Awake: The Jen Hatmaker Memoir

Awake: A brutally honest memoir from New York Times bestselling author, Jen Hatmaker by Jen Hatmaker


I have followed Jen Hatmaker on her blog and social media for about twelve years, since I first read her book "7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess." I have helped launch her books "For the Love," "Of Mess and Moxie," "Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire," and her cookbook "Feed These People."

In the years following the release of these books, I have watched Jen reshape her faith, her faith practice, her views on controversial (and often polarizing) topics, and be more and more open about her views concerning God, faith, the church, and of course in the years following her divorce, dating and relationships. I realize that my story is different from Jen's, and that's fine. I'm older, I am still married, and I've approached middle age in different ways.

I say all of that to say this: I don't think I can recommend this book in good conscience to very many people. Not without several caveats.

(Side note: If you have not read Jen's NYT interview, then the opinions below might be construed as "spoilers;" however, since more than this has been revealed both in that interview, by Jen on her own multiple platforms, and in other reviews here on Goodreads, I don't think I'm revealing anything new here.)

First, if you are looking for gossip or "tea," you'll find some hints, but not a lot of details (rightly so, in my opinion, because she and her ex-husband have children who may be grown, but are still "the kids" in this scenario). Second, if you're looking for a traditional memoir in the sense that the story is told linearly or in chronological order, this is not it. It skips randomly around in time in the first half, without a clear path. Third, in many ways this is predictable in the sense that divorce has happened, new relationships on both sides have been formed, everyone is throwing away their purity culture rings and former standards, etc. Finally, I just don't agree with Jen's opinions on every topic.

The reason I would consider recommending this book to some people is the second half. For me, that second half with the examination of codependency, family support, friendship, and getting older all resonated and were much more relatable than the first part of the book.

If you are a person who has had a cheating spouse, this book might not be for you if that is a trigger. If you are a person who is annoyed by the bashing of purity culture in the 80s and 90s, don't read the first part of the book. If you are in a ministry marriage, this book might not be for you either. But if you're a superfan of Jen Hatmaker, by all means order the book and attend an event and celebrate all the Awake you want to. I used to strongly relate with Jen, but I find now that I really don't. That's fine. I'm not bashing her, and I wish her all success with this new book. It just isn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reading ebook for review. All thoughts are my own.