The Astronaut's Wife: How Launching My Husband into Outer Space Changed the Way I Live on Earth

by Stacey Morgan, Annie F. Downs (Foreword)

A true story about making the most of your one incredible life.
Stacey Morgan kissed her husband goodbye before he donned his space suit on July 20, 2019, and headed to his waiting Soyuz rocket. With an overwhelming mix of pride, excitement, and terror, she and her children held hands and watched the rocket ignite and lift off for a nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

This is the story of the astronaut’s wife—a journey full of unexpected twists and turns. While the love of her life orbited the Earth, Stacey was about to embark on a knock-your-socks-off adventure right here at home. This season would be different from any Stacey had experienced before. The risks were greater, the loneliness was deeper, and the stress was more intense. Filled with as many unique challenges as surreal opportunities, this deeply meaningful season taught her rich lessons about
preparing for any mission or adventure life throws at you
rediscovering your fun side when you’ve been trapped in survival mode too long
trusting God when you feel weak or alone
choosing hope in the face of fear and uncertainty
Containing behind-the-scenes glimpses into a side of space flight that most of us will never experience, The Astronaut’s Wife is a funny, poignant, and meaningful exploration of living life to the fullest—no matter where you roam.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Christian, Space, Biography Memoir

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 8, 2022

About the author

Stacey Morgan is always ready with a crazy story from her own life; whether it be military deployments, carpooling, working for the Smithsonian, skydiving, teaching her teens to drive, taking roller skating lessons, or blasting her husband into outer space. Stacey currently works for MOPS International as an Executive Leadership Coach. She and her husband have four children and currently reside in Texas. When she’s not speaking at women’s events or scribbling down ideas for her next book, she’s watching historical dramas on PBS, reading a good mystery novel, laughing at internet memes, or planning her next exciting adventure.

Reviews

[Andi M Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this 6 stars. I absolutely loved it. So well written. I learned so much about their lives, space families’ lives…. But also valuable thoughts on friendship, marriage, long distance relationships, fear, and big life questions to contemplate. Stellar book!!!

[Teresa Forsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stacey chronicles her life as first a military wife and then an astronaut wife. The story centers around her husbands time on the International Space Station in 2019, but she also weaves stories throughout of their earlier years and deployments. She tells of a life committed to God, her husband, and her children throughout tough times and happy times. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. My favorite takeaway was her insistence that everyone needs a “bologna is on sale” friend—a friend that is with you through thick and thin and that you have contact with enough that you get to share the most inconsequential things such as bologna being on sale.

[Jane Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just a joy to read. I’ve had the honor of meeting Stacey and hearing her speak twice. She is full of wisdom and inspiration, and her book is no different. It felt like I was sitting across the table from her having lunch. She shares her story in such a compelling way. AMAZING read!

[Madelyn Ohene-Ntow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! So good! I laughed I teared up. I was encouraged I could relate (slightly) to having your husband away and just keep going. It’s a must read. We all need “bologna on sale friends”!

[Lisa Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Allison Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about this book on the Annie F. Downs podcast and was so intrigued to listen on audible. It’s a very well-written book that keeps you captivated with stories about military life and deployments, her first hand account with the 9/11 attack in Washington DC, choosing to do hard things like running a marathon alone, and launching her husband into space in 2019 for 9 months, an adventure that would be complicated by the pandemic. It’s filled with so many lessons about friendship and motherhood, with adventure and risk-taking along the way, leaving you feeling inspired and encouraged.

Stacey teaches us how to look for the silver lining in every storm cloud, live lives of adventure with meaning and purpose, be risk calculators not focusing on the 1% chance you might fail, but the 99% chance it will be a bucket list adventure, and to accept that life can be hard and good at the same time.

If you are a military wife, I think you will relate to this book so much and love it! If you want a peak into this world that so many live, filled with sacrifice and unique friendships and adventures, this is a must-read. So much can be learned from our military and astronaut spouses. God never promised us a life of comfort and ease, but a life of opportunity and adventure. He told us to have faith over fear, to live with bold anticipation.

I give this book 5 ⭐️. Check it out!!

[Carol Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fine book but I could only give it 3 stars. I was also a military wife but somehow, I just couldn't seem to relate to her experiences. There were times that I felt that she was being a little whiney. For example, "I don't have any friends!" She did however, work to solve the problem in a very creative way. There was one chapter that I particularly liked. This was her chapter on 9/11. She was in DC when the planes crashed. It was a very good eye witness account.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stares. I struggled with this book. I usually devour anything about NASA/astronauts, but I couldn’t really connect with this. The author just rubbed me the wrong way a bit. Her theology was really not great, very prosperity-gospel “God wants you to have an adventurous and fun life!” kind of thing. Not everyone is going to be a doctor, solider, and astronaut! Not everyone even wants to live that way. She is also the most extroverted, social person ever and I couldn’t relate at all to her need to be surrounded by a huge group of friends at all times. She just exhausted me. She had a few really cool stories, but it felt a little braggy and I finished the book not really liking her.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I found the stories to be relatable while still inspiring. This woman managed work and life with 4 kids on earth while her husband spent 9 months in space. To me that's amazing. And she managed to walk away from the experience learning what's really important and what really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. It was personal development through stories, laughs, and real life. So glad I read this.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"On paper we look like risk lovers, but we're really not. What we are, in truth, is experienced risk evaluators. Over the years, we have taken a hard look around at the world and embraced the fact that risk is unavoidable. It's an inherent part of life whether we like it or not. But instead of running from it, talking each other out of it, protecting our children from it, or pretending it doesn't exist, we've learned to harness that risk to live lives of adventure that are full of meaning and purpose."

This concept was probably one of the biggest takeaways for me from this book! My husband is someone who could easily be described as a "risk lover"--especially "on paper" or to those looking at our relationship from the outside/in. But hearing Stacey Morgan describe how both she and her husband have simply become experienced risk evaluators in order to have a richer and more meaningful life, something snapped into place for me! I feel like this is the best possible description I could ever find of how my husband and I operate (in both our marriage and our parenting), and I'm so thankful for the newfound perspective and ability to explain this concept to others.

In addition to risk evaluation, Morgan also gives voice to the challenges and feelings involved in raising children in the absence of a spouse (whether from military deployment, NASA space launch, or other reason!) With a husband who works long hours and often travels on weekends for work, I found all of her personal parenting stories to be so tender and relatable, and her advice on how to survive these seasons wise and practical.

She talks about adult female friendships!-- How she found friends during lonely seasons or when the family experienced a cross-country move. How she and her friends would rely on each other to step in and help (or sometimes rescue) each other in times of need.

She talks about her unique experience as an Astronaut's wife--especially when her husband returns to a pandemic lockdown!! (what a crazy time)

In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook narrated by the author and all of the grounded wisdom and inspiration she served up. I am deeply thankful to my friend, Melinda, who knew I would just love this memoir and encouraged me to bump it up on my TBR.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed reading about the experiences of astronauts, so I had to check this out when I saw it was part of the Bonus Borrows on Hoopla. While there is information about the author's husband being launched into space to work on the ISS, the bulk of this memoir is focused on her own experiences, both while he is orbiting the globe and in the past when he was deployed as a member of the Army. I very much appreciated the emphasis on relying on support systems and making efforts to find community in new places, as well as Morgan's own realization that she was too rigid and needed to make time to have fun amidst all of her responsibilities.

Rating: 4 stars
Book 24 of 2025

[karlaisallbooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Astronaut’s Wife is the story of a wife and mother whose husband goes from an Army soldier to an Astronaut and embarks on a 9 month space journey.

This gave an accounting of her experience as she juggles family and managing expectations. Such a good book and interesting point of view.

Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the arc for an honest review.

[Gretchen]

Listened on audiobook. Not gonna rate memoirs. I was interested because we have mutual friends and I am also a military spouse. She talks about sending her husband to space and then also just general life stories and deployments.

[Jj Burch · Rating 3 out of 5]

The intersection
Of faith, space, and family
They are doing it.

[Amy Knaul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend!! I didn't want to put this down. She did a fantastic job incorporating scripture to her experience and wants us to all live a full life. A quick read that will have you ready to say yes to life and try new things and trust in God's plan.

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have some mixed feelings about this book and I'm struggling with expressing them in a way that makes sense, so bear with me here.

First, let me give you the synopsis. Stacey and Drew are college sweethearts. They met at West Point. Drew was military-bound from the start, but Stacey was only there on a whim. Drew begins his military career as a doctor and has at least one deployment to Afghanistan. Then one day he decides to apply to the Space Program and is accepted. Their lives change forever as Stacey navigates a different kind of life outside the military bubble but inside a new NASA bubble. She's a great lady and she and her husband have a fun, close relationship despite long periods of separation while he's in space. She also makes amazing female friendships, reaching out to others to ask for help or to offer it, as the situation required.

There is also a great account of her experiences on 911 in Washington D.C. and her experiences with how COVID changed her husband's return to earth were pretty interesting. It's all really well written and amazing and inspiring and funny and I loved it… BUT…

BUT, I have to say that I'm not always in agreement with her use of scripture. Stacey is a Christian (she doesn't say what denomination) and since I am, too, I'm good with her sharing her faith and how it helped her along the way. However, the way she uses scripture - the kind of statements she makes about how God wants you to have this or that - I sometimes found that I disagreed with her use of them. I believe she's misusing scripture, twisting it into the kind of "feel-good social gospel" that is so prevalent in the evangelical world today. Her focus is on a wonderfully full, deep, connected, fabulous life and good relationships. Those are good things, I agree, but I think it's clear from scripture that God wants us to have something more - a deep abiding love for Him, a desire to serve Him and please Him, a desire to bring others to Him, and a mindset that this world is not our home, so we should stay focused on Him. Stacey would probably say that she does that, but that's really not what comes across loudest in this book.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't know Stacey and can't judge her heart, and I'm not trying to here. What I’m saying is that the way this book is written leaves me with the impression that what God wants is for me to have a fulfilling, fabulous life here on this earth, experiencing all the wonderful things this life has to offer, but it doesn't mention salvation, obedience, sin, repentance, or any of the other things God repeats over and over in His word and that makes her use of those scriptures problematic for me.

**************** EXAMPLES if you want them*************

She uses Esther as an example for her life. What if she was put in this position "for such a time as this"? But the question of what her true purpose is, what exactly she is doing "at this time" is never answered. Or if it is, it's "have fun," "be amazing," "find your baloney's-on-sale friends," "live life to its fullest!" These are nice things and not bad, but I do not believe that the message of the Bible Story of Esther is that she should live her life to the fullest. It seems to me that Ms. Morgan continually misses the mark of what God was telling us. He doesn't want us to have a "full, happy life" here on earth. He wants us to serve Him. Esther served Him by risking her life to save her people from slaughter. My understanding of scripture is that God wants me to do whatever I can to save others from losing their souls, or to serve them in other ways. I just don't see scripture telling me that He is concerned about whether I have a lot of fun adventures.

Stacey says: “While we are in the midst of our unique, difficult circumstances . . . God gives each of us the ability to choose the path of either hope or fear. Whether we like it or not, we will live our lives dictated by one or the other, and if we don’t make an active decision to choose hope, our default will always be fear” (page 18).

Again, I'll ask - Hope in what? That your husband will return safe and sound seems to be the answer here, but when God asks us to hope, when Paul talks about hope, he is speaking of the hope of Salvation, the hope of being with Jesus when this life is over, the hope of bringing Him glory, and pleasing Him with our lives. THAT is our hope, not a hope of a fabulous, fulfilling life on earth.

Don't misunderstand me. She is right to live with hope in her husband's return and not a spirit of fear, but I still maintain that she is twisting scripture to make it say that this is what God was talking about in His Word.

She says:
"Jesus quotes from the book of Isaiah when he says, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. LUKE 4:18-19 While most of us are not literally imprisoned, blind, or oppressed, we know deep inside that when under pressure and left to our own devices, we often put ourselves in chains, cover our eyes, and limit ourselves." (p. 140)

My take: This scripture is talking about sin. Jesus came to set us free from our SINS, not from a life of boredom sitting on the couch.

But Stacey goes on to say that God wants us to be free to do all kinds of fun things. I think those things are great and I think she's right that when you face death or disease you look at your life differently, and you might look back over your life and think, "I wish I'd jumped out of more airplanes" or "I wish I'd watched more Netflix" or even "I wish I'd had better friendships." We might say those things or think them, but is that what God would want us to be concerned about? I think what God wants us to really do is think, "I wish I'd done what God asked me to do." or "I wish I'd had a closer relationship with Him." or "I wish I'd stopped doing that thing I *knew* was wrong."

I suspect that Stacey would say that God has forgiven her sins and therefore she doesn't have to worry about that stuff. Perhaps she's one who thinks God will never condemn anyone. She may think that she and God are good, so she can concentrate on having a great life.

But I personally think the Apostle Paul, writing letters from his prison cell begging the Christians in Colossae or Ephesus to make their lives right and hold on to the hope of salvation, might disagree with her just a bit.

[Rayann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an exciting book to read. The author wrote with clarity, honesty, transparency, and from her heart. She did not skirt the messy parts of life or human nature, but instead demonstrated courage, hope and meeting life head-on. This book was inspirational.

[yukkie_cerveza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's husband, Colonel Andrew Morgan, is an astronaut who stayed on the space station from November 2019 to January 2020. During his 272-day long absence, author Stacey Morgan remained in the United States to raise their four young children. This book is an essay that chronicles that time.

　Astronauts' every move during their missions is covered extensively by the media, and nowadays, their stay in space is broadcast live on high-definition camera. However, the days of their families, who await their return, are rarely told. You may only hear the model answer that the family is honored by their husband's mission.
　This book, however, gives us an interesting glimpse into such a family. They get to have frequent TV conversations with the father while he is in space, but the long duration of the mission does not seem to resonate as much with the children, and the conversations do not go as one might expect. The author's family is a military family, and it is not uncommon for them to know someone who has been an astronaut, and they have heard about spacewalks from others who have been there before their father.
　Also, the time difference between the father's mission, which is based on Greenwich Mean Time, and the family's time in Texas is so great that phone calls are never made at a convenient time for the children.

　Also, while raising four children on her own, the author naturally realized the importance of relying on friends and relatives. Although she had helped others raise their children more than once, she had never asked for help. The author honestly realizes that she is allowed to depend on others as well as to be depended on. It really takes a village.
　The ideal image of a good wife and wise mother is the same in both Japan and the United States. However, the author realizes that it is also important to free herself from the pressure to be that way. Instead of just quietly taking care of her husband’s absence at home, she tries to show her children how to be active.
　In this way, the author, as a wife, also learns a lot while her husband performs his important mission in space.

　The author, who appears to be a devoted Christian, frequently quotes the Bible as a guidepost in her life. As a Japanese buddhist, my knowledge of such passages is not up to par, so I cannot say that I fully understood them, but I was greatly encouraged by her determination to live a richer life, trusting in God's guidance and not being afraid to be adventurous.

.

[Camila · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Note: this book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.**

This was such a good book and I'm surprised how much it surpassed my expectations and just how much it challenged my assumptions on military wives.

Morgan is a great storyteller, weaving lessons about dealing with change, hardship, and other events in our lives together with the journey of her husband and family when he heads off to space as an astronaut. I feel like I learned so much about how astronauts head off to space and how those left behind deal with it, that was a great part of the book.

I was touched by her personal stories about skydiving, running a marathon, dealing with the events of 9/11, dealing with deployment, moving homes and states, and being there for others and letting others be there for her. As well as ending during the pandemic, this book was very relatable in the way it's taken so much from so many. I was in tears when she described the celebration organised by friends to celebrate the return of her husband.

As for cons, I did want to mention 2 things that did feel a little grating at times. But this is coming from a non-American, non-religious person, so take it with a grain of salt otherwise. At times, this book did fall into a very American pro-military vibe, which I don't gel with, but it was to be expected with the background of the author and her husband. And it was also very Christian, quoting Bible verses literally in every chapter. I totally appreciate this is a memoir and this is a huge part of her life, but it did take me out of her stories at time. If you're a Christian, you might really connect with this book though!

Generally, a big recommend from me!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advance Reader Copy

On 20 July 2019, fifty years after Neil Armstrong’s historic one small step onto the surface of the moon, astronaut Drew Morgan donned his spacesuit and headed off for a nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

Stacey Morgan kissed him good-bye and watched as the Soyuz rocket carried the love of her life off into space.

=========

Told with honesty, humor, and eloquence, the astronaut’s wife recounts family history, the ups and downs of being a military family, and the unsettledness and difficulty of adjusting to the demands of astronaut training.

Here is a glimpse into NASA life that few readers will ever experience, yet the opportunity to see the program through the eyes of the astronaut’s family is an unexpected bonus for those who hold a strong interest in the space program. Both inspiring and compelling, Stacey’s story reveals the inner strength and resolve necessary for survival in stressful and difficult situations.

What are the hard parts? Deep and abiding loneliness, the worry that always sits in the back of the mind, the long separations. What makes it work? Friends, support, a sense of humor, and strong faith in God as each challenge is met. Lessons learned that are meaningful for everyone.

Filled with encouraging words, hard-won wisdom, and joy, the lessons are relevant to every reader.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Tyndale House Publishers, Tyndale Momentum and NetGalley
#TheAstronautsWife #NetGalley

[Jesica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected. I thought it would be a cool behind-the-scenes look into astronaut family life. Well, it was that... but so much more.! A true story about making the most of your one incredible life. Stacey Morgan took snippets of their life and circled back around to make them applicable to anyone. For those who are going through transitions, who have seasons of single parenting, who have to do some hard things and make sacrifices.... when you're searching for "your people" when it doesn't come naturally...this book covers all of that and then some. Stacey's faith is Christianity but this is not an evangelical book. She does reference that which helped her cope and uplifted her in this very trying time. I believe anyone of faith will relate. Anyone who knows they are not traveling life alone and knows that it takes more than just relying on yourself to find personal and family success will relate. God is in the details & is always there to help us through the hard. It encouraged me, made me tear up, and in the end it inspired me to take some "calculated risks" in life. I loved the thought that life is both good and bad at the same time. It’s never black and white and when we embrace this we can enjoy the good in the middle of the bad! I absolutely loved it. So well written. I learned so much about their lives, space families' lives... But also valuable thoughts on friendship, marriage, long distance relationships, fear, and big life questions to contemplate. I listened to this on audio but I think I might buy a hard copy so I can highlight sections that spoke to me.

[Jena Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of us have spouses who travel frequently for work. This can bring challenges for the stay-at-home family member. Author Stacey Morgan is married to a man whose work schedule is“out of this world”. Literally. Her husband is a NASA astronaut. Her debut book is about how she strives to create the best life for her husband, family, and herself. In other words, “What she learned in the year her husband went to outer space.”

Author Morgan is an accomplished woman. She met her husband while attending West Point. The author shares her experiences through the years, and particularly focuses on the 9 months that her husband was away from home at the International Space Station. How do you keep your home, family and faith going when facing such a challenge? Well, you look to God to discover what is important in life.

Ms. Morgan tells us, “have fun, feel free, take risks, lean on others. Don’t do life solo.” Ms. Morgan jumped out of a plane when she was 40, and took roller skating lessons with her kids. She comes across as a driven, high-achieving person, who strives to do her best in all areas of life. She is also funny, creative, positive and caring. One of my favorite chapters is titled, “Cereal for Dinner.” (Done that!)

Her faith, fun, and love for her husband and family shines through this book. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndall House Publishers for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected. I thought it would be a cool behind-the-scenes look into astronaut family life. Well, it was that...but so much more. Stacey Morgan took snippets of their life and circled back around to make them applicable to anyone. For those who are going through transitions, who have seasons of single parenting, who have to do some hard things and make sacrifices, and what hit me the most....when you're searching for "your people" when it doesn't come naturally...this book covers all of that and then some. It encouraged me, made me tear up, and in the end it inspired me to take some "calculated risks" in life. That's what Stacey and her husband, Drew, have done through every phase of their life journey. You see, I used to be more of an adventurer...a calculated risk-taker. I've lived overseas, traveled to different parts of the world, met new people, and even met my husband on a blind date. Lately, with the world shifting around us, fears escalating about so many things...it's easy to forget how to find the joy in life. This book reminded me of that. To not just take chances and do more, but to have hope. Our efforts to live a fulfilling life may look different now, we have scars, but we can't let it stop us from going out there and keep at it. I loved this book and definitely recommend it!



**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in order to share my honest opinion, which I did.**

[Melanie Wissel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stacey Morgan, mother of two teenagers and two tweens, is used to military life with her medical doctor, army officer husband. But when Drew comes home wanting to apply to be an astronaut, she is soon looking at not just a traveling husband, but an off-planet one. The book takes you through the hardships and adaptations needed to cope with being a single mother, maintaining a good marital relationship, moving to a new place without any support system in place and having COVID hit. She does this very well and gives a very authentic look into what it’s like to face so many things at once and come out stronger. I think she gives amazingly good advice that anyone could use in trying times. She has a faith that sustains her and is inspired in her secular life by those in the Bible who overcame hardship in their walks of faith. I think perhaps the biggest weakness in the book is that she takes a Bible principal and even discusses a spiritual application but then proceeds to use a life example that isn’t a spiritual matter. However it was apparent that she used her faith to help her keep her family going, to keep her marriage strong and to set her priorities on things of greater importance instead of being in a rut and dwelling on the trivial. The insights into space travel and the specific challenges being the wife of an astronaut were so very interesting. I highly recommend this book.

[Jena Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of us have spouses who travel frequently for work. This can bring challenges for the stay-at-home family member. Author Stacey Morgan is married to a man whose work schedule is“out of this world”. Literally. Her husband is a NASA astronaut.
Her debut book is about how she strives to create the best life for her husband, family, and herself. In other words, “What she learned in the year her husband went to outer space.”

Author Morgan is an accomplished woman. She met her husband while attending West Point. The author shares her experiences through the years, and particularly focuses on the 9 months that her husband was away from home at the International Space Station. How do you keep your home, family and faith going when facing such a challenge? Well, you look to God to discover what is important in life.

Ms. Morgan tells us, “have fun, feel free, take risks, lean on others. Don’t do life solo.” Ms. Morgan jumped out of a plane when she was 40, and took roller skating lessons with her kids. She comes across as a driven, high-achieving person, who strives to do her best in all areas of life. She is also funny, creative, positive and caring. One of my favorite chapters is titled, “Cereal for Dinner.” (Done that!)

Her faith, fun, and love for her husband and family shines through this book. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndall House Publishers for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

[Angela Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, light read--the memoir of a woman of faith, who also happens to have been an astronaut's wife.

Stacey Morgan offers readers a cursory look at her pragmatic personality and background, ultimately setting the stage for her account of the 9 months her transplanted family (with two young children) had to manage without her husband--as he contended with both the fulfilled dream, and inevitable disconnection, of living and working in space.

Morgan is a down-to-earth narrator with a solid grasp of her prose. An attendee of West Point who met her military husband young, she knew -almost- exactly what she'd be getting herself into in supporting her spouse. (And she's honest enough to admit she was counting on the odds against him actually being accepted into the astronaut training program.) But what she couldn't have been prepared for was handling her husband's zero-g deployment at the same time as the 2020 pandemic.

But what the book ends up primarily being about is community--the importance of it (particularly to a military life full of moves), along with some worthwhile advice on friendship. The grounding support of her chosen church family and tribe of friends becomes most critical in the midst of the isolation of lockdown.

[Sarah Tellas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I didn’t know what I was getting myself into in this book, because I did not enjoy it in the slightest.

First off, the timeline is so all over the place. It felt like you were in the mind of a dog and all of a sudden they see a squirrel, so you go off on a tangent about the squirrel and then go back to the original story.

Next, I felt like half of the book was whiny and the other half was like a person who no longer works 9-5 and is trying to become some inspirational influencer, but it’s just not it.

Finally, I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator was the actual author of the book. My original thought was: wow! We are gonna get an insider’s perspective, she’ll be super passionate about her work! WRONG. It was the most unenthusiastic reading ever, I felt like it lacked passion for the story and they were just merely reading someone else’s story.

I guess moral of the story, look into the book a little more before you read, because this was not the type of story I was looking for. And then was further disappointed with the writing style and personal storyline.

[Emily Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book! The story itself is compelling, and Stacy has a good sense of humor that helps pull the reader along.

There were some portions of the book that were a little slow and non-linear as she bounced back and forth from early marriage and the mid-2010s to today, and I did lose interest about a third of the way through. However, she turned it around and I was excited to finish the book by the end.

She does incorporate her Christian faith into her narrative, but there were a couple often-quotes Scripture passages that were *loosely* related or perhaps even mis-interpreted at times, which left me a bit winded.

I do appreciate Stacey’s honesty in all areas of her life—being a military wife, mom of four, sending her husband to space and then sheltering at home with her kids once Covid struck, going skydiving with friends, running a marathon, pursuing “fun” as an adult and mom, etc. She clearly is courageous and a go-getter. A good example for those of us who prefer to “play it safe” instead of doing the hard and rewarding things.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does it take to support a husband in space, be a mom to four children, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, hold a responsible job and be a great friend to those around her and those who are former neighbors and associates? Stacey Morgan, a West Point graduate herself, has to draw upon all her resources to keep her family and self sane while her surgeon astronaut circles the earth for nine months. Yes, it means relaxing the rules of the house but also maintaining one’s self through rest and fun. She is one of those persuasive persons who is a great team player but knows how to develop the kinds of relationships that knows when to relax and allows others to take over for her when she is overwhelmed, This gal takes on the biggest challenges and deals with them with unpredictable moments of witticism. Her faith is an anchor in her life. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for providing an ARC; this is my honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! It was light and informative as well as emotional and infinitely relatable. As mothers we are all in a club. So despite Stacey's husband's commute being a little longer than most her struggles are something reflected in all families.

Who will enjoy this book? Moms, space lovers, anyone who likes to peek into a life they don't live, and people of faith. Stacey's faith is Christianity but this is not an evangelical book. She does reference that which helped her cope and uplifted her in this very trying time. I believe anyone of faith will relate. Anyone who knows they are not traveling life alone and knows that it takes more than just relying on yourself to find personal and family success will relate. One of the biggest take aways is the emphasis on the family as a team.

Overall, The Astronaut's Wife, was a beautiful book. As a mom and a woman (and Houstonian) it was a great read!