I received an ARC from InterVasity, via NetGalley. This review is my personal opinion.

In this book Psychologist, Kelly Flanagan takes us into what according to him means companionship, the first part of the book, unexpectedly talks about the importance of befriending your loneliness and how we need to stop running from it but embrace it. This phrase from the book” Before we belong to each other I must first belong to myself”. In part two, he talks about growing strong, the importance of recognizing our protections and how they can with time become habits, to face our fears and the need to feel, and finally, in part three grow old, the importance of not letting the fear of missing out makes me lose sight of what is in front of me.

The author pens a personal letter to his wife and we can see how his marriage has become true companions, through the ups and downs and between, in this book we find an imperfect couple, with the firm determination to stay together and like he said: “embrace the final trade”.

True Companions by Kelly Flanagan is a book sharing the joys and struggles of companionship whether it be through marriage. friendship, or just the relationship with yourself. This book highlights the importance of unconditional love and the power it can have when you start with unconditionally loving yourself and those around you. However the author highlights the importance of true unconditional self love that does not hide flaws or embarrassments which is not a true unconditional love.

The book is broken up into three parts: 1) befriending your loneliness by becoming quiet; 2) embracing your struggle to grow strong; and 3) cherishing your time as you grow old. Interspersed throughout the book are letters to the author's wife at the beginning and end of each section. The writing is conversational and easy to read. I appreciated the vulnerability from the author throughout the book and the author's humility shined through. I think both people in relationships or not would benefit from the perspective of the author which is realistic yet somehow creates a hopeful tone.

Many thanks to the publisher Kelly Flanagan and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I am loving this author and this book which is lifting me up and gifting me with new and precious insights into my friendships and my marriage. I am taking my time reading it because it is so rich, and will be buying a paperback of this when it is published so I can underline and highlight it to my heart’s content.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.