School for Husbands

by Wendy Holden

Neil and Sarah are the ultimate happy couple. Until, that is, Neil’s new job leaves Sarah alone to juggle the baby, domestic drudgery, and her own career. When Neil fails to come home one night, Sarah rushes home to her mother, who has always wished that Sarah had married her childhood sweetheart, the fabulously rich lawyer Colin, who has coincidentally reappeared in her life. The stage is set for divorce, but Neil has other ideas. Distraught at the prospect of losing Sarah and recognizing what an idiot he has been, he enrolls in an experimental “School for Husbands,” a clinic aimed at helping hopeless spouses mend their ways. But will its intensive tuition in everything from emotional self-expression to putting the toilet seat down be enough to get Neil back together with his wife? Not if Colin and Sarah’s mother have anything to do with it.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Modern, Adult, British Literature

321 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2006

About the author

Wendy Holden grew up in Yorkshire, and studied English at Girton College, Cambridge. She worked in magazines for many years before joining Tatler's in 1997 as deputy editor, and later moved to the Mail on Sunday’s You magazine, which she left in 2000 to concentrate on writing. She regularly writes features for newspapers and magazines on a range of social, topical and lifestyle subjects and is also a television and radio contributor.

She has now published ten novels, Gallery Girl, Beautiful People, Bad Heir Day, Pastures Nouveaux, Fame Fatale, Azur Like It, The Wives of Bath, The School for Husbands, Filthy Rich, Farm Fatale, Gossip Hound, Simply Divine, all top 10 bestsellers.

Holden is married, and lives in England with her family.

Reviews

[Razvan Banciu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad idea, that of schooling unadapted husbands, but that's probably the only positive thing I can mention about the book.
The epic thread is average and just ok, the characters are the ones which do the damage: linear, artificial and dull.
Simon, the rich guy, has nor manners neither brain, as he doesn't love Sophie but acts as she's the only one available woman on the planet. Mark, the childish father, resigns as a sign that he cares about his wife (My God, if stupidity hurts...), Sophie isn't the cleverest girl I've seen, not to speak about her dear mother. Even the child, the little Arthur, is regarded as a nuisance, and that's quite a pity. No empathy, no high marks...

[Maison Koala · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un po’ di chick lit disimpegnata (a dir poco!) per alleggerire giorni pesanti funestati da notizie buie.

Purtroppo c’è stato un solo momento di divertimento nell’inverosimile storia di Mark e Sophie, coppia sull’orlo del divorzio dopo la nascita del primogenito, ed ha coinciso nei pochi capitoli dedicati alla frequentazione, da parte del distratto Mark, della scuola che dà il titolo al romanzo. Un corso molto empirico in cui Mark scoprirà che dimenticare il compleanno della moglie, disseminare la casa di calzini spaiati e tubetti del dentifricio spremuti a metà è paradossalmente più grave di un tradimento, perché la somma di negligenze è il detonatore di una bomba H che, anno dopo anno, porta la coppia all’implosione. (Donne all’ascolto: la accendiamo!)

Purtroppo quello che dovrebbe essere il fulcro della narrazione si perde tra una marea di pagine insulse dedicate a personaggi altrettanto piatti e inverosimili - tra tutti la madre della protagonista, una novella Alexis di Dynasty ma senza un decimo del suo spirito, e Simon, scaltro e scialbo pretendente di Sophie.

Una lettura che decisamente non ha tinto di rosa le mie giornate grigie.

[Sian Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was an easy, frothy, holiday read about a husband and wife who split up and the husband goes to the "School for Husbands" of the title to learn how to be a better husband. The character of Sophie's (the wife)mother was very much a caricature of an interfering mother(-in-law) but funny and well done none-the-less. Simon, the new romantic interest for Sophie, was rather one dimensional too but Mark and Sophie were realistic and well described. I think Wendy Holden does not have children because the baby's behaviour in the story ranged from baby to toddler and not in a chronological order which should have been picked up by the editors. For example when Sophie first left him at the nursery she described him clinging to her legs but he was only about 6 months old! However, some of the things the husbands had to learn at "school" like putting a toothpaste tube on or putting the toilet seat down were funny. I think if you do not want anything too challenging and a light read this is a good book.

[Sreedevi Viswambaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another chick lit novel, narrating the story of a husband and wife who go through a rough patch in life. The story is a little funny at the same time not so dramatic. It flows in its own smooth rhythm. I liked some of the funny sequences very much, especially the classroom sequence in which they learn the art of ‘screwing and squeezing’. It was hilarious. The concept is pretty new, the whole idea of ‘School of husband’s’ is narrated in an interesting manner. The description of therapy classes tend to be a little boring at times.

Most of the characters in the story seem to be very pragmatic and natural except for the hot shot banker ‘Simon’. He seems to be an extremist character and our lady of the story seems to be completely unaware of it till the last scene, which is a bit hard to digest. Apart from these small pitfalls, it is a time pass book, a bit of page turner as well. But at the end of the story you may feel that, ‘yea…yet another chick lit novel. that’s it’

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I were a man and paid a ton of money to attend the "school for husbands"' I would be profoundly disappointed and demand my money back. Characters and plot not really believable, and never really developed and took off. Sadly, just a little too shallow, even for me who enjoys the guilty pleasures of a chick lit. Sexist cliches galore about what a typical woman needs in a marriage, eg, men putting the lid back on the toothpaste tube. Really? If something that petty is going to ruin your marriage maybe it was never that great to begin with.
But hey, that's only my opinion. I'm married to a drummer and I've got drum kits all over the house. By comparison, a toothpaste lid left off is nirvana.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a ridiculous but lighthearted story involving Sophie and Mark who start having some marital problems. There is an interfering mother-in-law, a rich ex boyfriend. Mark enrols himself into the school for husbands in order to win Sophie round.

All of the characters were really annoying and incredibly stupid. My relaxed boundaries of what makes a character believable when it comes to chicklit was stretched a bit too far. For example would anyone think it was a good idea to lie to his boss about having a girlfriend and then do his best to marry the nearest woman to him just because his boss preferred his employees to be married? Do employers like that even exist?

[Alysa Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book light, easy to read and yet contained some good tips...Don't let the small things build up in a relationship to the point of exploding. Just because he never mentions your hair, it doesn't mean he is not in love anymore. Or because he stays late at the office, or she can't find time for personal appearance everyday because the baby is demanding.

I enjoyed this book, and found it a bit insightful. Don't take the people you love for granted, and always tell them those three magic words..."I love you"

[Cititoare Calatoare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark un sot adulterin neglijent, disperat sa nu-si piarda familia, se inscrie la scoala pentru soti a doamnei doctor Martha. Aceasta garanteaza ca transforma barbatii in parteneri de viata model, insa va putea intr-adevar acest curs sa-l ajute pe Mark sa-si recastige sotia? Mai ales dupa ce incepe sa fie curtata asiduu de un milionar foarte hotarat?

[Cyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t expect this book to be good, but I had hoped for a light read to pass the time. It was horrible through and through though. I made a valiant effort and got to page 142. Then I skimmed for a minute and I am very glad I abandoned ship. They complain, and then they complain some more! Not worth the time of day, I am sorry to say.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like to read chic lit when I need a break from reality. Unfortunately this story was quite bland and easily transparent right from the start. Very cliche and not as entertaining as I had hoped. It has a feeling that she had a deadline to write to.

[Jannelies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just needed something light and funny, and preferable in a large print ;-). Read this book three times now and it is still as funny as the first time. I just love the way Wendy Holden describes her characters and I also love her writing style, snappy and full of wordplay.

[Hina Tabassum Khatri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically, what the author is trying to say is, that it is the little things in life that matter. The story was stretched in places where there was no need of it.

[Ianolia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie, protagonista din cartea „Şcoala pentru soţi”, avea odinioară o căsnicie minunată, însă în ultima vreme lucrurile nu mai merg chiar şnur. Soţul ei, Mark, lucrează tot mai des până târziu, lăsând-o singură cu bebeluşul să se lupte cu tot felul de dezastre casnice şi să-şi vadă totodată şi de carieră. Atunci când soţul uita complet de ziua ei şi nu mai da pe acasă într-una din seri, în împrejurări foarte suspecte, Sophie crede că are dovada clară a infidelităţii lui şi îl ameninţă cu divorţul.

Numai că, în realitate, Mark nu este un soţ adulterin ci doar neglijent. Disperat să nu-şi piardă familia, se înscrie la şcoala pentru soţi a doamnei doctor Martha, o psihoterapeută cu metode neortodoxe, care garantează că transformă bărbaţii incapabili în parteneri de viaţă model, însă va putea într-adevăr acest curs intensiv – şi foarte neobişnuit – să-l ajute pe Mark să-şi recâştige soţia? Mai ales după ce începe să fie curtată asiduu de un milionar foarte hotărât?
https://funions.ro/recenzii/scoala-pe...

[Naomi Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story. Wendy has written a few books and I have always enjoyed her storytelling.
Sophie is fed up with her mediocre life, husband absent a lot of the time, leaving her with the lions share of parenthood and all things domestic. A chain of events, unavoidable for Mark (who is genuinely trying but just can't catch a break) happens and Sophie has had enough, packs her bags and moves in with her mum, taking baby Arthur too.
Mark is devastated and enrols at the school for husbands. While Sophie is unaware that her sons godfather is wooing her and has his sights set on being her husband number two to save his career.
Will Mark triumph at being a better husband?
Will Sophie accept advances from Simon?
It's a great read

[Rory · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute little book. It doesn't get to the school until quite a long way in, but it's an interesting concept. Bit sexist, as there should be one for wives too I guess.

The story is fairly predictable and the ending obvious, but they are in these type of books.

I like Wendy's writing and her style. Suzi read it well (I was listening on audio book). She's a good narrator. Most books tend to go to Jilly Bond.

I will read more of Wendy's books.

[Mic Villamayor · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐✨

Absolute chaos. And hilarious!

This was such a fun and comic read about the woes of wives and husbands and married life in general.

It is meant to be a light comedy, so if you tend to take everything seriously, this may not be the best book for you.

That said, readers who are looking for a fun and fluffy yet relatable read (especially young married couples) may want to read this and be reminded that sometimes, it's the small things that count.

[Hope van Rossum · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 but 2 seems harsh, i’m actually annoyed i read and finished this book. it’s the longest it’s taken me to finish a book in ages but i refused to dnf it for fear of getting into a slump. annoying writing style and tedious plot aside, there were so many actual print/grammar/name mix ups that it was nearly impossible to enjoy. while mark was at the school i found myself getting in to it and then it all went stupid and childish and annoyed me again. ffs. thanks mum!

[Aeysha Haseena · Rating 5 out of 5]

The School for Husbands by Wendy Holden
Sophie's once upon a perfect marriage is rapidly going downhill, and when her husband fails to come home one night, it's the last straw. She wants a divorce, but Mark doesn't. Desperate to save his marriage he enrolls himself to the School for Husbands.
This is a hilarious read!

[Melissa McGuire · Rating 1 out of 5]

It took me forever to finish this book. I couldn't get into it and once the story started to actually become somewhat interesting it was obvious what was going to happen. The story was awful and childish.

[Anecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed his book. If you want thought provoking prose, then this book isn’t the one for you. Instead, it’s fun easy reading. Yet it examines the relationship between man and wife but the method used is laugh out loud funny.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

could have been better. Easy read, pretty predictable, little over the top. Reason for her leaving him in first place was flimsy at best. A lot of non or miscommunication, which is standard early in marriage.

[Slinkieb8 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shockingly bad
From the extreme thinking Simon to the colluding with Sophie's mum Sheila to Sophie herself being sooo silly, strangely naive and childish in her cluelessness about men.
So stupid a read I can't understand it really

[Amanda Tm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book and took my time reading it as a end of Summer getting outside sitting on the porch book. Since I’m not English I had the adjustment to some of the vocabulary but it was still readable. The idea was cute and with the misunderstanding the ending was easy to see coming.

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something light and funny for the road. Enjoyed it despite being 20 years younger than her average readers! Perfect for young mothers :)

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read with some humour

[Tracey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utter drivel! Not sure how it came to be published, only finished reading it because I'm too stubborn not to!

Wouldn't recommend it!

[Oana-Maria Uliu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, but not so good as other books by the same author (I only laughed twice!) Mark was a nice character. Too nice, actually. But I couldn't care less about the other characters.

[Lauren P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm average. Maybe a little boring. I have read other chick lits that have been amusing and had a great underlying story. This was hmmm... honestly I wouldn’t bother.

[Lorraine Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

[Vrsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, witty and a light and fun read.