Liz husband dies and she discovers that she likes her new life much better than does her daughter. Kerry's lyrical style, inventive plot and realistic characters encourage us to explore our own journey giving us the courage to self-assess and re-calibrate in parallel with her protagonist. Highly recommended.

I don’t have the words for how amazing this book is. This is a must read for every single woman over 40 who just loves an amazing find yourself tale! It is well written, the characters are the best, and the main characters are strong, like able women!

I always enjoy reading books about women making changes in their lives after many years when something unexpected happens. I found it to be emotional, fun, and hopeful.

Oh I loved this book. An unashamed look into a woman's life after her husband's death. Instead of falling back into her routine that had been beaten (mentally and emotionally) into her, she instead finds herself, new friends, new hobbies, new love. It's a lovely book.

This was a beautiful, emotional read that truly warmed my heart.
Following the story of a woman who has lost her husband and then has to find strength and a newfound purpose in life.

The characters, including her group of friends who are supporting her through it all are so likeable and really brought the story to life.

I laughed, I cried, and more than anything, I adored this story.

I loved this book about a woman that finds strength and purpose in her life after her husband dies. At 49, she is no longer under her husbands thumb and it is time for her to step up and think for herself. With a cast of friends that are cheering her on I zipped through this book. I laughed when she laughed and cried when she cried. And in the midst of all her changes is a disapproving adult daughter who I just wanted to smack. Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I tried so hard to get into this book but I have to say I struggled. It is about a woman named Liz who lived in the shadow of her Pastor husband. She was not able to truly be herself until he suddenly dies...and then finds out she is pregnant. It just dragged for me and did not feel very realistic.

I enjoyed the book and could identify with the frustration that the main character felt and the tension between her old life and her new one. It was believable in that she would have a new set of friends but the old restrictions of her new life. I generally enjoy any type of pregnancy story with a happy ending and enjoyed the resolution of this one. I didn't completely understand the daughter's reaction and control over her mother and some of her reactions to the situation. I'm not devoutly religious so some notes of the book picked at some of my misgivings about overly (in my opinion) zealous believers or those with narrow beliefs of what has to happen to make one happy. I did enjoy the read and how she discovered herself. 4 out of 5 stars

A borrowed life will leave you questioning your life, the choices you have made and whether you are really happy, but it will also inspire you to change the items you are not happy with; Liz shows you are never too old and it’s never too late to say yes to the life you have always dreamed of having. I loved this story from the first page. King does an amazing job at creating complex characters that make you think, putting yourself in their shoes to understand why they act the way they do. I highly recommend this read to everyone, you will definitely not be disappointed. It was a one sit read for me, keeping me on the edge of my seat wondering how it would all turn out.

Interesting story about a repressed pastors wife who, after her husband dies, suddenly finds she can live. I loved the story of Liz and how she blossomed, despite the disapproval of those around her. I especially loved the ending!
4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and author for an ARC of this book.The opinions expressed are my own.

I unfortunately did not finish this book. It just wasn't for me, felt sorry for the main character and did not like the daughter. Couldn't connect with story sadly so did not continue.

I ABSOLUTELY adored this story about a woman who takes charge of her life and starts saying YES more. ⁣
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Liz has had it with her controlling and demanding husband, a pastor who dictates everything in her life and is pretty verbally/mentally abusive. He requires her to put on a performance for his congregation and she’s lost herself in the person who everyone expects her to be. Liz might have casually wished that her husband would die only to have it actually come true. After overcoming grief, she realizes that she can finally take the bull by the horns and live her life exactly the way she wants to. ⁣
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At 49, starting over certainly seems overwhelming but Liz conquers her fears head on. She joins a community theater because she wanted to be an actress before she got married. There, she meets a man and the chemistry is undeniable. But, she’s 49 and her husband just died so there’s no way that she could start dating right? Nope, the new Liz doesn’t care what other people think. But then she gets pregnant. Ut oh! Will she keep the baby? What will people think of her.. pregnant at 49 and her husband recently deceased? Will she stick with her YES mentality and keep the baby? Or will her old life sneak back in and influence her decision?⁣
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I honestly could go on about all the layers of this story. I ADORE Liz’s character. She was so strong and brave. It was an honest pleasure watching her go from this woman who was made small by this evil man into a woman who owns every single one of her actions and builds the life she has always dreamed of at forty freakin’ nine! ⁣
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Thank you NetGalley for a copy of A borrowed life. Unfortunately, I could not enjoy this one. Liz was such a kind soul, and her husband reminded me of an emotional abuser. He died in the first chapter, however the damage was done. Her own daughter Abigail was horrible to her as well. She had very little friends besides Val, I just couldn’t enjoy the story I felt bad for Liz and wished she never married Thomas.

Thank you Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Kerry Ann King for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

Liz, an obedient and quiet wife of a pastor, suddenly changes her life after her husband’s passing. Some of her changes are spontaneous, bower, she takes more time to understand her new life and see how she suppressed herself to her husband’will. She encounters a ew man and fell in love, she stops going to church all together, and ow have some difficulties with her grown up daughter as Liz has some trouble to explain her return to her true self.

I admire the themes authors explore in A Borrowed Life - mother/daughter relationship, parenting in a strip household, emotional abuse in a marriage, relationship between husband and wife. I loved how Liz became free of her late husband’s tyranny and managed to reinvent herself.

However, I applied for this book because it was listed as a women’s fiction but it was pure romance. I was not ready for that. I understand that women’s fiction might have a love story woven into the story line, although I feel like love story in A Borrowed Life was the main theme. I grew tired of predictable turns of the narrative. Liz, a grown women, who raised a daughter, just lost her husband, behaves like a teenager. The writing style was not inspiring and most of the characters fell flat for me.

If you enjoy romance, then it is for you.

This was a coming of age story at the age of 49. Liz was reborn after her husband died. This was a sweet, uplifting, heartwarming story and I loved it!
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

At 49, Elizabeth is lost. At 50, Liz finds herself. Young Elizabeth is like a lot of young girls, bad home life, looking for a better way and falls in love with Thomas, a young fire and brimstone preacher. They marry and he molds her into the type of preacher’s wife he thinks is appropriate. She goes along with this willingly, until one day her life changes in the blink of an eye. She finds her voice, rebels, returns to something she loves and finds a love and life different than she could have ever imagined.

A nice love story of an older women going from one extreme in her life to another. You slowly watch Liz change in the span of a year to the women she was always wanted to be. Story is predictable, but enjoyable. Cast of characters are what you would expect to find in a small town, groups separated by differences but in the end willing to come together to support someone they love. The church group is judgmental, holier than thou. Unfortunately, I’ve known people exactly like this. Fortunately, I’ve also know people nothing like this! Writing is good and story develops at a nice pace. Characters are brought to life, flaws and all. Enjoyable story, quick read.

Thanks to Ms. King, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

A repressed wife of a pastor for many years, his death liberates Liz and she seizes the chance to become the woman she knows herself to be. Having put her life on hold for him and their daughter, she seizes the chance to experience more than she ever thought possible. Perhaps even love again...

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I personally did not finish this book, I've found out from reading this and similar books that I'm not a fan of contemporary literary fiction and I don't think It'd be fair of me to force myself to read this book and leave it a bad review.

Liz has a pretty perfect life as a mother of one daughter and wife to a pastor. Her husband dies and suddenly she is faced with so many choices in her life, the main one being that now she is able to make some of her wants come true. I felt a lot of empathy with this character as she tries to please her daughter, friends and family. I felt her want to have new friends and embracing of a new lover in her life. Oh, if only life could be simple! Liz becomes pregnant at 49 and must decide what path she must take now. Realistic story, brave, strong characters and a sympathetic plot make this a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. It took me a little while to get into it but I'm glad that I stuck with it. Liz takes her chance to turn her life around when her controlling husband of 26 years passes away. Liz has always acted to please everyone else, now she finally has the chance at happiness.