Boys Were Boys

by Lauren Hollander

On a random Wednesday, over half of the male population across the planet disappears. No warning. No rapture. Simply gone without a trace.

The events that unfold over the following three months are told through the eyes of five different women across the world.

In Los Angeles, a cop is forced to reexamine a moment from her past she’s spent years pretending never happened. In Indiana, a mother and daughter are finally free to breathe in their own home. A prisoner in Herat, Afghanistan discovers new opportunities in a world where power has shifted overnight. At Cambridge, a grieving student mourns the loss of her loving boyfriend, while wondering what his absence could mean. And in Chicago, a hacktivist with a brother in prison for sexual assault stumbles onto a shocking connection between the disappeared men and his case.

As these women rebuild their lives, the mystery of the vanished men raises provoking questions about justice, survival, and the choices needed to shape a better world.

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2025

About the author

Lauren is a culinary school graduate who went on to earn a BS in Ag Sciences and an MS in Food Systems. With a background in non-fiction writing within the food sector, Boys Were Boys is her debut novel. Her writing spans various genres, but her stories often focus on female strength. When she's not lost in her mind creating new worlds, Lauren enjoys reading, gardening, and cooking in Salem, OR, where she lives with her husband, dog, cats, and chickens.

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal. This little book packs quite a punch. A powerful insight into the horrors that women are faced with every day under a system that oppresses us. This addresses how we handle living day to day in the midst of a patriarchal society and gives a hopeful glimpse into what life would be like if that oppression no longer existed in our world.

[Gilbo Baggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an advanced copy of this book and absolutely loved it! I read a lot of speculative fiction, but this one really stood out. So unique and loved the linear narrative, made it so I couldn't put it down. Was a bit worried about how the story would end, but loved the way she brought it all together. Great read, powerful message. Definitely recommend!

[Aidan Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very impressed. This book couldn’t have come out at a better time. Every woman should read this book all over the world. Especially women whove been a victim of sexual abuse, this book was written by someone who sees you, she hears you, she feels you. Lauren is a exceptional author and so excited to see what else she brings to the table!!

[Lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly one of a kind. I've never read anything quite like it, and I’m still thinking and talking about it weeks later. The way the storylines unfolded simultaneously in completely different parts of the world, with such different circumstances, was fascinating. It was a powerful read that flowed smoothly and easily and kept me engaged. and keeps you It’s a powerful read that captivated me from start to finish. I highly recommend!

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is an answer to the question “what would happen if men , bad men would just disappear?” The answer is simple: women would thrive and a better society would blossom. I love the fact that in the book not all men are bad. It puts in perspective present day societies where women are silenced and forced to submit to abusive men, however good men are just as common as the bad ones.
I love the different stories and situations, while in one country all women are being oppressed, in another there are case by case horrific situations of abuse.
While reading about different forms of oppression this book is about women’s power and resilience. Women’s liberation and willingness to create and maintain a better society.
Towards the end of the book there is a powerful conversation that brings this book right in the middle of present day USA;
a group of friends are discussing why do people vote for an abusive president and what is the stigma against abused women.
This book is a great conversation starter about today’s political environment, social issues, women’s rights and world order. It is a bold read that will stick with me for a while.
Compared to other books I have read it has various tangents to Handmade’s Tale by M. Atwood , I who have never known men by J. Harpman , A thousand splendid suns by K. Hosseini, Three Women by L. Tadeo

[Paria Hassouri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if suddenly about half the men across the world disappeared? This follows 5 different women and I particularly loved how the author handled the story line of the one living in Afghanistan. A quick read that is poignant and thought provoking.

[Ashley Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cool premise for a book! I loved all the different viewpoints and loved how the story came together. I loved seeing some stories happy about the disappearance and others grieving over it. It just really made me think about all the different types of men that exist in the world- some truly good, some that seem to be good but really aren’t, and some that don’t even try to be seen as good.

In the famous words of Beyoncé, “Who run the world? Girls!”

[Sunthuana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such an amazing read! If you’re looking for a dystopian drama that’ll make you think! This is the one for you! I love how the author explores what each individual character experiences after all men disappear. So good loved every minute.

[kim 🍄 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone is looking for a good short story to get into fiction look no further. I loved this. It was so digestible while tackling such a big issue. I look forward to reading more from this author

[MrXDG · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

Boys Were Boys by Lauren Hollander explores the realities many women face across the world through multiple perspectives. What stood out most to me was how the book showed that the same toxic behaviors exist across different cultures, sometimes more visible and sometimes more hidden. The story approaches the “boys will be boys” mentality head-on and doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable moments. Those moments felt intentional though, reflecting the kind of experiences many women deal with in real life. As the author puts it, "Instead of a dystopian nightmare, it was a utopian dream - a future humanity never could've imagined."

The characters felt authentic and emotionally grounded, and several stories stuck with me. Keira’s storyline resonated the most because I grew up in an abusive home myself, even though my experience wasn’t to the level she endured. I also enjoyed Nari and Zarmina’s story and learning about elements from other cultures throughout the book. By the end, I liked how the author wrapped up the different perspectives and even connected some of them together. While I would have been curious to see where the characters ended up years later, I also respect the open-ended ending. This is definitely a book I would reread and recommend.

[Kelsey Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Boys were boys - and look what happened".

One day the majority of men disappeared. There one second and gone the next. This book follows five women from different parts of the world and how their lives changed in the following three months. As they settle in to their new normal, the questions surrounding the vanishing men turns into patterns that seem to be unraveling.

My heart aches because of how much I yearn to live in this world. It does touch on some sensitive topics and even controversial ones, but it did so deliberately and to expand on the nuance. The book itself wasn't very action-packed or intense, quite the opposite but I just felt so seen inside of it.

[Michelle DeJesus · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were to read one dystopian book this year let it be this one. If you were to read one indie author also let it be this one. The premise of this book was so unique and it just made you realize how much the world would change if all bad men disappeared off the face of the world. This book follows different woman around the world after the sudden disappearance of millions upon millions of men. It was a definite page turner.

[Melvine Clinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Hollander takes a bold premise—the sudden disappearance of over half the world’s male population—and turns it into a deeply human, emotional story. Each woman’s perspective felt raw, real, and impossible to look away from. The book had me thinking about justice, survival, and gender dynamics in ways I wasn’t prepared for. Easily one of the best dystopian novels I’ve read in years.

[Chaloberry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good intentions very bad writing