The Next Thing You Know just didn't work for me, unfortunately. I tried a couple of times to get into it, but while the premise sounded interesting (I'm very intrigued by end-of-life discussions), I didn't connect with the characters. The first few chapters felt a bit manipulative to me, as if the author kept trying to shock the reader with twists, rather than letting the story grow organically. I didn't feel Mason and Nova's connection. I didn't wind up finishing this one.

End of life Douglas seem to be trending in fiction lately - at least three of them have been on my radar screen so in the last few months . This one features a musician whose terminal status doesn't seem certain or even understandable, but the woman who agreed to counsel him doesn't demand proof, nor is Mason himself - whose reputation as an artist is unknown to her - certain of his decision to end his life on his terms in his own way . As the relationship between Mason and Kelly developed and deepens into something more than either imagined, as Kelly crosses her professional barriers by letting Mason get too close and he reconsiders his tension, the novel established a flow that's interrupted by the finality off his choice and then legal complications that ensue for Kelly, her boss, and her profession . Tender and resonant, in the end it's a real five handkerchief novel

I enjoyed this book about a death doula who has secrets of her own and is there to help others who are facing terminal illness. And then she meets a client named Mason who is facing a different sort of death. The relationships between the characters were based on trust and acceptance. There is a lot to think about here. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

This author writes books that makes you stop and think about things in a deeper level. The topics are death doulas, second chances, suicide, closure. This book left me in tears. I enjoyed the book, but now I need to read something a bit lighter.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This was my first book by Jessica Strawser and wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars. I could not put it down once I started reading. The writing was deep and thoughtful, the characters were developed so well. I really enjoyed reading and look forward to reading more of Jessica’s books. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

3 stars. Maybe it’s not fair to rate The Next Thing You Know since I got to about 64% and stopped. But here are my reasons. First , the premise sounded great. Mason is a successful musician whose career as he knows it is over and Nova is a death doula who takes him as a client to help him during the transition. It’s billed as a mix of Me Before You and A Star is Born and I would say that is accurate in theory. But it’s missing that special spark or dynamic between the characters. They didn’t have the chemistry that the characters in those other stories had. This book is heavy on dialogue which I normally like, but it doesn’t grab you! I kept forcing myself to keep reading it because I liked the subject matter but I finally just wanted to read something I really enjoyed. I do have to say I did like learning about death doulas. I didn’t know that was a thing!

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc of this book. What a wonderful read this was! The writing was entrancing, and I loved the way the story unfolded. The story was so compelling and emotional I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next and I really enjoyed how music was incorporated into the storyline.
The characters were all great and believable, even though Willow came off as older and more mature than her age. I thought all of the different relationships rang true.

I was taken on an beautiful and heartfelt journey while reading this novel. The relationships that formed the backbone of this story were wonderfully complex. The emotional core at the center of this book strongly resonated with me.

I heard this book described as “A star is born” meets “me before you” and that definitely hits the nail on the head,. Learning about end of life doulas was so heart wrenching and this book definitely pulled on my heart strings.

Strawser has a completely unique story with her newest book. What exactly is an end-of-life doula? Extremely well written and researched, this book comes to life on the slower side and leaves the reader pondering long after the last page is turned.

Nova Huston is a death doula and with her business partner and friend, Kelly Monroe, they run Parting Your Own Way. End-of-life doulas help those with a terminal diagnosis come to terms with their upcoming deaths in any way that facilitates that. Nova has her own backstory, a story that she’s told no one up until now. A story that she’s still coming to terms with.

Mason Shaylor is a musician that shows up one day at Parting Your Own Way, he quickly becomes Nova’s new client, but isn’t very forthcoming with information. With a degenerative disease, he has lost a way of life that he can no longer get back, but is he terminal?

Bonnie Shaylor is Mason’s mom. When she shows up out of the blue, blaming Nova for Mason’s death, everything Kelly and Nova hold dear is about to be challenged.

Dex is Mason’s manager and when he comes to town after Mason’s death, all the missing pieces finally fit into the puzzle.

Told in different voices of now and then, this book touches the heart and soul. Both Mason and Nova are characters that took a bit to warm up to, but then it’s a heart wrenching journey of love, loss and hope.

Strawser takes a difficult and somewhat depressing subject and tackles it with compassion and sensitivity. A great choice for book clubs, as Strawser raises complex situations that will lead to great discussions.

It took me a little while to be fully engaged with this book, but once the characters and their story grabbed me, they didn't let go. I really enjoyed the experience, and I will be thinking about it for a while. This is definitely one to recommend to anyone who likes a sad love story and/or one that makes them think about what it means to live life fully.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an electronic copy in advance of publication.

Of all the books that I have read over the years, I have never read this type of premise. It took me a few chapters to get into the book however after about chapter 4 it sped up and I could not put it down. Both characters, Nova and Mason were layered characters and I was anxious to know more about them. As the story progressed we learned so much about them and their pasts and what roads have led them to each other. This was a very moving story about love, loss, and the in-between.

This is the third book I’ve read by Jessica Strawser and clearly her best one yet. Nova is an end of life doula whose approach for her clients isn’t necessarily by the book, but it seems to work. Her clients love her and she genuinely cares for them. Her relationship with her business partner, Kelly also seems to be a perfect fit as they complement each other and Nova is willing to lend a hand with Kelly’s observant daughter and it feels like family. Then Mason, a singer songwriter, shows up and turns her world upside down. As she tries to help him, she may end up losing herself in the process. As the description says, it does have a Me Before You vibe with a slow build to a shocking outcome. Now Nova could lose everything. Great story, loved the characters who really grab you and stay with you. I had never heard of end of life doulas, but this aspect of the story was also interesting and made me want to learn more about it. Great story and would be a good book club selection.

This is such a gut-wrenching, emotional book that I could read for a while and then had to sit and relive what I had read, pondering the truth within its pages.
This is a thought-provoking look at two characters whose lives intersect and change forever because of their interaction. Nova Huston is an end-of-life doula, using her empathy and heart to help her to guide others when they are facing their own deaths. When Mason Shaylor, a former rock star whom Nova doesn’t recognize at all, becomes her newest client, Nova is drawn to his kindness and humility and sincerely wants to help him face his death with courage and all loose ends tied up. What she didn’t count on is that her feelings would surpass anything she has ever felt for a client before. The conflict was a surprise, so I won’t go into that part, but suffice it to say that this book was a multi-layered character study with a lot to say about accepting death and forgiving others. Nova and Mason were both complex and fully fleshed out with lots of secrets that were slowly revealed. I loved this book and hated for it end. But the entire book was so good, including the ending and especially the reveal about the reason for the title. A dramatic and suspenseful book with complicated relationships and heartwarming themes.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This book was not for me. I could not finish it because I did not connect with any of the characters and they felt one dimensional. I was also bothered by the premise of someone pretending to be terminally hill and then committing suicide. Not something I am interesting in reading. It felt forced.

I was just feeling so-so on this book as I read the first half, but it really picked up when I began to think of how many different ways the story could go! There were so many options, and I loved the way it turned out. Although a little wordy at times with “philosophical stuff”, this was still a great story. My thanks to NetGalley for sharing an ARC with me!

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

I received a free copy from NetGalley. An end of life doulas, I had no idea that was a thing, and an unusual client this novel goes back and forth in time to before and after the death. Tackles some hard topics and story that will tug at your emotions. You might need some tissues near-by.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: March 22, 2022
What would you do if you lost the ability to do the one thing that makes your life worth living? Mason Shaylor is faced with just this situation when a botched surgery leaves him with limited movement in his arms and hands, ending his career as a musician. Nova Huston is a “death doula”, a professional who helps those with terminal illnesses through their final stages of life. When Nova meets Mason, she doesn’t recognize him as the famous musician he once was, and he doesn’t reveal to her exactly what he wants her services for. Nova and Mason are both struggling with difficult pasts, and unsteady futures, but together they just might be what the other needs.
“The Next Thing You Know” is the newest novel by Jessica Strawser (author of “Almost Missed You”, “A Million Reasons Why” and others). As a huge fan of Strawser, it was a no-brainer for me when I was offered the oppourtunity to read and review her newest novel, and I’m so glad I got the chance.
“Next Thing” is creative, beautiful and emotionally profound, tugging at the heartstrings in a way no novel since “Me Before You” has done. Romantic and thought-provoking, Strawser introduces the world of “death doulas” and how we, as a human race, consider our own end-of-life.
Mason and Nova are great characters, so dysfunctional and humanly flawed that they are instantly likable and relatable. The novel is told from various timelines (when Nova and Mason meet, and after a life-changing event) and is told from the perspective of a few of the main characters (although Nova and Mason are the main players, we hear from Kelly, Nova’s business partner and Willow, Kelly’s daughter). Although the alternating timelines can be a bit confusing, by the end of the novel it makes absolute sense why Strawser told it in this manner, and it completely fits.
I was so beyond grateful that the reality of what happened to Mason was revealed at the end. Since Strawser did not give anything away until the final pages, I was worried it would be one of those “make your own assumptions” endings, where the reader was left to speculate. I am so glad Strawser did not go this route, and instead provided a definitive answer to the major question of the novel.
“The Next Thing You Know” is creative, and had me running the gamut of emotions. It was thought provoking and entertaining, and I was pulled into the plot from page one.

Talk about a slow burn. I was thoroughly bored with the story and nearly abandoned it about 1/3 of the way through. It felt like the story was not progressing and I felt no attachment to the characters who felt underdeveloped. I'm not a person who requires a quick plot; in fact most of my favorite books have a minimal plot but strong characters and dialogue. But this book required more patience on my part and finally there was a shift. And it was a shift that made me glad that I stuck with it. The characters come alive slowly and the while the plot never really comes barreling in it is a nice story that unfolds and delves deep into the delicate dance between embracing a life that you don't see as the one you envisioned and recognizing when there really is no hope and preparing for the shortened life ahead. It was certainly thought-provoking and a unique perspective told from the POV of the main character who is a death doula.