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La Vie à portée de main
« Chère Libby, je me rends compte que ça fait deux longues années – bon sang ! – que tes enfants et toi vivez chez ta mère. Je t’écris pour savoir si tu veux que je vienne à ton secours. »
Depuis la mort de son mari, Libby vit chez sa mère, une femme autoritaire qui passe son temps à critiquer tout ce qui l’entoure. Quand elle reçoit la lettre de sa tante Jean, Libby entrevoit enfin une issue de secours : un boulot et un toit dans une ferme au fin fond du Texas. Elle saute sur l’occasion et prend la route avec ses deux enfants, dans son minivan plein à craquer.
Ce qu’elle découvre sur place dépasse toutes ses espérances. Bien sûr, il y a la joie simple de vivre à la campagne, mais il y a aussi un fermier bourru, sans doute agréable à regarder sous son épaisse barbe, et sa tante excentrique, persuadée de pouvoir dialoguer avec l’au-delà, qui lui réserve bien des surprises. Libby a peut-être enfin trouvé la vie à laquelle elle aspirait depuis toujours.
Depuis la mort de son mari, Libby vit chez sa mère, une femme autoritaire qui passe son temps à critiquer tout ce qui l’entoure. Quand elle reçoit la lettre de sa tante Jean, Libby entrevoit enfin une issue de secours : un boulot et un toit dans une ferme au fin fond du Texas. Elle saute sur l’occasion et prend la route avec ses deux enfants, dans son minivan plein à craquer.
Ce qu’elle découvre sur place dépasse toutes ses espérances. Bien sûr, il y a la joie simple de vivre à la campagne, mais il y a aussi un fermier bourru, sans doute agréable à regarder sous son épaisse barbe, et sa tante excentrique, persuadée de pouvoir dialoguer avec l’au-delà, qui lui réserve bien des surprises. Libby a peut-être enfin trouvé la vie à laquelle elle aspirait depuis toujours.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2013
1095 people are currently reading
20912 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Center
22 books31.4k followershttps://katherinecenter.com/about/
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,625 reviews
March 22, 2019
Few “women’s fiction” writers hold my attention like this author! Few make me feel giddy and grinning like this author! Few have me burning the midnight oil like this author! Few have this author’s talent!
So with as much enthusiasm as I can muster, I highly recommend this family oriented/romantic story with completely endearing characters.
O’Connor, the shaggy bearded farmer, had only said his first twenty words and I was already head over heels for him ;)
Rarely do I listen to audiobooks, but found this one to be awesomely unputdownable.
I don’t say this enough, but my local library is the greatest source for books/ebooks/audiobooks, and am so grateful for them!
January 30, 2025
I read my first Katherine Center book two years ago when How to Walk Away was released, and since then, I’ve fallen in love with her incredible storytelling and brilliant writing. I recently found out that The Lost Husband is being adapted into a movie, so I knew it was time to pick up the book—especially since I always try to read the book before watching the movie.
Overall, the story was sweet and touching. While the writing didn’t quite match the depth of the author’s more recent works, it still delivered everything I’ve come to love about her books—a feel-good story with wonderful characters and plenty of heartwarming, enchanting moments.
As always, the characters were relatable and charming. I enjoyed them all—except for Libby’s mother—but her aunt, her kids, and of course, O’Connor, made for a fantastic cast. Especially O’Connor, who quickly became my favorite. Kind, genuine, devoted, hardworking, and absolutely adorable with the kids, he was such a standout character. Now that I’ve read the book, I can’t wait to see the movie—especially knowing that Josh Duhamel is playing O’Connor. If I’m honest, I might be a little in love with the character.
Even though this wasn’t the author’s strongest or best work, it was still an adorable and heartfelt read—perfect for a slow Saturday or as a light break between thrillers.
Overall, the story was sweet and touching. While the writing didn’t quite match the depth of the author’s more recent works, it still delivered everything I’ve come to love about her books—a feel-good story with wonderful characters and plenty of heartwarming, enchanting moments.
As always, the characters were relatable and charming. I enjoyed them all—except for Libby’s mother—but her aunt, her kids, and of course, O’Connor, made for a fantastic cast. Especially O’Connor, who quickly became my favorite. Kind, genuine, devoted, hardworking, and absolutely adorable with the kids, he was such a standout character. Now that I’ve read the book, I can’t wait to see the movie—especially knowing that Josh Duhamel is playing O’Connor. If I’m honest, I might be a little in love with the character.
Even though this wasn’t the author’s strongest or best work, it was still an adorable and heartfelt read—perfect for a slow Saturday or as a light break between thrillers.
May 1, 2021
This engaging, heartwarming story has been adapted into a movie: and is a total hit on Netflix. This is a totally enjoyable read and you will love the kids in this story. Katherine Center captures the family dynamic so well! School bullying, single parenthood and never-ending farm chores make for a highly amusing and entertaining story.
Have you read this wonderful story already? Then check out the trailer for the movie adaptation on Youtube. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr5Gi...)
Josh Duhamel did a great job with this tricky role.
Highly recommended!
P.S. The movie adaptation of The Lost Husband is now available on HOOPLA. My public library subscribes to HOOPLA so that means I get to watch this FOR FREE with my library subscription. So excited!!!
Have you read this wonderful story already? Then check out the trailer for the movie adaptation on Youtube. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr5Gi...)
Josh Duhamel did a great job with this tricky role.
Highly recommended!
P.S. The movie adaptation of The Lost Husband is now available on HOOPLA. My public library subscribes to HOOPLA so that means I get to watch this FOR FREE with my library subscription. So excited!!!
April 30, 2020
3 stars
I picked up The Lost Husband because I have loved Katherine Center's previous works, plus I saw there was a film that just came out based on the book (I'll be watching that asap). I think the movie will be super cute and even though this wasn't my favorite of her books, it was a good read that I enjoyed listening to.
You can’t just wish strength for yourself. Or wisdom. Or resilience. Those things have to be earned.
I picked up The Lost Husband because I have loved Katherine Center's previous works, plus I saw there was a film that just came out based on the book (I'll be watching that asap). I think the movie will be super cute and even though this wasn't my favorite of her books, it was a good read that I enjoyed listening to.
October 10, 2019
A fabulous story about love, loss and starting over.
Just that sentence hold a vast set of emotions which the author makes you feel whilst reading this book.
Great talent.
Just that sentence hold a vast set of emotions which the author makes you feel whilst reading this book.
Great talent.
March 16, 2020
Okay, I´m slow. I admit it. When I find a new author (new to me) I DO try to figure out why I enjoy the writing so much. Let me be explicit. I do not just mean this particular story but the sum of all the work that the author has out there.
I loved this story. And with this story I finally figured out the reason why (I told you, I am slow). As I really enjoyed reading all the books I have (now numbering 5) from Katherine Center I realize that there are two things that she does consistently in all her stories that makes me enjoy and relate so much to them.
1)She is able to write a seemingly simple story that I have come to realize is more complex than it sounds. That the words she chooses are powerful and exactly to the point.
2)The second reason is slightly embarrassing. The main character usually thinks something that I have to ask myself "how did Ms. Center get into my head?" Why is this embarrassing? Because this "something" is usually childish or something I would have never admitted to anyone. Ever. In some of her books it happens more often, in some less, but it always happens.
Back to The Lost Husband, I must say that I loved this story even more than the authors other stories. And that is saying a lot. I really loved the characters that were so fleshed out that I could see them in front of me. And I loved that the majority of the story took place on a goat farm. This was a situation that I couldn´t ever imagine enjoying (definitely not a place I would normally be comfortable in), but written in the careful way that I found wonderful. It was the perfect place.
I loved this story. And with this story I finally figured out the reason why (I told you, I am slow). As I really enjoyed reading all the books I have (now numbering 5) from Katherine Center I realize that there are two things that she does consistently in all her stories that makes me enjoy and relate so much to them.
1)She is able to write a seemingly simple story that I have come to realize is more complex than it sounds. That the words she chooses are powerful and exactly to the point.
2)The second reason is slightly embarrassing. The main character usually thinks something that I have to ask myself "how did Ms. Center get into my head?" Why is this embarrassing? Because this "something" is usually childish or something I would have never admitted to anyone. Ever. In some of her books it happens more often, in some less, but it always happens.
Back to The Lost Husband, I must say that I loved this story even more than the authors other stories. And that is saying a lot. I really loved the characters that were so fleshed out that I could see them in front of me. And I loved that the majority of the story took place on a goat farm. This was a situation that I couldn´t ever imagine enjoying (definitely not a place I would normally be comfortable in), but written in the careful way that I found wonderful. It was the perfect place.
October 24, 2020
4 sweet but some substance stars
After two dark reads, I had to find something lighter and Katherine Center perfectly fits the bill! I've been eyeing this one for a while as there's a movie out based on the book, I'll be queuing that up tonight!
This one has Libby, a mom of two, recently widowed and she is a worry wart. I can totally relate to that, always thinking the worst is going to happen. After her husband's death, things fall apart financially and she eventually gets an offer to go stay with her aunt and help on the goat farm.
It's quite a new experience and adventure for her kids and Libby finally starts to make peace with herself. There are some episodes of bullying for her daughter and my heart ached for them. They did find a great solution though! There might even be a new love interest, but things are so complicated.
There were some near tears with this one and some laugh out loud moments. I'm glad a have a few more of her books to read.
After two dark reads, I had to find something lighter and Katherine Center perfectly fits the bill! I've been eyeing this one for a while as there's a movie out based on the book, I'll be queuing that up tonight!
This one has Libby, a mom of two, recently widowed and she is a worry wart. I can totally relate to that, always thinking the worst is going to happen. After her husband's death, things fall apart financially and she eventually gets an offer to go stay with her aunt and help on the goat farm.
It's quite a new experience and adventure for her kids and Libby finally starts to make peace with herself. There are some episodes of bullying for her daughter and my heart ached for them. They did find a great solution though! There might even be a new love interest, but things are so complicated.
There were some near tears with this one and some laugh out loud moments. I'm glad a have a few more of her books to read.
April 28, 2019
“You can’t just wish strength for yourself. Or wisdom. Or resilience. Those things have to be earned.”
Another great novel by Katherine Center!
After reading 3 books by Katherine, I've come to appreciate her writing style. I'm a fan for life.
The heroine of this novel is Libby Moran. She's a widow and has two children, Abby and Theo. Her husband, Danny, passed away three years ago in a motor vehicle accident. Her daughter Abby was hurt during the same accident and she still walks with a limp. Libby still feels residual guilt about his passing. They had an argument the morning before the accident.
For the last year, Libby has been living with her mother. They don't get along and arguments are always present. Then a letter from her aunt arrives. In this letter, her aunt offers her a job at her goat farm and a place to live for her and her children. Libby doesn't think about it twice. She immediately packs their few belongings to start a new chapter in her life and the life of her children.
At the farms, things are different. She has to wake up early to milk the goats. She's dressing in overalls and makeup is a thing of the past. She has to learn to deal with the farm manager, who has a lot of facial hair. Her children are starting a new school and she worries about Abby and her limp. So many changes but at the end of the day, she's happy she made this choice.
The shaggy manager, James O'Connor stole my heart. He was so good to Libby's children. He was sweet and caring. I love all of their interactions.
“That’s not a farm manager,” I said. “That’s Chewbacca.”
The Lost Husband is quite inspirational. It's about family, loss, despair, love, and hope. It's also about moving forward and adapting to changes.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
February 24, 2019
5.5 stars
Gahhhhhhhhhhh!!! I was up all night with this book and then sucked in again this morning. I had to finish it because I knew I wouldn't be able to focus on anything else until I did. It gave me The Simple Wild feels throughout, and I'm pretty sure if you loved Jonah, the hot Alaskan bush pilot yeti, you'll love O'Connor, the hot Texan farmer yeti just as much. This is women's fiction with a heavy dose of romance, so keep that in mind. Remember how you felt at the end of Simple Wild? You'll likely feel the same at the end of this one--desperate for more.
The Lost Husband is sweet, poignant, inspiring, and full of heart. And O'Connor? SWOONNNNNNN!!! Loved it. #1 read so far this year!
Note: I checked out the audio and it seemed pretty good, but I knew right away this would be a top read for me and wanted to experience it 100% in my mind, so I ended up reading it.
Gahhhhhhhhhhh!!! I was up all night with this book and then sucked in again this morning. I had to finish it because I knew I wouldn't be able to focus on anything else until I did. It gave me The Simple Wild feels throughout, and I'm pretty sure if you loved Jonah, the hot Alaskan bush pilot yeti, you'll love O'Connor, the hot Texan farmer yeti just as much. This is women's fiction with a heavy dose of romance, so keep that in mind. Remember how you felt at the end of Simple Wild? You'll likely feel the same at the end of this one--desperate for more.
The Lost Husband is sweet, poignant, inspiring, and full of heart. And O'Connor? SWOONNNNNNN!!! Loved it. #1 read so far this year!
Note: I checked out the audio and it seemed pretty good, but I knew right away this would be a top read for me and wanted to experience it 100% in my mind, so I ended up reading it.
February 3, 2018
I wanted to read something a little lighter as the last several books I’ve read have been pretty intense for me. This book did not disappoint. It was a sweet, heartwarming story about a woman who’s husband passed away a couple years ago. Her and her two kids were staying with her mother and she was offered the opportunity to go stay on her Aunt’s farm and help with running the farm. The characters were likeable and it was a nice, feel good story, and when I finished I hugged the book to me, smiled and thought ‘ah that was so sweet’. Just what I needed!
February 25, 2019
I received an uncorrected advanced copy of The Lost Husband by Katherine Center from Netgalley.com in return for my honest review.
From the minute I first started reading The Lost Husband, I loved it. It was just my kind of novel, charming and quirky with heartwarming characters. However, as the story progressed, although I enjoyed the book, very much in fact, I felt there were several problems that were hard to get past.
When the book opened, the reader learned that Danny, the husband of the main character, Libby, was killed in a car accident 3 years prior. Due to Danny's mistakes, and his desire to keep things a secret, upon his death, Libby and her two young children, Abby and Theo, discovered that they were in a desperate situation; they were financially unstable, forced to sell their home and moved in with Libby's controlling mother. These facts were covered within, what seemed like, a very few pages. Libby's Aunt Jean, an amazing, lovable character, invited Libby and her children to come live and work her goat farm. Libby was only too relieved to leave her mother's home. Unfortunately, the reader didn't really experience the relationship between Libby and her mother first-hand. Clearly Libby's mother was difficult and overbearing, but fleshing out their relationship a little more thoroughly while they were all living together would have presented a more complete picture. Because the move progressed so quickly, the reader had to essentially take Libby's word for it, although there were a few indications of the mother's disposition and selfishness. It might have been better to have slowed the story down a bit.
Additionally, Libby appeared to have no animosity towards her late husband despite their circumstances. This didn't seem realistic. In fact, I was expecting more to be revealed about Danny and what happened to all of their money, but that story-line never developed. It would have been interesting if it had.
That being said, there were certain parts of the book that were wonderful, Jean’s interaction with Libby and the kids as well as the depiction of small-town living. Sunshine and Russ rounded out the cast of characters. The goats turned out to be a fun bonus. There was even a slow-moving romance. There was something for everyone.
This book is definitely worth reading, and I would like to read more by this author. It is not quite a four star rating, but I definitely would have given 3 1/2 stars if the option was given.
From the minute I first started reading The Lost Husband, I loved it. It was just my kind of novel, charming and quirky with heartwarming characters. However, as the story progressed, although I enjoyed the book, very much in fact, I felt there were several problems that were hard to get past.
When the book opened, the reader learned that Danny, the husband of the main character, Libby, was killed in a car accident 3 years prior. Due to Danny's mistakes, and his desire to keep things a secret, upon his death, Libby and her two young children, Abby and Theo, discovered that they were in a desperate situation; they were financially unstable, forced to sell their home and moved in with Libby's controlling mother. These facts were covered within, what seemed like, a very few pages. Libby's Aunt Jean, an amazing, lovable character, invited Libby and her children to come live and work her goat farm. Libby was only too relieved to leave her mother's home. Unfortunately, the reader didn't really experience the relationship between Libby and her mother first-hand. Clearly Libby's mother was difficult and overbearing, but fleshing out their relationship a little more thoroughly while they were all living together would have presented a more complete picture. Because the move progressed so quickly, the reader had to essentially take Libby's word for it, although there were a few indications of the mother's disposition and selfishness. It might have been better to have slowed the story down a bit.
Additionally, Libby appeared to have no animosity towards her late husband despite their circumstances. This didn't seem realistic. In fact, I was expecting more to be revealed about Danny and what happened to all of their money, but that story-line never developed. It would have been interesting if it had.
That being said, there were certain parts of the book that were wonderful, Jean’s interaction with Libby and the kids as well as the depiction of small-town living. Sunshine and Russ rounded out the cast of characters. The goats turned out to be a fun bonus. There was even a slow-moving romance. There was something for everyone.
This book is definitely worth reading, and I would like to read more by this author. It is not quite a four star rating, but I definitely would have given 3 1/2 stars if the option was given.
August 17, 2020
3.5 Lost And Found Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free- A Quick Review
I Have a Confession: I did not read the book. Instead, I discovered this on Netflix today. I saw it was originally a book, looked to see the blurb here and then watched the film. I figured since it had 7,384 ratings and 1,040 reviews, adding my two cents about the film would be a service for all of those who may be interested.
The film took the idea and did an excellent job of following everything one would feel from the blurb. A woman who lost her husband through a car accident, her daughter's leg injured but now healed, a son who was at the age of being a good kid, and now wondering how she was going to cope with all that was left.
All of the conflicts from the story were there...plus beautiful visuals of the farm. And let's not forget the farm manager...He is played by Josh Duhamel, yum. Nora Dunn is wonderful as Aunt Jean, strong, direct, and loving in her way.
This film/story worked on many levels, had detailed moments, and probably held true to the book.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free- A Quick Review
I Have a Confession: I did not read the book. Instead, I discovered this on Netflix today. I saw it was originally a book, looked to see the blurb here and then watched the film. I figured since it had 7,384 ratings and 1,040 reviews, adding my two cents about the film would be a service for all of those who may be interested.
The film took the idea and did an excellent job of following everything one would feel from the blurb. A woman who lost her husband through a car accident, her daughter's leg injured but now healed, a son who was at the age of being a good kid, and now wondering how she was going to cope with all that was left.
All of the conflicts from the story were there...plus beautiful visuals of the farm. And let's not forget the farm manager...He is played by Josh Duhamel, yum. Nora Dunn is wonderful as Aunt Jean, strong, direct, and loving in her way.
This film/story worked on many levels, had detailed moments, and probably held true to the book.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
February 25, 2019
5+ STARS!!
This author is quickly becoming a favorite and The Lost Husband is my first 5+ rating for 2019. I love this author's writing style, story development, and wit. The story moves quickly and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough. In turns, it had me sad, indignant, laughing, and then swooning. Not only did it have a sweet and subtle romance, but the friend and family relationships were just as compelling. I recommend this story to those who enjoy witty and poignant women's fiction with a lovely dose of romance.
This author is quickly becoming a favorite and The Lost Husband is my first 5+ rating for 2019. I love this author's writing style, story development, and wit. The story moves quickly and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough. In turns, it had me sad, indignant, laughing, and then swooning. Not only did it have a sweet and subtle romance, but the friend and family relationships were just as compelling. I recommend this story to those who enjoy witty and poignant women's fiction with a lovely dose of romance.
March 25, 2019
Five Stars Of Wonderful*****
Such a sweet and hopeful story. This is one of those feel good books that leave a big smile on your face after reading it.
Such a sweet and hopeful story. This is one of those feel good books that leave a big smile on your face after reading it.
June 23, 2013
This was a quick and fun book that I read at the beach but I would not put it in a fluffy “beach read” category. Libby, a widow, and her 2 young children leave her mother’s condo in the city, where they’ve lived unhappily for several years after her husband's death, and move to a small town to live with Jean, her quirky aunt who runs a goat farm (amusingly, the goats are named for famous women).
The themes of loss, grief, and change are never heavy-handed or depressing. I loved the characters and the setting, and the lessons this story imparts are told with humor and charm. A highly recommended heartwarming tale and just what i needed after a darker read!
The themes of loss, grief, and change are never heavy-handed or depressing. I loved the characters and the setting, and the lessons this story imparts are told with humor and charm. A highly recommended heartwarming tale and just what i needed after a darker read!
June 26, 2013
It is not really what happens to you that matters as much as who you become in response to those things
Starting over is never easy and when you are forced to make a change in your life you never wanted the stress is doubled. For Libby and her children it is time to move on and when her eccentric Aunt Jean makes her an offer she should probably refuse, Libby does not. It has been a long, tough time since her husband died but Libby wants to prove it is not really what happens to you that matters as much as who you become in response to those things.
Libby was not sure what she expected from her aunts offer but a goat farm with an unruly host of town occupants surrounding it was not ever one of her thoughts. But as she learns the chores, her children start to survive without a television, and O’Connor, the wilderness man she works alongside becomes more human Libby learns to worry less and release the pent up anger she carried for so long. It might be the overalls that are a staple in her wardrobe or the time she gets to spend enjoying her children that is bringing Libby such peace but it might just be the strength she has inside her that was never released. While not sure why life brought her to this place Libby does know, even a long held secret cannot steal her newly found joy.
Her children may stumble at school but the one discovery Libby makes is that the perfect mothers are the ones that keep trying after every mistake and never stop loving regardless of how the day rolls out.
Katherine Center has written a story that will invoke every positive emotion and reaction possible from the reader. It is impossible to find anything wrong with this book it is that well written.
Starting over is never easy and when you are forced to make a change in your life you never wanted the stress is doubled. For Libby and her children it is time to move on and when her eccentric Aunt Jean makes her an offer she should probably refuse, Libby does not. It has been a long, tough time since her husband died but Libby wants to prove it is not really what happens to you that matters as much as who you become in response to those things.
Libby was not sure what she expected from her aunts offer but a goat farm with an unruly host of town occupants surrounding it was not ever one of her thoughts. But as she learns the chores, her children start to survive without a television, and O’Connor, the wilderness man she works alongside becomes more human Libby learns to worry less and release the pent up anger she carried for so long. It might be the overalls that are a staple in her wardrobe or the time she gets to spend enjoying her children that is bringing Libby such peace but it might just be the strength she has inside her that was never released. While not sure why life brought her to this place Libby does know, even a long held secret cannot steal her newly found joy.
Her children may stumble at school but the one discovery Libby makes is that the perfect mothers are the ones that keep trying after every mistake and never stop loving regardless of how the day rolls out.
Katherine Center has written a story that will invoke every positive emotion and reaction possible from the reader. It is impossible to find anything wrong with this book it is that well written.
August 24, 2013
If Brené Brown wrote fiction, this would be it. In fact, I seriously considered whether Brené could possibly be writing under the pseudonym "Katherine Center." (No way, both these ladies are far too busy! And ... real.)
But the comparison is a good thing. The Lost Husband reads like chick lit--easy, breezy--but has a surprising depth. I'm now adding the rest of Center's books to my to-read list.
But the comparison is a good thing. The Lost Husband reads like chick lit--easy, breezy--but has a surprising depth. I'm now adding the rest of Center's books to my to-read list.
December 26, 2018
A fast, entertaining read with enough substance to make it interesting.
April 16, 2013
Katherine Center, the author of THE LOST HUSBAND, could easily have cut her title down to two words and called her book THE LOST. Everyone in this book seems to be stumbling along, mourning some aspect of their lives, with little true direction (except, perhaps for Aunt Jean).
Three years after the death of her husband Danny, Libby still cannot seem to let go. To add insult to injury she is obsessive/compulsive about her children always imagining that the worst things possible will befall them. I realize it is a mother's prerogative to worry, but this woman is ridiculous. Her self-involved mother Marsha must have been the poster child for that country song "Looking for love in all the wrong places" and Sunshine, the goth girl she meets in town, is lost in her own world trying to escape her past. O'Conner, part "country hunk" part Grizzly Adams and part cheesemaker, is the predictable love interest and has suffered a few losses of his own. Aunt Jean's losses have been many but she has managed to adjust to her lot in life while acting as the town's resident shrink and repository of secrets. And then there are the children. Tank and Abby, whose vocabulary and thought processes certainly are far above what their six and eight year old minds should be capable of.........or perhaps my children and their friends were just developmentally stunted because they never acted like these kids.
If your preference tends toward thoughtful narratives with some substance, you might want to pass on this one. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something that won't put any strain on your grey matter and will help you pass a few hours, this is your book.
I am not sure of the genre in which this book is being marketed but, if asked, I would suggest fantasy.
Three years after the death of her husband Danny, Libby still cannot seem to let go. To add insult to injury she is obsessive/compulsive about her children always imagining that the worst things possible will befall them. I realize it is a mother's prerogative to worry, but this woman is ridiculous. Her self-involved mother Marsha must have been the poster child for that country song "Looking for love in all the wrong places" and Sunshine, the goth girl she meets in town, is lost in her own world trying to escape her past. O'Conner, part "country hunk" part Grizzly Adams and part cheesemaker, is the predictable love interest and has suffered a few losses of his own. Aunt Jean's losses have been many but she has managed to adjust to her lot in life while acting as the town's resident shrink and repository of secrets. And then there are the children. Tank and Abby, whose vocabulary and thought processes certainly are far above what their six and eight year old minds should be capable of.........or perhaps my children and their friends were just developmentally stunted because they never acted like these kids.
If your preference tends toward thoughtful narratives with some substance, you might want to pass on this one. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something that won't put any strain on your grey matter and will help you pass a few hours, this is your book.
I am not sure of the genre in which this book is being marketed but, if asked, I would suggest fantasy.
January 8, 2025
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.
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.
February 25, 2013
I loved this book! So inspiring and heartwarming. I received a galley of this title and filed it away with my massively growing To-Be-Read pile. I remember reading Center's earlier books, The Bright Side of Disaster, Get Lucky and Everyone is Beautiful and having really enjoyed both of those books, decided to give her latest a try. In her earlier works, Center wrote about the themes of female empowerment, confidence, taking chances, starting over and personal strength. Her upcoming release, The Lost Husband, focuses on similarly inspiring themes.
Libby Moran is a widow. Her husband, Danny, died three years ago in a car accident and she has been living with her two young children at her mother's house. Her mother is a difficult person, to say the least. She's controlling and condescending and Libby has had it with her antics. After receiving a letter from her Aunt Jean, her mother's free-spirited sister, inviting her to come live with her on her farm, Libby jumps at the chance for change.
Packing up her two small children, she makes the brave move to a new life. But what Libby doesn't expect is how much this new life is going to change her, for the better. Surrounded by a wild cast of characters including the lovable O'Connor and her take charge Aunt Jean, Libby begins to learn things about herself, about her life and about parenting. There are so many inspiring gems in the dialogue and characters thoughts that I found myself highlighting at least one line per page. It was uplifting without sugar-coating the complexities of life. Essentially, The Lost Husband teaches the reader that life is hard, but if it wasn't hard we would never become the strong, resilient, optimistic people we are meant to be.
I am so glad I picked up The Lost Husband and I hope that Katherine gets all the accolades she deserves for this sweet, smart, and inspiring novel.
Libby Moran is a widow. Her husband, Danny, died three years ago in a car accident and she has been living with her two young children at her mother's house. Her mother is a difficult person, to say the least. She's controlling and condescending and Libby has had it with her antics. After receiving a letter from her Aunt Jean, her mother's free-spirited sister, inviting her to come live with her on her farm, Libby jumps at the chance for change.
Packing up her two small children, she makes the brave move to a new life. But what Libby doesn't expect is how much this new life is going to change her, for the better. Surrounded by a wild cast of characters including the lovable O'Connor and her take charge Aunt Jean, Libby begins to learn things about herself, about her life and about parenting. There are so many inspiring gems in the dialogue and characters thoughts that I found myself highlighting at least one line per page. It was uplifting without sugar-coating the complexities of life. Essentially, The Lost Husband teaches the reader that life is hard, but if it wasn't hard we would never become the strong, resilient, optimistic people we are meant to be.
I am so glad I picked up The Lost Husband and I hope that Katherine gets all the accolades she deserves for this sweet, smart, and inspiring novel.
May 29, 2019
3.5 Stars ⭐️
July 3, 2022
I'm not sure that a 4 star is *totally* warranted. The main character didn't quite have all the revelations I hoped for to round out her story better, the ending was a little bit tied up with a quick, pretty bow, one of the side characters had an unnecessarily eccentric backstory, and the title was a bit irrelevant to the way the story actually played out.
However.
Katherine Center knows how to write about love and spirit and heart. And she planted this adorable family in such a picturesque setting--a goat farm in a small hippie agricultural Texas town--it's damn near impossible to resist the charm.
That's the best way to describe this novel; charming. It was quick, cute, cozy, comfortable, and charming. It's meant to be a short and sweet read and it does accomplish that. Books don't always have to be perfect to be enjoyable. Sometimes you can just get lost in the ease of the writing and the melodrama and have fun.
There were things I would have changed, yes. But I ended up falling in love with this hodge podge family and their quaint country lifestyle. It was aesthetically pleasing, heartwarming, and brought me joy as I turned the pages!
However.
Katherine Center knows how to write about love and spirit and heart. And she planted this adorable family in such a picturesque setting--a goat farm in a small hippie agricultural Texas town--it's damn near impossible to resist the charm.
That's the best way to describe this novel; charming. It was quick, cute, cozy, comfortable, and charming. It's meant to be a short and sweet read and it does accomplish that. Books don't always have to be perfect to be enjoyable. Sometimes you can just get lost in the ease of the writing and the melodrama and have fun.
There were things I would have changed, yes. But I ended up falling in love with this hodge podge family and their quaint country lifestyle. It was aesthetically pleasing, heartwarming, and brought me joy as I turned the pages!
June 9, 2013
Pleasant read, nothing spectacular but a good story about family life and moving on after loss.
September 6, 2013
I liked it more than I thought I would. Certainly, I like a cute story of finding love. Nothing too cheesy or easy, though. There's the attraction portion of the story but more poignant is the life lessons about doing what's right because it's the right thing to do. Even though it's hard. And not fun. The book is about human resiliency and knowing when it's time to move on. There's a time to mourn, a time to cry but there always comes a time to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, reflect on how you have grown, count your blessings, and turn your face toward the sunshine again.
The story centers around a woman who loses her husband in an accident that her daughter barely survived. She finds her savings depleted, broke and tired of her mother's company and victimized personality when she receives the invitation to stay with her aunt. It is here that a childhood is revealed, duty is fulfilled, forgiveness is granted, and new friendships forged.
The story centers around a woman who loses her husband in an accident that her daughter barely survived. She finds her savings depleted, broke and tired of her mother's company and victimized personality when she receives the invitation to stay with her aunt. It is here that a childhood is revealed, duty is fulfilled, forgiveness is granted, and new friendships forged.
January 23, 2020
I don't think I have words to adequately talk about how amazing this book is! It's been a long time since I've read such a great story with characters that I felt like I was experiencing life with!!
I LOVED the entire story and I want an Aunt Jean and I want to be Aunt Jean!!! <3
This is a pricey one for a Kindle, but I definitely recommend it!
I LOVED the entire story and I want an Aunt Jean and I want to be Aunt Jean!!! <3
This is a pricey one for a Kindle, but I definitely recommend it!
August 2, 2025
The Lost Husband is the first book by Miss Center. To be honest, it is quitr boring. The telling of farm life is what makes this book dragging. It almost bored me to death.
The plot is not too bad. Its just needs more drama and more twist. More comedy.
3 stars
The plot is not too bad. Its just needs more drama and more twist. More comedy.
3 stars
December 16, 2025
Even though I know it was a sweet little simple story, I loved it. The aunt, the farm, the kids and Big Foot sucked me in from the beggining and didn’t stop being enjoyable until the last page, which was a disappointment because I simply wanted more.
July 13, 2013
Definitely one of the sweetest, heartwarming love stories out there! It's about learning to start a new chapter for 2 lonely hearts. It's different, filled with many important lessons and hope, that not only heals Libby, the heroines heart, but other characters in the story too, specially O'Connors.
Libby is a widow and a very protective mom of 2 young kids. She portrays her role with genuine emotion. I loved the chemistry between Libby and O'Connor. The author creates great anticipation to their kissing scenes which made me swoon. I loved Jean, the "crazy hippie" aunt, she'll be your favorite, too. There's small town charm and current issues are touched, such as bullying. I laughed and cried, and could really feel the emotions of sorrow, delight and I even wanted to cheer- Yes! - in certain scenes.
The story is written in 1st person, great voice. There's drama, a secret and many surprises that will keep you turning page after page till the end.
I received a free copy of this book for my honest opinion, and the only thing I regret is not having read it sooner! 5 happily ever after stars for this one!
Libby is a widow and a very protective mom of 2 young kids. She portrays her role with genuine emotion. I loved the chemistry between Libby and O'Connor. The author creates great anticipation to their kissing scenes which made me swoon. I loved Jean, the "crazy hippie" aunt, she'll be your favorite, too. There's small town charm and current issues are touched, such as bullying. I laughed and cried, and could really feel the emotions of sorrow, delight and I even wanted to cheer- Yes! - in certain scenes.
The story is written in 1st person, great voice. There's drama, a secret and many surprises that will keep you turning page after page till the end.
I received a free copy of this book for my honest opinion, and the only thing I regret is not having read it sooner! 5 happily ever after stars for this one!
October 13, 2019
A really good book and a love story, of course. I was introduced to this author in my book club and I really like this author, so this is second book I've read by her. She has great characters and a good story line. Very good story about lost and found love.
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