Thank you for my early review copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I believe this book will be a huge bestseller.

I put this on my TBR list because I love Jessica Strawser’s stories. I went into this cold; I honestly knew ‘nothing’ about this story. When I started it I thought hmm I know ‘doulas’ help new moms. In fact, one of the gifts to our daughter on the birth of her first baby was help from a doula. I am sure I am not the only one who wasn’t aware of an ‘end-on-the life’ doula ~ one who helps terminally ill patients accept and make peace with facing death.
I read [book: Me Before You] and yes laughed and cried when I read that story. This term wasn’t used but as we know it was ‘Louisa Clark’s role!

This story starts when Mason Shaylor makes a dreaded appointment with Kelly Monroe the director of ‘Parting You Way’ an ‘end-of life’ doula program. We know 38-year old Mason is seeking assistance and we believe for an elderly member of his family however we find out that he is like Will Traynor from the book “Me Before You” and he is the one who is looking for assistance. He is a musician/songwriter who has a degenerative condition in his right arm ~ however information from him is slow and difficult to get out of Mason. When Kelly finds out that he is the one looking for assistance, she assigns Nova Huston, who is close to his age and is a bit of a ‘free spirit’. At first I wasn’t sure I liked Nova. She had me wondering about her experience as well as her professionalism. We learn early on that something happened to Mason ~ was it an accident or did he want to do harm to himself?
Story goes back and forth between then and now. We gain a much better understand of both Mason and Nova…their relationships as well as more about them. We soon love both of them; but Willow Monroe is my favorite!
Story is engaging but inpatient me wanted to get to the bottom of …what really did happened to Mason?

This is, as you might suspect, an emotional story.

I went to the ‘Acknowledgements’ early in the story as I wanted to read about the research Ms. Strawser did and also her motivation for writing this story. She said that one of the first things she did was become a regular listener of the “Ask a Death Doula” podcast with founder Suzanne B. O’Brien, R.N. with a background as a hospice and oncology. Ms. Strawser said the pandemic has brought a whole new meaning of this concept to everyday people.
I believe readers will find the ‘Acknowledgments’ very informative!

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 22, 2022

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All opinions are my own.
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If you do not want spoilers, please do not read any further. Sincerely.
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I can't. I can not. I just can not do this. I am so depressed and sad. Look, I read the synopsis. I knew that this was not going to end well. I did not know that right out of the gate it ends badly. He is already dead? He commits suicide? I honestly do not know how I feel about this. I can handle hard. I can handle sad. I can not handle hopeless and this book makes me feel utterly hopeless. I have put it down at 20%.
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When I feel true dread in picking up a title to keep reading that is my sign to tap out.
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Now, having said that. I do think that is exclusive to me. The writing is well done. The story is very well told. I just truly can not keep going. It is too, too sad for me.

I’ve been a fan of Jessica Strawser’s since her debut came out, and I can say with absolute truth that The Next Thing You Know is my new favorite of hers.

Before this book, I had no idea about the existence of end-of-life doulas, and I thought Nova was a superb character—humble, respectful to a fault, super caring, overly kind, and pretty convenient, too, if you were looking for a different approach on how our lives have changed since the beginning of that sudden, world wide epidemic. There’s zero mention of that in the book, mind you, but I always liked a good story that reflects on how we tend to go through the motion rather than devour life, as we should do, what with time ticking by and all that.

And then there’s Mason, that lone, sad, secretive musician. I’ve always admired and loved musicians, and stories about musicians, I live the music in a way I can’t decipher. It’s always amazed me how a melody can speak to my soul better than the best written books—it’s a mystery, really, to me, one I plan to uncover, one day, which is why I love when I find a story with a “true” musician, one whose life exists only so long as music is involved, who will have melodies or lyrics come to them to express an emotion, a sentiment, this gut-and-soul inexplicable feeling.

The end is heartbreaking, of course, but we readers knew what we signed up for, since the tragic ending is revealed early on. Yet Strawser somehow makes it even tragic-er. (Damn, you’re good.) But if you’ve got to have your heart broken, might as well be with Strawser’s easy prose.
Mason and Nova are probably going to haunt me for a while longer—but in a good way.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, and a virtual hug to Jessica—what a book!

It's always a bit challenging picking up a romance novel where you *know* the couple will not be together at the end. This one startled me a bit by having Mason die so early in the story. However, knowing the inevitable outcome made reading about what led up to it a bit more poignant. I found myself reading carefully, wondering if he and Nova had zigged here or zagged there, would things have turned out differently for them?

I agree with the author though that death is a natural part of life, and we spend so much time avoiding talking about it that it's become this thing of mystery. Trying to figure out what to say, how to mend bridges before there's no longer enough time, planning ways to help loved ones after you're gone... It can be overwhelming. And having a death doula to help take on some of that work or guide you through the process can help one die in peace.

Nova's job as a death doula is what initially connects her to Mason, who is facing the end of life as he knew it. There's mourning to go through, as well as forgiveness and making plans. But what neither of them expects is that the process will draw them together in ways that will change each of them forever.

While there were a lot of challenges to face, there were also beautiful moments that reminded them both that life is worth living and that making the most of every moment you have is important.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and, while I was grateful for the ending as it was written, I did struggle with the leap from one character's viewpoint to another's. The scene involved the first character explaining what happened to two others when we switched to a fourth character's perspective. So, that was a bit of a mess, editorially, especially because it took me out of the story long enough to interrupt the flow of a crucial moment.

Other than that, I truly enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Jessica Strawser for providing me with an ARC to review.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review -
And what a book!
A musician with a troublesome arm injury unable to make his music meets up with a death doula. He goes to her to say goodbye to life but instead she saves his life!
When Nora meets him she cannot believe he is dying - she finds him hard to work with - but as she strives to bring hope and a purpose to his life - they find themselves falling in love.
Can she help him find a purpose to life when all his life has been making music?

I love the way Jessica Strawser crafts stories with characters so real I feel like I know them and want to spend time with them. In this latest novel about a death doula and a difficult client, she tells a fascinating and deep emotional story with secrets and twists. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book deals with an unexplored topic, whose life is it? What choices can a person make in terms of death and dying? Can a person make an unconventional choice?

This novel explores the role of a death doula, something I’d never heard of before, as we go on the journey with Mason. Of course all the characters are very sympathetic. I found it hard to read and certainly forced difficult emotional responses. I admire Strawser, a very fine writer for exploring this little known topic.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC and delve into life and death decisions.

This is one of the most fascinating, riveting novels I have read in a long time. I say... Jodi Picoult, look out!

Jessica Strawser has written an emotionally resonant, psychologically sound story about life and death and living and love. The writing itself is exquisite, some of it breathtaking. Her sense of body, mind, and spirit really spoke to me throughout the entire novel.

There are ethical questions asked and answered within the context of these characters' lives that still have me thinking about them days later. Brava! I am recommending this one to my book club.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher, for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

Until fairly recently, I didn’t know that end of life doulas were a “thing”. I read an article about their work in the NYTimes and it really intrigued me. The doula's function is to help a terminally ill patient come to terms with their impending death. From Wikipedia:"A death midwife, or death doula, is a person who assists in the dying process, much like a midwife or doula does with the birthing process. It is often a community based role, (Doctors, Hospice etc.) aiming to help families cope with death through recognizing it as a natural and important part of life." When I read the synopsis of this book I jumped at the chance to request the ARC. Here we have a young musician who is facing the end of his career and the douloa he chooses is a free spirited woman who sometimes thoughtfully breaks with the guidelines to make her client's experience what he wants. Needless to say it is an emotionally complicated experience exploring this uncharted territory. The book is very well written, the characters are very likeable and the author managed to find the perfect balance of empathy and wit. There's quite a few twists and turns which kept me completely engaged. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I'd like to thank Net Galley, the publisher and author for the ARC. It is indeed memorable.
5*****

When is it really time to say "so long" and move on?
It's is an old question ,as people age and times and situations change.
However- when you are young and things take a drastic turn, how does one figure it all out?

Mason an up and coming songwriter looks for help and gets assistance from an end-of life doula.
He hopes Nova, a young girl can and will help him to put things in order and prospective.
Nova has answers and can assist, yet in the process realizes he is more than a friend..
A definite NO- NO as a professional!
An amazing story! You will just have to set time aside and read to check out the incredible ending and relationship of these two people!

Jessica Strawser has a fabulous way in a sensitive storyline! Well done!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Mason is a musician that visits a doula. He feels like is life is over after a surgery to fix his arm did not work. This book was very emotional and tugged at your heart strings. I cant wait for your next book.

I adore Jessica's Strawser's books so knew I would like this one! And it's like nothing I've ever read before! Nova is an end-of-life doula who helps clients with terminal illnesses accept/transition into hospice care if needed. But when singer/songwriter Mason comes into her life, she recognizes he's unlike anyone she's ever met before. As they begin to grow close, she also realizes he's helping her just as much as she's helping him. Many surprises in this novel (and an amazing song at the end). But ultimately Strawser speaks to the human condition, connections we make when we least expect them, and the power to control (and adjust) our own happiness even when facing tragedy. Another winner!