I usually do book reviews as pros and cons, but that doesn’t feel appropriate with this book. I followed Amanda Kloots’s story in real time on Instagram and wanted to read this book as soon as it was announced.

For me, the most powerful part of this book is how it tells a piece of history that isn’t really history yet (as I read it in May 2021)—it’s one family’s experience of a history we are still living. Because of its topic, some readers may not be ready to read this book—it might feel too soon, and they might need more distance from the pandemic. Others might find comfort and hope in reading it at a time when we have vaccines.

One of my favorite things about this book is that so much of it is about families and friends/found families (“quaran-teams”). The sibling relationships in the book were lovely, and this book feels like an extension of the time the authors spent together supporting each other. This book is very much Amanda’s story, and I look forward to reading the memoir Anna is currently working on to learn more about her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for the opportunity to read this book!

This book has been on my radar for quite a while now. In the early months of COVID, Amanda Kloots started sharing her husband Nick's story on Instagram. Nick was a young and healthy father and husband who was fighting a severe case of COVID-19 in the hospital. With seemingly infinite optimism, Amanda took to Instagram each day to sing his song "Live Your Life" with her followers, hoping and praying for Nick to wake up and recover. It seemed like the world was following their story, hoping for Nick to recover and mourning when he passed away.

This book, written by Amanda and her sister, Anna, is a beautiful love story to Nick and a stunning testament of a mother and family's love. This is the first book I've read that really dealt with or addressed COVID in any way. It is raw and real and brings you right back to those early weeks and months that were full of unknowns. But, it also reminds you of the hope that could fill those days and bright patches that we all held on to - relying on one another for strength, communities uniting to support one another,, the essential workers who kept us all going. I don't know where Amanda found the strength to share this intimate story of her fight for her husband and optimism and hope for her and her son's future, but I'm glad she did. I read it with my heart in my throat and tears in my eyes and sorrow for everything that's been lost this past year. I didn't know if I'd be ready to read a book about COVID, since it is still such an ever present part of life, but this was the perfect reminder to recognize the joy in everyday life, hug our loved ones close, and never take a day for granted.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper for allowing me to read a galley of this book and give my honest opinion. I had long been a fan of Nick, seeing him in Waitress and Bronx Tale. I enjoyed Amanda's backstory (I actually saw her ex-husband a few times in Book of Mormon when it was here in Las Vegas, which was right around the time she talked about them separating!) When he fell ill will COVID, I like everyone else was hooked to Amanda's daily updates and prayed hard for his recovery. This book is a good ode to him and their relationship and the importance of family. I loved seeing how close Amanda was to Nick's mom and siblings. The scene when Nick passed had me weeping and brought me back to the ten months I spent trying to save my mom's life and eventually being there when she passed. This was definitely a tear jerker and I enjoyed it a lot. #liveyourlife #ripnick

Beautiful book - I found myself holding back tears multiple times. Amanda Kloots is teaching us the power of optimism, perseverance, faith, family, and love. This book is not just a love story to Nick - it’s Amanda’s own love story of finding her own voice and courage during this heartbreaking ordeal. Read it - but buy tissues before you do.

After following Amanda Kloots' and Nick Cordero's heartwrenching coronavirus story and her inspiring positivity last year, I was very much interested in reading her memoir about the ordeal. She reflects on love, loss, and life with her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero. It's the story of their life together and his fight against COVID-19. It's a beautiful, heartfelt, and emotional story of her entire journey with Nick, from the first time they met, their wedding, the birth of their son Elvis, through COVID, and her unimaginable loss. It's such a poignant and honest first-person account that makes your heart break even more from reading the news stories. You can feel all her raw, vulnerable emotions from this period come through while reading. It's a well-written and honest memoir to read that, yes, makes me tear up. With Kloots' positive spirit, her memoir shares an unplugged look at this awful period along with her strength, support from a loved one, and provides a tribute/lasting memory for Nick to assist with her grief.

I was one of the those individuals who followed Amanda and Nick's story last year as everything was unfolding and so much was unknown. It all felt so heartbreaking so reading this felt similar. It's a tough read but one that can easily be finished in one sitting. The writing feels like having a deep conversation with a friend which makes it feel more relatable as well as harrowing. Amanda does a wonderful and tough job at detailing what she and her family went through during her husband's battle and shows us a glimpse at what thousands of others have also gone through.

This truly is an a book about death it’s a book about a life well lived. This story is so timely and resonates with so many people. Amanda has done a great job pulling the story together and does credit to her husband’s life.

The tragedy of this story unfolded on social media, but readers will find a brave new vulnerability in Amanda's willingness to share the exquisitely ordinary beauty of the love she lost to COVID and the legacy of intentional gratitude she has created for her young son.