I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be a different take on a recurrent theme in contemporary women's fiction. The subject matter was heartbreaking yet relate-able. All of the characters were believable, genuine, and people I'd like to know in real-life.

Secrets are part of any family. The things people hope to keep buried deep. The fear of the consequence feels worse than what's been hidden.

The plot twists had me gasping out-loud. I found myself going back to re-read any details I may have missed.

I look forward to reading more books by Jamie Brenner.

Widow (Lauren's) life is forever changed after she discovers a filmmaker (Matt) is making a documentary about her husband (Rory).

Widowed five years ago, Lauren has not yet moved on after losing her husband, Rory, a star hockey player who died while serving his country. After Rory's heroism was honored at a large, very public funeral, all Lauren wanted was to grieve in peace away from the media spotlight. After retreating to an island on the Jersey shore, she successfully hid for years until a very determined documentary filmmaker, Matt, tracked her down and asked to interview her. How will his appearance, and the film, change her life? Will she finally come to terms with losing her first love? What other surprises will be revealed?

This book would be perfect for a day at the beach!

Thank you to the author and the publisher for an advance copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

Location: Absecon Island, New Jersey

Absorbing, poignant, and incredibly moving!

The Husband Hour is a beautifully written story that delves into the complexities and dynamics of relationships between partners, siblings, and the nuclear family as a whole and reminds us that there’s no perfection in humanity, we are all wonderfully flawed.

The prose is fluid and well turned. The characters are authentic, scarred and lovable. And the story is an exceptionally mesmerizing tale about life, loss, love, grief, forgiveness, familial drama, friendship, courage, community, moving on, happiness, and the enduring physical and psychological effects of sports injuries on professional athletes.

Overall, The Husband Hour is the perfect blend of heart-wrenching emotion, grit, hope, and humour. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it left me smiling, and I absolutely loved it!

I could barely finish this book. It wasn't because it was bad, not even close. No, that was definitely not it. It was due to many tears and the many loud foghorn noises emanating from blowing my nose so much
that went along with those tears.

I hear a lot about CTE in the news in relation to football players suffering concussions, but I never really thought about hockey. I suppose that's because I don't really follow it, but however, it does make sense. Those guys are cray, cray on that ice!

This book really touched me. It wasn't only because of my feelings towards the subject matter at all. It was because the author did an awesome job of portraying the characters in this heartbreaking tale of one family's lives.

There were so many issues involved in the plot of this story and none of them felt out of place or redundantly portrayed. It was a story of one family's love, loss and life. A story that broke my heart and had me smiling at the end.

This wasn't my first book by this author, but it was definitely the best. I absorbed this book in one sitting with frequent breaks to attend to the needs of my eyeballs and my nose.

An excellent read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Kudos to the author and thanks to Little, Brown and Company and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I adored this book and loved the time I spent in its pages. It was time spent in emotion -grief and anger tempered by realization, forgiveness and loads of love.

I enjoyed getting to know Lauren. She broke my heart with her terrible grief and guilt. I loved her family who were all dealing with their own tough life issues. It was a pleasure to join their journey and to watch as it all played out during this summer at the family’s beach house on the Jersey Shore.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fabulously written story about family drama, love and time at the beach.

I love everything about this book! I fell in love with all the characters even the ones that I really disliked. This story is about the hard things, TBI, betrayal, cheating, loneliness, and forgiving love. Brenner does an excellent job of bringing it all to a very satisfying ending!

Lauren Adelman and Rory Kincaid were high school sweethearts. Rory was an all-star hockey player who was heavily recruited by colleges while Lauren worked on the school newspaper. The two were always together and they finally married after Rory got drafted by the NHL. Unfortunately, his hockey career stalled early on and he found himself unemployed. With few options, Rory enlisted in the US Army and was later killed overseas. After his death, Lauren retreated to her family’s beach house at the Jersey Shore where she worked as a waitress.

Four years later, her parents, sister, and nephew decide to spend their summer at the beach house. Lauren is not happy with this invasion of her privacy. She also readies herself for an escalation of her stormy relationship with her sister. At the same time, a filmmaker requests an interview about her late husband. He is working on a documentary about Rory and has completed extensive research about his past. He believes that there is more information about Rory’s short career in the NHL that needs to be disclosed. Lauren is holding onto precious information but doesn't want his image tarnished by the media. Begrudgingly, Lauren agrees to give the reporter one hour of her time.

The Husband Hour by Jamie Brenner is a book that covers many meaningful topics. Although the focus is the main character's grief, it also embarks on the theme of adult family relationships. This is the third novel that I have read by the author and she has become one of my favorites.

Jamie Brenner has done it again with this beautifully written story about dealing with the loss of a loved one, about family, forgiveness and trust. The characters felt real and believable and were very likable, even those with their many flaws. I love when books captivate me from the very beginning and The Husband Hour did just that. It is one that I couldn't put down. Very well done with quite a surprising twist. I highly recommend it.

Jamie Brenner's The Husband Hour is one of those lovely novels that straddles the line between women's fiction and contemporary romance. Our heroine is a woman trying desperately to find herself after her husband's tragic death. Her journey to self-discovery is pretty tricky, but she ends up learning quite a bit about who she really is in the process. She is also faced with a chance at new love, and I absolutely loved watching her navigate all the pitfalls life throws in her path.

When Lauren Adelman married her high school sweetheart soon after she graduated from college, she was pretty sure life couldn't get any better. She'd been in love with Rory for what seemed like forever, and he was poised to take the world by storm as a star hockey player. Being married to a high-profile athlete wasn't exactly in Lauren's life plan, but she was sure she and Rory would work out any problems together, and she was ready and willing to be the supportive wife he deserved.

The years go by, and suddenly, Rory announces that he's leaving his hockey career behind and enlisting in the army. No one is more surprised than Lauren, but Rory refuses to reconsider his decision, and he heads off to Afghanistan where he is killed in action. Lauren is understandably wrecked by the news of his death, and she retreats to her family's beach house to wallow in her grief as well as to escape the public scrutiny Rory's passing has brought to her door.

Four years later, Lauren hasn't managed to move on at all. She works at a local diner, runs miles a day, and basically isolates herself from the world whenever possible. Her family's beach house on the Jersey shore has become her full-time refuge, and she can't imagine living anywhere else ever again. Unfortunately though, Lauren's family has other plans, and her sheltered existence is soon disrupted when her parents, sister, and young nephew come to spend one last summer at the shore before selling the house. Suddenly, Lauren is forced to deal with all manner of family drama, and she wants nothing more than to be alone once again.

Then, filmmaker Matt Brio tracks Lauren down and begs her to participate in a documentary he's making about Rory's life. Matt has experienced his own set of tragedies, and he has the strong feeling that making this documentary will finally bring him some peace. At first, readers may be confused about Matt's rather obsessive interest in the late Rory Kincaid, but all will be revealed in due time. Unfortunately for Matt, his producer refuses to be involved in the project if Lauren doesn't take part, so Matt stoops to some rather unethical lengths to convince her to do so. I wasn't thrilled by this part of the story, but it didn't last long enough to really detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Lauren can't stand the thought of baring her soul on screen for all the world to see, but neither is she particularly fond of the documentary being made without her participation. She wants to make sure Rory is portrayed in the most positive light possible, and so, against her better judgement, she promises Matt one hour of her time. She hopes to lay to rest any untruths he might have discovered and then walk away, but as you can probably imagine, things don't end up being that cut and dried. As Lauren reluctantly opens up to Matt about her life as Rory's wife, she is forced to face several dark truths about her late husband and to re-examine what really precipitated his sudden decision to join the army.

The Husband Hour is the story of one woman's struggle to come to terms with some deeply buried truths. It's a story that is sure to bring you to tears on more than one occasion, but it will also leave you feeling strangely empowered. Lauren's journey toward self-discovery isn't always easy, but it's a journey we can all relate to in one way or another. Our own secrets might not be as dramatic or as life-altering as Lauren's, but I'm pretty sure we all know what it's like to hide things from ourselves in an attempt to make life seem a little less bleak.

I really loved the emphasis Ms. Brenner puts on family life. Lauren is understandably devastated after Rory's death, and she seems to forget her responsibilities to other members of her family. Her parents and sister are experiencing various crises of their own, and it was lovely to watch Lauren wake up to the fact that she was still a member of this imperfect family group. She gets frustrated with their intrusion into what she sees as her well-deserved peace, but she eventually comes to see that she is still loved and needed by them, and that true healing can only come to her if she once again opens her heart to those around her.

This novel contains some pretty strong romantic elements, but the romance between Lauren and Matt is not the central focus of the story. Some people might be disappointed by this, but I applaud Ms. Brenner for allowing Lauren to focus on her own personal growth and healing before giving her heart to another man. Matt and Lauren do have great chemistry when they're on page together, and their romance adds an element of joy to what might otherwise have been a pretty dark and depressing read.

There's so much to love about The Husband Hour, and I hope you will pick it up and revel in it the way I did. It's an emotional read for sure, and one that will remain with me for a long time to come.

Buy it at: Amazon/Barnes & Noble/iBooks/Kobo

"When a young widow's reclusive life in a charming beach town is interrupted by a surprise visitor, she is forced to reckon with dark secrets about her family, her late husband, and the past she tried to leave behind."

I classify this novel as a "beach read." The story line moves at a good pace and keeps the reader engaged The characters are flawed but for the most part, likeable. Some parts of the storyline were very predictable. That said, the predictability didn't hinder the enjoyment of the story.

I would recommend "The Husband Hour" to anyone who likes a quick chick-lit, beach read that keeps the reader entertained for the duration of the novel.

4 authentic stars to The Husband Hour! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Having enjoyed Jamie Brenner’s novel, the Wedding Sisters, I was eager to read her newest, The Husband Hour.

At first glance, I wasn’t sure how relatable this novel would be after reading the synopsis that describes the main characters as a power couple with an NHL husband. I quickly learned that The Husband Hour was about much more.

Rory, the husband, decides to leave he NHL, enlist in the Army, and is later killed in combat. Lauren is devastated and lives completely hidden away in her family’s beach house. That is, until a stranger approaches her about filming a documentary on Rory.

I’ve just given you a taste of what’s at the heart of the story, but Lauren is surrounded by warm characters you will want to know, including her sister and mother.

The Husband Hour is a story of authentic grief, marriage, families, confronting your past secrets, and moving on with life. It’s a worthy summer read with more than its share of substance and heart.

Thank you to Jamie Brenner, Little, Brown and Company, and Netgalley for the ARC. The Husband Hour will be released on April 24, 2018!

Jamie Brenner is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. ‘The Forever Summer’ was one of my favorite books last year just as I’m sure ‘The Husband Hour’ will be one of my favorite books of 2018.
Lauren Kincaid becomes a recluse at the Jersey Shore after the death of a husband Rory, a military hero and former NHL star.
I enjoyed how Lauren and Rory’s story was told through flashbacks. I liked the author’s writing style and how she draws the reader in and slowly draws Lauren out of her shell.
I liked the suspense in the story. The reader was aware that something had happened between Lauren and her sister, Stephanie, but needed to keep reading in order to learn the details.
I also enjoyed the side story of Lauren’s parents and how after thirty years it was now Beth’s, Lauren’s mother, time to shine.
The book is compulsively readable, filled with drama and secrets.
I received an Advance Review Copy. All opinions are my own.

What an emotional ride! This was a complex tale of the various stages of love and heartache, the secrets families keep, and a messy beginning at forgiveness and redemption. There is so much to love about this story, and I felt the author did a fine job at portraying some really tough themes in a respectful and honoring way. I always get teary eyed when discussing how greatly I appreciate the men and women who serve in the military and also to those who give the ultimate sacrifice; the fact that there are folks out there so selfless that they are willing to lay down their life for those of us they don't even know will never lay lightly on my heart, and I could tell that Brenner feels the same while reading her creation here. There were so many twists and turns I didn't anticipate, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that everything wasn't tied up in a neat little package by the end. The story is messy and uncomfortable, but the writing is crisp and poetic as we are left with a glimmer of hope and a feeling of endurance. Highly recommended to those looking for a novel that warms and aches the heart in equal doses.

An amazing story full of secrets and vulnerability. Truly a moving story that will make you think about the heroes in your own life.

Another fabulous book by Jamie Brenner. Filled with great character development, an interesting storyline and setting, some mystery and surprises, and lots of family drama. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded with a nice use of flashbacks so you could get a glimpse into the earlier days of the protagonist’s relationship and marriage. So many themes covered in this book: professional sports, celebrity status, the military, love, grief, betrayal, heroism, documentary film making, and some yummy baking thrown in! Love the way it all ties together.

I requested the book based on the cover and title, but don't think either of them have anything to do with the book (??) Drama, mixed with sports subject, mixed with medical terminology, and part love story, I didn't really enjoy this book. I thought it tried to accomplish too much, yet very little depth to the book.

As much as this story is about Rory and Lauren it really is about family. How you can love someone in your family but dislike them at the same time. To say that Lauren and her sister Stephanie are at odds would be putting it lightly. They haven’t truly spoken in years and when Rory died, Stephanie didn’t attend his funeral.

So spending the summer in their family home on the Jersey Shore when Lauren has the house mainly to herself most of the year. Their mother, Beth, thinks this summer will just the thing to fix her family.

What Ms. Brenner does an excellent in this novel is showing how someone’s death can stunt you in ways you didn’t even know and how life can pass you by. She also shows the different family dynamics and how kids can have no clue what is going with their parents.

Lauren is a great character as are the host of people who have quietly supported her over the years.

Ms. Brenner has written another great novel.

Every spring/summer there is a small group of authors that release new books that I buy solely based on their name on the cover alone. I don’t care what the blurb says or what the cover looks like, I just know I’ll be reading it and I’ll most likely love it and find myself recommending it as a must read. Think Elin Hilderbrand, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Emily Giffin. This may be my first Jamie Brenner read, but if her previous and future books are as fantastically well written and engaging as The Husband Hour was, (and I’ve heard they are!) then she’ll most certainly be on my little list.

While this book is truly Lauren’s story and I had the strongest connection with her it’s also a story about the other women in her immediate family, her mom Beth and her sister Stephanie and I love nothing more than a story about a family of strong women with complex lives. Lauren is a twenty nine year old widow, just typing that out makes me sad, and five years after Rory’s death she’s still grieving, hard. Brenner’s portrayal of a woman dealing with the aftermath of losing her spouse was incredibly moving and woefully raw. She made me feel all of the feelings and I was so rooting for just a little slice of happiness in Lauren’s life. The documentary about Rory’s life forces her to examine their marriage with a sharp lens and face some hard truths and there were some surprising revelations that I was totally not expecting but appreciated all the same.

Besides the emotional component this also explored some important issues that impact military personnel and their families. I don’t want to say too much, but Brenner examined these issues in a way that educated me and made me really think on a deeper level. This one has it all, highly recommended by me and I have a feeling it’ll be on several summer reading lists in the months to come.

The Husband Hour in three words: Moving, Insightful and Heartfelt.

I liked this a lot. Be forewarned: there is some dram and some that I was not expecting but it wasn't tawdry or trite. This author has a way of capturing a scene that is so spot on - between the setting and the motion. Lauren is one of my favorite characters that I've read in a while. I just instantly got her POV and perspective. This was well written and so well formulated. I definitely recommend this for a summer read - it's not exactly light but it is thoroughly enjoyable!

The Husband Hour comes out soon on April 24, 2018, and you can purchase HERE. You can read my review of this author's book from last summer, The Forever Summer, HERE -- She is definitely becoming a must-read for me!

The first challenge of her journalism education would be getting up the nerve to talk to him. And then she remembered the Katharine Graham memoir and some advice Graham's mother had given her: "Be a newspaperwoman, Kay, if only for the excuse it gives you to seek out at once the object of any sudden passion."