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My Husband's Sweethearts: A Novel
When Lucy Shoreman discovered that her charming, cheating husband was dying, she came home, opened up his little black book, and decided she wasn’t going through this alone. After all, Artie’s sweethearts were there for the good times—is it fair that Lucy should have to manage the hard times herself? So she dials up the women and invites them for one last visit, never expecting any of them will actually show up. But when they do, along with a young man who may be Artie’s long-lost son, it’s only the first of many surprises in store.
Filled with heart, humor, and wisdom, Bridget Asher’s unforgettable novel turns a fresh eye on the joys and catastrophes of marriage, family, kindred friendships between women—and the sort of forgiveness that can change one’s entire life in the most unexpected and extraordinary ways.
Filled with heart, humor, and wisdom, Bridget Asher’s unforgettable novel turns a fresh eye on the joys and catastrophes of marriage, family, kindred friendships between women—and the sort of forgiveness that can change one’s entire life in the most unexpected and extraordinary ways.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
61 people are currently reading
1014 people want to read
About the author
Bridget Asher
23 books138 followersJulianna Baggott
aka
Bridget Asher & N.E. Bode
Borned on 30 September 1969, she teaches at Florida State University. She's married to David G.W. Scott and has four kids. Along with her husband, she is a co-founder of the nonprofit organization Kids in Need - Books in Deed., getting free books to underprivileged kids in Florida.
Today, she is a critically acclaimed and bestselling author, who wrote novels and poetry, and who has over fifty overseas editions of her books. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Best American Poetry, Best Creative Nonfiction, NPR’s Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered, and Here & Now. For two years, her alter-ego, N. E. Bode was a recurring personality on XM Radio. Her work has been a People Magazine pick alongside David Sedaris and Bill Clinton, a Washington Post Book of the Week, a Girl's Life Top Ten, a Booksense selection, and a Starbucks Bookish Reading Club pick.
aka
Bridget Asher & N.E. Bode
Borned on 30 September 1969, she teaches at Florida State University. She's married to David G.W. Scott and has four kids. Along with her husband, she is a co-founder of the nonprofit organization Kids in Need - Books in Deed., getting free books to underprivileged kids in Florida.
Today, she is a critically acclaimed and bestselling author, who wrote novels and poetry, and who has over fifty overseas editions of her books. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Best American Poetry, Best Creative Nonfiction, NPR’s Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered, and Here & Now. For two years, her alter-ego, N. E. Bode was a recurring personality on XM Radio. Her work has been a People Magazine pick alongside David Sedaris and Bill Clinton, a Washington Post Book of the Week, a Girl's Life Top Ten, a Booksense selection, and a Starbucks Bookish Reading Club pick.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
July 8, 2008
due out August 19, 2008
The premise of this book is delightfully nasty--a woman's unfaithful husband is dying, so she gets out his little black book and invites his "sweethearts" to come have their turn at his deathbed. And certainly it has its ultimate revenge (and rather funny) kind of moments. But what happens is far different from what it seems would. Some of these women begin to form a family of their own, helping each other through the problems that drove them to Artie's arms to begin with (he's a collector of somewhat damaged women), bonding together to survive Artie's end days and their collective rage, love, and grief. I could barely stand to put this book down--Asher is one heck of a storyteller. Fans of The First Wives Club and similar fiction will devour this book and anxiously wait, along with me, for Asher's next book.
The premise of this book is delightfully nasty--a woman's unfaithful husband is dying, so she gets out his little black book and invites his "sweethearts" to come have their turn at his deathbed. And certainly it has its ultimate revenge (and rather funny) kind of moments. But what happens is far different from what it seems would. Some of these women begin to form a family of their own, helping each other through the problems that drove them to Artie's arms to begin with (he's a collector of somewhat damaged women), bonding together to survive Artie's end days and their collective rage, love, and grief. I could barely stand to put this book down--Asher is one heck of a storyteller. Fans of The First Wives Club and similar fiction will devour this book and anxiously wait, along with me, for Asher's next book.
March 2, 2011
I was excited to read this book since I thought that the premise sounded fun and entertaining. I was hoping for a quick read with funny characters who have heart. I got a quick read.
The characters are severely under developed, there are some major holes in the plot, and some parts just do not add up. For example, when Elspa got her daughter back, the book just skipped the whole idea of the child being taken out of an obviously stable home, and thrust into a new world. Wouldn't Rose have been asking questions and had some trouble coping with this new situation? No one even explained to the child what was happening. It just did not fly with me.
I don't want to ramble on, so basically, I found it very disappointing. There was great potential, but it was certainly missed.
The characters are severely under developed, there are some major holes in the plot, and some parts just do not add up. For example, when Elspa got her daughter back, the book just skipped the whole idea of the child being taken out of an obviously stable home, and thrust into a new world. Wouldn't Rose have been asking questions and had some trouble coping with this new situation? No one even explained to the child what was happening. It just did not fly with me.
I don't want to ramble on, so basically, I found it very disappointing. There was great potential, but it was certainly missed.
March 10, 2020
The storyline in this book is meant to be a light hearted romp about Artie Shoreman, a serial cheater. Throughout the book, Artie is confined to bed after developing a debilitating heart condition. During his illness, his wife Lucy finds his “little black book” and decides to telephone Artie’s past conquests. True to his roots, Artie has also cheated on Lucy as well as some of his former sweethearts. Now comes the really unbelievable part: Lucy meets and forms a close friendship with two of the sweethearts. As long as one takes this plot in the humorous way the author intended (at least I hope so), this is an entertaining read!
January 19, 2009
Truly one of the worst books I have ever read. I wanted a quick fluff book and I got it. Ugh.
August 15, 2008
From AP:
¶ "My Husband's Sweethearts" (Bantam Dell Publishing Group, 271 pages, $22), by Bridget Asher: Lucy Shoreman is still coming to terms with her husband's cheating when she finds out he's dying. Unwilling to go through a second crisis alone, she gets drunk, takes his little black book and calls his sweethearts to invite them to take their turn at his deathbed.
¶ She's stunned when the women start showing up.
¶ A 20-something drug addict turned art student and 50-something widow arrive first. Then there's her husband's high school algebra teacher, a lesbian, an actress and, finally, mother and daughter.
¶ Eager to avoid the drama in her home, Lucy turns matters over to her mother and some of the sweethearts while she focuses on reuniting the philandering Artie Shoreman with his long lost son. But when Artie's son turns out to be as charming as his father, Lucy's life gets even more complicated.
¶ "My Husband's Sweethearts" is best-selling author Julianna Baggott's first novel under the Bridget Asher pen name. She also writes children's books as N.E. Bode.
¶ "Sweethearts" is a laugh-and-cry novel whose plot includes equal portions of heartache and hope.
¶ One of Lucy's most appealing qualities is her determination to make something good out of something bad. She does this by coming up with a plan to help Artie achieve peace with himself and his scorned lovers, reunite him with his son and help one sweetheart regain custody of her daughter.
¶ But Lucy finds it hard to forgive Artie herself and is struck with guilt when she learns Artie dumped someone else for her. She realizes, as one subtitle says, "At some point, each of us is someone else's bad guy."
¶ Asher's quirky and quick-moving plot keeps the pages turning, but the action comes with some sacrifice in characterization.
¶ Lucy and Elspa, the first sweetheart to arrive, are well-drawn, but the other main characters could be developed more _ particularly Artie, whose thoughts and feelings remain mostly a mystery.
¶ Even with this shortcoming, the novel is thoroughly enjoyable, and, like Lucy, readers will probably fall in love with "My Husband's Sweethearts."
¶ "My Husband's Sweethearts" (Bantam Dell Publishing Group, 271 pages, $22), by Bridget Asher: Lucy Shoreman is still coming to terms with her husband's cheating when she finds out he's dying. Unwilling to go through a second crisis alone, she gets drunk, takes his little black book and calls his sweethearts to invite them to take their turn at his deathbed.
¶ She's stunned when the women start showing up.
¶ A 20-something drug addict turned art student and 50-something widow arrive first. Then there's her husband's high school algebra teacher, a lesbian, an actress and, finally, mother and daughter.
¶ Eager to avoid the drama in her home, Lucy turns matters over to her mother and some of the sweethearts while she focuses on reuniting the philandering Artie Shoreman with his long lost son. But when Artie's son turns out to be as charming as his father, Lucy's life gets even more complicated.
¶ "My Husband's Sweethearts" is best-selling author Julianna Baggott's first novel under the Bridget Asher pen name. She also writes children's books as N.E. Bode.
¶ "Sweethearts" is a laugh-and-cry novel whose plot includes equal portions of heartache and hope.
¶ One of Lucy's most appealing qualities is her determination to make something good out of something bad. She does this by coming up with a plan to help Artie achieve peace with himself and his scorned lovers, reunite him with his son and help one sweetheart regain custody of her daughter.
¶ But Lucy finds it hard to forgive Artie herself and is struck with guilt when she learns Artie dumped someone else for her. She realizes, as one subtitle says, "At some point, each of us is someone else's bad guy."
¶ Asher's quirky and quick-moving plot keeps the pages turning, but the action comes with some sacrifice in characterization.
¶ Lucy and Elspa, the first sweetheart to arrive, are well-drawn, but the other main characters could be developed more _ particularly Artie, whose thoughts and feelings remain mostly a mystery.
¶ Even with this shortcoming, the novel is thoroughly enjoyable, and, like Lucy, readers will probably fall in love with "My Husband's Sweethearts."
September 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this heartwarming and funny audiobook about love, betrayal and finding love and family in unexpected places.
March 13, 2021
3.5 stars. Cute and simple read.
May 19, 2018
Such a disappointment! It started out very well, but then it went off track.
I truly did not care for the central idea of the book - all men cheat, but those who are good at heart are excused. An offence to all men and women understanding the complexity of a relation.
I truly did not care for the central idea of the book - all men cheat, but those who are good at heart are excused. An offence to all men and women understanding the complexity of a relation.
March 17, 2020
Outlandish story about the relationship between an unfaithful, dying man and his unloving, distant wife. She invites his “sweethearts” to say their final goodbyes and shame him for being a cheating scoundrel. I wanted to love this book, but I didn’t.
January 16, 2022
Wzruszająca opowieść o miłości.
August 30, 2025
I can’t. I just can’t. This book infuriated me from the very beginning and I tried to force myself to finish it. Maybe if i read one chapter a month I could do it. Well guess what? I’m a healed grown woman and I don’t need this bs manipulation in my life.
December 14, 2008
This was a bittersweet story. Humorous yet sad. I think my favorite character was that of Artie's maybe son, John Bessom. I liked his interactions with Lucy, where they talked about Artie. As for the rest of the characters I wish I had gotten to know them better, I didn't feel like I knew that much about most of them besides one of the sweethearts, Elspa. Since the story is told from Lucy's perspective I found myself actually forgetting her name. I would have liked to see more interactions between Lucy and Artie and found out a little more about Artie. You could definitely sense his love for Lucy through the little notes he sent her while she was away on business/avoiding him. I just wanted to see it a bit more when they actually came face to face.
I really liked the idea of a revolving door of sweethearts and really liked the part where several of them were described including a mother and daughter! Again, would have loved to hear about more of them! I think it would have added to the humor of the book. I also liked the idea of women that could potentially be at each other's throats developing a friendship and helping each other grow and prepare for losing Artie.
I definitely knew how the book was going to end but that's the ending I was really hoping for so it was pretty darn satisfying! I hate endings that set you up and then go into a totally different direction! This was a sweet, rather light read!
I really liked the idea of a revolving door of sweethearts and really liked the part where several of them were described including a mother and daughter! Again, would have loved to hear about more of them! I think it would have added to the humor of the book. I also liked the idea of women that could potentially be at each other's throats developing a friendship and helping each other grow and prepare for losing Artie.
I definitely knew how the book was going to end but that's the ending I was really hoping for so it was pretty darn satisfying! I hate endings that set you up and then go into a totally different direction! This was a sweet, rather light read!
July 17, 2025
Em duas palavras: comovente e divertido! Uma abordagem totalmente diferente de outra história que já tenha lido e com muito humor à mistura.
Foi um livro que me provocou umas quantas lágrimas de riso mas também de tristeza. É um livro que fala da morte, da traição, do perdão, da amizade, do amor, da bondade e acima de tudo dos laços que criamos uns com os outros.
Lucy ama o seu marido, mas Artie nunca foi capaz de ser fiel, apesar de a amar muito, amava também outras mulheres. Lucy muito chateada por ele a chamar no seu leito de morte decide partilhar esse momento com as outras “muleres” de Artie. E entramos num caminho de reconhecimento, perdão e descoberta de si mesmo e do outro, de valores familiares e em acreditar numa vida melhor.
Foi para mim uma leitura muito cativante, gostei muito do livro porque retrata pessoas imperfeitas, vidas reconstruídas mas com um tom de esperança para o futuro.
Foi um livro que me provocou umas quantas lágrimas de riso mas também de tristeza. É um livro que fala da morte, da traição, do perdão, da amizade, do amor, da bondade e acima de tudo dos laços que criamos uns com os outros.
Lucy ama o seu marido, mas Artie nunca foi capaz de ser fiel, apesar de a amar muito, amava também outras mulheres. Lucy muito chateada por ele a chamar no seu leito de morte decide partilhar esse momento com as outras “muleres” de Artie. E entramos num caminho de reconhecimento, perdão e descoberta de si mesmo e do outro, de valores familiares e em acreditar numa vida melhor.
Foi para mim uma leitura muito cativante, gostei muito do livro porque retrata pessoas imperfeitas, vidas reconstruídas mas com um tom de esperança para o futuro.
February 12, 2014
I ended up enjoying this book far more than I expected to. There wasn't a single character I didn't like. It seemed as if the story should be sad or harsh, but it wasn't. It was very...real. The emotions were honest: sometimes sharp, sometimes confusing, something surprising, always complicated -- as emotions often are -- and the reactions were very identifiable. Much less about life and death than the description might have lead me to believe, and far more about betrayal, honesty, forgiveness, and learning to "feel all of it." So many times I found myself laughing and nodding, even as some sentence fragment struck a resonating cord deep in my psyche, right down to the final words: "...we will spend this long afternoon crying and laughing at the same time, so much so that I can no longer tell which one is the truest form of grief."
June 30, 2009
This isn't my normal genre of books, but I have to say I really enjoyed this one. It tells the story of Lucy and Artie. Artie is dying and Lucy comes home to care for him. She had left him six months earlier because she found out he was cheating on her. When she comes home she ends up getting drunk, grabs Artie's "Little Black Book" and starts calling his "sweetheart" so they can schedule their time at his bedside. Lucy is very surprised when women start showing up. Things really don't turn out the way she thinks they will. She actually bonds with some of the women and finds peace with Artie and discovers a new love. Its a great story that made me laugh and cry. I would love to see it made into a movie!
May 23, 2012
What a delightful story on a serious subject yet, it was heartwarming and funny. Lucy, our main character, is an odd woman who struggles with love & abandonment issues. I can't imagine embarking on such a pain-staking journey when her marriage is falling apart, and her husband is dying. She learns & confirms a lot about her husband, Artie, but she also discovers some telling things about herself.
I'm a believer that children learn what the live, and Lucy is further proof of that. Her father left her with abandonment issues, and her mother, Joan, fosters mistrust and the mentality that one must have a man to be okay.
What they all learn on the journey about themselves & each other is surprising.
It was very good and easy read. I enjoyed it.
I'm a believer that children learn what the live, and Lucy is further proof of that. Her father left her with abandonment issues, and her mother, Joan, fosters mistrust and the mentality that one must have a man to be okay.
What they all learn on the journey about themselves & each other is surprising.
It was very good and easy read. I enjoyed it.
June 6, 2008
This was a quick read, pretty light despite the not-light setup. Lucy is still struggling to deal with her husband's infidelity and contemplating divorce, when she finds out he is in grave health and won't live long. She ends up contacting some of his exes, both from before their marriage and during. The book brings up some very interesting topics about fidelity, love, family, forgiveness, and grief. Despite that, it doesn't dwell, isn't trying to be a tear-jerker, and in the end is life-affirming. A little more lightweight in moments than I'd like, with a fairly predictable ending, and some nice lines that stopped being so poetic when repeated, but I did enjoy it, overall.
October 10, 2008
At times, it was hard to put this book down. Bridget Asher is a great storyteller. The idea of this book is kinda nasty--a woman learns that her husband has been unfaithful and is also dying. So she gets out his little black book and invites his "sweethearts" to come have their turn at his deathbed. And while it has the idea of being the ultimate revenge, what happens is far different from what it seems would. Some of these women begin to form a family of their own, helping each other and you learn of what bonds they have/had with Artie. This bonds the women together to survive Artie's end days and their collective rage, love, and grief. Would suggest for anyone to read.
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August 5, 2011I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read! I felt the premise was a very interesting one. Love isn't just for one person and often we do not understand what motivates a person to love others until we put ourselves in their place and find out more about who those other people really are. Often we find love in the least likely places and how can we turn away from it. Family can also be found through deeper understanding and acceptance of who people are. Life is often messy and there is no black and white straight forward answer to anything that involves the human heart and spirit.
A good well-written book. I will be looking for more books by Bridget Asher.
A good well-written book. I will be looking for more books by Bridget Asher.
December 22, 2011
Lucy learns that her husband, Artie, has been unfaithful, and she uses her job to run away from the situation. As he attempts to woo her back, she discovers that he is dying. She returns to be with him and decides that he should confront the hurt he has caused women by being visited by his "sweethearts", on his deathbed. In the process, she learns how to cope with his betrayal and builds a new family for herself.
Not a heavy read (despite the whole death thing), but enjoyable, as the various characters come to terms with things that Artie's death makes them confront. I listened to it on a car ride and it was perfect for that.
Not a heavy read (despite the whole death thing), but enjoyable, as the various characters come to terms with things that Artie's death makes them confront. I listened to it on a car ride and it was perfect for that.
December 28, 2015
Actually pretty close to the 3.29 star average for this book. Listened on CDs. The reader -- actually a performer -- was a little too perky part of the time but did a great variety of voices. The character jumped to silly HARLEQUIN conclusions, but the premise of a wronged wife summoning her dying husband's former sweethearts was interesting. A clever little tale with overtones of LIFETIME and HALLMARK and not terribly robust, but still entertaining and touching.
I'd chosen this particular CD volume to take on a trip largely because it "tracked" every 3 minutes, so if I lost my place I could find it again without a lot of trouble. As good a reason as any....
I'd chosen this particular CD volume to take on a trip largely because it "tracked" every 3 minutes, so if I lost my place I could find it again without a lot of trouble. As good a reason as any....
May 23, 2009
An interesting premise....a wife trying to deal with her husband's infidelity and approaching death due to illness. She thinks it unfair that he has cheated on her (several times) and yet she has to be the one to take care of him as he is dying.
His suggestion is to hand her his address book and tell her to "call his sweethearts" which she does and she invites them to "take a turn at his deathbed."
It's cute so far and an original story.
I liked this one and would recommend it for those who like light reading with entertaining characters with a smidge of depth.
His suggestion is to hand her his address book and tell her to "call his sweethearts" which she does and she invites them to "take a turn at his deathbed."
It's cute so far and an original story.
I liked this one and would recommend it for those who like light reading with entertaining characters with a smidge of depth.
March 10, 2012
I picked this book off the library shelf because I liked the title. It's not a great book; but it fun and presents a story line found in the title. Lucy's husband is dying and she invites past lovers to his bedside to, hopefully, teach him a lesson. She ends up learning more about love than she intended and I loved the insights of each of the characters. I also wish that life had such happy endings. This is a women's book complete with the psychological musings about love, friends, family and forgiveness. It is also about the power of women to heal each other.
August 25, 2017
Foi um livro que me deixou na expectativa de ser algo mais divertido. Tudo começa com a descoberta de que o marido andou a trair durante anos, embora no casamento dele com a Lucy nunca tivesse traído. E começa a descobrir as várias facetas do marido, entre um filho desconhecido, uma rapariga nova que começou a namorar antes do casamento e até ao casamento, enfim as várias traições, mas coitado está às portas da morte. Não fiquei fan da autora, não gostei da história.
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August 6, 2008
Reasonably well written chick lit, with an irresistible hook: the cheating husband is dying, and the cheated upon wife decides to invite all his former sweethearts to take a turn at his deathbed. What starts out as an effort at revenge turns into a life changing interlude, as Lucy the wife learns more about her soon to be late husband, and herself. Of course, she finds true love and a new family out of the ashes of this potentially devastating situation. A quick entertaining read.
April 8, 2009
I loved this book! Lucy discovers that her charming, affable husband has been cheating on her. Then she finds out he has a terminal disease. How she copes with the knowledge of his other women and the ways in which she comes to terms with his need for love and forgiveness forms a totally unique story.
I thought that this would be an "all men are jerks" book but it is not like that at all. It is warm, humorous, and a joy to read.
I thought that this would be an "all men are jerks" book but it is not like that at all. It is warm, humorous, and a joy to read.
August 24, 2012
More like 3.5 stars. I thought the book was pretty good. The beginning was better than the end. Kinda unrealistic for me because I would never be friends with any of my husbands sweethearts, if that were the case! Haha. However, I'd recommend this book anyway.
February 19, 2013
it's ok. just ok. i felt no empathy with any of the characters, they all seemed pretty flat to me. some ghastly sentiment. for example:-" it's like you woke me out of a dream, and i didn't know it, but you were the dream i'd been dreaming". oh, please, no more.
February 9, 2009
I really liked this book. While the story is pretty unbelievable, the characters are all different but come together to make the story enjoyable. A good read, not your typical "chick lit".
February 5, 2009
This novel was different with a nice story - very well written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews