turner and I enjoyed the book very much. Jess was the one they each went to for advice. She was the one who kept trying get to the truth of the letters that was sent to each of them. I felt very sorry for Stephanie whose husband was very controlling. She seemed to be the only person who couldn't see it. The family kept telling her, but she thought he was being good to her! And then there was Pryanka. She loved her pink hair and of course her Doc Martins. Three ladies, all different but brought together by the letter.

It was very hard for the women to be told that all three of their husbands had planned to rape a young woman who then had a baby 30 years ago. Who was the father? Would the wives stick by them? The book goes on to explain all the emotions of the three women involved. There was still a sting in the tail at the end.

I don't want to spoil the book for those who haven't finished it, but will say I would be more than happy to give it 9/10

Cat
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were believable and well rounded. I enjoy the chapter per character format. The plot was gritty, feminist and gripping. The only thing that let it down for me was the very end. There seemed to be some kind of plot twist that I just didn't understand. This didn't ruin the book thankfully. 7/10

Michelle
I read it but, if I’m honest, I skim read a huge section in the middle. I was expecting a thriller and got more of a domestic drama/ suspense novel. It dealt with lots of current themes and was topical in that respect (me too movement, consent, etc). All in all, not bad but not enjoyable for me A 5/10 from me.

Carolyn
I read Good Husbands quite quickly after sorting out which husband was which. It was interesting that the focus was as much on the families of the rapists and the awful effects it had on them as on the actual victim. They were all victims.
Near the end the wives discover that Holly had lied about being born as a result of the rape and it made Jess especially feel slightly different about her. Was that because it made the rest of what she wrote less credible or that it had added to the pressure because they didn't know which husband was her father?
I found it a thought provoking and interesting read. I give it 7.

Eve
This was an easy to read book on a difficult subject. In the beginning I felt that the ladies were fairly ready to accept Holly' s account of the rape. Only one of the wives, Stephanie, was willing at to tear up the letter and put it out if her mind. However it did not take long for all 3 if them to be of the same mind. This seemed more understandable in the case of Andy, the ex army man, who was quite controlling. The examination of the past resulted in the breakdown of all 3 marriages, which was expected, I felt. I enjoyed hearing the story from 3 different people. They were all certain that their husbands had been responsible in some way for the result. I thought the ending was a good one for the ladies as they became more self aware and ambitious for themselves. It turned out that the story of Nicky started out with her ambition to get inside the Montague club. I enjoyed this book and found it very interesting. I would give it 8.

Helen
I enjoyed this book, I thought that it was well written, and had a focus which is difficult to read about, but important to raise. I wanted to know what happened to each of the characters, and although I didn't find any of them particularly likeable, I did become engaged in their dilemmas. Having strong female characters, who led the story was good. I thought their moral dilemmas were explored well within the story. Overall I would give this 7/10, and would probably read other books by this author in the future

Mabe
Despite the topic I enjoyed this read. I wouldn't call it a thriller more a mystery.
It was a page turner for me but I found the final chapter a disappointment . It wasn't a daughter seeking justice for her mother's rape but her for self advancement .
I give it 6.

Chris
At last a book that I have finished.
I found this book easy to get into and I liked the style of writing. The storyline was very different and was certainly thought provoking. I liked that the chapters were giving each of the main characters point of view.
I will give it 7

Sonia
Firstly I thought it was a well written and easy to read book. But that's where it stops. I could not buy that not one of the women would immediately tell her husband about the letter and each one seemed to think that her husband could have done what it said. From then on it was difficult for me to accept the idea that you can judge the actions of many years before by the standards we live by today when the ethos and morals are so different and the issue of consent is still hotly debated and frequently misunderstood. A contrary view of what actually took place is only brought in towards the end of the book and is glossed over. That is not to say that I condone that type of behaviour; I feel it is more complex than portrayed here but it was not explored just accepted that bad behaviour 30 years ago equals bad person today. So for that reason I can only give it a 3.

Average Score 6 (

📚 Good Husbands explores rape through 3 very different female characters. I did find the characterisation of the 3 protagonists very interesting; their views and opinions moulded by their relationships with their husbands. Makes the reader consider how external influences can impact a person's character.

"If someone isn't capable of making a decision, don't make it for them." This summarises a very drawn out plot. This definitely isn't a gripping or fast paced novel if that's what you're looking for.

As for the ending, I don't get it??? I'm relieved to see other reviews echoing this. It definitely needed much more explanation. I will not be recommending.

I enjoyed this novel. It was a light read but the interesting premise for the plot made it very thought-provoking. It begins with three women living in the same area each receiving an identical letter claiming that their husbands had committed rape 30 years ago. They were given each other’s details and inevitably established contact (before asking their husbands anything).
Each of the women has a different approach to finding out, or avoiding, the truth. Their characters are well-written and distinctive, some of their actions are understandable, some harder to credit.
It is not a thriller, but it is quite dramatic at times. Overall it is more like a debate – between the three of them, internally for each of them, and for us as readers – around the themes of consent, trust, protection and honesty.

Three woman who have no connection to one another each receive a letter stating that during thier university years their husbands had gang raped a woman that resulted in the birth of a baby girl. This girl as she is dying wants them to know what sort of man each of their husbands are. "Good Husbands" follows each of these wives as they as a group ferret out the truth and come to grips with it. It is an intereseting approach to the question "is anyone who think they are and what do you do when you find out one way or the other?"

Jessica, Stephanie and Priyanka have never met yet each receives a letter stating that a college student was raped by their husband 30 years ago. The writer of the letter is allegedly the victim’s daughter. Each of the women reacts very differently to the letter that could potentially destroy their marriages and change their lives forever. With varying degrees of enthusiasm and reluctance they come together to try and discover the truth behind the allegations.

I enjoyed this book. It kept my interest and raised many interesting issues. It is also quite a unique premise for a novel, certainly not one that I have encountered before. The women’s actions, reactions and feelings are treated with perception, sensitivity and realism. The revelation in the letter is one of those things that once “heard”, cannot be “unheard” and it becomes apparent that ignoring the letter is not really an option. If the book is providing a moral compass then I would be a little concerned as I have severe doubts about some of the views put forward. However, I think it is more likely that it is inviting us to explore our own personal moral philosophies, and in that I think it has been very successful - I found myself taking issue with various points and thinking long and hard about what my own stance would be (or should be, which is not necessarily the same thing at all) in similar circumstances.

On the down side, the book is definitely a slow-burner, possibly rather too slow and long-winded at times and I think some good editing would have solved this problem.

I would recommend this book to people, but would advise them to approach it as a domestic drama rather than a thriller or a crime novel. It is not the fast-paced stuff that thrillers are made of.

If you have sex with someone without their consent, that's rape. Thank you very much, Cate Ray, for this valuable lesson.

This novel pitches itself as a psychological thriller, but really it's an extended sermon on what constitutes consent. While I absolutely agree with Ray on the definition of rape, I really dislike being preached to when I'm trying enjoy a story. I was hoping for a nuanced exploration of how three women react when their husbands are accused of rape, but instead I got an extended treatise on how it definitely was still rape even though the girl was drunk (which I really think we all know by now).

To be fair, there are some good aspects to this novel. The three women are all quite different, and, for a novel written in three first-person perspectives, I was generally able to tell them apart without checking the name at the top of the chapter. I liked all three of the characters and generally cared about them.

What I didn't like was simply how black-and-white their thinking was. The novel pushes really hard on the idea that because the men committed a rape 30 years ago, then that necessarily means that they're all horrible people now, and so their wives should definitely leave them and give them no access to their kids. And yet, later in the story, when one of the women does something equally horrible, the other women completely let her off the hook. I was really hoping that having the three women would allow for a nuanced exploration of the topic, but somehow the story still ended up being very one-dimensional.

A clever book. An easy read despite its serious matter, at times disturbing and upsetting. A very domestic novel focused on three main characters, very different women, happily married and content. Or are they really?

What happens when each receives a bombshell letter from a young woman, Holly, alleging her loving husband and father of her child/children, was involved in the rape of Holly's mother Nicky twenty years ago?

The alleged sexual assault took place in an exclusive men's club, three young men now successful husbands and fathers who appear not to know each other. Nicky died a few years after the rape, an alcoholic. Holly is also dead, a poor artist denied any chance to a good life by circumstances of her birth and background.

Jess, Priyanka and Stephanie react very differently to the letter, representing typical responses to allegations of sexual assault and rape. Who do they choose to believe? What does it matter if the rape was so long ago and the police wouldn't touch the case due to lack of evidence? Cate Ray uses the story to explore issues pertinent to Harvey Weinstein and #me too, about how society views and treats survivors of sexual assault, about consent and equality.

The developing relationships between Jess, Priyanka and Stephanie are written very well, believable, sympathetic, relatable. I liked too how the book explores marriage, asking complicated questions- Can we ever truly know someone? What happens when something breaks the illusion of happy domesticity? What are the ripple effects on family life and is breakup inevitable once doubt enters a relationship?

The novel is gripping and tense, a slow burn that keeps you guessing to the end.

This book is more of a case review than a thriller, with each of the three main characters sharing their views and perspectives. I felt like I was being preached at at times. The book was interesting enough to keep reading, but it was heavy going.