The Lost Husband

Obviously most people in a bad situation wouldn’t be lucky enough to have an aunt out of nowhere offer them a job, a home, and childcare, so I guess you could call it an unrealistic setup, but it’s not like Libby doesn’t still have plenty of other hardships on her plate, she’s still working through the grief of losing her husband, dealing with a mother who is far from loving and who harbors a significant secret, and her daughter’s being bullied.

While I might have liked a bit more of the day to day farm work, otherwise this was such a satisfying read. Libby strikes up an unlikely friendship that was both fun and heartfelt. Aunt Jean’s lovably pragmatic with a truly touching backstory. The romance moved at just the right pace show more given the baggage that needed to be dealt with on both sides. The lack of an easy solution to the daughter being bullied gave that part of the story for the most part a feeling of authenticity, and even if O’Connor’s intervention in the litigious real world probably wouldn’t have turned out well for him (and was morally sketchy), on the scale of unintentionally romantic gestures that rated pretty high up there.

Even though there is some angst and emotion, The Lost Husband is definitely a feel-good experience and if you’re in the mood for something on the quieter side, this worked wonderfully well as an outdoors read with just the birds chirping for company. show less

I stayed up late to finish this book, and then immediately looked to see what else Katherine Center had written. The Lost Husband is one of the best women’s fiction books I’ve read this year, a book with a big heart that never settles for cheap sentimentality.

I was initially attracted by the quirky premise of a young widow (Libby Moran) and her two young children who move to live with Libby’s aunt on a goat farm. From the clever goat names (“Mary Todd Lincoln’s not going to milk herself”) to the odd-ball cast of eccentric small-town characters, the book does not disappoint.

Despite the singularity of the characters, one of the strengths of the novel is its willingness to tackle real-life issues of today’s “sandwich show more generation,” as Libby struggles to balance the demands of motherhood (her daughter, Abby, is being bullied at school) with the challenges of dealing with her own difficult mother.

But best of all is the strong writing that carries the novel and is evident from the first sentence: “My husband had been dead for three years before I started trying to contact him.” Too often, feel-good novels rely on clichés and pedestrian prose, but the writing of this novel shines with cleverness and well-constructed sentences that deserve to be savored.

My only quibble is a plot twist near the end that seems a bit too neat and engineered, but in all other respects, this was a five-star read. show less

Katherine Center is awesome. I’ve read every one of her books, and they suck me in like nobody’s gull-darn business. The Lost Husband was no different, ending my somewhat hum-drum streak of starting and promptly abandoning books, and I was all up in this novel from start to finish.

Despite the heavy subject matter of Center’s latest, this is not a serious story. It has serious elements, absolutely, and I may have teared up a few times, but like every story penned by this author? Well, at its core is a capable, loving heroine who doesn’t take herself too seriously . . . and the humor is what carries us through. The playful dynamic between Libby and O’Connor kept us from ever wading into misery, and the kids! Oh, the kids. show more Second-grader Abby stole every scene, and her little brother Tank also provided much-needed levity.

At its heart, The Lost Husband is about family — and carrying on in the face of tragedy. Three years after her husband’s sudden death, Libby is trying her best to keep her crew happy, healthy and together . . . and if that results in some helicopter parenting, I completely understood. When Abby is being bullied for a slight limp that lingers from a car accident, I wanted to swoop in there and read nasty PeePants Gavinski the riot act myself. Center’s great talent is creating families that feel like your family — and we’re with them every step of the way.

The plot’s quick pace had me glued to my e-reader, sneaking passages whenever possible, and I loved the introduction of Sunshine, a formerly-famous actress hiding out with her grandfather in Atwater. After Libby nearly runs her over on her first day in town, the two become unlikely friends — especially given Sunshine’s ability to “talk” to those on the other side. Informing Libby she can “find” Danny, the titular lost husband, the duo begin a series of “seances” that actually give them a chance to talk, unwind and vent.

More than anything, what Libby needs is a friend.

I was just . . . so pleased with this book. From its rural Texas setting to its vibrant, interesting characters to its descriptions of tough but bucolic country life, Center has created a winner of a tale in her latest work. The budding love story was well-balanced with depictions of family life (and all its complications), and I inhaled this book in just a few days. Fans of Center’s have another gem for their collection — and I expect The Lost Husband to win over new readers, too. show less

I devoured this book in one sitting. It was a fun, easy read, full of likable, if kooky characters (especially the goats!), believable (read: messy) life situations, and a happy ending that doesn't come easy. Sure, there are minor flaws, like the wrong title, and Libby's somewhat erratic parenting, but people are flawed too and it wasn't enough to take away from my enjoyment of the book. It's nothing earth-shattering here, but it's a story about relationships, what we give and take, and how that shapes us. You want these characters to succeed, and for the most part they do. And you respect them more because they had to work for their success. And the twist with O'Connor was pleasantly unexpected. I enjoyed the author's voice, and show more overall really liked the book. Hooray for little girls standing up to bullies! (Read it, and see what I mean...) show less

Perfect for fans of romantic women’s fiction, this tender and heartwarming novel explores the trials of losing what matters most—and how there’s always more than we can imagine left to find.
The letter comes out of the blue, and just in time for Libby Moran, who—after the sudden death of her husband, Danny—went to stay with her hypercritical mother. Now her crazy Aunt Jean has offered Libby an escape: a job and a place to live on her farm in the Texas Hill Country. Before she can talk herself out of it, Libby is packing the minivan, grabbing the kids, and hitting the road.
I requested this book from The Library Things early review program because of the very cute cover and the story line of the family moving to a goat farm! show more Because of personal losses we have found ourselves on a farm in the country and with a life style change that has been very positive for us. I knew I would have a lot to relate to in this story and there would be enough to keep me in the story. I was not disappointed. I was able to read this on a recent trip so I read it in 3 days. I enjoyed this book as a light read which is usually not my normal genre. I did find some parts to be predictable but the outcomes do not disappoint and there are several surprises to keep you going. Great summer beach read! show less

THE LOST HUSBAND is an uplifting family drama that deals with grief, forgiveness, and starting over. The main character, Libby, is a struggling widow with two young children who ends up working for her quirky aunt on a goat farm. It's a much needed escape from living with her narcissistic mother, and a better place to process her grief.

While there were romantic elements in the story, the main focus was on Libby's growth and her dealing with family secrets. I enjoyed the genuine characters, charming Texas setting, and hopeful ending. Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the digital review copy. Opinions are my own.

It’s been three years since her husband died, and now Libby and her two children are living with her mother, unable to afford a place to live. Caught unawares by some bad investments her husband had made, she had no other choice. That is, until her aunt Jean invited them to come stay with her on her goat farm. Even that was preferable to staying any longer with her mother. And though her mother and aunt are sisters, they haven’t spoken to each other in years. Why they are estranged is a family secret, one that is bound to be disclosed. Life on the farm is mostly good, but there are problems, some serious, that must be resolved. This novel does have some romance, but it really revolves around grief, responsibility, questionable show more actions, abandonment, and forgiveness. It is an interesting but not light-hearted read. The story is well written, but some parts of the plot seem a bit far-fetched. show less