Awake
books by Jen Hatmaker
From Jen Hatmaker—beloved New York Times bestselling author and host of the For the Love podcast—a brutally honest, funny, and revealing memoir about the traumatic end of her twenty-six-year-long marriage, and the beginning of a different kind of love storyAt 2:30 a.m. on July 11, 2020, Jen Hatmaker awoke to her husband of twenty-six years, Brandon, carrying on a whispered phone conversation with another woman from their bed. It was the end of life as she knew it. In the months that followed she went from being a shiny, funny, popular leader to a divorced wreck on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication, parenting five kids alone with no clue about her own bank accounts. Having led millions of women for over a decade—urging them to embrace authenticity, find radical agency, and create healthy relationships—this seemed nothing less than total failure.In Awake, Hatmaker shares what happened when she found herself lost at sea—and how she made it to shore. In candid, surprisingly funny vignettes spanning forty years of girlhood, marriage, and parenting, she lays bare the disorienting upheaval of midlife—the implosion of a marriage, the unraveling of religious and cultural systems, and the grief that accompanies unasked-for change. Drawing on all her resources, from without and from within, Hatmaker dares to question the systems beneath the whole house of cards, and to reckon with the myths, half-truths, and lies that brought her to this point. The narrative encourages readers to remain attentive by offering subtle connections between events. Small details introduced earlier often gain significance later in the story. This sense of continuity rewards careful reading and enhances satisfaction. The book’s balanced approach to storytelling ensures that it remains engaging without becoming overwhelming. Each element is given appropriate attention, supporting overall cohesion. The author’s ability to manage multiple elements within the story contributes to its overall strength. Plot, character, and theme are integrated in a way that feels cohesive rather than fragmented. This integration supports a smooth and engaging narrative.