Hope for Widows (Reflections on Mourning, Living, and Change) by author Marilyn Nutter is a Christian book to help those grieving the loss of their husband. She understands first hand what it means to be a widow and the pain that accompanies it.

The author’s style of writing is open and transparent. It feels like having a chat with a friend. Her reflections are divided into chapters. Some titles are: Some Widows Say, Gratitude List, Spiraling, and The Presence of a Friend. The chapters have a variety of short messages. I found assistance and suggestions in with the writing as well as reflections and thoughts. This book should help other widows realize that there are many others in the same situation. I enjoyed the various quotes sprinkled through the pages.

I would recommend this thoughtful book to that widow in your life that needs help. Sometimes a book in the solitude of one’s home offers a breath of fresh air is a smothering situation. It gets a 4 out of 5 star rating from this widow. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest words.

This is not the book anyone dreams of. Who in a happy relationship wants to face the death of a partner? And yet, of course, this is a part of life. Sadly, two friends of mine are currently in the early stages of figuring out this new identity.

The author of this book understands what it means to become a widow. Nutter knows that it is a change of immense magnitude. She tries to gently guide and offer support to the members of this (unwanted) club. 

The reflections in this book are divided into chapters. A few of these are titled Some Widows Say, Gratitude List, Spiraling, and The Presence of a Friend. Each chapter has a number of short entries. There are suggestions in them for building on the entries with reflections and thoughts. There are also a number of quotes about grief scattered through the pages.

Our Daily Bread is a religious publisher but I don’t think one has to be Christian to find some solace in these pages. Take a look at  this one for someone you know and sadly, perhaps for yourself one day.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

I don't feel I can adequately rate this book as it is very specific to the author's experience as a widow. Each experience is unique in that the age, life stage, etc of the widowed. I, personally did not relate as much as I was hoping, but I am also nearly 7 years removed from that time. I would consider handing this to a new widowed woman midlife and older.

I found it hard to read as an ebook since it can not be shared to the Kindle. I appreciated the short chapters and can see how someone might use it as a one-a-day devotional, but also read several chapters in a sit down. The author is vulnerable in her sharing and that alone is beautiful and brave.

Thanks to Netgalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing for this ARC.

When Marilyn wrote about moving from one season into another, that really resonated with me. Ifelt that. I lived that.
When she talked about moving from her home and God preparing her for that. I lived and felt that too.
The part about becoming a widow being more than just the loss of your spouse, it's all the secondary losses. But then there is also secondary growth. I feel that.
This memoir/journal style book may provide comfort and clarity to other widows if only in showing them that they are not alone in how they feel.