My Husband's Sweethearts

I grew wary when I discovered My Husband’s Sweethearts is chick-lit. I’ve sampled the genre, and have found its too-chatty, first-person narrators and tragi-silly content to be unbearable. But this novel’s mix of likeable characters, smart dialogue, and touching moments -- evocative of the wonderful Elinor Lipman -- was so much fun!

Thirty-ish Lucy Shoreman is an accomplished corporate auditor and the estranged wife of a much-older -- and serially unfaithful -- husband, Artie. Though still smarting from his betrayals, she agrees to return home to him when she learns he’s dying of heart failure. Once there and in possession of his little black book, she begins phoning his past lovers to demand that they now take turns at his show more deathbed. A background procession of women eventually flows through the house, but the core of the novel is the growth of a mutual support system among Lucy, her mother, two of Artie’s lovers, and his estranged adult son. The characters are so well drawn that I found myself casting the movie as I read (and indeed, film rights for this romantic comedy have already been optioned). I’ll not only watch for other novels by Bridget Asher (a pen name of author Julianna Baggott) … but maybe take an occasional re-look at the genre. show less

Lucy Shoreman left her older husband, Artie, six months ago after discovering he had cheated on her...repeatedly. She still loves the charming little cheat, however, so when she learns he is dying, she returns home to care for him, even though she can't make herself forgive him. She's angry, hurt and betrayed.

She doesn't think it's fair that his "sweethearts" got to be there with him through the good times but aren't around during the bad times. So she takes out his little black book and starts calling them. To her surprise, they soon start showing up to sit at his bedside; a parade of Artie's sweethearts over the years, as well as a long lost son. What transpires is very special.

I was expecting something humorous, maybe a little show more angry, but this is also touching and hopeful. You'll learn some lessons on friendship, forgiveness and love.

This book is a gem. show less

Lucy Shoreman’s husband Artie is a cheater. When Lucy learns this she confronts him only to have him confess there have been two other affairs during their four year marriage. To cope with Artie’s infidelity Lucy leaves home and immerses herself in work for six months to deal with his betrayal. Then she receives a middle of the night phone call from her mother, he’s gravely ill. “Artie needs you. He is your husband still, after all. And it’s very bad form to leave a dying husband.”

Lucy returns home but still can’t bring herself to forgive Artie. After more than a few drinks Lucy picks up the phone, calls up all the former sweethearts in Artie’s little black book and announces, “Artie Shoreman is dying, Please call to show more schedule your turn at his deathbed.”

What happens next surprises everyone, the sweethearts begin to show up. From the young, tattooed and pierced Elba to Artie’s former high school teacher, the elderly Mrs. Dutton with many in between. An unlikely friendship begins to form with some of these women and you’re pulled along an emotional roller coaster with Lucy.

Asher’s writing is truly amazing. I laughed, I cried and it seemed that I could truly feel Lucy’s emotion in her words. I couldn’t believe how fast I got to the end of the book. Along with Lucy’s road to forgiveness there are two other story lines that develop bringing a surprise ending to this incredible story about love. show less

Lucy's husband, Artie Shoreman, is dying. When she finds out he cheated on her, she calls some of his past (some not very far past) girlfriends and invites them to take their turns at his deathbed. Surprisingly, some start showing up. This is an intriguing premise and the book is entertaining in a light-hearted way.

A plot synopsis reads like a Lifetime-movie-gone wrong: Lucy’s discovery of her husband’s infidelities is followed quickly by discovering he’s dying. Accepting a sarcastic challenge from her husband, Artie, Lucy calls the women in his little black book.

All that’s needed at the end is “hilarity ensues” to place My Husband’s Sweethearts into the growing genre of books to be read in Laundromats or on airplanes and then left behind, completely forgotten.

Except that doesn’t happen here. What saves the book is Bridget Asher’s gift of characterization. All of the women who make an appearance at the deathbed have personalities and voices of their own. Some of the sweethearts become strong, supporting characters, while others show more simply make cameo appearances. Regardless of the number of pages they appear on, each makes a strong entrance and impression. Asher tells the story in a first-person narrative. Although it is Lucy who describes the physical and psychic appearance of the sweethearts, she does so in an objective voice.

Two of the sweethearts are integral to the story. Elspa, a free-spirit, former drug addict, says Artie saved her life. She becomes a temporary resident in the house, and Lucy and the others end up on a road trip to reclaim Elspa’s daughter. Along for the ride is Eleanor, one of the first to respond to Lucy’s after-midnight, drunken summons to Artie’s side. Eleanor is the one who arranges a schedule for the visitors and seems to hold a grudge against Artie more than the others. The character fits into the book well, balancing Lucy and Elspa.

The one jangled note is the culmination of John Bessom’s story. Bessom is Artie’s estranged adult son, and, while the discovery and growth of their relationship is well told, how it wraps up raises more questions than it should. Perhaps a more subtle end hinting at the chapters following “the end” would have been better.

The characters are the strongest part of the novel, but Asher’s deft use of emotion should not be overlooked. The book moves smoothly through slow and sudden changes from humor to sorrow with stops along the way for anger and joy.

My Husband’s Sweethearts may not be great literature, but it is entertaining read that deserves to be remembered. show less

I don't think that I could sit at a husband's bedside while he was dying, knowing that he had cheated on me...more accurately, was a serial cheater, and I had just found out. I know that I have never loved anyone enough for that. Lucy can...kind of. She discovers her husband's infidelities and leaves for a business trip. While on her trip, Artie finds out that he is dying...and quickly. She eventually comes back to deal with it. Lucy is written so beautifully, she is angry, sad, still in love, furious, scared...

While drunk, she randomly calls some women from his little black book and invites them to take their turn at his bedside. Some show up. Hopeful, this book shows that family is what you make it.

I am not normally one for yay blah show more blah blah, everything will be alright books, but I really liked this one. Touching. show less

My Husband’s Sweethearts by Bridget Asher was the book that kept me company poolside as my kids swam this week, and it was good company indeed. Asher’s writing style reminds me a little of Marisa de los Santos, who has a blurb on the front cover of my ARC copy. While Asher may not have quite as unique a voice as de los Santos, or be quite as polished an author, her characters are fully drawn, quirky, and will make you love them.

Lucy hasn’t lived with her husband Artie for six months, since he confessed to multiple infidelities. Artie has been trying to win her back, sending her flowers every day, swearing that he still loves her, but Lucy’s not buying it. Then she receives the news that Artie is dying.

Lucy heads home to show more Artie’s deathbed, angry that she will have to go through this hardest of times alone, while Artie’s sweethearts got to be in on all the good times. She decides she won’t go through it alone, and starts calling the women in Artie’s “little black book.”

During the weeks that follow, Lucy will learn the meaning of forgiveness, letting go, and family. Is family simply the people we’re related to, or can family be something we choose?

4 out of 5 stars show less