Grief has a way of shrinking your world. After losing both of my grandparents just eleven months apart, I’ve been walking through that fog—heavy, quiet, and at times, deeply lonely. Picking up Looking Up by Courtney Ellis felt like someone reaching through the haze to gently take my hand.

Ellis writes with such warmth, humor, and honesty, weaving her own stories with spiritual insight in a way that doesn’t demand anything of you, but gently invites you to hope. To see again. To look up.

This book reminded me that even in seasons of loss and sadness, there are glimmers of goodness—tiny flickers of light in the ordinary. We just have to pause long enough to notice. Grief hasn’t disappeared, but Looking Up helped me feel less alone in it, and that’s a gift indeed!

If you’re walking through your own season of sorrow or just need a gentle nudge back toward joy, this one’s for you.

5 stars

The audiobook for Looking Up was incredible! The narration truly brought the story to life, making the characters' emotions and experiences even more vivid. The storytelling was heartfelt, and I was hooked from the start. It’s an emotional and inspiring journey that I couldn’t get enough of. Highly recommend!

What a great reminder to Look Up! The author does a great job reminding us that in the hustle of our daily lives we have our focus on the things right in front of us. We forget to Look Up and see that there is a whole world happening. From the birds in the sky to our great God and His creation, there are so many more things going on. The author does a great job reflecting on her journey through the pandemic and the death of her grandfather to help others through their grief as well.

Because of this audiobook I have now downloaded a bird app and have been enthusiastically identifying all the birds around me!

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy of the audiobook!

I loved this book so much that I immediately purchased a physical copy for my shelves.
The audiobook is wonderfully calming to listen to even though the subject matter is at times difficult. It is filled with faith, family, heart and encouragement to look up and look at the birds when life gets a little too heavy. There are many references to passages from the Bible as well as writers like Mary Oliver and Wendell Berry. Each chapter focusses on one bird and the audiobook includes the birdsong of that bird.
The author creatively weaves her personal story in with the most interesting facts about the many birds she adores.
Highly Recommend!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to experience this lovely book in exchange for my honest opinions!
Thanks