This book went a little differently than I expected, but I enjoyed it!

Charlotte is the main character, and while I initially did not get her motivation for secrecy, as the story progressed and I got to know her better, I came to understand. It was like I was developing a friendship with her over the course of the book and she was slowly revealing herself to me. By the end, I was all in with her choices.

The other characters aren't as clearly defined in their motivations, as everything revolves around Charlotte's coping with her past, but there are some other really great characters at play in the story.

Casey, the roommate, is so much fun. She is quirky and open and pretty much the complete opposite of Charlotte, but accepts just about everything Charlotte throws at her and is right there for her to lean on. While Charlotte has remained aloof, Casey is ready to welcome her whenever she decides to open up.

Charlotte's mother-in-law is another story, and seems to be the villain in this story. She's cold and distant and really kind of horrible to Charlotte. If anyone in this story needed a development and redemption arc, it was Debbie!

Then there's the boss, Zareen, and the co-worker/bestie, Monica. Both of these ladies are career-driven and focused, but also care about Charlotte. While they support her need to work on things, neither of them will take any BS and force her to really look at the situation and her life.

We get to know Charlotte's husband, Decker, through her memories and through her interactions with Debbie and with Brian, who was Decker's best friend. Initially, Charlotte tries to avoid the memories, and tries to keep those memories perfect. Over the course of the story, we learn that he was human, just like the rest of us.

Brian is pretty much the perfect man. Well, in my opinion at least. I mean, he's not perfect and makes some pretty major mistakes, but he was a great friend to Decker and to Charlotte. He stayed away from Charlotte when she wanted space and distance from all things that reminded her of Decker, but the moment he was back in her life, he was there for her 100%.

There are a few other characters that I would like to mention, but I don't want to give away any spoilers. And I've tried to keep my character assessments a little vague, because the character development is really what drove this book. I definitely recommend it if you love character-driven stories.

Disclaimer: I am participating in a blog tour through Harlequin. I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley on behalf of Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Husband Material by Emily Belden is an emotional rollercoaster ride. The first several chapters felt slow because it was just an insider's guide to the main protagonist's life. Okay, she's single, was married, and is trying to find her HEA. Then, I find out she lost her husband while they both were still young. My heart broke right there and then. Wow. A surprise. I also like dhow she dumped losers like the fitness nut. That was hilarious and done well. I wanted to smack the loser nut for his talking bad to Char. After that, I finally get to meet the other main character. It was like: Finally! This is where the action in the book started and sort of kept moving.

This book, Husband Material, would easily have been a 4-star rating, if it didn't drag so much in the beginning. The start of it had me wondering okay, so where's this other character to shake this book up a little. There was a dash of humor here and there and then the sadness of Char's loss was great. I wished there was more than tiny bits of it throughout the novel. The book was heartfelt and entertaining-it just takes a long while to get into it. Skip the beginning some, and the rest is okay. Husband Material could easily be another Hallmark movie if a lot of the earlier background was taken out. I would definitely then watch this book on TV.

Husband Material was my second last read of 2019 (and #99, just like The Great One) and it was a totally unique and enjoyable story. Emily Belden's novel is a rom com but there's a heavy storyline throughout that made it stand out from other contemporary novels I've read.

Here's the synopsis:
Twenty-nine-year-old Charlotte Rosen has a secret: she’s a widow. Ever since the fateful day that leveled her world, Charlotte has worked hard to move forward. Great job at a hot social media analytics company? Check. Roommate with no knowledge of her past? Check. Adorable dog? Check. All the while, she’s faithfully data-crunched her way through life, calculating the probability of risk—so she can avoid it.
Yet Charlotte’s algorithms could never have predicted that her late husband’s ashes would land squarely on her doorstep five years later. Stunned but determined, Charlotte sets out to find meaning in this sudden twist of fate, even if that includes facing her perfectly coiffed, and perfectly difficult, ex-mother-in-law—and her husband’s best friend, who seems to become a fixture at her side whether she likes it or not.
But soon a shocking secret surfaces, forcing Charlotte to answer questions she never knew to ask and to consider the possibility of forgiveness. And when a chance at new love arises, she’ll have to decide once and for all whether to follow the numbers or trust her heart.
Charlotte was an interesting character. I think she could have been developed a little bit more but I found myself not wanting to say goodbye to her by the end of the novel. I knew she was in a much healthier place - hard not to be when she was such a closed off person before the urn showed up and then a total mess after - but I wanted to read more about it. Totally unnecessary from a novel perspective, of course, I just wanted more.

The way Charlotte worked through all of her issues really endeared me to her. I actually think we probably could have been friends - if she allowed me into her world, which she had a really, really hard time doing. She was wicked smart and I loved that while she's working at a job that seems so "in" right now, at a social media/influencer company, she was the woman behind the coding and technical side of things.

One of the things early on that had me feeling sort of "meh" about the novel was how it seemed like Belden was purposefully holding back certain information - particularly the details behind how Charlotte became a widow and why his mother seemed to dislike her - but when those details were finally revealed it was sort of...anti-climatic, I guess. It's not the worst thing in the world but it was kind of odd for me.

I don't think I've read a book with a young widow before. At least, not one that's also a romantic comedy. Belden approached it in such a beautiful and heartbreaking way. I liked that Charlotte mentioned the support groups she had gone to before and we got to read as she went to a meeting at the end. I think that helped Belden stress that Charlotte is just one widow with her own unique set of problems. No two situations are the same and she respects that.

There's much more to Husband Material than meets the eye (seriously...I have no idea why the cover looks like it does) and while it didn't totally, completely wow me, Emily Belden's novel was one I didn't want to put down once I got into it. It's sweet, funny, and sad and I'm glad I had a chance to read it.

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*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin/Graydon House, in exchange for a review for the purposes of a blog tour. All opinions are honest and my own.*

I have to tell you up front that this book is absolutely nothing at all about what I thought it would be! And that, my reading friends, is a good thing! Based on the provided excerpts alone, I assumed that this would be a RomCom, Chick-Lit lite, toss away book to read between the more serious books that I was consuming. I could not have been more wrong!

Charlotte is a very young, too young, widow is who hides her grief - and her widowhood - in humor. Not even her flatmate is aware that she was previously married until her husband's ashes arrive at their apartment. What ensues is a story that is filled with humor, yes, but so much more. Husband Material is about friendships, seeking answers, finding the truth and discovering second chances. Bolden has a sharp, witty humor that shines throughout this charming tale, but it serves to lighten an otherwise darker topic and, therein, lies the beauty of Husband Material. This is a fabulous story of hope, one that I would love for you all to read.

I received a reviewer copy of Husband Material by Emily Belden from the publisher Harlequin- Graydon Books in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Charlotte is a data nerd who is writing her own app working to find her perfect lifelong match. She has a great job but she keeps a part of her locked up very deep to avoid dealing with it: she's a widow and has been one longer than she was ever married. Then after a series of wild fires, her husband's urn is returned to her and her life turns upside down.

What I Loved: This book is super interesting and unique. The way Charlotte tries to separate her life as before and after her husband makes sense and her personality to try to control every aspect of her life after a surprise death really makes sense. Also, the story and the set-up is really unique.

What I didn’t like so much: Charlotte made a mess of her life and made mistakes, which is realistic and sometimes she was really annoying because of her stubbornness but it was worth it for the unique story.

Who Should Read It: People who want a unique rom-com. People who want a book that deals with grief and hard questions but is overall gentle.

General Summary: A woman learns that things don't always fit a formula and that things don't fit into binary patterns.

Charlotte just received a surprise package at her doorstep. It is not what she expected...AT ALL! It is her deceased husband's ashes. This just brings all kinds of emotions and old hurts to the fore front of her mind. She eventually realizes she must deal with these issues before she can move on with her life. 


Charlotte is not my favorite character. I just did not feel a connection with her like I did the other characters in this book. However, I did feel some sympathy for Charlotte. She is dealing with a lot of neurotic issues which really bring about some funny circumstances. This keeps this novel moving along.


This is a quirky, fun, palate cleanser. It is a heart warming romantic comedy. This would be great to read on a trip...except you might laugh out loud in some places and people might stare!


I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

HUSBAND MATERIAL by Emily Belden is a story that has elements of several genres. It is a contemporary women’s fiction story with bits of romance and humour. Charlotte Rosen has been a widow for five years. She is happy in her job, co-exists with her roommate that she found on Craig's list, and is working on a dating app that deals with algorithms and mathematics. She seems fine until the day she opens a box that things in her new harddrive. Instead of what she expects, it contains an urn full of her husband's ashes. The mausoleum they were stored in in Pala, California was destroyed and they were returned to the next of kin. Her new life is suddenly falling in around her. Her secrets about her past are now going to be revealed and she is going to have to face her unresolved emotions surrounding Decker's family and her grief.

This story took my by surprise. Being a widow for only three years, I can imagine some of what Charlotte is going through. Grief is something that everyone processes and deals with in their own way, but it seemed Charlotte has not dealt with hers at all. She tried to play it safe, and it backfired on her. There were times I was very annoyed with Charlotte, she seemed to be very selfish and self-absorbed, and other times I wanted to give her a big hug. With the help of friends, specifically Decker's best friend, she is finally able to move on and move forward. There was a huge surprise in the story that threw Charlotte for a loop, and this reader as well, but the author did a great job with that storyline. Charlotte took me on an unexpected journey. I liked the way Emily Belden handled Charlotte’s journey using empathy, humor, forgiveness and love. The secondary cast of characters play a huge part in Charlotte's story. In the beginning, she does not let anyone in, but as the story progresses, she realizes that she needs to let people in to move forward in life, even if her algorithms don't agree. I enjoyed Charlotte’s journey and Emily Belden’s writing style.

Husband Material is kind of a cross between RomCom and women's fiction, and I'm not sure it quite knew which it wanted to be. Dealing with the death of her husband, even five years after the fact, is emotional and heartbreaking, but it doesn't always come across that way. A lot of the book leans toward what I would call quirky and amusing, and there is certainly nothing amusing about grief at the loss of a spouse. The book is well written, and the characters are interesting, but I still struggled to get invested in the story, and I think it goes back to the serious subject matter with such an upbeat tone. I did start to come around about halfway through, and in the end, the story is worth the read, but be prepared for a slightly different take on what would normally be a very emotional read.

Emily Belden is a new author to me and the title of Husband Material had me curious and so I requested an ARC of this book in my selection for Harlequin’s Romance and Women’s Fiction blog tour which they’d already contacted me for. I decided to pick what I hoped would be a fun novel and I wasn’t mistaken. Well, the characters are fun and quirky but the plot is driven by a sad event that is what Charlotte has to go though as a a woman widowed at a young age and how ahe comes to terms with this. It’s clear that, 5 years on from the death of her husband Decker, she is still feeling so much pain and that this in fact will never go away.

Emily Belden deals with the subject in a sensitive way and shows the strength of the main character as she goes through life but also the tougher times for her. There’s Casey, her quirky roommate as well as some dating apps thrown in too. I was kind of thrown off by the inclusion of dating apps given that her husband had passed away even after five years because I thought that took away from the grieving process somewhat but at the same time I realised that time had passed and she was trying to move on. Overall her grieving process is well shown and I felt drawn into her world and all the experiences she had.

Perhaps it’s because I personally haven’t had to use dating apps to find love and because I’m doubtful about how “real” a love can be if found there but I also know it does happen for some people. I’m glad she has her roommate to confide in although that is hard at first and everything is hard for her which is understandable.

Throw in the fact that Debbie, her mother in law, thinks Charlotte killed her son and things are even more complicated.

Husband Material is real, honest sweet raw emotional funny though-provoking and there are more than enough secrets to uncover along the way for the character in her search for closure.

Thanks to Emily Belden and Harlequin for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. Husband Material is my first blog tour of 2020. Emily Belden’s light writing style is a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed it a lot. I’m looking forward to more novels by Emily Belden.

4 stars.

I'm pretty torn on this one, and to be honest I almost didn't finish it. While Belden's prose is charming, her heroine is less so. I can get behind a spiky, unlikable heroine (and which there were more!), but Charlotte's journey and her attitude just didn't quite work for me. There are a few twists that just seemed disjointed and the multiple instances of body shaming were very off-putting. I don't know that I'd read any further books by this author.

The book opens up wth a wedding and a blind date. The date, Chad, is horrible. I mean that, he’s an actual horrible person. The things he says are revolting and Charlotte rightfully ends the date as soon as she can. It does however introduce the fact that Charlotte has been married. The way it is described, you’d think that her ex was The Worst™ she sounds bitter and hurt by the experience. Then you find out in the next chapter that she isn’t a disgruntled divorcee, she’s a widow. That’s a little confusing given how angry she sounds when describing her former marriage especially when you consider the fact that her being a widow is in the blurb. It’s a bit of a case of mixed signals.

I have a couple gripes with this book. The first being that we know Charlotte’s a widow before we start reading, so why is that kept from us and why is her ex painted as some rude, unlikeable person? All that did was make Charlotte seem really selfish. The death of her husband comes across more like a personal attack on her happiness and less of a genuinely heartbreaking event that crushed her. That mystery exists only for a few pages so why even have that in there to begin with? All it does is make the reader not like Charlotte.

Speaking of Charlotte, she is very hard to like. It was wild, I would hate her, find everything she said and did annoying, and then she would have moments of humanity and sincerity and I would go yeah, this is someone I can get behind, I feel her sorrow over the unexpected death of her husband and at such a young age. I could understand why she never wanted to be with his family, his mom is AWFUL. And then there’d be scenes where she is making decisions and acting in such a way that I, another 29 year old woman who has experience with grief on a massive scale, am like…. excuse me? I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m keeping it vague! But I just don’t realistically see someone doing the things that she did. Not at 29 and not after 5 years of counseling.

I can’t really describe all of my feelings about this book. There are some really amazing moments between Charlotte and her roommate Casey, Brian – the love interest and her late husband’s best friend – and her mother-in-law. I pushed myself to finish this book, for a good chunk, I was happy that I did. It seemed like Charlotte was growing as a person and some of her less likable traits were fading into the background. And then there’d be a chapter where I’d realize that that didn’t happen. It was difficult.

There are a lot of people who love this book so I really think you should give it a shot! Things that I find frustrating may add flavor for you and that’s wonderful. I have read reviews of people saying that they loved how flawed and imperfect Charlotte was and that it made the story stand out over others and I can definitely agree with that. This is not a cookie cutter story. There is a unique thread to this story and if you connect with it, you’ll really like this. Emily Belden can write drama in many forms and I am interested to see what she comes out with next.

I picked Husband Material by Emily Belden as my first read of 2020. I wanted to start the year off with something fun and light, and I am so glad I did because I really enjoyed it. Husband Material was such a dynamic story with heartbreak, heart melting moments, and humor. Within the first couple pages I was close to spitting my drink out from a funny line I read. Those are my favorite moments in books, where something is so funny you can’t help but physically react. There were a couple twists that threw me off (but in a good way!) and kept me intrigued needing to know what happened next. I loved the characters, especially the roommate Casey who had a totally opposite personality from Charlotte and added great character dynamics, as well and Charlotte’s Mother-in-law who actually surprised me by the end of the book.

I really loved seeing how Charlotte grew from the first page to the last. She overcame some really big life struggles that were completely relatable, and I felt that the ending was all wrapped up beautifully and tied with a bow by the end. It’s never fun when a book has a sloppy ending leaving you with questions, which this wasn’t one of those. The writing was easy flowing, almost to a point where I felt like I had a movie playing in my head. I love when that happens, don’t you? I will definitely be adding Emily Belden to my list of top authors to read! I can’t wait to read more of her books this year. If you’re looking for a lighter, endearing read then I definitely recommend Husband Material!!

This was a very fun read for me.
Belden writes in a style that I really enjoy, it feels fresh and light. Though the book tackled some heavy subjects, none of it was felt in the writing. The plot was paced well, and the way it progressed felt natural.
The idea behind the book was beautifully executed. The characters were well developed and set up in a way that kept the book dynamic and entertaining. Though the characters aren’t relatable, straying from most books in the romance genre, Husband Material didn’t need to rely on that to make the book as enjoyable as it was. All it needed was the wit that Belden incorporated in it, and that was enough for me.

Cuteness alert! I loved this funny, snarky little rom-com! Grab your Firken ( fake Birken) and dive right into the world of Charlotte Rosen. This book just made me feel good. I smirked many of times while reading this book because this girl was just so funny.

What's not to like about Charlotte? She has got it going on. Living in LA she is privy to all the hip things (do people even use that word anymore)?! She has a cool job at The Influencer Firm which is featured in Forbes as being one of the best up and coming companies to work for. She has an adorable dog named Leno ( yes, after Jay Leno). She lives with her crazy, weird roommate Casey ( that she found on Craigslist) EEEEK! OH and her in-laws hate her because she killed their son Decker. That about covers it! Meanwhile she is on Tinder, Bumble and whatever else dating site trying to find her perfect match.

As you guessed it there is more to this story. I am going to leave that right there so I don't spoil this adorable story for you. You would think that this story would be a bummer since Charlotte is a widow searching for love. Yet somehow the author has such a knack for shifting gears and turning a serious situation into a hilarious one right as you start to feel like you may turn into an ugly crying mess.

Charlotte's funny stories- such as the time she went to the farmers market "We must be filming a pilot for HDTV" when surrounded by all the vine ripe tomatoes. Or dropping her husband - who is dead under a table, standing in a bathroom stall listening to her coworkers make fun of her fake Birken- and she continued to carry it! This was fun for page one until the very end. Let's just say I needed this!

When I read the summary of Husband Material I was immediately intrigued and signed up for the blog tour for the opportunity to delve into this story.

Charlotte has a secret - She's a widow. Five years ago, she tragically lost her husband. She has since moved on by finding a roommate, job and life where no one knows about her before. It's not that she doesn't think about Decker ever, but she's just trying to get through as she has lingering pain and guilt around this death. Then, all the feels come back when Decker's ashes show up on her doorstep. The mausoleum he was housed in has been impacted by a forest fire, and this means the next of kin must decide what to do now. Being reunited with Decker brings back feelings Charlotte has tried to keep locked away. With this development, Charlotte reconnects with Decker's parents, as well as with Decker's best friend, Brian.

Having these blasts from the past means Charlotte revisits what life was in the age of Decker. As she does this, a new secret comes out that changes literally everything. This was a romance novel, but it had thriller-esque twists, and I appreciated that. Even more than that, the emotions were so authentically written. While there was some humor throughout, there was also the heart that Charlotte had been through something that had such a profound impact.

What I loved about this book was that it really looks at the themes of grief and loss. These are emotions that are so common, but we don't talk about them enough. And we certainly don't acknowledge that it can take many different forms. This can vary from person to person, but more than that, one person's relationship with the emotion can change as time goes on. This book showcases that through its characters as they're just trying to get through after the unimaginable happens. It also wrestles with the question of what relationships look like through grief. How do these change? Who gets to decide how we feel loss? What do we do when the person who connected us to someone else is gone?

Even though there is a theme of grief and pain, this is also about love. I appreciated how this book showed emotions aren't mutually exclusive. Charlotte wasn't just Decker's death. There was so much more to her. This was Charlotte navigating her relationships, her secrets, and what her ever after was going to be. I'm so glad I seized the intrigue of this one and had this reading experience!

What I choose to read depends on my mood. Sometimes I crave something with twists and turns and utter suspense. While other times, I have a hankering for historical fiction or a fabulous memoir. Most recently though, I have been enjoying cuddling up in bed with a warm and fuzzy read. Something that doesn’t rattle me right before I start to count my sheep. Husband Material by Emily Belden was the perfect comfort read at the end of a long day. Let me give you the scoop.

Charlotte Rosen is a 29 year old widow of five years. She lives in an apartment with her roommate, works as a social media analyst and is in the process of developing the latest and greatest dating app. After work one day, Charlotte arrives home to a surprise package containing an urn of her late husband’s ashes. Not only does Charlotte now have to revisit a host of emotions, she has to interact with her “lovely” (not really) mother-in-law. In addition to her new found drama, Charlotte runs into Brian, her late husband’s best friend. As they reconnect, feelings between the two of them become complicated. Just when she thinks the ice underneath her can’t get any thinner, a truth bomb drops about her late husband’s past that has her questioning their entire marriage. Will she be able to come to terms with the past while rebuilding her future?

Husband Material is a heartwarming tale. I loved how Belden tied in Charlotte’s love for mathematical data and algorithms into her personal and professional life. I am more than happy to report that Charlotte is a lovable protagonist that is easy to root for. The characters around her make up the perfect cast for this delightful story. Charlotte’s struggle to let go of the past in order to move forward with her future is something that most people can relate to in some shape or form. For a book that revolves around death and loss, Belden did an excellent job at keeping her story light and uplifting with a dab of humor and romance.

Today’s post is part of Harlequin Trade Publishing Blog Tour: Romance and Women’s Fiction Winter 2020. Thank you to Harlequin for for inviting Dear Mr. Hemingway on this tour.

I didn’t really enjoy this book but felt compelled to finish reading it. The heroine Charlotte is a widow. She is also judgemental as hell. There are several instances of body shaming and it was not fun to read. Charlotte has an interesting journey to deal with her grief over losing her husband. There are some twists and they were kind of weird. The love story is definitely secondary to Charlotte’s journey. And even though I liked it enough to finish it, I don’t think I would read this author again

Do you ever finish a book and just think, meh? That’s what happened to me with this one, I didn’t love or hate it, I didn’t even really like or dislike it either, I just feel pretty apathetic about it overall. Kind of a bummer because the authors previous book, Hot Mess was such a hit for me that I wasn’t expecting this to be such a miss.

There were definitely some things I liked about this one, the fact that Charlotte was a young widow was interesting and the author has a really quirky, sarcastic style I like. There were also some great secondary characters that entertained me but I didn’t really connect with either Charlotte or Brian on any level. I also felt like this really lacked romance which was probably the biggest disappointment for me. The ending was also lackluster for me and by that point I was just ready for it to be over, never a good sign for me. Because I loved Hot Mess so much though I would definitely give the author another try and if you haven’t read that one I can definitely recommend it over this one.

I recently read Hot Mess by this author and absolutely fell in love with her writing. Color me tickled when I received a copy of her latest, Husband Material. Now, this book was not at all what I expected. I think with the beginning, the title and all the algorithm talk, I thought I was going to get a more dating disaster to true love kind of novel. Instead, I was reading a more somber story about Charlotte and her journey to dealing with her husband's ashes showing up at her door five years after the fact. How she had to finally face it after pretending it wasn't a part of her anymore.

I finished this on my flight home this afternoon and I'm glad I got to sit on this one a bit. I really wasn't sure how I felt once I swiped that last page. I applaud the journey of Charlotte as a young widow and how she reacted and how people reacted to her. As with most contemporary romance novels, we can all see where the book is heading. I just didn't quite feel a certain *realness* to Charlotte and another character. Nor did I fully believe in the turn around of another. However, maybe this just isn't a subject matter I can truly relate to in order to understand it as I should.

Belden is a fantastic writer and I will certainly continue to read her novels. While this one might not have resonated with me as well as Hot Mess did, I was happy to be on Charlotte's journey and thoroughly fell in love with her roommate. Oh the quirky ones always get to me. *wink*

Husband Material by Emily Belden has Charlotte Rosen thrown for a tailspin when the ashes of her deceased husband show up on her doorstep. She thought she had put the past behind her, but Charlotte had just put it off. With two weeks off to get her life together, Charlotte sets out to get answers with the assistance of her husband’s best friend. Husband Material is a romantic comedy that has some deep moments. Charlotte has been a widow for five years, but no one in her present circle knows that she as married. She moved to different apartment, learned how to code software and began working at The Influencer Firm. Charlotte may have been moving on, but she never dealt with her feelings about her husband’s death. We get to see her face some hard realities. Charlotte has been using numbers and algorithms to avoid getting close with a man or anyone else for that matter. She is now getting a second chance. If Charlotte wants to have a meaningful future, she needs to resolve her feelings of loss and guilt. Charlotte is a hard character to like, but she does grow on you as the story progresses. I found Charlotte’s roommate, Casey to be quirky and tell-it-like-it type of woman. I felt bad for her at times because Charlotte really takes advantage of Casey’s kindness. Charlotte was lucky to have such a kind boss in Zareen. It was interesting to learn what about influencers and the type of work Charlotte did to promote businesses. Husband Material is an emotional story about dealing with the past, letting it go, and embracing the future. I was surprised with the ending and some of the choices Charlotte made. I enjoyed the humor throughout the story which lightened some of the darker subjects. Husband Material is an engaging, uplifting story about second chances, forgiveness, taking risks, introspection, and moving forward.