The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Gramazio, Holly. The Husbands. Doubleday, 2024.

Holly Gramazio's novel The Husbands is written from the third-person point of view. The setting is London, England. The narrative traces the protagonist Lauren's experiences after she discovers that her attic is capable of creating husbands and making them disappear. The following summary employs the present tense and a linear mode of explanation.

Lauren returns home late from her friend Elena's bachelorette party one night and is shocked to discover a strange man standing at the top of the steps in her London flat. Initially, she thinks he is a burglar, but soon notices photos of her and the man together around the apartment. From context clues and text messages with friends and family, she learns that the man's name is Michael and he is her husband. When Michael goes up to the attic not long later to change a light bulb, he disappears, and a new husband descends the attic ladder in his place.

Lauren tries to make sense of her strange, new circumstances. After trading out several husbands using the attic, Lauren realizes that the upstairs space is responsible for what is happening. She tries to talk to Elena about it, but Elena does not believe her. Elena is also preoccupied with wedding preparations, and begs Lauren to focus on the upcoming event. Meanwhile, Lauren starts to panic because she will be seated next to her ex-boyfriend Amos at the wedding, and she does not have a plus-one.

When Carter emerges from the attic as one of Lauren's husbands, Lauren decides to keep him around for a while. He proves to be the ideal match and a perfect person to take to Elena's wedding. They enjoy their time together, and Lauren begins to wonder if she could love Carter and share a happy life with him. However, not long later, Carter goes into the attic to find their wedding photos and disappears.

Lauren cycles through another array of husbands, perpetually comparing them all to Carter. Some of the husbands are kind, but irritating. Other husbands are lazy or mean. Then Lauren lands on Felix. Felix is wealthy and detached, neither of which Lauren minds. She and Felix rent out the flat and live in a countryside mansion. Lauren stays in this life for longer than usual, temporarily convinced that she could enjoy this luxurious lifestyle long term. However, she soon grows lonely and bored with Felix. She sends him back to the attic, too.

One day Bohai emerges from Lauren's attic. Bohai is also cycling through husbands and wives. He and Lauren spend a few months together and form a genuine connection. However, they are ultimately not meant to be together, and Bohai leaves. Afterward, he and Lauren stay in touch.

Lauren's next husband is the same man as her first husband. She tries settling into life with him. Ultimately, she sends him back to the attic, too. Her next husband is her ex-boyfriend Amos. Instead of Lauren sending him to the attic, Amos leaves Lauren. Lauren embraces her single life for a time and decides to seek out Carter, who is living in the States. She manufactures a meeting with him in Denver, but Carter is disinterested in her. Back home, Lauren sends Amos into the attic to get a new husband.

After another succession of husbands, Lauren realizes that she must destroy the attic for good if she ever wants to be happy. She gets a new husband, Sam. While he is out one day, she sets the attic on fire. Sam comes home and finds Lauren on the curb in front of the burning flat. Lauren and Sam agree that they would choose each other over the flat and their belongings any day.