I loved this book. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the woman's husband and that definitely kept me reading. I felt that her feelings were relatable. However, as a runner, I found some of the running stats to be a little silly....like how she ran double-digit miles a lot and made it seem like no big deal. As a marathon runner, that stuck out to me and made me roll my eyes a few times. Overall, a great book that I would recommend.

I enjoyed this book. I thought it was similar to her others. The Forever Summer is my favorite still, but I enjoy her descriptions and how I feel the sense of a location when I read her books.

Wonderful Summer Read. Jamie Brenner has done a wonderful job of making you feel like you are right there on the New Jersey shore. Her characters are well developed and engaging and the story line is wonderful. Jamie does an excellent job of weaving a very serious topic ( traumatic brain injury) into a terrific summer “must read” book. I will definitely pick up another Jamie Brenner book!

I enjoyed The Husband Hour and tldr, it's a solid novel that I think will be enjoyed by those who like contemporary fiction and would be a great book club pick.

The premise is very straightforward: Lauren, a young widow still in deep mourning for her husband, former pro hockey player turned kia war hero, Rory, finds she's in for a summer of revelations when her family descends on the New Jersey summer home she's escaped to for four years and a filmmaker, Matt, comes to town hoping to make a documentary about Rory.

What is interesting is two-fold:
1. Rory might have been killed in action but it's obvious to Matt (and to Lauren herself) that injuries Rory sustained while playing professional hockey may have contributed to some of the changes Lauren witnessed in her husband before his death--changes that Matt's figured out because he lost a family member who also was in the service and who came back from the war gravely injured and who suffered a great deal. I've never read a novel that dealt with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) so extensively before and I thought Ms. Brenner handled the subject really well.

2. The ending. While everything is wrapped up on a happy note, I really liked that not everything was "fixed."

SPOILERS follow:

For instance, will Howard really embrace his wife's new career and be happy living year round on the New Jersey coast? Yes, he and Beth are happy at the end but I did like the thread of the impact of a drastic change of life for him and Beth having ripples that will last past that happy moment between them during the dinner in Nora's kitchen.

2. Matt and Lauren. Besides the obvious-- they didn't use birth control!--moment--there are things like Lauren's renewed interest in life and career. Will she finally go after a career of her own? If she does, how long will she be happy doing research for Matt? Would she be willing--better yet, should she be willing--to give everything up for love again? ( Imo, she shouldn't!)

3. Stephanie. Sure, she's been sober for a few weeks by the end of The Husband Hour. But will she stay sober? What will she do for a job since she's seem to have never really had one? Will her newfound interest in being a parent to Ethan last? And will she and Lauren be able to move past the start of their tenative reconciliation? Stephanie sure held on to the "I was with him first!" anger with Lauren for a very long time after all, not to mention that she and Lauren have a raging case of sibling rivalry that could explode easily again.

It's these things that I think make The Husband Hour a great pick for a book club read. Yes, the story is satisfying, but there's a lot there for readers to discuss!

I did receive an ARC of this, but had purchased a copy of the book as well. I'll be keeping my copy and setting up a book reading and discussion at the store and/or at the library (maybe, hopefully, both!) for this one.

It's not your typical summer romance story. Instead, it's a look at how interpretations and intentions can alter personal perceptions. A young widow comes to grips with the death of her husband in "The Husband Hour." When a filmmaker delves into her husband's story with plans to make a documentary about his life and death, the woman learns more about herself, her husband and their family and friends. The author's incorporation of facts about concussions and head injuries makes this a very timely novel considering the current changes in the sports world.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren Adelman marries her high school sweetheart, Rory Kincaid, and they seem to have it all. They are good looking, popular, and Rory has signed with an NHL team. Rory shocks everyone—most notably, Lauren—when he enlists in the U.S. Army. When Rory is killed in combat, Lauren is left devastated and alone.

Lauren is thrust into the public eye and escapes to her family's old beach house when she can hide and be on her own. However, this summer she's not alone—her domineering mother and contentious sister have also taken up residence at the house. To top it all off, Matt Brio, a documentarian has tracked her down and convinces her to meet with him. Lauren is not ready for all of this. Matt's hour meeting sets in motion a summer of surprises, revelations, and disruption. She is forced to deal with her grief head on, understand the past, and look toward her future.

This book was utterly captivating. And being a Canadian hockey mom, can I just say that Jamie Brenner did her homework.

Brenner pens characters that are rich and layered and certainly not without flaws. There is almost a naive quality to the three main female characters in that they don't realize their worth, strength and resilience. The supporting cast is just as integral to the story and propel the main characters to grow over the course of the narrative.

Whether it be through death, or mourning the loss of a relationship, the theme of grief is an essential part of the story. Brenner juxtaposes this grief against self-empowerment and this is particularly effective in the growth of her characters.

This is a story of relationships, love, loss, and self-discovery. It is beautifully written and paced—the story unfolds in stages much like grief and was a thoroughly satisfying read. This book would make an excellent book club choice.

Lauren Adelman married her high school sweetheart Rory Kincaid right after college and life couldn't be more perfect. On the surface everything is great, until Rory shocks everyone by deciding to enlist in the army. It shocks Lauren and the rest of his family even more when he dies during combat. Lauren is left broken hearted and devastated. She decides to leave the life she knows and retreats to her family's beach house on the Jersey Shore. Her solitude and peace becomes disrupted when her mother and sister decide to stay the summer with her five years later. Not only that, but a reporter has found her and wants to do a documentary on Rory, famous NHL star and U.S. army hero. Lauren is finally forced to face her past, her family, and the past she's tried to leave behind. I really adored this book. It was a wonderfully written story that deals with loss and grief, with a twist mixed in. This book makes you realize you may not know everyone like you thought you did and sometimes it's best to let the past go.

I really enjoyed reading this book for the most part. I liked the way the story unfolded slowly and how the reader had time to get to know each of the characters a little bit more. I really appreciated that there was more to the story than first meets the eye. It would be interesting to see what happens next for this family.

The Husband Hour was not only enjoyable to read  (I actually was able to read this one within 24 hours - but I also am on vacation which helps), but it also shed light on the horrible dangers incurred when athletes get concussions.

Lauren Adelman married her high school sweetheart, Rory Kincaid, who becomes a star professional hockey player.  Lauren and the world are stunned, however, when Rory decides one day to give up his successful, lucrative career to enlist in the army.  Lauren is devastated when he dies in combat and retreats to her family's beach house on the Jersey Shore to get away from the limelight and deal with her grief privately.  Four years after his death, Lauren is still not functioning well, when her mother decides the beach house should be shared with the whole family -Her older sister, Teresa, with whom she has had a strained relationship since high school and her six-year-old son, Ethan, as well as her mother and father who have fallen on financial difficulties.    To make matters worse,  Matt Brio arrives in town searching for Lauren to get information for a documentary he is planning about Rory.

When I started this book, I was expecting something a lot lighter than this turned out to be.  Lauren is dealing with a lot - her grief, dodging the film-maker, strained family relationships and the revelation of several family secrets.  Through all this, though, the author developed believable and well-drawn characters, and she expertly revealed Lauren's gradual evolution with her grief.  This ultimately is a heart-warming book as she finally begins to help Matt and open up to him, and as a result, puts some pieces together about her husband, Rory, allowing her to move on.

I found this to be a well-written and worthy read that will tug at your heart.

I was thrilled to read this book after hearing about it and it did not dissapoint! It hooks you in from the beginning since while readers may not have lost a spouse in combat or have a sister, they can certainly relate to the themes of the book. I will definitely be reading more by Jamie Brenner

A moving, emotional story that explores families, loss and the resilient human spirit. Highly recommended!

This was an excellently written story, where you can’t quite figure out the real truth. It pulls at your heartstrings, and does not disappoint the reader as you learn so much about a widow and her complexities- especially with her family.

Lauren Kincaid is a young, reclusive widow of 4 years, living at the Jersey shore, shielding herself from friends, family, & media attention. Her husband Rory, an NHL player turned enlisted marine, was killed while deployed in Iraq. Lauren's solitude is curtailed when her parents, sister, & young nephew move to the beach house for the summer. Next, filmmaker Matt Brio tracks down Lauren, hoping to interview her for the documentary about Rory that he is trying to make.
I loved that this book is set in my hometown. I felt an instant connection to the story that takes place in the areas surrounding Lower Merion, including the Skatium and the Jersey Shore. The book effectively tackles the subject of concussions in sports and the resulting onset of CTE. Most of Lauren & Rory's story is told as part of the documentary interview, but there are holes in the story leaving me with some unanswered questions by the end of the book. Some of the characters were underdeveloped and some of the subplots seemed a bit superfluous. The book was a quick read that held my interest, but felt overall like a rough draft script for a Lifetime movie. Thank you #NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

For a novel that addresses some heavy subjects, The Husband Hour was kind of light reading. The premise interested me, but the characters, it turned out, did not compel me. Jamie Brenner offers an easily read, entertaining, if not riveting novel in The Husband Hour. The characters werent as layered as I would have liked, and the story was rather predictable. It would make for a good travel or beach read.

The Husband Hour by Jamie Brenner was not the light, fluffy read that I was expecting. This is my first time reading a book by this author, but certainly not my last. The story is of a widow coming to terms with the loss of her NHL star/fall soldier husband, her complex and strained relationship with her sister, a handsome filmmaker that comes to town, and much more. There was a lot going on throughout the story, but I felt everything flowed well and this was one book that I didn't want to put down for too long. You will also want tissues for a couple of spots in the book, there are definitely some pulling of the heartstrings moments. I highly recommend this book, I feel the subject matter is important and presented in an excellent way.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read The Husband Hour on my Kindle. Initially, The Husband Hour didn't catch my full interest or attention. I kept reading, because the characters were interesting and I could see that there was a possibility that the story would develop. About a third of the way through the story, I was rewarded. The Husband Hour details the life of Lauren and her family - which include her parents, her sister and her nephew. Lauren is a young military widow. She has spent four years grieving the loss of her husband, Rory, overseas. Matt Brio is a documentary film-maker who is interested in the story of Rory Kincaid's life, both during his military service and when he was a hockey star prior to his service. Lauren strongly objects to Rory's story being presented in film. Her reasons become evident later in the book. Jamie Brenner's writing is sharp and on-point. She manages to convey the feelings Lauren and her family are feeling throughout the story. The Husband Hour covers a lot of serious topics including sports head injuries involving CTE, marital difficulties and family disputes. Very grounded and realistic.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of The Husband Hour. A hockey player that has always been the best is drafted into the NHL. His dream come true. Until he isn't the best anymore and no one has paid attention to his injuries over the years. He enlists in the military and is killed in action. He leaves a wife that has loved him since she was 16 and questions to a life that they had barely started living. This book speaks to how hard we push athletes through injuries and what is really important in life. I would highly recommend this book.

The Husband Hour is an intriguing read. It took me a bit to settle into the story but once I did I found myself picking up the pieces of the puzzle and surely fitting together a masterpiece. What drew me in the most were the secrets. It seemed that everyone had something to hide, a truth that they desperately needed to tell.

This is a story about love, family, and the legacy one leaves behind. The characters are engaging and the storytelling is honest. There is a complex ease to Brenner’s writing that I quite enjoy. This line stuck with me like no other ~ She’d spent so much time trying to forget the ending that she never let herself remember the beginning.

Jamie Brenner is an auto buy for me. Whether you are curling out in front of a fire or lounging in the sun her work is a sure fire win.

This is a sweeping novel that captures you from page one until the last page is done. I read it in one sitting. I was entranced by the story of a young widow to a former famous hockey star turned soldier that dies in the war .She progresses through grief and her pain is captured authentically by the author. As she moves on with her life a documentary about her husband is requested and she meets a new man who captivates her . Its a story of survival amid heartbreak, moving on and taking a leap of faith into a new life. I loved it and look forward to further work by this author.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC which does not influence my review. Well done.

Awesome book of family, trials and tribulations. Enjoyed the drama but the family usually always wins out. Thank to Little, Brown and Company and to Netgalley for giving me this chance to devour this story.