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A memoir of finding a new way
forward following significant misfortune.
In The Hot Young Widow’s
Club (2019), her recent TED book, McInerny (It’s Okay to Laugh: (Crying
Is Cool Too), 2017, etc.) told the story of her life after she
suffered three tragedies in one year: a miscarriage and the deaths of her
father and her husband, Aaron. Her latest book is a continuation of sorts,
chronicling her relationship with Aaron and her new relationship with Matthew,
a divorced man with two children. With both witty humor and profundity, the
author addresses the harsh reality of death and the life-changing effects of
her grief, especially that critical first year when every day was an
anniversary of some sort that needed to be lived through as best she could. Her
story is also a celebration of life, sexual desire, and learning to love what
is right in front of you, regardless of how others feel or react to the
situation. The author, who hosts the podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking, openly shares her fears about
potentially losing Aaron’s extended family as members of her own, the
difficulties and triumphs of blending Matthew’s family with hers, and the
gratefulness she has felt about having two different relationships with two
extraordinary men. Additionally, within this tragic love story are minor themes
of feminism, sexism, and religion. McInerny’s best friends and their unwavering
support through all the ups and downs are also significant factors in this perceptive
tale. The author’s love for both Aaron and Matthew is consistently apparent
but, refreshingly, never maudlin. McInerny delivers a highly emotional—but not
overly somber—story that will appeal to anyone who has suffered a significant
loss and is seeking a path toward life’s next chapter.
Reflective and tender writing on
finding new meanings and a different life after heartbreaking loss.
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