Gutted: Down to the Studs in My House, My Marriage, My Entire Life

by Lawrence LaRose

One man's hair-raising and hilarious account of the reconstruction of an old house and the near demolition of a new marriage.

Only a few years ago, Lawrence LaRose won a place on bestseller lists as coauthor of The Time-Tested Secrets for Getting What You Want from Women - Without Marrying Them! But then recklessness set LaRose fell in love. In the course of a few months, he became engaged, got married, and bought a decrepit fixer-upper in Sag Harbor, New York. Days before closing, he lost his job. This unemployed writer and Manhattanite lit on a preposterous he would bluff his way onto a Hamptons construction crew in order to learn the skills he needed. Soon he was building stadium-size "cottages" with $600 toilet paper holders while barely scraping by with his own meager renovation. But as challenges mounted and confusions multiplied, LaRose and his wife found they had something extra keeping them safe from tons of debt, and the risk-taking inclination to stay together.

Whether you're a single person, a newlywed, or one of those harried married folks lumbering through Home Depot, you'll find Gutted to be an outrageously original view of trading spaces, giving up unfettered freedom for marriage, and building a life and a home. Part cautionary tale, part hands-on advice, Gutted shows that the best improvements in life all start with a little demolition.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 19, 2004

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is possibly the most truthful book about renovating that I've ever read. Not because of any "how to" information—because there's really not any—but because of everything else LaRose and his wife went through redoing their house. Despite having zero experience in any kind of manual labor, the LaRoses bought a fixer-upper, and planned extensive changes. What they naively thought would be a three month, $50,000 DIY experience turned into a two year ordeal, with the author cashing in his retirement to finish. Although it contains the requisite pondering on how you don't renovate a house, it renovates you, and ends with the ol' "If I had it all to do over again, I would," it's really a wild, heart-wrenching ride. The author goes from an idealistic newlywed, to a desperate out-of-work writer who fakes his way into a construction job, to a sarcastic mess who wonders why his wife bothers to stay with him, to the owner of a finally renovated house with a new baby.

I would recommend this to anyone considering a renovation project—even something relatively small. Also, I would recommend it to those—like myself and my husband—who are already in too deep on a renovation project. Either the LaRoses themselves or the people they hired made just about every mistake imaginable, but it all turned out okay in the end. They’re frazzled, and frayed, but they’re still happily married and they have a house that works. What the other home renovation books/TV shows/magazines/etc never tell you is that the actual work involved is always more than you expect, but still only one part of the equation; it's everything else that can leave you gutted.

[Margo Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

...

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author and his new wife buy their dream home in the Hamptons and learn the painful lesson about being house poor, and thinking that all you need is a do-it-yourself attitude. The once certified bachelor marries his dream girl, they buy a money pit of a house, and they struggle to renovate the house while keeping their marriage together, as mishaps with planning and zoning boards, contractors and themselves, cause stress beyond belief. It wasn't as "funny" as the testimonials on the book make it seem, it was more nerve-wracking and sadly relatable. A fine read, for sure.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

we've been through 2 home gut and rebuild projects, moving on to number 3. it's not for the faint of heart. but lawrence and susan didn't have to live in the renovation... the most testing part ;) it's fairly well written, and made me feel that we actually know and can do far more than we thought. my sympathy ran out when he mentioned that the kitchen was being photographed for a magazine layout....

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad to find this one! It was reviewed in Fine Homebuilding magazine, of which there are 7,000 in my bathroom. Had the library borrow it for me, and what an enjoyable escape it was! If only Handyman and I could have this couple over for a cappuccino...Humorous, insightful, well-written....I wish it was longer! The only bummer is there ARE NO PICTURES OF THE HOUSE!!! A travesty! It gave me hope and motivation...making Handyman read it now.

[Susan D'Entremont · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny book about the author and his wife completely rehabbing a run-down Long Island home even though they have very little renovation experience. It was a fast read, but I cringed at a lot of what they did - I guess I'm just not very impulsive. Like why would they rip up EVERYTHING all at once without thinking of what they were going to do next?

[Maurean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have tried to read through it (I don't know if my current refurbshing of our 1940's beach cottage attributes to my lack of sense of humor on this subject, or not!) but it just didn't hold my attention as I had thought it

[Nel · Rating 5 out of 5]

you can imagine that i found this book brilliantly funny! definitely agree with his opinion that marriage counseling is over-rated. what a couple needs to do to really get to know each other is to pick out appliances at Home Depot!!!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remodeling is both a hard backbreaking task but can also inspire humor. Lawrence LaRose has the ability with words to make me laugh until tears ran down my face. This is the second most funny book I have read in recent years.

[David Jay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This sounded so interesting...a newlywed couple purchase a wreck on Sag Harbor and try to make it their home. Boring and disappointing.

[Kristen Fefes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hiliarous, well written and identifiable to anyone who is a do it yourselfer at home.

[Kathy Szydlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As chronic DIYers, this book hit really close to home. My husband and I both found it to be a hoot.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise and epilogue were great, and it did make me chuckle out loud a couple of times, but there was an awful lot of building in there and arguing about building. Yuck.

[Meadow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha! I read this in 2005 when living in the old house that was fully remodeled. Now I am in the new (older!) house and it is currently in the gutted state. I should read it again.

[Blaine Morrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing - albeit self-absorbed - account of a house remodeling project that was over-ambitious, disruptive, and (eventually) fulfilling.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're familiar with construction and renovation projects you will like this book. LaRose's descriptions and stories of the process are very funny.

[John Coons]

Awesome book.

If anyone ever contemplates remodeling while married (or in a relationship), this is a must-read!

[Robert Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-stop humor about the horrors of a do-it-yourself re-model. Ya gotta crack some eggs to make an omelette...