This story will be inspirational for all women who feel suppressed in some aspect of their lives and want to make a change despite opposition. A Borrowed Life explores how a woman who pushes against the confines of the life she has at age 49 is shocked by an unplanned pregnancy and how much her life changes in a short amount of time. Is she up for the challenge? Many readers will enjoy seeing how the main character, Liz, handles each obstacle thrown in her way. I found the mother-daughter relationship especially interesting, and as always. Kerry Ann King does a great job of creating relatable characters and an emotional story.

A Borrowed Life is a title that leaves you thinking and evaluating choices you’ve made or may yet need to make. The author has the ability to reach inside the reader and pluck at the heartstrings. King excels at portraying a strong woman’s character and fortitude. This book illustrates that so well.

Elizabeth Lightsey was a pastors wife of 26 years, and a devoted good girl until he suddenly died of a heart attack in January. Then this good girl started wondering if the woman she had become was her, or someone she pretended to be to make everyone else happy. She takes the advice of her new friend/neighbor Val and goes with her to an audition for a play just to get out of the house for a bit. She is accidentally thrust into the spotlight when she has great chemistry with Lance, the guy trying for the male lead. Liz then decided to try living like the character she will be playing and has a good time doing it, much to the shock or her strait-laced daughter! Liz learns to enjoy new friends and repairing her family as she recovers from her grief.

An in-depth look at emotional abuse and family relationships has characters that blend as well as cookies and milk. I strongly recommend this book!

I absolutely loved this book! It was great to read a novel with a main character who is a woman of a certain age instead of a millennial. There were some moments that made me laugh and those that made me cry. A Borrowed Life was such an uplifting book and I highly recommend it.

Kerry Anne King has a very unique writing style and this, as the second book of hers I have read, has proven her strength as a writer here to stay!
What I liked about this story is that it was very different from everything else out there. Following Liz as she adjusts to life as a new widow after living under her husband's shadow for so long was enlightening- and disheartening. I can't imagine being her age and really for the first time having the opportunity to live your own life?! This was an emotional journey but it more inspirational than depressing. It really brings out a lot of compassion in readers to stop and realize everyone has a story and you might not know what they are going through.
This is a perfect fall/winter read when you want to cozy up on the couch with some tea and step into someone else's shoes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm so glad others loved this one and I wish I had. It's a story about a perfect pastor's wife and church-going mother....until her husband suddenly passes away. Liz is a 49 year old widow trying to find her new way in the world. She is slowly discovering both herself and her new life and how to go on.

Although the writing in this is wonderful, the message and story were a bit heavy handed for me. I didn't need every "bad" person to be so over the top. My experience is most overbearing church members are a bit more sly about their judgement and backhanded comments. The relationship with the daughter to start was so awful it was hard to read. More subtle judgement and control from her daughter, for me, would have gone a long way. But I can see how others would love this and I'm glad they did.

Mrs. Elizabeth Lightsey has been the pastor’s wife for the majority of her adult life. As a young girl, in a troubled home, she was only too happy to have the attentions of Thomas. When this handsome man of the church asked for her hand in marriage she envisaged a respectable life filled with love surrounded by the entire congregation. Through the years unhappiness has piled so heavily upon her heart that she does not know who the real Liz is anymore. It is only when Thomas unexpectedly dies that Liz realizes she is more relived than sad. Thomas’s verbal abuse had worn her down in every decision, thought and feeling she has had for 26 years, but no more. She immediately tries to repair her relationship with Abigail, the daughter she regrets has been molded in Thomas’s eyes. Liz is determined to do whatever it takes to rediscover her true self through the community theater, new friends and throwing her mattress to the curb. At almost 50 years old it is finally time to follow her heart and not the expectations of others. From the very first chapter I could not put down this incredible story that had me laughing and smiling equally. Wonderful characters and superb writing, this is an absolute must read.

Liz is married to a strict pastor, Thomas, who believes women exist to be subservient to men. When Thomas dies, Liz is in a tailspin, with her life wrapped up in his church and various committee responsibilities. Slowly, Liz begins to feel like herself again, rediscovering parts of her past she buried to please her husband. Enter Abigail, her daughter who is still stuck in that mindset of obedience and seriousness. This was a quick read, and a good story about self-actualization. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is my second book by Kerry Anne King, I loved Whisper Me This last year.

A Borrowed Life is a story of relationships, whether husband/wife, mom/daughter and between friends -old and new. It’s about self discovery after years and years of living in the shadow of someone who is suppose to be a partner not a dictator.

Liz suddenly finds herself a widow, adjusting to a world of opportunities if she chooses to grasp all she has missed over the years. To follow long abandoned dreams and take risks. I liked Liz, she was real and honestly she could be anyone. There were times I felt like we were back in the 50’s with the life she was forced to live.

Kerry Anne King again wrote an emotional story that had me feeling a wide range of emotions, from disbelief and anger to hopeful and compassionate.

You might not notice but I didn’t include the whole blurb up there. Anything that is mentioned and happens at the 60% mark is just a spoiler IMHO.

If you’re looking for a book to curl up with and read in a couple sitting I recommend giving Kerry Anne King a try.

My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What a book! Kerry Anne King hit it out of the park with this beautifully written authentic story. The book kicks off with Elizabeth the pastor‘s wife hosting a knitting group at her house. Liz has about had it with knitting one and purling too. When her controlling husband Thomas dies of a heart attack Liz is sad. But soon realizes that she can now live her life for herself, by her own rules. So Liz hangs up her knitting needles and puts on her theater mask. Wears jeans, cuts her hair, eats cake, drinks margaritas, makes new friends. But not everyone is thrilled with the change in Liz, her daughter Abigail is distraught and the church ladies’ tongues are wagging.

Liz was such a real and relatable character. Anyone who has ever been in an unhappy controlling relationship will completely empathize with her story. While there is some difficult subject matter in this book it really is a happy uplifting story. It was so much fun watching the church ladies and the theater crew’s lives collide. There were just so many fabulous colorful secondary characters in the story. It was great and inspiring watching Liz reinvent herself at 49. A truly lovely story, with a perfect ending.

This book in emojis 🧶 🎭 🐱 🛏 🏡

*** Big thank you to Lake Union for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

For twenty-six years Liz has perfectly played the part of Mrs. Thomas Lightsey, exemplary pastor’s wife and mother. But maintaining appearances for the congregation and catering to her demanding husband takes a toll, and she’s lost herself in meeting the expectations of others.

Wow thank you NetGalley Publisher and author for a chance to read and review this book!
This book was so beautifully written.
The characters were just amazing!
This is my first Kerry book but its for sure not my last.
This novel was so moving and brilliant I don't know where to begin.
It was hard for me to put this one down to make my family dinner that's how great this was.

Overall..... Fabulous

This was the perfect book at the perfect time! I have been in a bit of a reading slump and this book was just what I needed to help push me out of it!

Outer Liz is living a perfectly structured and organized life. Her routine never varies, she does the same thing day after day. Inner Liz has been bottled up and hidden for so many years she can barely remember who she used to be. All of that is about to change and everyone will not be so accepting!

I thoroughly enjoyed watching inner Liz blossom to outer Liz! Breaking the routine, scribbling outside the lines, and listening to the little voice in her head. Defying what she has been told for years was not easy, but incredibly inspirational to watch.

The colorful cast of characters was fantastic! I love the clash of the church woman vs. the theater group. I laughed and even got a little teary eyed towards the end.

This is my second book by Kerry Anne King and my favorite so far. It is a fun, uplifting read that I hope I have inspired you to pick up!

Boy, talk about a sad state of affairs. I can see this book being a little controversial because our main character is a pious, submissive, and dutiful preacher's wife, and when her oppressive husband and his strict and old-fashioned views of marriage and "wifely duties" suddenly and unexpectedly dies one day, Liz finds herself free from the chains she's lived with for years and years. She decides to live her life for herself for a change, much to everyone else's dismay, of course, including her adult daughter.

I found this to be a fun and interesting read. Liz's liberation leads to some interesting predicaments but also some great new friendships and the ability to learn about herself and who she really is. Much more will come to light before it's all said and done, and you'll find yourself hating the patriarchy if you're anything like me while reading this. The ending, though, was very much satisfying, and I think those who enjoy more seasoned romance and women's fiction will enjoy this meaningful story.

For twenty-six years, Liz Lightsey was the perfect Pastor's wife and mother. But when she finds herself a widow at 49. Now, she has an opportunity to follow her dreams, dress how she wants, wear her hair how she wants and pursue her dreams - such as join the local theater. But how will she do this when she is receiving so much resistance from her daughter, Abagail?

This was a very uplifting, inspiring, funny, endearing and sweet book. I enjoyed watching Liz come into her own and realize that she stopped living for herself and did everything her husband wanted during their marriage. Now she has made friends outside of her church, is having fun, living for herself. As with any change there will be some resistance (or a lot as she gets from her daughter), some laughter, some trepidations, lots of growth and reflection.

This was such a wonderful book and I am so glad I gave it a chance. Once I started, I had to keep reading. I did not like when I had to put it down. The characters are well developed, interesting, frustrating, and felt real. Relationships are on display here and I appreciated how the author handled them.

This was my first book by Kerry Anne King, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

From the first page we realise Elizabeth is two persona's. The Elizabeth married to a pastor leading the perfect life and then the Liz she once was.

Elizabeth is so downtrodden by her husband that she, in the beginning, is one of the most depressing characters I've ever encountered - she's played the role of perfect pastor's wife and mother and never allowed her true self to shine through.

The sudden death of her husband pushes her to reconnect the two persona's and find the real Liz. But when her daughter, who is so similar to her late husband, insists on moving back home it means she finds resistance to her changing world.

By the end of the book we see so much growth in not only Liz's character - you leave the book actually liking her, but also in the character of her daughter. Both are now free to live their lives and not borrow a life from someone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

How refreshing to read a novel that features a more mature character! Elizabeth is thrust into widowhood when her husband dies suddenly of a heart attack. She's always had to maintain the role of the perfect pastor's wife, and now her grown daughter is horrified when she fails to live up to that reputation. I loved watching Elizabeth finally coming into her own at the ripe old age of 49. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the chance to read and review this delightful novel.

A Borrowed Life by Kerry Anne King is a novel following the life of Liz Lightsey who has spent the majority of her life in service of her husband Thomas. However after her husband suddenly dies, she now is faced with the question "What do I want?". To find joy and some control in her new life, Liz joins the theatre which helps her find her own voice and also introduces her to new friends including a love interest. The writing explored so many themes such as grief, marriage roles, religion, and self-exploration in Liz's life and was done beautifully. I think this is an interesting read for both young and elder readers to consider whether they are living their lives for them and not solely for someone else or society. It was a timely reminder that we can choose our own lives not matter how old you are. I recommend this for any reader that wants to explore these questions through fiction and appreciate an emotional read.

Many thanks to the publisher Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

A Borrowed Life
By Kerry Anne King
4.5 / 5 🌟


Based on the title, I thought this book was going to be a very deep and somber read. Although serious and heartfelt matters are discussed throughout, this story bursts with warm, witty, and surprising moments.

Elizabeth has been Thomas’s wife for twenty-six years, a pastor’s wife, a model wife, an obedient wife. When Thomas dies from a sudden heart attack, Elizabeth, after the initial shock, realizes that she is now free to be herself.

For years, she has repressed Liz, her true self. Thomas, a cruel man hiding behind legalism, told her how to dress, what to do, even what to eat. Now with the help of her neighbor, Liz joins a community theatre group. Here she begins to make new friends and try out her new life, she even lands a leading role in an upcoming play.

It’s bad enough that she continues to hear Thomas’s condemning voice in her head, but her adult daughter is also angry for the way Liz is acting, saying “daddy wouldn’t approve.” The strain on their relationship is heartbreaking, but at forty-nine, Liz is determined to lead the life she was never allowed to.

Liz continues to try new things, but she never thought sleeping with her leading man would be a part of it. And getting pregnant was definitely not on the list! My how quickly things change; from meek pastor’s wife to knocked-up, menopausal, widow.

This story has some crazy real-life moments that just made me laugh, and then some tugged at my heart. I loved the characters in this book, well except Thomas. I loved how Liz had a second chance at life and she took it.


Thank you to @netgalley @lakeunionauthors @kerry_anne_king for this advanced copy for review. This book is available today!

I’ve read Kerry’s last four titles and the magic of her books is in the complex and real people she creates. Liz Lightsey is one of those characters that really resonated with me. She's a middle aged pastor's wife and an important part of the close knit community. She always says and does the right thing and she's well aware of her expected role as Thomas's wife - obedient, compliant, subservient. 

What no one sees is his verbal abuse and mental manipulation, because everyone assumes he is a holy, benevolent man. Liz has lived for years with his cruelty and degrading treatment, under the guise of religious piety.

After his unexpected (and not unwelcome) death - the real challenge begins when Liz has to face her truth and stop listening to the voices of self doubt and insecurity in her head. She gets the chance to live a second, more authentic life but it's not without its own challenges. (See synopsis in comments.)

I loved reading her snarky journal entries to "Inner Liz" and how she was gradually able to shed her "Elizabeth" persona to truly become Liz. I cheered for all her victories and loved how encouraging and supportive her friend Val was.

Bravo to Kerry for writing such an inspiring story of second chances and self discovery and personal growth. Written with humor and heart and a cat named Moses - this was another amazing five star title from this author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. When I started reading the book, the title intrigued me, A Borrowed Life is such a unique title. As I continued to read the book, I could see why the book has its title. I think most women will enjoy reading this book and will relate to many things happening in the book.
I think the title is perfect and Kerry Anne King writes this story that women of any age will relate to it. I am a senior citizen and I could see the growth of the people and the journey that was going on. But I also thought about all the senior citizens that have to start over and I think this is a book I would recommend to them. Sometimes for me, the hardest part is feeling all alone and scared of the unknown. I find it helps, even if from a book that someone understands, has been there and made it through, it helps calm the fear so I can begin to see clearly again.