15 Apr Book Review: The Husbands by Chandler Baker

The Husbands is a domestic thriller that cleverly flips the script on gender roles and the mental load that often falls on women in relationships. Chandler Baker, known for her sharp wit and unflinching takes on modern womanhood, delivers a story that blends suburban suspense with a dark, satirical edge. It’s a page-turner that feels grounded in reality but leans just enough into the uncanny to keep you guessing. If you’ve ever wondered what life would be like if men truly shared the burden of household management and emotional labor, this book takes that thought experiment and runs with it—in a chillingly believable direction.

What’s it about?

The story follows Nora Spangler, a successful attorney who’s juggling her demanding career, motherhood, and the never-ending invisible work of running a household. Her husband, Hayden, is loving and supportive but clueless when it comes to how much mental effort Nora puts into keeping their lives running smoothly. Nora is constantly on the brink of exhaustion, and despite Hayden’s insistence that he’s “helping,” it’s clear that the burden falls squarely on her shoulders.

When Nora and Hayden begin house hunting in the affluent neighborhood of Dynasty Ranch, Nora is immediately drawn to the picture-perfect community. The women who live there are polished, successful, and somehow seem to have it all—thriving careers, happy families, and, most notably, husbands who are engaged, supportive, and fully involved in the day-to-day work of family life. These men cook, clean, organize school projects, and anticipate their wives’ needs with almost eerie precision. Nora is envious but also deeply curious. How have these women managed to create such perfect domestic harmony?

Nora strikes up a friendship with some of the women, including Penny March, a charismatic and persuasive leader in the community. As Nora spends more time at Dynasty Ranch, she begins to notice that something is… off. The husbands are almost too perfect. Their devotion to their wives borders on the robotic, and the community itself feels a little too curated, a little too polished. There’s an unsettling sense that everyone is following an unspoken script.

When Penny asks Nora to take on a case involving a wrongful death that happened within the neighborhood, things get even stranger. As Nora digs deeper, she uncovers secrets that make her question the very foundation of what makes these marriages work. The husbands aren’t just unusually helpful—they’re different. And what started as a dream of balance and equality begins to look more like a nightmare of control and manipulation.

The deeper Nora gets into the mystery of Dynasty Ranch, the more she realizes that the cost of perfection might be far higher than she ever imagined. And as her own marriage starts to show cracks under the pressure, she’s forced to confront a terrifying question: What would she be willing to sacrifice for the life she’s always wanted?

What This Chick Thinks

A sharp commentary on gender dynamics

What makes The Husbands so compelling is how sharply it skewers the unspoken expectations placed on women. Nora’s frustration is so familiar it’s almost painful to read at times. She’s the one who remembers the dentist appointments, plans the birthday parties, keeps the family’s schedule running like a well-oiled machine—and Hayden genuinely believes he’s pulling his weight by occasionally loading the dishwasher. The mental load is real, and Baker captures it with surgical precision.

The premise—what if husbands were programmed to truly share the load—is brilliant because it taps into that very real exhaustion so many women feel. But instead of offering a neat solution, Baker twists it into something unsettling and asks whether balance achieved through control is really balance at all.

A mystery that simmers beneath the surface

While the gender commentary is front and center, the mystery element adds a delicious layer of tension. You know from the start that something is wrong at Dynasty Ranch, but Baker takes her time peeling back the layers. The clues build gradually—small inconsistencies, strange reactions, and moments where the husbands’ behavior feels just a little too perfect. Nora’s investigation into the wrongful death case adds stakes and a sense of urgency, and by the time the truth starts to emerge, you’re fully hooked.

Nora is a relatable, flawed protagonist

Nora is easy to root for because she feels so real. She’s smart, driven, and doing her best, but she’s also stretched to her breaking point. Her exhaustion, her guilt, and her desire for something better make her motivations feel grounded and relatable. As she navigates the world of Dynasty Ranch, her conflicting emotions—envy, suspicion, and longing—are palpable. Her relationship with Hayden feels equally authentic, full of love but weighed down by resentment and miscommunication.

The ending hits hard

Without giving too much away, the resolution is both satisfying and unsettling. The choices Nora faces aren’t easy, and the consequences of those choices linger long after the final page. Baker doesn’t offer easy answers or quick fixes—just a stark reminder that sometimes, the cost of having it all is higher than we’re willing to admit.

Final Thoughts

The Husbands is a sharp, unsettling thriller wrapped in a domestic drama that feels all too familiar. Chandler Baker takes the frustrations of modern womanhood and spins them into a gripping narrative that forces you to ask uncomfortable questions about marriage, control, and equality. It’s a fast-paced, thought-provoking read that will stick with you long after the last page.

Rating: 8.5/10

Try it if you like

• The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin – Another chilling take on the price of perfection in marriage and domestic life.
• Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – A suburban thriller that explores the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives.
• The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani – A tense, unsettling exploration of domestic life and the thin line between control and chaos.