Jen Hatmaker’s journey through personal upheaval and transformation is chronicled in her memoir, “Awake,” which details the emotional aftermath of her marriage breakdown on July 11, 2020, when her husband, a pastor, left their Texas home. This pivotal change left Hatmaker reflecting on life, capturing her experiences and realizations within the pages of her latest book.
Previously, Hatmaker, a once-popular evangelical writer and speaker, faced the loss of her traditional evangelical following in 2016 after she reversed her stance on LGBTQIA2S+ issues. This change led her to question the possibility of rebuilding her community and career. Surprisingly, a new and vibrant community emerged, providing her with steadfast support during the turmoil of her divorce.
In “Awake,” Hatmaker reflects on her past, pondering whether heeding warning signs in her marriage might have changed her journey. She discusses the challenges of confronting and breaking away from the confines of purity culture and male-dominated church hierarchies, which long taught women to diminish their instincts and self-worth.
The memoir also explores Hatmaker’s personal voyage of self-discovery as a single woman, mother of five, sister, daughter, friend, and follower of Jesus. Mixing prose with poetry, her narrative oscillates between humor and heartfelt emotion, depicting her path toward self-acceptance and intuition.
Hatmaker expresses a desire for readers to feel understood and less isolated in their own experiences of loss and transformation, encouraging them to recalibrate and embrace new beginnings. Now a grandmother, she relishes the excitement and possibilities of her future, whether involving an institutional church or not. In a fulfilling relationship and as the host of “For the Love,” a weekly podcast with nearly 500,000 followers, Hatmaker has rebuilt her life, embracing autonomy and independence.
Five years after losing her marriage, Hatmaker finds herself in a position she never imagined: confident, secure, and empowered in her journey. She shares this empowering narrative in hopes that others will find solace and strength through their own transitions, emphasizing never to rely solely on another for validation or fulfillment.