Working for the Widow

by Jessa Lynn Beers

329 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2026

Reviews

[Jennifer Poliwoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

With every book she writes, J.L. Beers grows as an author. This work was different than anything else she has ever published.

Her characters, like always, are easy to relate to and are very multilayered. I am excited that this will be a series, and I’m looking forward to all the other personal stories.

This is a darker book, not necessarily in content but in emotions. WFTW explores grief, loneliness, PTSD, severe depression, and the process of moving on.

I cried, I laughed, I giggled.

If you need a good romance, this is it.

[Madison Beardslee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read Working for the Widow.

This was a really great romance with found family and blue-collar vibes. The story focuses a lot on grief and healing, and it handled those themes in a very honest and thoughtful way. Please check trigger warnings before reading.

I loved the characters in this book, especially Renee. Her story truly touched me and added so much emotional depth. The relationships felt genuine and supportive, which made the found family aspect even better.

Overall, this was an emotional, heartfelt read that I really enjoyed.

[Dev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtney and Deran… I am speechless! 😭🤍✨

This story absolutely shattered me in the best way possible. From the very first chapter, Courtney’s journey felt so raw and authentic which just left me so emotional. As a mom, her story hit home on a level I wasn't expecting. I genuinely felt every ounce of her heartbreak and emotions through the pages.

Then there’s the romance. I am obsessed with this duo! Their chemistry is unmatched! While I usually struggle with the miscommunication trope, it felt completely earned here because of Courtney’s past. It wasn't just for the plot.. it was a realistic storyline for her character to overcome

This was such a beautiful, heartfelt read that I couldn't put down. I’m not ready to say goodbye!! I need Courtney and Deran forever! 🤍✨

[Katy Matamoros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deran is the kind of man every book girl dreams of ❤️ Courtney is shattered by tragedy, and watching her navigate that grief feels so real and raw. Then Deran steps in out of nowhere and becomes her safe place. He’s exactly what her heart needed ❤️
⚠️ Definitely read the trigger warnings first.

[RoyalTeaReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly never thought I’d give a contemporary romance novel 6 stars but……
HERE WE ARE!
I started Working For The Widow thinking I’d read a few chapters and next thing I knew it was 3am and I finished it with tears rolling down my face. WOW I finally found a contemporary romance author that writes BEAUTIFULLY and creates characters that I REALLY care about! This is an exquisite, heart wrenching, beautiful romance- and also so much more! It’s about deep grief and the healing process, found family and the importance of genuine connection and companionship (human and pets). It also has steamy spicy scenes that are just right, some funny banter moments, and a swoon worthy MMC! To top it off the writing is perfect. It flows so well I felt like I was watching a great movie and I could NOT put it down. IT. HAS. EVERYTHING. I WANT. AND. NEED. J.L Beers is officially on my auto-buy list. Thank goodness this is the start to a series because I NEED MOREEEE PLEASE!

[Samantha Glodde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new venture for J.L. Beers into contemporary romance has me kicking my feet. While scratching the itch of feeling seen within the mental health realm, It reminds that good things are still possible within grief. So real and raw, this novel shares a story of a woman that has experienced extreme loss and is learning to navigate her life without the people she loves. This novel truly felt like validation to those that have experienced loss, grief, or any mental health struggle.

This novel has elements of found family, wholesome romance, and personal growth. Working for the Widow is a beautiful story of transformation and survival that will leave a lasting impression on the heart!

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working for the widow follows Courtney who has suffered a great loss. She is dealing with severe depression while trying to process her grief.

The characters in this book deal with real life complicated issues. Make sure to read the trigger warnings as there are very heavy topics mentioned in this book.

This book is a contemporary romance that focuses on mental health, found family and that love can be found after loss.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The typos make this book unreadable

I can ignore a few typos however, there are so many that I had to DNF. The author should consider deleting this book, fixing the typos, & then publishing again or something…