This was actually the first memoir I've ever read, so it was difficult for me in the beginning. But with every page I turned, this book got better. It explores both the bright and the less bright sides of life. I would absolutely recommend it

Honestly, I’m not much of memoir reader, and I could NOT put this down. The author writes with the kind of candor that makes you laugh, wince, and nod through tears. Her voice is both intimate and empowering, chronicling what it means to lose the life you built and then—against all odds—rebuild it on your own terms. It’s provocative in all the best ways.

And it’s just…real. Gabrielle doesn’t hold back in describing either the encounters she had after her husband’s death (which, yeah, are fun to read), or the complex motivations behind them. If I’ve learned anything in reading this, it’s that grief: looks different for everyone, has its own timeline, is impossible to quantify or reason with, can make you do some things you probably wouldn’t have done otherwise. And while I can’t relate to the exact specifics of Gabrielle’s situation, I sure as hell can relate to the feelings behind them, which she articulates so well (and with a wry sense of humor that I appreciate).

This isn’t a tidy “moving on” narrative. I would call it more of a reclamation. Gabrielle explores grief, motherhood, and midlife desire with the honesty of someone who’s done the hardest thing imaginable: kept her heart open. Her reflections on dating after loss, rediscovering sensuality, and raising a neurodivergent son in NYC are shot through with wit, courage, and a disarming vulnerability that is both charming and kind of revolutionary.

I love that this book doesn’t wrap itself in a pretty bow and claim to have all the answers. That would feel trite, and the truth - which continues to unfold - is so much more captivating. Ultimately, Widow in the City is a love letter to self-reinvention, to pleasure after pain, and to every woman who’s ever asked herself, “What now?”

Highly recommended.

I’m a huge fan of memoirs, and Amy’s was very entertaining. I appreciate her authenticity and well-written stories. I found myself rooting for her and was hopeful as I read. I even identified with some of what she wrote about. When the subject is relatable, I read quickly! So, I devoured this title. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.