“Awake: A Memoir” by Jen Hatmaker

I have to be honest, before I read this book, I didn’t know who Jen Hatmaker was. She literally burst onto the main stage the way authors Glennon Doyle and Mel Robbins did. One day her book “Awake” was so popular everyone wanted her on their television chat show and podcast. Hatmaker’s memoir begins with a pivotal moment, the night she woke at 2:30 a.m. in bed with her husband and overheard him whisper to someone else on his cell phone, “I just can’t quit you.” Those five words would not only change her life forever, but also signal the end of her 26-year marriage. To make matters worse, she had built a reputation as a podcaster (host of “For the Love”) who helped other people embrace authenticity and build healthy relationships. She had written best-selling books sharing the keys to success for a long-term marriage. How could she get out of bed, face the shame and humiliation of her husband’s affair, and raise their five children alone?  How did she do it?  She did it with the support of her family, friends, and a religious community she once shared with her husband. She took it one day at a time. She decided to change her trajectory from “We” to “I” and started to put herself first, and put herself in charge. She had to learn things about insurance, health care bills, and car payments. But she did it and when she got confused, she asked for help. She is smart, funny, and most of all brave. This book is her story, but this book is also about any woman who wakes up one day feeling betrayed by her husband, and knows it is time to end the marriage. Inspiring is not an adjective strong enough to describe this book. More like triumphant and glorious. “Awake” is just a victorious makeover story. To buy this book on Amazon click here.