What do we do when life ends? How do we honor the past while moving into an unimaginable, uncertain future? This tender, bracingly honest memoir explores how Jenny, a young widow, navigates the sudden loss of Tris, her beloved spouse of eighteen years. With Tris gone, Jenny suddenly finds herself a single mom to a teen daughter and adult stepson. The newly splintered family What do we do when life ends? How do we honor the past while moving into an unimaginable, uncertain future? This tender, bracingly honest memoir explores how Jenny, a young widow, navigates the sudden loss of Tris, her beloved spouse of eighteen years. With Tris gone, Jenny suddenly finds herself a single mom to a teen daughter and adult stepson. The newly splintered family finds ways to celebrate “milestone firsts” —including birthdays and other holidays that, without Tris, now feel hollow and bittersweet. Jenny finds herself drawn to new people, including other widows and psychic mediums, and becoming open to different kinds of connections based on sharing and spirituality. She also embarks on a halting quest for new romantic love. Initially, as she endures awkward first dates and unpleasant interactions with self-proclaimed “nice guys,” she resists her new reality —but over time, she finds someone unexpectedly comforting, blending the pain of loss with the pleasure of closeness. For readers who have also lost a loved one, The Good Widow offers both a comforting guide to grief and a form of companionship; for everyone, it’s a beautiful example of how even after death, love endures.
The Good Widow: A Memoir of Living with Loss
What do we do when life ends? How do we honor the past while moving into an unimaginable, uncertain future? This tender, bracingly honest memoir explores how Jenny, a young widow, navigates the sudden loss of Tris, her beloved spouse of eighteen years. With Tris gone, Jenny suddenly finds herself a single mom to a teen daughter and adult stepson. The newly splintered family What do we do when life ends? How do we honor the past while moving into an unimaginable, uncertain future? This tender, bracingly honest memoir explores how Jenny, a young widow, navigates the sudden loss of Tris, her beloved spouse of eighteen years. With Tris gone, Jenny suddenly finds herself a single mom to a teen daughter and adult stepson. The newly splintered family finds ways to celebrate “milestone firsts” —including birthdays and other holidays that, without Tris, now feel hollow and bittersweet. Jenny finds herself drawn to new people, including other widows and psychic mediums, and becoming open to different kinds of connections based on sharing and spirituality. She also embarks on a halting quest for new romantic love. Initially, as she endures awkward first dates and unpleasant interactions with self-proclaimed “nice guys,” she resists her new reality —but over time, she finds someone unexpectedly comforting, blending the pain of loss with the pleasure of closeness. For readers who have also lost a loved one, The Good Widow offers both a comforting guide to grief and a form of companionship; for everyone, it’s a beautiful example of how even after death, love endures.
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Mel –
The Good Widow was a very moving memoir about the aftermath of losing your partner and the grieving process that entails. Not being a widower myself, I was still able to relate to the story and the grief journey that Jennifer went through (although mine is as a bereaved mother rather than a wife). The details of her husband's final moments and the dash to the hospital, had me in tears. The rawness of her emotions put me back in a very painful place but despite that, it was the feeling of understa The Good Widow was a very moving memoir about the aftermath of losing your partner and the grieving process that entails. Not being a widower myself, I was still able to relate to the story and the grief journey that Jennifer went through (although mine is as a bereaved mother rather than a wife). The details of her husband's final moments and the dash to the hospital, had me in tears. The rawness of her emotions put me back in a very painful place but despite that, it was the feeling of understanding grief and the complexities around it that it also allowed me to visit my grief again which I am grateful for. A very personal and moving book, I wish the author all the best.
Evelyn Petschek –
Excellent debut book! Well written, raw and open honesty, important life lessons. This is much more than a book for those trying to cope with their own loss. It is a touching love story. Themes of family, parenting, grief, coping and reflection.
Paulina Bellantonio –
This was a well written, thoughtful, and emotional memoir. Jennifer becomes a widow when she is in her mid-40s. Suddenly, she has to figure out how to navigate being a single mother to a teenage daughter and an adult step-son. Now she has to find ways to celebrate "firsts" after the death of her beloved husband - birthdays, holidays, school events, etc. This book discusses grief in all its phases - the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is raw, written in the authentic voice of a woman who is exper This was a well written, thoughtful, and emotional memoir. Jennifer becomes a widow when she is in her mid-40s. Suddenly, she has to figure out how to navigate being a single mother to a teenage daughter and an adult step-son. Now she has to find ways to celebrate "firsts" after the death of her beloved husband - birthdays, holidays, school events, etc. This book discusses grief in all its phases - the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is raw, written in the authentic voice of a woman who is experiencing it first hand. Even though I am not a widow (thank goodness; and hope never to be one!) the wisdom found in this book can also be applied to loss of anyone - a loved one, a parent, even a friend. Jennifer very thoughtfully puts into words some of the emotions that I have felt in my own grief, and made me feel less alone; made me feel like it was ok, appropriate, to feel some of the more unexpected things and think the unexpected things that may come in anger, sadness or rage while we grieve and mourn a loss. Very helpfully, this book also includes discussion questions which can help anyone currently struggling with grief to reflect on their own journeys.
Joanne –
Really, really...I didn't want to read Jennifer Katz's memoir, only skim it. Another "how-to" book. Yawn. I told myself it wasn't "that time". Jennifer Katz and I are of different ages, etc...the usual excuses. How wrong! This well written memoir shares and reveals what happens to a family once a member dies. Pain, sorrow, and grief last beyond the initial loss. Almost normal? How do I go on? Grief support groups? Going back to work? Meeting new people? How do I make a "new" life? Dating? Jennifer Really, really...I didn't want to read Jennifer Katz's memoir, only skim it. Another "how-to" book. Yawn. I told myself it wasn't "that time". Jennifer Katz and I are of different ages, etc...the usual excuses. How wrong! This well written memoir shares and reveals what happens to a family once a member dies. Pain, sorrow, and grief last beyond the initial loss. Almost normal? How do I go on? Grief support groups? Going back to work? Meeting new people? How do I make a "new" life? Dating? Jennifer Katz memoir is for anyone at any stay of life. I truly respect her honesty. Her love of family is evident throughtout this book. Looking forward to reading more works from Jennifer Katz !
Amy –
I highly recommend The Good Widow: A Memoir of Living with Loss by Jennifer Katz. I unfortunately recently became a young widow with children at home. I was able to relate to this book so much. I felt like I was not alone on what I am going through. Five plus stars.
Sherri Puzey –
105 // THE GOOD WIDOW was written in an attempt to make sense of what Jennifer Katz learned in the 18 months after her husband’s unexpected death. This collection of essays is structured not chronologically but thematically, with sections on the pain of grief, the connections Jennifer made with herself and others, and how Jennifer learned to move forward, particularly the confusing dating experiences that helped her accept and cope with her new reality. It’s a beautiful and honest look at widowho 105 // THE GOOD WIDOW was written in an attempt to make sense of what Jennifer Katz learned in the 18 months after her husband’s unexpected death. This collection of essays is structured not chronologically but thematically, with sections on the pain of grief, the connections Jennifer made with herself and others, and how Jennifer learned to move forward, particularly the confusing dating experiences that helped her accept and cope with her new reality. It’s a beautiful and honest look at widowhood. Each section includes reflection questions, making this book a helpful companion for anyone who is grieving or who is wanting to come alongside someone else who is grieving.
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