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You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
2023 Gold Medal Readers' Favorite Awards * 2022 Best New Books for Military Families - Operation We Are Here
"If the military wanted you to have a spouse, they would have issued you one." -Uncle Sam
When you marry a military member, your life is suddenly no longer your own. You not only marry the one you love, but also a whole new way of life--one filled with separations, moves, deployments, and other challenges.
How to cope with this ever-changing life? Jen McDonald is right there with you. For nearly three decades as a military spouse, she's been in the trenches of this unique military world and carved out her own rewarding life.
In You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse, Jen offers a helping hand and a whisper of "You've got this!" as you make your own way. She celebrates the great moments with you, commiserates when it's not so easy, and points you to hard-won wisdom and helpful resources. Most of all, she reminds you that you're not alone on this military spouse journey.
Each daily reading is written from the perspective of faith. In her warm, authentic style, Jen offers practical tips, related Scripture, and journal prompts for further reflection. Whether it's a deployment, move, or raising military kids, find real-life inspiration and hope from someone who's been there.
"Jen McDonald's words often bring tears and laughter of reliability within the same sentence. For years, she has been delighting audiences with the knowledge that they are not alone on this journey. Once again, she does it here." - Kate Dolack, Editor-in-Chief, Military Spouse Magazine
"If the military wanted you to have a spouse, they would have issued you one." -Uncle Sam
When you marry a military member, your life is suddenly no longer your own. You not only marry the one you love, but also a whole new way of life--one filled with separations, moves, deployments, and other challenges.
How to cope with this ever-changing life? Jen McDonald is right there with you. For nearly three decades as a military spouse, she's been in the trenches of this unique military world and carved out her own rewarding life.
In You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse, Jen offers a helping hand and a whisper of "You've got this!" as you make your own way. She celebrates the great moments with you, commiserates when it's not so easy, and points you to hard-won wisdom and helpful resources. Most of all, she reminds you that you're not alone on this military spouse journey.
Each daily reading is written from the perspective of faith. In her warm, authentic style, Jen offers practical tips, related Scripture, and journal prompts for further reflection. Whether it's a deployment, move, or raising military kids, find real-life inspiration and hope from someone who's been there.
"Jen McDonald's words often bring tears and laughter of reliability within the same sentence. For years, she has been delighting audiences with the knowledge that they are not alone on this journey. Once again, she does it here." - Kate Dolack, Editor-in-Chief, Military Spouse Magazine
- GenresNonfictionSelf Help
180 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2022
58 people are currently reading
1164 people want to read
About the author
Jen McDonald
2 books46 followersJen McDonald is an award-winning author, speaker, and longtime advocate for military spouses—and a master at unpacking a household in under three days while insisting she meant to put the coffee mugs in that cupboard. Over 30+ years as a military spouse and moving around the world, she raised four kids, supported her husband’s Air Force career, and somehow kept a freelance writing career afloat through countless moves and deployment countdowns.
She’s the author of two books offering equal parts encouragement and “been there” wisdom for military families. Her writing has earned multiple awards, including a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America and a Silver Award from Foreword INDIES, proof that scribbling notes on the back of grocery receipts can, in fact, pay off. She’s also the host of the Milspouse Matters podcast, sharing stories and encouragement with military families around the world.
Now happily planted in Texas (and hoping to avoid moving trucks for the foreseeable future), Jen is working on her debut cozy mystery novel and reveling in grandparenting, which comes with all the snuggles and none of the 2 a.m. feedings. She’s perfected the art of writing in the margins of life, whether in the early morning quiet, on the sidelines of a Little League game, or during a suspiciously long coffee break.
She’s the author of two books offering equal parts encouragement and “been there” wisdom for military families. Her writing has earned multiple awards, including a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America and a Silver Award from Foreword INDIES, proof that scribbling notes on the back of grocery receipts can, in fact, pay off. She’s also the host of the Milspouse Matters podcast, sharing stories and encouragement with military families around the world.
Now happily planted in Texas (and hoping to avoid moving trucks for the foreseeable future), Jen is working on her debut cozy mystery novel and reveling in grandparenting, which comes with all the snuggles and none of the 2 a.m. feedings. She’s perfected the art of writing in the margins of life, whether in the early morning quiet, on the sidelines of a Little League game, or during a suspiciously long coffee break.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 16, 2023
This was given to me by a fellow military spouse and I would highly recommend it to any military spouse! It speaks to so many of the struggles and gives practical encouragement. She also puts to words some of the things I was struggling to explain to others that I was going through.
February 26, 2024
Let me start by saying I have listened to every episode of Jen’s Milspouse Matters podcast for the past couple of years. When my husband starting pursuing going back into the military, and I had faith that that’s where we were supposed to be, I wanted to “do my part,” if you will, to prepare for this life. Even if it was just listening to a podcast. And the podcast is fantastic! (I’m sad that she has decided to end it.) I really enjoyed her interviews and godly wisdom and insight into the military life.
However, as much as I enjoy Jen’s work on her podcast, I had a hard time deciding how to rate this book. On the one hand I really wanted more depth in each devotional reading, which was only a few pages per day. It seemed we barely skimmed the surface on each topic. What I really wanted was this book in full chapter format. But that’s not how the author wanted to write the book, so I don’t think I can fully rate it for something it was never meant to be.
On the other hand, as a devotional I think this book works well. It provides encouragement and valuable wisdom from a seasoned military spouse. The author has truly lived this life, so I trust her input and that she means what she says. Each day you start off with a short reading on the author’s thoughts and experiences relating to a certain topic. She follows up with a few practical things we can do and some scriptures. She closes out with a couple journal prompts and a closing prayer. I think all the elements of a useful devotional book are there. I’m sure if/when I reread this over the years the book will hit differently depending on what I may be going through. I think this book will hold up over time - which is why I didn’t want to not give it a high rating.
So 3 stars for not fully enjoying the content in this format, but 5 stars for the book working well in the format the author intended.
However, as much as I enjoy Jen’s work on her podcast, I had a hard time deciding how to rate this book. On the one hand I really wanted more depth in each devotional reading, which was only a few pages per day. It seemed we barely skimmed the surface on each topic. What I really wanted was this book in full chapter format. But that’s not how the author wanted to write the book, so I don’t think I can fully rate it for something it was never meant to be.
On the other hand, as a devotional I think this book works well. It provides encouragement and valuable wisdom from a seasoned military spouse. The author has truly lived this life, so I trust her input and that she means what she says. Each day you start off with a short reading on the author’s thoughts and experiences relating to a certain topic. She follows up with a few practical things we can do and some scriptures. She closes out with a couple journal prompts and a closing prayer. I think all the elements of a useful devotional book are there. I’m sure if/when I reread this over the years the book will hit differently depending on what I may be going through. I think this book will hold up over time - which is why I didn’t want to not give it a high rating.
So 3 stars for not fully enjoying the content in this format, but 5 stars for the book working well in the format the author intended.
July 14, 2017
I read this book via an Amazon-US KINDLE Unlimited download.
How many of you reading this love to read romances? How many of you are into reading those which happen to fall under the sub-genre of military romances? How many love fantasizing about being in the shoes of the female protagonists in these stories, longing to be in the arms of the man in uniform in these stories and the HEA you’ve always desired to have with a guy who’s considered to be a hero in another person’s eyes other than your own.
While these stories are wonderful to read, there’s a reality which is seldom, or better yet, never gone into. In this book Jen McDonald takes you from the realm of romance books and fiction into the real world; the real world of which she’s a part of for over 25 years.
The blunt reality is not like in a romance novel where you’re marrying the guy you love, you’re also marrying all his comrades in the service he’s enlisted in along with a new way of life you probably didn’t foresee or had imagined.
You’ve probably just wanted to settle down, own a home and raise a family; but once you’ve become a military family you go where they want you to go and when they want you to go. And even though you might remain stationary in one place, your dear other half might be deployed to G-d where with the dreadful possibility he might never return alive.
Ms. McDonald in her book has aptly described how she’s managed to sustain herself and her family through the years she’s been an obedient military spouse. With the addition of biblical quotations and her own triumphs, the author tries to elicit her readers to remind themselves that military spouses are not alone in their journeys.
While this book’s target audience seems to be military spouses, this book proves to be quite beneficial to all those who have friend that have a military spouse. This book is not only beneficial to any woman who has a military husband, it also should prove to be beneficial to any guy who has a military wife.
Given the extremely worthwhile intention of this book, how can I not give it or its author 5 STARS.
How many of you reading this love to read romances? How many of you are into reading those which happen to fall under the sub-genre of military romances? How many love fantasizing about being in the shoes of the female protagonists in these stories, longing to be in the arms of the man in uniform in these stories and the HEA you’ve always desired to have with a guy who’s considered to be a hero in another person’s eyes other than your own.
While these stories are wonderful to read, there’s a reality which is seldom, or better yet, never gone into. In this book Jen McDonald takes you from the realm of romance books and fiction into the real world; the real world of which she’s a part of for over 25 years.
The blunt reality is not like in a romance novel where you’re marrying the guy you love, you’re also marrying all his comrades in the service he’s enlisted in along with a new way of life you probably didn’t foresee or had imagined.
You’ve probably just wanted to settle down, own a home and raise a family; but once you’ve become a military family you go where they want you to go and when they want you to go. And even though you might remain stationary in one place, your dear other half might be deployed to G-d where with the dreadful possibility he might never return alive.
Ms. McDonald in her book has aptly described how she’s managed to sustain herself and her family through the years she’s been an obedient military spouse. With the addition of biblical quotations and her own triumphs, the author tries to elicit her readers to remind themselves that military spouses are not alone in their journeys.
While this book’s target audience seems to be military spouses, this book proves to be quite beneficial to all those who have friend that have a military spouse. This book is not only beneficial to any woman who has a military husband, it also should prove to be beneficial to any guy who has a military wife.
Given the extremely worthwhile intention of this book, how can I not give it or its author 5 STARS.
October 9, 2017
I won You Are Not Alone by Jen McDonald through Goodreads Giveaways. I enjoyed the personal stories throughout this book.
December 12, 2025
4⭐️
A great, encouraging read to read each day going through a deployment. I appreciated her honesty, personal stories, scripture, and practical advice and encouragement throughout the book!
A great, encouraging read to read each day going through a deployment. I appreciated her honesty, personal stories, scripture, and practical advice and encouragement throughout the book!
December 20, 2018
Great information
My husband is gone to Korea right now and reading over this really helped me understand more. Thank you for writing it.
My husband is gone to Korea right now and reading over this really helped me understand more. Thank you for writing it.
December 23, 2020
Helpful and inspiring
Currently facing deployment this book was much needed and super helpful.
Definitely recommended to military spouses and others who live the military life.
Currently facing deployment this book was much needed and super helpful.
Definitely recommended to military spouses and others who live the military life.
April 13, 2022
this book is amazing
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 5, 2021
I liked this book, while very basic it was an encouraging thing to read day to day.
September 21, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review...
This short book is full of encouraging and heart-warming devotions (or "readings") that are sure to help anyone get through the challenges of being a military spouse. The author includes everything from dealing with deployment, parenting on your own, handling loneliness, having to move around frequently, and even has a short prayer included at the end of each chapter. It is a small book but is full of great inspirations, advice, tips, and encouragement!
I strongly recommend this book for all who can relate.
This short book is full of encouraging and heart-warming devotions (or "readings") that are sure to help anyone get through the challenges of being a military spouse. The author includes everything from dealing with deployment, parenting on your own, handling loneliness, having to move around frequently, and even has a short prayer included at the end of each chapter. It is a small book but is full of great inspirations, advice, tips, and encouragement!
I strongly recommend this book for all who can relate.
December 25, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review...
This short book is full of encouraging and heart-warming devotions (or "readings") that are sure to help anyone get through the challenges of being a military spouse. The author includes everything from dealing with deployment, parenting on your own, handling loneliness, having to move around frequently, and even has a short prayer included at the end of each chapter. It is a small book but is full of great inspirations, advice, tips, and encouragement!
I strongly recommend this book for all who can relate
This short book is full of encouraging and heart-warming devotions (or "readings") that are sure to help anyone get through the challenges of being a military spouse. The author includes everything from dealing with deployment, parenting on your own, handling loneliness, having to move around frequently, and even has a short prayer included at the end of each chapter. It is a small book but is full of great inspirations, advice, tips, and encouragement!
I strongly recommend this book for all who can relate
November 3, 2016
Great book
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews