Awake by Jen Hatmaker
A book by an evangelical Christian podcaster and influencer is not in my wheelhouse either, but Jen Hatmaker’s memoir is delightful if a little heartbreaking.
For the past dozen years, Hatmaker, a happily married mother of five, was a leader in the conservative Christian community. But after twenty-six years of marriage, she discovered that her pastor husband was cheating. Married at age nineteen, the daughter of a pastor, nothing prepared Hatmaker for the fallout– personal, professional, and spiritual.
What saves this sorry tale from being just another cliched my-man-done-me-wrong is Hatmaker’s voice. In a series of short vignettes which span her childhood to the present, she is resilient, funny, and thoughtful.
You do not need to be Christian or divorced to enjoy this memoir. Anyone who had to recalibrate midlife, mid-career, or mid-marriage will appreciate this quick but insightful read.
WHO WROTE IT
Jen Hatmaker is the author of fourteen books, including four New York Times bestsellers, and the host of the award-winning podcast For the Love.
WHAT OTHER REVIEWERS SAY
Mel Robbins, author The Let Them Theory: “I can’t imagine any woman reading this without feeling seen, inspired, and totally empowered.”