The Imaginary Life of Abigail Jones

by J. Schlenker

Everyone envisions great things for Abigail Jones—her teachers, classmates, and family—even Abigail. However, one wrong decision while in college leads to an elaborate coverup scheme which has a domino effect on the rest of her life. Depressed, she drops out a semester before finishing her degree to enter into a marriage of convenience, which she thinks is the solution to her problems. She does eventually find love, and for a while, everything is rosy, but by midlife, regrets and guilt bubble back up to the surface. Anxiety takes a toll. Will a memoir writing class, recommended by a therapist, help her sort out her feelings and cope with her past?

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2022

About the author

J. Schlenker, a late-blooming author, lives with her husband, Chris, in the splendid center of nowhere in the foothills of Appalachia in Kentucky, where the only things to disturb her writing are croaking frogs, screaming guineas, and the occasional sounds of hay being cut in the fields.

Reviews

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm afraid to say this book really wasn't for me. I'm not sure what I was expecting but after reading another review I thought it would grab me way more than it did.

I'm sorry to say that I found everything about it a little dull. The story of Abigail Jones is that of probably a huge number of women - married the wrong man, unlucky in love, struggling to reach their potential … it was quite dull. The few reveal moments were easily guessed and I struggled to stay engaged in the story.

It's basically a romance. Maybe that's why it didn't light my fire. As a book it's harmless and if you want an easy read with an easy storyline then you'll probably enjoy it. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the free kindle copy.
A very enjoyable read!

[Mary Escarraz · Rating 5 out of 5]

So real and captivating!

Abigail is my age, and I can understand many of the decisions she made and things that happened to her.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑙 𝐽𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠 is a captivating read, and the things that took place in Abigail’s life made me look forward to turning each page. The author’s vivid descriptions of seemingly insignificant details brought them to vibrant life.

Literary fiction is not my favorite genre. Some of the literary fiction I’ve read didn’t seem to have a plot or even a reason for being written. Many of the books I’ve read from this genre were downright depressing but not 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑙 𝐽𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠; this could easily be one of my favorite books.

This book could also be considered a memoir—an autobiography or written account of one’s memory of certain events or people—but it is a fictional one. I used to dread reading autobiographies or biographies when I went to school because I didn’t consider them very interesting, but that certainly cannot be said about 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑙 𝐽𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠.

Abigail Jones’s life had been very interesting. She now had a loving and supportive husband, but that hadn’t always been the case.

A memoir class isn’t something that I would think of as exciting but taking it along with Abigail Jones proved me wrong. She really had something to write about. With the realistic descriptions of her classmates and teacher, it is almost like we are taking the memoir class with her. What she had experienced in her life unfolded in front of my eyes, and I began to understand why her therapist recommended this class.

In addition to everything else that happened to her, just one wrong decision leads to an unplanned pregnancy. That definitely put a speed bump in her life and plans. I loved the way she managed to hide, or thought she managed to hide, the pregnancy from her parents even when she went to see them before her “trip.” It’s a good thing she had friends helping her out.

Abigail Jones became a real person to me. Everything that happened in Abigail’s life might have been imaginary, but I could really see those things happening to someone. I was worried about how everything was going to turn out for her even though I knew she ended up happily married. But the unplanned pregnancy, her hiding it from her parents and classmates, having to let go of her baby to give it up for adoption, her first marriage—well, that one you’ll just have to read to believe—and the tragic death of her first husband.

Abigail learns about life, love, and how people really are—some are honest and some set out to deceive, while others do everything they can to help you. Those are lessons we all learn though.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, very much so. If you like reading a good well-written book that you can’t stop thinking about, you would enjoy it too.

[Brenda Ricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll admit it—I love this story. I have read it twice. I have followed this author’s career since the very beginning, and she never ceases to amaze me. Of all her works, this one is very near the top of my favorites.
Abigail Jones is real. She is me. She is people I knew in college. Her hopes, fears, joys, and sorrows all resonate.
Abigail may think her life is imaginary, or she wishes it to be so it is easier for her to accept her judgment fails and tacit permission for others to “pull her strings.”

Fortunately, help arrives as a supportive husband and a memoir writing class.

Writing is therapeutic and can open the door to many truths. Abigail is resistant at first, but as she meanders through the vignettes of her life, she finds the courage to defuse the landmines of her reality. She learns that time creates perspective. It softens the hard edges and lets the light come in through the cracks.
As always, the author weaves a colorful word tapestry. The writing is calm and simple. This deception can give the reader pause.
I don’t mean to get all ethereal here. I just want to suggest there might be something deeper. Abigail is a mirror of life experience. While the paths may diverge, the reader may pull out a lesson or two.

[Barbara Daniels Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

J Schlenker writes with impeccable detail in all of her books. Abigail Jones stands out as a character we may have known in our own lives. She has a fear to conquer and a mystery to solve. Both come to fruition with heartwarming finality. Author Schlenker always thrills me with her writing ability. I have yet to read any other author who can write such vivid word pictures as Jerri Schlenker does. I await her next novel with anticipation.

[Johnda Estep · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. Schlenker turned Abigail into flesh and blood for me. The character was incredibly relatable as was her struggle to make sense of her life. Despite having a far different story than Abigails, it felt like the author made a road map to point out a path I might follow to make better sense of my own experiences. I highly recommend it.

[Janice Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book seemed to start slowly, knowing how gifted this author is, I hung in there. It didn't take long before the story swept me up and I didn't put it down until well past midnight. This author has a knack for pulling one into the protagonist's life, making it hard to put the book down, one has to know what happens. It was a fascinating journey.

[Rebecca Konik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imaginary life of Abigail Jones.

Great story about writing a memoir of one's life for a self help therapy class. Characters are spot on with there descriptive voice . Hard to put down. Thank you J .Schlenker

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Discovery

This is my VERY FAVORITE of J. Schlenker's so far!!! I felt like I was on her journey through life alongside her!!!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a story