My Husband by Maud Ventura (Translated by Emma Ramadan)

Introduction

"At forty years old, she has an enviable life: a successful career, stunning looks, a beautiful house in the suburbs, two healthy children, and most importantly, an ideal husband. After fifteen years together, she is still besotted with him. But she's never quite sure that her passion is reciprocated. After all, would a truly infatuated man ever let go of his wife's hand when they're sitting on the couch together?

Determined to keep their relationship perfect, she meticulously prepares for every encounter they have, always taking care to make her actions seem effortless. She watches him attentively, charting every mistake and punishing him accordingly to help him improve. And she tests him--setting traps to make sure that he still loves her just as much as he did when they first met.

Until one day she realizes she may have gone too far . . ." (Goodreads summary)

My Husband by Maud Ventura is a story that blends obsession, love, and self-deception into a story that’s both unsettling and captivating. I picked it up intrigued by the premise and after seeing many good reviews from people I follow. I was expecting a suspenseful, psychological story and while it didn’t completely match my expectations, I still found it an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

Thoughts

I flew through this book in just two days, which is a testament to how captivating it was. The pacing was spot-on, and I found myself completely drawn into the wife’s inner monologue. The way she constantly analyses, tests, and manipulates her husband was unsettling but intriguing, making it hard to look away.

One of the book’s strengths is how Ventura strikes a fascinating balance between relatability and obsession. I saw someone else mention this delicate balance and cannot help but agree and mention it too. As a reader, I often found myself thinking, I’d do that too! or I’ve had that thought before! only to be shocked when the protagonist took things much further. This fine line keeps the reader both engaged and slightly unnerved, creating a psychological tension that works brilliantly.

That said, I missed some depth in the story. While the book effectively captures her obsessive mindset, I wanted to see more layers to her character and her relationship with her husband. Based on the summary, particularly the line about realizing she may have gone too far, I had expected more twists or suspenseful moments. The story felt like it stayed on one emotional level rather than fully exploring the darker consequences of her actions.

I’m also not the biggest fan of first-person narratives, as they can feel limiting, but I understand why it was essential for this story. The epilogue, however, was a perfect way to end the book, bringing the story full circle and leaving me with a lot to think about.

What I Loved About the Book

• The pacing was fantastic—this is the kind of book you can’t put down.

• The epilogue added a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion to the story.

• The obsessive tone and the decision to always refer to her husband as “my husband” added to the intensity of her fixation.

• The balance between relatable moments and extreme behavior created a unique and engaging dynamic for the reader.

What Didn’t Work for Me

• The first-person perspective, while fitting, isn’t my favorite narrative style.

• I expected the story to have more suspense or significant twists, especially based on the summary.

• I wanted more depth and exploration of the wife’s character and the consequences of her obsession.

Final Verdict

4/5

My Husband is a compelling and unsettling look at love and obsession. Maud Ventura masterfully blurs the line between thoughts and actions we can all relate to and those that make us step back and think, Okay, that’s too far. While I wished for more depth and suspense, the book’s pacing and unique perspective kept me hooked. If you enjoy character-driven stories with a psychological edge, this one is worth picking up.

Who Should Read This Book

If you’re intrigued by themes of love, obsession, and the question of how well we can ever truly know someone, this book will resonate with you.