A Borrowed Life by Kerry Anne King

A Borrowed Life

by Kerry Anne King

From the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Whisper Me This comes an emotional and sharply witty novel about how life’s unexpected detours can ultimately bring you home.

For thirty years Liz has perfectly played the part of Mrs. Thomas Lightsey, exemplary pastor’s wife and mother. But maintaining appearances for the congregation and catering to her demanding husband takes a toll, and she’s lost herself in meeting the expectations of others. When Thomas suddenly dies, Liz feels shock, grief, and, to her surprise, the siren song of freedom. Dare she dream of a life to call her own?

Despite the resistance of her daughter, Abigail, to even the smallest changes, Liz lands a role at the community theater. Inspired by new friends and the character she plays, she explores life’s possibilities, including an unexpected—and steamy—relationship with her leading man.

Just when Liz thinks she might be winning, life hits her with an unthinkable shock. She’s pregnant at forty-nine. Torn between conflicting loyalties to her daughter, her lover, her unborn baby, and herself, can Liz find a way to rebuild her dream life one more time?

Reviewed by Jeff Sexton on

5 of 5 stars

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Funny And Evocative. This was a strong look at a woman who had had her joy figuratively beaten from her by life and who gets a second chance later in life... and it happened to reference one of my favorite jokes ever. :) As usual, King does an amazing job of showing how wondrous life can be if you simply embrace its quirkiness rather than trying to dictate rules to it, and here in particular she does a phenomenal job of showing a woman rediscovering the self she had allowed to die off many years ago. The singular sex scene is *smoking*, the jokes are rampant and hilarious, and the drama is perhaps all too real - on stage and off. :) As someone who has been all too familiar with the types of religion King shows here but who never truly let himself succumb to it the way Liz does, I felt her transformation deeply. I *lived* a version of it in my mid-20s, which wasn't too terribly long ago seeing as I'm only in my late 30s now. :D Truly an excellent book that the more talibaptist oriented probably won't like as much as I did... and which is all the more imperative that they read it. Very much recommended.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 10 September, 2020: Finished reading
  • 10 September, 2020: Reviewed