“Grieving widow. Just twenty-four years old. Such a tragedy. Such a loss.” Lauren Adelman Kincaid is that grieving widow. Lauren’s husband, Rory, an Army Ranger and former NHL hockey player, was killed in combat.

Four years later, we find Lauren at her family’s beach house on the Jersey shore where she retreated and succeeded in hiding from the press and life in general following Rory’s death. And then Matt Brio appears wanting to interview her for a documentary on Rory’s life. Lauren is adamant about not speaking with him until something happens that changes her mind.

The Husband Hour tackles an issue, brain trauma in athletes, that is gaining more attention, and was obviously well researched by the author. It not only affects the athlete but also the family members, and I really appreciated the way Lauren’s storyline was written.

This book was hard to put down, but at one point I forced myself to put it down because then I didn’t want it to end. There’s a nice little twist you won’t see coming until it hits BOTH you and Lauren at the same time.

The Husband Hour is a beautifully complex story. Jamie Brenner brought light to the subjects of traumatic brain injuries in athletes and PTSD. This is a sometimes heart wrenching story filled with the hope of finding a new normal.

Wow. This book is wow. It is so captivating. The characters are heartfelt and delightful, the story is very real and current. It evoked a rollercoaster of emotions - despair, anger, relief, joy - name an emotion, and The Husband Hour has it. Jamie Brenner has hit it out of the park again!

Great book! This story is heartfelt and honest. Jamie Brenner is a new author for me and I look forward to reading more from her.

This book needs 10 stars!! I LOVED it!! A great beach read & great references to the Jersey shore.

Well, Well, I must emphatically state that this is a first for me. Although I have found myself giving two books a 5 star in the span of a month or a week, this definitely is the first time I can recall giving two books the coveted 5 star title in the span of 24 hours. Folks, you just might want to hoard your book money now because it looks like April 24th promises to be a book spending spree.

"The Husband Hour" is narrated alternately by Beth and her two grown daughters -Lauren and Stephanie. Lauren lost her ex hockey player now turned soldier husband, Rory, four years ago and seems lost in her grief. Wild child Stephanie is a single mother of six year old, Ethan and cannot help, but feel less worthy of her parent's love and has a volatile relationship with Lauren. Matriarch Beth hopes to unify her family this summer, but she must also grapple with the tension in her own marriage. Then in walks, Matt Brio(also putting his two cents in), documentary filmmaker, determined to tell the "real" story of the much heralded American hero, Rory Kincaid. The only problem is that he needs to talk to Lauren and she's not having anything to do with it.

Well rounded characterization with a supporting cast that lift up and carry the four main characters all the way through to one heck of an ending. The Husband Hour was reminiscent of a Elin Hildebrand's book and left me with the desire to want to curl my toes up in the sand. My heart aches for all three of the women in the story and boy could I write an essay on all the conflicting thoughts and feelings that blazed though me when it came to Mr. Matt .Such a gripping book for what it says about families, marriage, and grief. Especially about grief. I don't know what the author lived through in her own life, but she poured it all out in the making of this book.

The Husband Hour is the type of book that is an instant will read again someday soon and NO you can't borrow my copy.

After enjoying The Forever Summer last year, I was excited to add The Husband Hour to my TBR pile. I knew Jamie Brenner was a strong writer and she did not disappoint in my second experience with one of her books.

I liked the characters Jamie created for this novel. They had flaws and seemed very genuine. I could understand Lauren's firm hesitation to move on from the past, especially since four years had gone by since her husband had passed away. I liked the eventual connection she forms with Matt and the rapport between the two of them. I also enjoyed reading Beth's perspective and seeing what would happen for her marriage.(Side note, my sister's name is Beth Lauren, so I thought it was funny that the two names were used so closely together.) I wish Stephanie had been given her own perspective, instead of us seeing her through Lauren, Beth, and Matt's eyes, but I understand about having too many narrators in one story. She was a really interesting character with a real edge to her personality.

The descriptions really brought the story to life without being overwhelming or taking away from the story. I felt like I was sitting in the Green Gable watching all the action unfold. I learned some new and interesting things about sports related injuries, as well.

While I felt the story started off slow while trying to build everything up, once it got about a quarter of the way in, it really picked up and held my attention through the very end. Overall, it was a thoughtful look at family dynamics in the wake of a tragedy.

Movie cast suggestions:
Lauren: Ali Cobrin
Stephanie: Blake Lively
Beth: Madeleine Stowe
Howard: Scott Bakula
Matt: Matt Lanter
Rory: Blake Jenner
Ethan: Jeremy Maguire
Emerson: Paul Schneider

Oh, The Husband Hour, how you have my heart. I was pulled into this from the very start. A grieving widow in hiding (for multiple years), Laura’s family comes to the Jersey shore bringing all their drama with them and disrupts her intentional hermitage. That alone is intriguing, but then a director wanting to do a documentary on Laura’s husband’s famous death tracks her down and you are instantly transported into Laura’s pain and the history of the family’s issues. All of this combined makes this novel downright powerful. Brenner tackles the fairly new, hot topic issue of brain trauma in athletes and handles it well. The last quarter of the book was especially gripping as all was revealed flawlessly. I may have sleep deprivation because I wanted- no, needed to- see how Brenner left things. I ended this book feeling satisfied, needing the shore, and craving some artisan donuts…

I was provided an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

I was intrigued that the author was able to include so many contemporary issues like PTSD and CTE in this seemingly love story. It was very hard to put down as there there were so many inter-family lies and secrets plus an examination of journalistic ethics and military life. A thoughtful and interesting read.

Lauren and her husband Rory fell in love in high school. He was a star hockey player but felt it wasn’t enough in his life. He decided to enlist in the army when they were first married. Unfortunately he never came home. Try as Lauren might, she just couldn’t move on, even with the help of family and friends.
A filmmaker,Matt Brio, is making a documentary about her star husband, but she doesn’t want any part of it. She faces many demons because of it. Will it help her move on from her grief or will it just uncover more pain?

Here’s a fairy tale romance novel sandwiched around gritty contemporary issues: domestic violence, sisterhood, betrayal, family expectations, paternity, journalistic responsibility, post-traumatic stress disorder, CTE, grief. Lauren’s husband Rory dies while deployed in Iraq and she turns to his best friend, Matt, for companionship. Matt(whose brother died during combat in Afghanistan) is a war correspondent, and uncovers a hidden truth about Rory’s life and death. The novel is suspenseful, skipping back and forth in time in the lives of the main characters (Lauren, her sister Stephanie, their mom, Beth, filmmaker Matt) and flashbacks to times when Rory was still alive. Rory had been a pro hockey player before he deployed as an Army Ranger. He’d also had a high school fling with Stephanie. Suspenseful romance, at times melodramatic, with a happily-ever-after buzz mingled with bittersweet memories.

Lauren is living all alone in a New Jersey beach town after her husband is killed. She is in a holding pattern and just can't move on from her terrible loss. Her husband Rory was a professional hockey player, and during high school, college, and professional games suffered many concussions. He decided he wanted to serve his country and joined the military. He was killed in the Middle East. Matt tracks down Lauren and wants to do a documentary about her husband. This forces Lauren to examine her marriage thoroughly. Can Lauren move on from the pain of losing Rory once she re-examines their life? This was an amazing story of love, family, survivors guilt, and moving on with life. I loved the family relationships with Lauren and her sister and parents. They had their own ups and downs but they are always there for each other. I receive an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company. All opinions are my own.

A hero, a widow, a filmmaker. They all had something in common and that was Rory Kincaid.

Rory is a former star hockey player and a war hero killed in the line of duty. Lauren is his widow who is hiding from the world. Matt is a filmmaker who wants a story and confirmation about Rory’s life from Lauren, and Lauren wants nothing to do with talking.

We also get to share time at the family’s beach home and see the interaction or lack of interaction between everyone.

THE HUSBAND HOUR had me reading quickly because I wanted to see if Lauren would really break down and be interviewed for the documentary on her deceased husband, but the book was slow for me and could have been shorter.

THE HUSBAND HOUR had a lot of family drama and decision making on the parts of the characters. Each family member had an issue, and Beth, the mother, tried to manage it all without success and with grumbling and resentment from the family members.

I enjoyed the present day interactions more than when we were hearing the story of Rory.

If you enjoy the beach and characters that don't interact well with each other but do carry the story line, THE HUSBAND HOUR will be for you.

You will also find out the meaning of the book's title as well as become educated about traumatic brain injuries that athletes incur.

THE HUSBAND HOUR will appeal to many, but I just couldn't connect with the characters or the story line.

There is a surprise at the end. 3/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A fantastic read! This was my first novel by Brenner. Her other novels have been on my radar but I haven’t started them yet but this novel makes me want to start The Forever Season right away. The Husband Hour was a novel I got sucked into quickly and caused me to ignore my husband and kids for two days. This novel was told in third person point of view alternating between Lauren, Beth and Matt. Lauren is the grieving widow and Beth is her mother. Matt is the director of a documentary about Lauren’s NHL celebrity husband, Rory. The documentary focuses on Rory’s hockey career and his enlistment with the armed forces while linking sport's head injuries and the long term damage it can cause, perhaps influencing Rory’s decisions and behaviours. Lauren’s quiet life in the family beach house on the Jersey Shore is bombarded by all her family and Matt’s need to have her partake in his documentary. This novel is full of emotional feels as Lauren navigates loss, betrayal and new love. 5 huge stars!
Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of The Husband Hour.

Rory Kincaid is a star hockey player in high school. He's got good looks and can have any girl he wants. He chooses to be with younger Lauren Adelman, who genuinely adores him. As they begin their married lives together, Rory is an NHL hockey player who decided he wants to fight for his country. The novel begins with Rory's memorial service. Lauren is a young widow who rushes off to her family's empty beach house in New Jersey during the winter hoping for solitude. Unfortunately, a journalist who wants to write Rory's story finds her and threatens to disrupt her quiet new world and reveal family secrets. Throughout this time, Lauren learns a lot about herself and begins to finally understand the past.

This story was incredibly interesting. I've been very interested in the effects of CTE lately and the sports industry. I loved that the writer combined very accurate descriptions of CTE into the plot line. I didn't expect the big twist at the end of the story either! So many secrets and lies. It made for a great entertaining read over the holidays.

MY REVIEW OF “THE HUSBAND HOUR” BY Jamie Brenner

Kudos to Jamie Brenner, Author of “The Husband Hour” for writing such a captivating, intense, intriguing, and enthralling novel. BE WARNED: This is a difficult novel to put down. I read this in one sitting. There are so many significant issues that Jamie Brenner writes about in a fictional setting. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction.

The author describes her characters as complex, complicated. Some of the characters live and act in a dysfunctional way. There are secrets from the past and present, betrayals, and lack of communication. Lauren, a widow has been mourning the death of her husband, Rory Kincaid, a former NHL Hockey Player, and a soldier that has died in combat. After his death, Lauren lives in seclusion, existing pretty much alone in her family’s old home on the Jersey shore.

To Lauren’s dismay her sister Stephanie and young son arrive to stay at the house, after Stephanie announces her divorce. Lauren’s parents arrive as well with secrets of their own. There has been friction between the sisters for years. The conflicting personalities create a stormy atmosphere.

Matt Brio, is a film maker, and his latest project includes make a film about Rory Kincaid. Matt is intrigued with the angle of both sports injuries and war-related injuries. Matt has motives of his own, but wants to interview Lauren about her husband. What will investigating the past bring up that involves the present and future?

I appreciate that Jamie Brenner discussed head injuries, combat injuries, in sports players and the men and women that serve our country. What help are they getting? How are their families affected? How can these people and their families be helped?What are the consequences of ignoring this?

The author also talks about the importance of family, friends, emotional support, forgiveness, self and emotional growth, acceptance, love and hope. I would highly recommend this novel to readers of Fiction , Women’s Fiction, and readers that appreciate significant contemporary issues. I received an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.

I wasn't sure what to make of THE HUSBAND HOUR at first. The cover sort of threw me off and I was expecting a breezy beach read. What I got was a novel with more depth - an emotional look at a young widow dealing with the tragic loss of her husband. I loved the relationships between the women, including the older sister and the mother, as well as the sections from the POV of the filmmaker. The author has clearly done a lot of research on head injuries in sports. She does a fantastic job of weaving that research into a dramatic and well-paced story line.

4.5 stars

This is the second book of Brenner’s and definitely my favorite. The theme of head trauma to athletes and military is timely in our world today.

Brenner’s characters were very well developed. The Story brought a lump to my throat several times. The only reason not a five star rating is I felt like everything was wrapped up too nicely. All the conflict and problems in the Story were all resolved nice and tidy by the end. A little too unrealistic for me.

I received an advance reader copy. All thoughts are my own