Cheryl Strayed's short story about her feelings about her mother-in-law, and facing the mother-in-law's death are in line with her exquisite capture of human emotions and spirit. She doesn't shy away from conflict, and embraces all that complicated relationships entail in just a few pages. Highly recommended!

This was an incredibly short mini-memoir (22-page e-book) that I hesitate to count as a book, but I read it on NetGalley (not realizing before I requested it that it wasn't a full memoir) and want to offer a review. I'm generally interested in honest glimpses into others' lives and relationships (and this did feel honest), but I didn't grasp the "point" of Cheryl Strayed was trying to express or why she chose to publish this brief account of her relationship with her mother-in-law/the final weeks of her mother-in-law's life.

Touching short story about a woman’s relationship with her mother-in-law. Very relatable. While the story was short, the writer’s prose was descriptive and captivating.

Beautiful short story about the end of life for Cheryl’s mother in law. A topic not often discussed. An important read. Thank you tom# NetGalley and the publisher for the DRC.

Cheryl Strayed recalls two moments in this very short memoir: when she met her mother-in-law for the first time, and when she realizes she was about to lose her forever.
It's excellently written, and you can feel that the author loved and respected her mother-in-law even though their relationship was complicated and painful at times. It's very heartwarming and touching, sad and honest, and I really enjoyed reading it.

* I'd like to thank Cheryl Strayed and NetGalley for providing this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This is a short book based on Cheryl Strayed's experience of caregiving, alongside her husband, in the last days of her mother-in-law's life.

Across cultures, the relationships between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law are notoriously fraught. Strayed does a good job here of humanising that relationship, despite its challenges, by focusing on anecdotes and insights that go beyond petty conflicts.

It will have resonance for anyone who has delt with the issue of care giving for the elderly, particularly in relationships that have been difficult - or, at least, complex. Worth a read.

A short but excellently written book by Cheryl Strayed. This was a touching tribute to her mother-in-law, reflecting on their complicated relationship, as she grapples with her impending death. Beautifully written.

5 Stars
A beautiful story of love in the face of death. I was very lucky to have a beautiful friendship with my mother-in-law. When she passed I truly lost a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this memoir.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was published January 1, 2024.

This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author. I like her honesty and writing style. This short memoir is a poignant tribute to her somewhat difficult mother in law.

#TwoWomenWalkintoaBar
#NetGalley

I have read a coúple of Cheryl's books before. This was a short buy heartwarming story of her mother in law dying days. Very touching to read.

There was something sad and beautiful about this short story. We hold on to so many things until the end: clothes, cookware, hard feelings. Never knowing exactly how they will impact us when the time comes.

Not at all what I was expecting. A love letter and a tear jerker. Thank you for sharing this essay, it was an excellent read with lots of perspective for writer and reader.

Thank you NetGalley for this!

I love Tiny Beautiful Things so much — so I picked this up. It was short yet incredibly heavy. I think this is helping me with a weird reckoning in generational differences on how to grieve those that you had weirdly complicated relationships with. Great for a small read on the train!

What a beautiful story from Cheryl about her mother in law. Having lost her own mother much earlier than she should have, Cheryl would never call this woman mom but still came to love and respect her. This shone through in this short story. It included so much in a short number of words. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This is a super adorable and heartbreaking short story about mother in laws and the relationship between Cheryl and her mother in law. While it was a fast read, it definitely made me think about my own relationship with my mother in law.

Thanks to Cheryl Strayed, Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the copy!

This is a short story/amazon original that explores the complicated relationship between a mother in law and daughter in law. Very honest and easy to see similarities among our own give and take.

I absolutely loved this short story. Strayed describes the final days of her mother in law’s life while reflecting on the past. This would be excellent reading for people providing end of life care.

Cheryl Strayed is my comfort read when I need to think about the human condition. This short memoir is no different - she chronicles a difficult relationship dynamic (mother-in-law/daughter-in-law) that many of us have, in a way that makes us appreciate those who are present in our daily lives even if they are not those we’d naturally gravitate toward if we were choosing from scratch. I had all of the feels reading this, like a long comforting missive from Sugar.

Thanks to Netgalley, Amazon and Cheryl Strayed for the ARC.

This is a small glimpse into the last chapter of life. I felt it to be very moving and worth the read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e copy of this book.

Quick short memoir about the death of Cheryl’s mother-in-law, Joan.
Nice quick read that touches on love, family, secrets, and reconciliation. Recommended.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review