I debated entering the discussion of this book honestly because I'm not exactly sure what to make of Jen's transformation over recent years. When I first heard her years ago I thought she was refreshingly honest and relatable. I was unsure what to think as she began deconstructing and talking more about progressivism than Jesus. That mattered because it was a large part of her audience. I decided to give this book a try as it was more about her actual story than just advice or suggestions for others. And I'm glad I did. I do understand things a little more about her, but like others have said, it seems like mostly a reflection of things she's already shared on social media rather than some new and revelatory information.
It was hard to give this a rating based on our differing views these days. But she has shared her personal story. I know that millions read Hillbilly Elegy years ago and rated it highly based on the story he presented as an unknown, but since he entered the political scene they have gone back and changed their reviews, knocking stars off. This seems disingenuous at best. I didn't want to be that person when reviewing this one...reacting because our views don't seem to align anymore. It seems, though, that as she is influencing many different women...and Christians among them...she should be a little more forthright about the faith piece in her life.
I completely understand the awkwardness of continuing to attend a church where her husband was once the lead pastor who has left. But it seems like she left "the church" at large completely, admitting she doesn't pursue other places to attend or online options at all. She's still hashing out her feelings and relationship with God...and that's normal after her trauma, but if people of faith are seeking her out for spiritual leadership or advice, they should examine more closely what they might be getting out of it. If you're only looking for funny, irreverent and a talented writer and speaker, you've come to the right place.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Awake is a memoir told in vignettes about a pastor’s wife who wakes up at 230a in 2020 to her husband whispering into his phone to his lover saying “I just can’t quit you” and with those words, her marriage and life as she knows it is over.

Awake is a memoir about divorce and the trauma of all that took place but it is also a story about how purity culture within the church played a role in their marriage downfall. As a woman who attended church in the 90s when purity culture was at its peak, I don’t agree with everything she says I do understand and her experiences resonated with me. I loved the way in which the story was told and the short flashes of her life like watching scenes of a movie. This is a sad memoir but hopeful memoir that women can overcome even the most difficult of challenges.

I'd give 5 stars for the writing alone. It's phenomenal.

I also had a rollercoaster of emotions about this book. I was reading it during a visit with friends and every couple days I'd have to revise my in-process review. The first third was so, so good: I cried at least three times in this section and it wasn't from the sad situation but from the power of her words about love and truth. During the second part I was like "I feel like this is a rich white girl healing story." And I understand, it's a memoir, not a self-help book, she's just telling her story, but there are elements like "you get to choose" but we don't all actually get to choose in the ways that she was able to. By the end I was appreciative of her newfound ability to listen to her body and know that it is good and trustworthy. 🙌 Her acknowledgements called this a love letter to her friends and that was accurate. And I understand that her relationship with the church is fraught, but it felt a little like she's saying this healing can happen just fine with therapy, friends, and self-trust, and Christ and prayer are kinda hanging out on the side without much to contribute to the process. Maybe there was more that she didn't share (and she did have a couple chapters addressing where she's at with Jesus and the Church), but I felt a little surprised at the end that Jesus felt like something on the side in this journey.

i went into this book with almost no knowledge of jen or her internet presence (unclear as to how but alas) so i didn’t have any expectations. what i got was a book that i could not put down for 4 hours as i read it cover to cover. jen’s voice feels so familiar and it makes everything she writes come across as incredible genuine and from the heart. i felt deep in my bones every word that i read. i generally hesitate to give a star rating to memoirs but this was an easy 5 stars. (and yes i immediately found jen on instagram and am now one of her over half a million followers)

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this memoir, and it exceeded every expectation. In recounting the end of her marriage and the life she once knew, Jen writes with raw honesty, deep vulnerability, and remarkable respect for everyone involved. It’s a story of devastating heartbreak, profound self-discovery, slow, hard-earned healing, and the life-changing power of family and friendship.

Beautifully written and culturally resonant, this memoir will be liberating, validating, and deeply meaningful for many readers. I’m grateful to live in the world alongside women like Jen Hatmaker—what a light she is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the early copy.

Jen Hatmaker's memoir had me laughing and tearing up at the end. She talks about her marriage, relationship with the church, friendships, and family in raw, vulnerable and such relatable ways.

What a gift this book is for any reader whether your divorced, married, have kids, or not, Awake is a powerful testament to self-reliance, self-discovery, and the boundless possibilities of new beginnings.

With every turn of the page, I was cheering her on. And honestly, her friends and family are nothing short of incredible. Their unwavering support and love could serve as a guide for how to show up for others. My sincere thanks to NetGalley for the early copy of this five-star read.

Awake is an uplifting and heartfelt read that feels like a gentle nudge toward living with more purpose and awareness. Hatmaker’s voice is warm and conversational, making the big ideas feel personal and approachable. I appreciated how she mixes honest storytelling with practical encouragement, so it never feels preachy—just real. The book leaves you feeling inspired to pay attention to the small, meaningful moments in everyday life. Thoughtful, relatable, and full of heart, Awake is like a deep breath you didn’t know you needed.

Jen Hatmaker's story, as shared in Awake, is powerful, engaging, hopeful, sad, and so relatable. No matter your story, you have had circumstances that upend your life... and in this book, Jen shares hers. I don't consider myself to be a Jen Hatmaker superfan, but I have been aware of her for many years and love a good memoir, so was interested in reading this book. She takes a difficult personal story and shares it with respect, grace, humor, and strength. Her care for herself and her family is so evident in this book. The care she received from her community is also so apparent and so encouraging to read. Though this is a book about divorce, it is also a book about how someone picked themself up and sought healing and help. It is not a "man hating" sort of book at all, nor is it a book that disparages marriage, faith, or any particular person. I really enjoyed it and could not put it down.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

I have read everything Jen Hatmaker has published. I think she is clever and hilarious. When she announced she had a new book coming out, I instantly preordered. Getting an ARC through NetGalley let me read it early and I was so touched by her story. This work is a departure from her other works - more autobiographical than ever before. Hatmaker takes the reader through the dissolution of her 26 year marriage without sensationalizing the events. She takes ownership of her part in what went wrong and is respectful of her children and family. Rare is the book that you want to hold close to your chest when you finish reading it. Looking forward to receiving my printed copy when it releases in September.

I'd heard bits and pieces from this author, but never an entire book. Well, am I glad I read this one! This will be on my best books of the year list. This wasn't always an easy read, but Hatmaker writes about her husband's infidelity, and the aftermath of the ensuing divorce, with (somehow) anger, pain, raw honesty, humor, and ultimately hope and a measure of peace. Beautifully done, extremely real, and an enormously important read for women who have suffered a tragedy. I ugly cried, I sympathized, I laughed out loud, I cheered. Loved this.

I was lucky enough to get access to an ARC of this book. It was even better than I expected. In writing the story of the end of her marriage and life as she knew it, Jen is incredibly raw, vulnerable, and honest, while also being respectful to other players in the story. This book is a tale of gut-wrenching heartbreak, revealing self-discovery, hard-fought healing, and the earth-moving power of family and friendship. I hope both Jen and this thoughtfully written memoir get the recognition they deserve not just because it is beautifully written and culturally relevant, but because it will be so liberating, validating, and meaningful to so many. I’m thankful to be alive in the world at the same time as women such as Jen Hatmaker. What a light she is! Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the opportunity to read.

I went into Awake without knowing much about Jen Hatmaker or her work, so I was not sure what to expect. What I found was a memoir that is raw, unexpectedly funny at times, and deeply personal. She writes about the end of her twenty six year marriage with a level of honesty that feels rare, especially for someone with such a large online following.

Even without the context of her earlier books or public presence, I appreciated her willingness to share not just the heartbreak but also the messy middle, the confusion, the anger, the grief, and the slow rebuilding. She also weaves in bigger themes that run alongside her personal story, including gender roles, religious expectations, and the ways we can lose ourselves to meet the standards of others.

While this is one woman’s account, there are moments here that will resonate with anyone who has been through unexpected change. It is both a memoir of loss and a reminder that new possibilities can still take root, even in the most difficult seasons.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the advanced copy.

Such a well-written and compelling story of the way a marriage ended and a new life began. The friendships and family that kept Jen going really moved me.

I will openly admit that I was intrigued by the premise of the story, but did not come with a background knowing who Jen Hatmaker was! The book is still approachable even without being a follower of Hatmaker online, and she gives context so that it is not assumed that you know her already. That being said, she navigates her marriage ending with strong reflection and shares vignettes that don’t sugarcoat the rollercoaster of emotions. There was one section where she addressed beliefs that have caused her turmoil online, and I felt like that was directed to followers, but otherwise the story is that of someone having to put their life back together after a devastating upheaval.

What may draw people to this memoir is the story of a woman who found out her husband was cheating on her and the chain of events that follow. The author is a public-facing figure for anyone not familiar. I know her as an author, podcaster, and blogger. I am not a Jen Hatmaker superfan; merely someone who is aware of her existence through her connections to other people I’ve followed in the blogging/podcasting world. Probably the reason I haven’t closely followed her is because I had dismissed her as a Christian that only talks about her faith, Jesus, the Church and all things associated with that. I had undersold her.

Jen has a beautiful way with words. When she says she felt a comfortable and loving “home feeling” with herself, it was so resonant. I think we all know that “home feeling” as much as we know the feelings of loneliness and emptiness. She also has a strong voice for progressive issues of social justice. She does not shy away from criticizing the Church and how they handle race and LBGTQ issues. She is funny, clever, self aware and honest.

The format of the book is great too- short, digestible chapters. People with short attention spans will not be bored. No spoilers, but I’ll just say that sometimes when creative people produce art (books, movie, etc.) that originates from a sad event, a wonderful thread can emerge where they discover all the love they have in their life from family, friends, and acquaintances.

I loved every part of the book, but the chapter “Damn Melody (and Brené)” will be something I turn back to again and again, I just know it.

What a delightful surprise this book is. I had previously heard of Jen Hatmaker on Instagram but I didn't know much about her life. While I was devastated to hear about her husbands infidelity, I am happy to learn that life has gone on for her and she's thriving. This book is written as a series of small stories which are well thought out, and sometimes hysterical. Jen has a great way of keeping the reader interested and wanting more. I will be cheering her on!

I confess I didn't know anything about Jen Hatmaker's backstory save for her spending time a year ago with the dear Wade Rouse aka Viola Shipman. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't stop. I read half of it in one day and the rest the next. I went through a similar situation during that same time that left my life strewn along the rocky shore. Jen so openly and eloquently shared her journey from shock and brokenness to healing and unexpected love for herself and others. Just an extraordinary read from start to finish.

This was a deeply personal book. I felt like I was sitting at a table with Jen deep into the night talking about life. It drove me to tears several times. It was so beautifully written, achingly painful, and so hopeful.

Despite not knowing too much about Jen Hatmaker before reading this, I really enjoyed it. As someone who grew up in a very conservative household only to question everything I ever knew once I started college, I found her writing relatable, raw, and authentic. Yet despite her grief and life falling apart, she still managed to find the humor and make me laugh out loud while reading! While there's a lot I'm fortunate enough not to relate to, this book gave me a lot to consider and reflect on from my own life - thanks so much for the ARC!

Loved this! Jen has such a meaningful way of sharing her story. - everything is relatable but also thought provoking. The highs and the lows. I also appreciated the level of accountability that she shared as she worked through such a major life upheaval. It created so much self-reflection while reading. I highlighted so much.