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Future Widow: Losing My Husband, Saving My Family, and Finding My Voice

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A heartbreaking doctor's visit. A fate she never saw coming. She’d dig deep for the strength she so desperately needed…

Seattle, 2015. Jenny Lisk was happy with a perfectly normal, busy life. But after the usual bustling week, Friday night turned from downtime into mild alarm when her forty-three-year-old spouse shared that he’d been feeling dizzy. And after ten days of his condition steadily worsening, she still wasn’t prepared for the stunning news: He was terminally ill.

Reeling from his diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumor, Jenny suddenly became not only a wife, mother, and career woman, but also a cancer-patient caregiver and parent of grieving children. And her many fears and uncertainties swirled around one relentless question:

Did she have what it takes to help her young family survive?

Through a vulnerable, honest account of preparing for the death of a loved one, Jenny shares tips and information about childhood grief, how to be there for mourning friends, and ways online communities provide essential support. And for those who feel lost and alone, or are grappling with any kind of loss, her deeply personal journey provides a universal beacon of hope.

Future Widow: Losing My Husband, Saving My Family, and Finding My Voice is a brave and raw narrative that doesn’t pull any punches on the realities of caregiving and bereavement. If you like captivating stories, authentic inspiration, and understanding the grieving process, then you’ll find encouragement in Jenny Lisk’s touching memoir.

Buy Future Widow to rebuild a life today!

434 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 5, 2021

34 people are currently reading
2052 people want to read

About the author

Jenny Lisk

4 books43 followers
Jenny Lisk is the founder of the Widowed Parent Institute. She is an award-winning author and widowed mom who is dedicated to helping widowed parents increase their family's well-being.

Jenny’s books, Future Widow and Widowed Parents Unite, and her show, The Widowed Parent Podcast, guide the journey of solo parenting after loss.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
Profile Image for Tammy Loeb.
Author 1 book7 followers
December 5, 2020
This memoir by Jenny Lisk chronicles the difficult moments and days of her life from the instant she and her husband are given the news that he has glioblastoma, terminal brain cancer to the trials throughout his treatment and subsequent hospice care until he passed away. Lisk offers a candid view of her role as wife, mother, and community member as she navigates and negotiates a range of situations she never imagined she would encounter. She provides a human, informed, and uplifting perspective as she is driven to offer more resources to other widowed parents and grieving children so that they may find their way forward.
Profile Image for Jenny Lisk.
Author 4 books43 followers
Read
November 8, 2022
Message from the author: I’m happy to answer reader questions here in goodreads!
Profile Image for Staci Erickson.
12 reviews12 followers
June 19, 2021
Oh man, this book! I won it in a giveaway awhile ago and couldn’t bring myself to read it. The author’s husband died from the same cancer my dad is currently battling. Obviously it isn’t the same situation but I did find it very helpful to read. It was amazingly insightful and at times difficult to read. I finished it in one sitting and will definitely recommend to everyone, especially in my glioblastoma support group.
Profile Image for Leslie Reyes.
Author 1 book22 followers
April 9, 2023
A lot of people just don't know what to do or say that is helpful when someone they care about is grieving the loss of a partner. This book contains a lot of priceless information not only for someone who is grieving, but also a lot of good information for friends and loved ones of someone who is grieving.
183 reviews2 followers
April 15, 2023
This is a book all parents should read just in case. I am finding it difficult to write a review for this book. It was well written and touched on a difficult subject. Navigating the loss of your young husband while your 2 children are very young is a difficult thing to go through. Yet Jenny does a very good job of recording things as she goes through this terrible time so that she can write this book.
Jenny discovers her husband is sick and then spends the next 8 months going through an illness that most of us could not even imagine. She does this while raising 2 young children.
I really liked this book a strange thing to say given it’s content but It was a good read difficult at times definitely emotional and sometimes very wonderful. Definitely read this book!
I was given a free copy of this book to read and that in no way shapes my review.
Profile Image for Zibby Owens.
Author 8 books24.3k followers
September 20, 2021
This is a memoir about the author’s experience in facing her husband’s impending death from brain cancer. She talks about the struggles she faced in becoming his caretaker while also grappling with how to help her children deal with the impending death. This book is also about how she faces the ongoing challenge of how to parent as a widow.

I loved the way the author wrote her experience as if I could hear her talking. Even though this book was about being a future widow, there was so much about the author’s children and what it would mean to parent a child who lost a parent. She talks about the struggles in everyday decisions like when to have someone else take care of her kids or about being unsure if the kids should see their father. All these things are gut-wrenching. She gave one tip that I will try to remember: “Instead of asking people, how are you? Ask, how are you today?”

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/jen...
Profile Image for Erin.
10 reviews
April 3, 2022
I received the book for free for an honest review. This was a hard book to read, not due to how well it is written, but as someone who has experienced cancer with a family member and all it does to the person and those who are close to said person. I was not in the thick of it as this author was but it still brought up memories and emotions for me. I appreciated reading a fairly straightforward account as to what it is like being in that position with a spouse. I also appreciated the information and insightfulness that was offered throughout the book and her giving more detail to her online entries. She is right when she says you are not alone.
2 reviews
December 30, 2020
I’ve known too many young moms who have lost their husbands way too early. As a friend it is hard to watch and want to help in any and all ways possible. Jenny Lisk opens up honestly about her journey from diagnosis to finding her way after her husband’s death. She talks openly about her children and family’s they negotiate through uncharted territory.
Anyone who has lost someone or has watched a friend or family member go through loss should read this book. Jenny Lisk found her voice after her husband’s death and is helping others who are experiencing grief. A great read!
2 reviews
April 8, 2021
Excellent read,

Wish I had found this book sooner. My circumstances were not the same and all my children are grown, but the feelings and emotions are on spot. It’s a club we don’t choose, it chooses us. Their are more of us than we realize. Thank you, Jennifer, for putting into words what we, as surviving spouses, have endured and would do all over again, if given the chance to have our loved ones back with us, if only for a short time.
1 review
March 25, 2023
A well written, thought provoking book. An incredibly sad story, but told in a beautiful way. I felt I was with Jenny for every step of her journey.
Worth reading whether you are going to be a future widow or not, it really made me stop and think about what I want from life.
Profile Image for Lynda.
121 reviews
November 20, 2022
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest review.

Jenny Lisk’s husband Dennis received the terrible news that he had brain cancer at age 43. During all his ER visits, hospital stays and through hospice Jenny makes notes on a blog to keep family and friends updated on Dennis’s condition and the journey through 8 months before his passing.
After his death she writes this book to help others through the living, dying and grieving process incorporating her blog entries.

Through this book Jenny takes on the role of not only wife and mother but now being her husbands caregiver & advocate and helping her children through the grieving process. Learning along the way things that she wished she would have done differently with her kids during the 8 months from diagnosis to his death to help them better through the process.

After Dennis’s death Jenny realizes the need of a “road map” or lack of to help her through this new role she was tossed into….Widowed parenting and this is what the last of the book is all about. Turning her loss into something meaningful.

Although this wouldn’t have been a book I would have picked up to read at this time in my life I’m glad that I received it to review.
Profile Image for Koko.
78 reviews
August 20, 2022
I started this book just a few months after my 38 year old husband died of brain cancer. It’s a book that I will need to read a few times as I am still struggling with the ability to focus. While I am not a mother, I was the primary caregiver to my husband. Despite being an experienced nurse practitioner, it’s a different experience when you find yourself caring for your most favorite person in the world. Our stories share many similarities and many differences but it was comforting to be able to relate to such a bizarre, isolating, and fucked up situation you were unwillingly thrown into. You may not related to everything that the author felt or experienced and that’s okay. But it is written in such a way that you can easily understand where she was coming from or why she felt/responded a particular way. It provides a glimmer of hope that I’ll find my way somehow too.
Profile Image for Amanda Kaiser.
3 reviews
June 30, 2023
Jenny Lisk uses her care updates from her husband's illness as the basis of her book, with added insights and explanations. This short journal style memoir presents a heavy topic in an easy to read format. Those familiar with Nora McInerny's work will recognize a similar approach. Lisk & McInerny both tackle tough topics with frankness and the realization that most people are not really sure how to help those going through such trauma and loss.

Lisk tells her story of losing her husband to brain cancer, along with the challenges that brought to her kids and managing her daily life during the months of not knowing how long they really had. Some have reviewed this as the book to give someone going through it, but I think this is more importantly a book for those wanting to support their friends during a difficult time. Lisk is not shy in saying what is helpful, not helpful, and how to just show up in the most necessary ways.
7 reviews
January 24, 2023
I received a copy of this book from voracious readers only in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heart wrenching book. Jenny Lisk is so brave in giving such an honest and open account of her husband’s illness and of her own feelings and experiences. Her reflections on what she might have done differently are strikingly honest, even where she admits that she still doesn’t have an answer.

As a student healthcare professional, this was an eye opening look into how family members experience a loved one’s illness.

A beautifully written book that I will definitely be recommending to others.
Profile Image for Lisa  Matthews.
56 reviews2 followers
October 3, 2023
I was given this book by Voracious Readers to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is not the type of book that I would normally read. I avoid most upsetting true story books but i wanted to give this a try and I am so glad I did. I loved how the book was written. I don't like to read books that are too sad as I am quite an emotional person and don't want to get too upset. However this was written in a more factual, informative way and I really enjoyed it. It is obviously sad in some parts but such a good read and teaches you a lot about the way a whole family changes through death.

Profile Image for Sarah.
15 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2023
Her story was so vulnerable and relatable. I cried a lot, which was something I needed. I wish I read this book when my journey into this world began. I can't imagine also balancing two children along with everything else.
Profile Image for Amyanne.
101 reviews7 followers
August 8, 2022
A poignant and devastating memoir that quickly absorbed me to the detriment of all the other books I was supposed to be reading.

What really stood out was the swiftness of the progression of Dennis’ glioblastoma. Out of the blue, unexpected, barely enough time to process what’s happening and then a rapid ending. It must be such a shock and so devastating for families to go from normal to an entire new reality overnight. Especially when the medical interventions - surgeries, antibiotics, shunts- seem like the doctors are trying to prop up pieces of a building that is actively crashing down around them.
The author was so fortunate to have such a large community around her and her family. I feel for those who have to face such a horrible situation without such a support system.
I do wish that we had gotten to know Dennis himself better- what he was like as a person before he became ill, but Jenny did an excellent job of relating both the reality of the illness and navigating the medical system.

*I read a free copy of this book for review*
Profile Image for Readingwithnee.
107 reviews2 followers
September 18, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley, author, and publisher for sending me a digital copy of Future Widow by Jenny Lisk.

This book is so honest, well-written, and heartbreaking. Jenny shares her experience of giving care to her husband who was battling aggressive brain cancer for eight months. She provides the details of how her family deals with the hardest time in their life - since the day he said “I’ve been feeling a little dizzy lately.”. This book is hard for me to read, too emotional to follow all those updates of her husband's conditions she updated on CaringBridge. Lastly, I am very touched by her family and friends messages about how thankful they are for having known her husband for some years, and he was a sweet and nice family man.

"If only I could give you one gift, I would give you the ability to see yourself as others see you. Only then would you realize what a truly special person you are."
Profile Image for Robbie Samuels.
Author 5 books19 followers
January 12, 2021
The club you never want to join now has a guide to welcome you.

Hug your loved ones closer. That was my biggest takeaway after reading Future Widow. How quickly life spiraled out of control for Jenny and her two kids. I thought she did a great job weaving in her journal entries and present-day thoughts. The other lesson from the book was how to be helpful to someone who's currently a caregiver of a family member with a terminal illness - or who recently lost a family member. "How are you TODAY?" is much easier to respond to than "How are you?"

I don't know if Jenny realized that she gave a gift to her community by letting them help her in very tangible ways. It was evident she appreciated their thoughtfulness and support. Recommend this book if you know someone who's facing a serious health threat. Honestly, everyone should this powerful story.
Profile Image for Katie.
142 reviews3 followers
May 30, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this gorgeous book. Future Widow is heartbreaking and yet completely necessary I think for everyone to pick up. It’s sad, it’s hard to read, it’s emotional; but we all know someone who’s lost someone and while Jenny lost her spouse this can apply to anyone who’s lost someone they love. She speaks candidly about what a journey she and her family went through when her husband Dennis is diagnosed with glioblastoma. She shares the details of their eight month battle. She speaks candidly about what it’s like to have to be a caregiver and parent to two young children. I don’t know Jenny, but I was so touched by her story.
Grief looks different on everyone, and maybe you can’t relate exactly to her losses; but you can gain some knowledge and compassion because you never know when you’ll need it.
12 reviews
January 17, 2021
Jenny’s memoir is beautifully written and will leave any reader - whether a parent, partner or child - with the question: how do I live my life when the one closest to me is lost?

Jenny brings you into her experience of living and coping with her husband’s brain cancer diagnosis and illness. It’s a situation no one ever wants to put themselves in, but once you read this account, you will somehow feel prepared and not alone if the unthinkable happens to you. This is Jenny’s ultimate mission - to help prepare you for the unthinkable and make sure you don’t feel alone.

Read this book. It’s one you hope you never need to experience, and you’ll be better for having walked a mile in Jenny’s shoes.
Profile Image for Emily  Gibson.
9 reviews
March 16, 2022
I was given a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers for my honest review.
This honest, heart-wrenching true story gripped me from the beginning. I finished it in less than 24 hours. The author was honest and open in telling how she dealt with her husband’s eight month battle with brain cancer and the resources she and her children found after losing him. I found the book helpful in knowing how to practically help other families going through a terminal illness. I would recommend to other people dealing with a family member with a terminal illness (especially if they are the primary caregiver) or to those who know of someone they can help during a tragedy such as this.
Profile Image for Serena.
626 reviews7 followers
March 17, 2022
A very meaningful memoir! The structure and setup of the book was interesting and unique, with the posts from the time of the author’s husband’s terminal illness beginning a section, then followed by commentary and further reflection. There was some repetition and a lot of obvious foreshadowing. The writing wasn’t as emotional as I was expecting it to be, which makes sense since she talks about how her method of grieving is like that, which is okay. I would’ve loved to see more in-depth processing and details on grieving after the loss of her husband. Overall this was a very meaningful and important book and subject matter. I’m glad I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway.
1 review
April 15, 2022
Easy read, tough subject

Read this book over a couple evenings in Kindle format. It was an easy read following the author's path from her husband's diagnosis of glioblastoma until his death. It is a tough subject, one that many shy away from. The writing was matter of fact and approachable, told through additional commentary of blog posts done while the author navigated her husband's journey. It clearly demonstrated the weight of caregiving through terminal illness. There were a few key takeaways, but did not feel meaty. (Note: I received a free Kindle copy through #GoodreadsGiveaway.)
Profile Image for Janilyn Kocher.
5,090 reviews117 followers
September 18, 2021
One minute life is normal and the next you’ve been slammed in the gut by a huge Boulder. The Boulder was the big C, brain cancer. It took Jenny’s active 44 year old husband in 8 months. Reading Future Widow is gut wrenching. All the surgeries, ER trips, meds, and more meds to address the issues caused by initial meds. If you’re not torn up by the end of this book, you should be. It’s a good lesson to seize every day because one never knows when life might be seized from us. Thanks to Bluehen Press and NetGalley for the early read.
Profile Image for Nerida.
184 reviews1 follower
June 6, 2024
Poignant, challenging and beautiful.

Jenny Lisk’s story takes her from a normal, busy family life to her husband’s cancer diagnosis, gradual decline and death, leaving her a single mother. She is honest about the challenges of nursing a brain cancer patient, and different ways of dealing with grief.

I don’t know when I’ll need what I’ve learned from this book, but I’m thankful Lisk has started the conversation around grief and family life.

**I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.**
Profile Image for Marlena Corcoran.
Author 5 books4 followers
January 25, 2021
"Future Widow" reminds us that although we may already know the ending, what counts is what we learn along the way. My husband was gravely ill not long ago, and I found myself pulled along by each word Jenny Lisk shared, every hospital visit, every stupifying day. Many of us will walk this path, some of us knowing, others fearing the outcome. Even though the ending of my story was different, I am grateful for the companionship of this book. It made me feel that someone understands.
2 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2021
I did not want to put Future Widow down until I read the last word. Jenny’s book was that relatable. The story of her husband’s cancer diagnosis and illness was painful but also comforting. As a widow, I felt less alone in my own journey as I read each chapter. I found her parenting experience, during and after, very helpful. Thank you Jenny for writing this book! It is one I will now give to help others as they navigate loss and grief.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews

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