I spent all of 2019 reading psychological thrillers. I read some super dark books and it was nice to take a break from the violence. But part of me began to miss that world. That is why I picked up It’s Always the Husband by Michele Campbell. It actually showed up in a Facebook ad and had a compelling title as well as cover. I didn’t do any research and clicked “buy.”
The book was delivered on a Friday. With the world being on pause plus a polar vortex bringing January weather in May, I spent all of Saturday reading. I don’t remember the last time I read all day but it was amazing. I sipped my favorite wine, Apothic Red, and read this entire book! It came with me to get my steps in on the treadmill and joined me for a post-sweat bath. Its hard cover was also great for smacking my video-game-obsessed husband whenever his playing got too loud.
What is it about?
“Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge . . and someone else is urging her to jump.
How did things come to this?
As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other—but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?”
Goodreads
Jumping into the book, I was interested right away. Despite approaching 30, I still love to read about young adults in universities living their best lives. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to go to my dream university (Berkeley) or enjoy the typical American university dorm room lifestyle (except for a brief semester abroad in Hawaii.)
So any time I pick up a book about elite university students, I get excited to live vicariously through the characters. That’s why I love the Private and Privileged series by Kate Brian. I can’t be the only one cause I know plenty of adults whose guilty pleasure includes re-watching Gossip Girl and 90210.
Husband? Aren’t They in University?
I was a little confused about the book because I expected most of it to be about older people. However, a majority of the book follows the characters during their high school years. A smaller portion is 22 years later when they are all in their 40s. The main characters are three girls who roomed together during freshmen year in a fancy university in New Hampshire.
Just like in the other YA books I mentioned earlier, there is a lot of underage drinking, recreational drugs and sex in this book. But there are also twists and drama. There is death, suicide, addiction and, of course, murder. It has all the aspects necessary to make a book like this interesting. And it was! Otherwise I would have gotten bored and not spent an entire day reading.
Was it the best book I’d ever read? No. Will the story get lost in my brain among all the other books I have read and will read in the future? Probably. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the writing style and the characters. I didn’t feel like any of these girls could be my friends, but that was okay. You don’t have to love a character to be curious about them. Some of the characters were quite typical and cliché, which is part of the reason I wouldn’t give this book a five star rating.
I wasn’t the only one who found the book good but a little meh. It has a 3.68 on Goodreads which is a little harsh, in my opinion. But then again, I’m the kind of person who gives 5s or 4s unless I absolutely hate something with a passion. I would definitely like to read more from by Michele Campbell.
You can buy It’s Always the Husband by Michele Campbell on Amazon here.
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