Moments in Time with 16 Men

By: Susan Glenney

Narrated by: Carol Anne Shaw

Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

They all have left their mark on her. Some good, some bad, and some downright cruel....

Jennifer was a successful and talented school teacher living a fulfilled life. But when the night terrors started, her world was turned upside down, blurring her past and present into one. Unable to continue, her teaching life came crashing down by the burden of her dark thoughts. As she searches for answers, she must delve deep into her memories of 16 key moments she has shared with men during the course of her life. From her childhood pal, who was her first kiss, to a spiritual travel companion, to the handsome drug addict, they have all been imprinted on Jennifer's heart. But it is the unknown man who stands out, the one who haunts her dreams....

Moments in Time with 16 Men is a compelling journey into one woman’s understanding of her relationship with the opposite sex and how they have impacted her life. Jennifer will have to pull on her reserves of resilience to survive, overcome the past, and transform into the woman she always wanted to be.

©2019 Susan Glenney (P)2023 Susan Glenney

Interesting premise

This was an interesting premise and I enjoyed how the story developed through these snippets of time. I did wish there was a little more closure with some but overall I enjoyed going through this journey with Jennifer and the narration was done well.

great heart and wonderful message

This book is a series of snapshots of the life of a woman who loves, lives, and grows in the wonderful world of New England (with a splash of Minnesota). We go along with Jennifer as she matures from a precocious child to a grown woman who has come into her own in a world that made it hard for her to get there. 
This book transcends genre. It has deep moments, and a few that had me laugh out loud. Each of the sixteen men is a unique presence in Jennifer's life (Leo and the Mac Guy are particular standouts). Not all the moments are romantic connections either, some are just men that are kind or helpful to Jennifer, leaving a lasting impact. While I love a good romance, the more moving moments in this novel are the ones with people who are not romantic (like the tollbooth man) and give Jennifer some light in her life. This is especially true when the romantic connections aren't going so well. 
However, a little over halfway through the book, Jennifer's past starts to catch up to her in ways that she was not expecting.  She has to grapple with past trauma, and we see her grow and change as she rediscovers who she is and what she wants from life. This is really the heart of the story where Jennifer decides that she is not defined by men and what they've done to her, but who she is on her own. Watching her learn to find love again after heartbreak and devastation is moving. This is a book for our time. We see a woman who was sexually assaulted as a child (when victims were silenced) come to realize her trauma and learn to speak her truth as an adult. This book was important and moving, and I recommend it!

This book should be a mandatory reading

When I came across this story, I thought it would just be a story that explored the love dilemmas of a teenager, at least with the exploration of the first chapters. As the story progressed, I saw that it would not be a trivial story. This book is about Jennifer's life and how she relates to the men in her life, from her father, her friends, and her lovers. It is profound, visceral and should be mandatory reading. It shows how Jennifer's subconscious works and why until a certain point in her life, she is unable to have romantic relationships that satisfy her. I really liked it and recommend it.

Not for me

Not for me.
2 star listen
Triggers of sexual assault and inappropriate touching of a minor.
The fmc is 45 before she starts to deal with her trauma.