Man of the House Review

Man of the House: endearing, funny look at gender & male ego 
You will definitely laugh when you read Man of the House, the witty follow-up to Ad Hudler's "House Husband," in which Linc Menner had taken over the duties of homemaker so his wife could accept her dream job.   It's NOT necessary to read House Husband in order to enjoy this new novel, which is bitingly funny and stands on its own.  Both men and women will enjoy it. 

Without any spoilers beyond what the book's jacket describes, House Husband gives us quirky Linc Menner once again.  But now Linc is realizing - as he's surrounded by manly construction workers renovating his own home - that he's lost touch with much of his male essence.  The novel follows him on his rib-tickling quest to regain and ramp up his inner machismo.  The author boldly and successfully writes in several voices, so that readers get not only Linc's perspective during the quest and metamorphosis, but also those of his bewildered wife and daughter, who have grown used to Daddy the way he was.  

In reality, Hudler has penned a mostly auto-biographical take on his own life:  he works at home as both writer and homemaker, and has been raising a teenage daughter while his wife is a well-respected VIP and road warrior.  So the feelings his character reveals are painfully honest; Hudler lets us see the dark underbelly of his own real-life decisions.  Again, a brave move.  

House Husband is a quick read, so funny and endearing you hate to put it down.  Thankfully, the author keeps a blog at ad hudler dot com, which will keep readers giggling long after the book is finished.    

The Bottom Line:  Libby Loves It!