It doesn't feel right to rate Clare Mackintosh's non-fiction book about grief, as much of it focuses on the death of her young son, but this is a poignant read and very helpful. Mackintosh wrote it after a tweet about the anniversary of the death of her five-month-old son, Alex, went viral. The book is part memoir/part self-help, with 18 chapters that walk through dealing with grief--with the ultimate promise that we can all make progress with grief, on our own time, at our own pace. She uses stories from her own life, especially losing Alex, as examples. The result is a sad story, but also a hopeful one, and I think many who have been through a loss would find this helpful; I did.

Beautiful book about a hard topic. As someone who has experienced grief, I resonated with many of her insights and cried my way through parts of the book. Highly recommend.

Thanks to Cindy at Thoughts from a Page for the ARC and author chat.

Wonderful book for those who have lost a child. Found myself sobbing through many parts. Wonderful wonderful book. Love this author thank you NetGalley and publisher for providing. the advanced copy to me.

A must-read for people working through grief. As Clare Mackintosh says, this is the book she wished she had when she was in the depths of grief. I love the structure of the book. It is very approachable for people who can only concentrate on small pieces of information at a time. I have loved Clare Mackintosh's novels, but this is my absolutel favorite book of hers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcesbooks for the ARC of I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This.

I confess, I saw Clare Mackintosh's name in NetGalley and I automatically requested her new book. I had read I Let You Go and The Last Party and was waiting for the next installment, A Game of Lies (even though I swear I don't read series), so I did not realize that this was a memoir until I opened it up. Also, I read this right after Sloane Crosley's Grief is for People and honestly, I was thinking, what have I done? I am no stranger to grief, (though who is these days?), but I wasn't quite ready to parse my feelings as much as I did while reading this book.

Mackintosh suffered a horrific tragedy—losing her five week old child—and she is here for anyone who has grieved a loss. Her stunning soul-baring and bracing honesty are the balm you didn't know you needed. She suffers in the open, and she offers no apologies. She puts it all out there, hoping that others will find comfort in their own similar, seemingly irrational perfectly rational feelings. And though she did revive some grief I had hoped was behind me, I felt a sense of understanding and peace in her story. This book is a gift.

Clare Mackintosh's nonfiction debut, "I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This," is a profoundly moving memoir that navigates the depths of grief with grace, honesty, and unwavering hope. Through her poignant prose and raw vulnerability, Mackintosh invites readers into the intimate complexities of her journey through loss, illuminating the multifaceted nature of grief and the enduring power of love. With each page, she skillfully articulates the indescribable pain of losing her son while also offering a beacon of light for those navigating their own paths of sorrow.

This memoir is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative nature of storytelling. Mackintosh's words serve as a source of solace and understanding for anyone grappling with loss, reminding us that grief is not a linear journey but a tapestry of emotions woven into the fabric of our lives. "I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This" is a deeply affecting and ultimately uplifting read, offering profound insights and a sense of solidarity to those traversing the terrain of grief, proving that even amidst darkness, love remains an unwavering force of healing and hope.

I would like to thank NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have previously read a few of Clare's mystery books. This one was a departure from her normal writing as she wrote about dealing with her grief after losing one of her twin sons at five weeks. She has 18 promises which cover the various stages of grief. I lost a best friend to suicide in 2022 and it's been difficult processing the loss. I found this book helpful because I enjoyed how she wrote about time and grief. When the loss first happens it's incredibly painful. Eventually things will get easier. But there are times where something will remind you of that person and the loss with suddenly feel like it just happened. You never know what could be a trigger. I love that Clare discusses learning how to control our reactions to these triggers. We cannot stop the waves from happening but we can be better swimmers. I appreciated her point about how grief will impact what kind of friend we will need in that moment. Sometimes you want a fixer, a listener or an acknowledger. It's important to speak up about what you need so your loved ones can play the right role for that particular moment in time. I agree with her that we shouldn't perpetuate the stigma around death. We do need to talk more openly about death and grief.

Thanks to Clare for writing about something so personal. I would recommend this book to anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one and feeling lost in their grief.

This is a really beautiful and comforting yet practical book about grief. Spoken from someone many years after a tragedy, Clare Mackintosh’s unique perspective on love, loss and coping offers a healthy dose of realism, but also hope. So much of this book resonated with me in a way that conversations with people around me haven’t been able to. Thanks NetGalley, Sourcebooks and Clare Mackintosh for the free ARC of this book - I’m so glad I read it!

I PROMISE IT WON’T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS
Clare Mackintosh

December 10th may be like any other ordinary day to you but to Clare Mackintosh, it is a day she will never forget. On that day, unlike any other day, her son died. I PROMISE IT WON’T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS is Mackintosh’s story and a guide through the aftermath of a loss.

I PROMISE IT WON’T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS is 18 assurances on grief. It is essentially 18 promises. Promises that you will live to see another day. “#1 It won’t always hurt like this. #8 You won’t always feel so angry and, #15 You will be happy again.”

Clare Mackintosh
I PROMISE IT WON’T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS

I love how it's broken up into small digestible sizes making it your choice how much or how little you invest and explore in one chunk. I am thankful that Mackintosh decided to write this and talk about her personal experience. It’s another way of breaking the wall.

I appreciate the feeling of affirmation given by the writing and assurances. Knowing that someone else has experienced or is experiencing something like you is how you see yourself in the world. Know that the assurances would apply to any type of loss, any season you are grieving.

It may be too soon, it may be inappropriate for your life right now, or it may be just the book you need to make it through another day. I’m hoping this book will help you or someone you know.

10/10 Recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS (non-fiction) | Sourcebooks for the advanced copy! I appreciate the opportunity to read and provide feedback!

I PROMISE IT WON’T ALWAYS HURT LIKE THIS…⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is great for someone going through the process of grief. At this moment, I am not. I would pick it up if I ever needed to.

In her poignant nonfiction debut, bestselling mystery author Clare Mackintosh bravely invites readers into the raw depths of her heartbreak and healing journey following the devastating loss of her five-week-old son. "Grief has run through my life like thread through fabric," she reflects, painting a vivid picture of the complexities of loss and the enduring power of love. Mackintosh's memoir transcends traditional notions of grief, offering a deeply honest and compassionate exploration of the myriad emotions that accompany profound loss. Drawing from her own experiences and the response to a viral Twitter thread, she extends a hand of solace and encouragement to those navigating the labyrinth of grief, reassuring them that while the pain may seem insurmountable, love endures, offering hope and healing even in the darkest of times. "I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This" is a luminous testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative nature of profound loss.

For someone who has recently experienced the loss of a loved one, this EARC was offered to me in a very timely fashion. I actually downloaded while my husband was in hospital but couldn't even look at it then, It was for me a painful read but one that spoke many truths, the main one being that grief is our own. Each person experiences grief in their own way. It is never the same for any two people. Clare Macintosh lost her infant son at five weeks, having never left the hospital. The 18 assurances that make up this book are based on her personal experience. It is a valuable tool for those who have lost a loved one, helping them to realize that what they are experiencing is normal for them. As we travel down the road of her personal loss we come to grips with our own loss.
Thank you to #NetGalley#IPromiseItWon'tAlwaysHurtLikeThis#SourceBooks for the EARC.

I Promise It Won’t Always Hurt Like This
Author: Clare Mackintosh
Source: NetGalley
Pub. Date: March 19, 2024

I will start with my truth: I wasn’t sure I could get through this book in one piece. I lost my Mom, My Dad, my brother-in-law, and my beloved Aunt, in a short period and I still feel the immense loss to this day. My Mom’s death was challenging because she had fought so hard to beat breast cancer, and then it was a matter of just being alive long enough to attend my daughter’s wedding after college graduation. My Mom, my hero, toughed it out, bald and sickly, as she walked down the aisle at my daughter’s wedding with her grandson in full military regalia as her escort. Then we watched my daughter walk down the aisle to marry her sweet fiancée. My Mom won. On that day, she was victorious. The whole event was a grand moment for my family to come together, to laugh, to talk to my Mom and Dad, and for us to glory in a joyful memory. At her funeral, I was numb and talking to guests while my middle daughter was sobbing. It wasn’t until a year later that I thanked my daughter for doing what I couldn’t. My heart was broken at the death of my Mom, but I couldn’t lose it at her funeral. Tori did it for me. I Promise It Won’t Always Hurt Like This is a great book, and the author shares a lot of truths about mourning and grief. It is NOT the same for everyone. We all have different triggers; some things come out of the blue, and you will lose it. I like that Clare Mackintosh reminds us that it is all okay. There are no hard and fast rules for how to grieve, but there is a truth that there will come a day when it won’t hurt as much. She is right. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a very well-written and thoughtful account of loss, grief, and the aftershocks that will surely come your way. Thank you to Clare for reminding me of so many good things. I will share this book with loved ones. #grief #death #shock #loss #love #life #IPromiseItWontAlwaysHurtLikeThis #ClareMacintosh #netgalley #sourcebooks

All of us, at one time will suffer a loss and feel the depths of grief. Mackinstosh is vulnerable and honest, so in turn we can reflect on our own loss with the reassurance that we are in a state of grief, but it will not always be as difficult. Here we have honest vulnerable assistance not banal remarks or useless platitudes. This is a difficult subject, but that makes the discussion even more needed. Buy this book for those that you know have suffered a loss, including yourself, it will provide gentle guidance.

Thanks to Cindy Burnett from Thoughts from a Page, NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this remarkable book.

Grief is both a difficult and challenging emotion. We all experience grief differently - how we experience it, and how we work through it when we lose a loved one is the topic of this excellent book by Clare Mackintosh.

"I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This - 18 Assurances on Grief" is a heartfelt book by Clare Mackintosh that talks about how she dealt with (and is continuing to deal with) the loss of her infant child, Alex. The book is comprised of 18 chapters - all beginning with..."I promise...". The book is an excellent source for anyone who is dealing with the loss of a loved one. Difficult at times to read - and I had to put the book down at times because of the difficulty of how to manage grief - I do think this is a good book for anyone who is dealing with the loss of a loved one and with grief.

Thank you to both netgalley.com, as well as Sourcebooks for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. I always love Clare Mackintosh's thrillers, but wasnt sure how she would come across as a non fiction author. I needn't have worried, she is such a graceful writer when discussing personal tragedy. I hope all people going through loss can experience this book. Glad she wrote the book she knew, from experience, was needed. 5 stars

Clare MacIntosh is one of my favorite writers. Her mysteries are well-written, with great characters and plots. This is her first non-fiction, and it also blew me away. Clare writes honestly and from the heart regarding the death of her 5-week-old son Alex, and how her grief has changed throughout the years. It is very raw and sad but also with threads of humor and hope. As someone who works in pediatric palliative care, I hope to share this book with many of the families with which I work. I think it is beneficial for anyone who has suffered a loss or is supporting someone who is grieving. I cannot imagine how difficult this must have been to write, but so happy it exists to help the bereaved navigate their grief. What a wonderful tribute to Alex. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. 5 stars.

This book will be helpful to those who suffer a grief so sudden and so personal that there is no balm to the pain. Clare Macintish is completely truthful when she says the pain will change, almost with every interaction with those who knew you before and after.

"Grief is a river that never stops moving and can swell from a trickle to a torrent overnight."

Clare Mackintosh is a best-selling mystery author. She and her husband lost a twin when he was only 5 weeks old. After 18 years, she is now able to open her heart and her mind to write about this heartbreaking experience. What began as a Twitter thread has evolved into a book to guide others with her 18 Assurances on Grief. While she recognizes that everyone handles grief differently, perhaps there are threads that can be used to help others.
Each chapter provides some guidance along the way (ex. “I promise you will be happy again”, “You won’t always lie awake at night sobbing until you cannot breathe”). As the author notes, you do not need to read this from front to back. You can read each chapter independently of each.
The author was so honest with her thoughts and feelings throughout the book. It must have been heart wrenching to write. This book would be such an asset to those in need of grief counseling. Definitely a tough read but hopefully it will resonate for those in need. As the author states so honestly: "But we need to talk about our experiences. Talking about our emotions help us to process them; talking about our loved ones helps to keep them alive in our hearts."

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Cristina Arreola at Sourcebooks for allowing me to read the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Published in paperback on March 19, 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this readers copy for review. This is a beautiful and moving book about the author’s loss of her infant son and her grief as she processed it through the years. Claire Macintosh had premature twin boys, one boy survived and the other boy, her and husband had to make the heartbreaking choice to take off life support as he was progressively sicker and the team was unable to do anything to save him. She describes how she blames herself as she tries to care for her other son. The author gives what worked for her in her time of mourning and what definitely did not, in what to say and do for someone. This memoir was both heartbreaking and moving as it describes what a mother goes through when she loses a child, but also gives hope that she can make it through with support.