A book that will hug, soothe, cocoon and carry you through grief.

Thanks NetGalley and Source Books (non-fiction) for the ARC.

Clare Mackintosh needs no introduction. She is a celebrated thriller author and we are all big fans of her. When she lost her 5 week old son over 18 years ago, the kind of grief she experienced was simply unimaginable. As she grieved, she realized how it was not linear, rational or fit into any stage. The book she needed then is the gift she has chosen to give us now.

I am no stranger to grief. I have a 7 year old son, but with secondary infertility, I suffered 2 failed rounds of IVF back in 2022. My loss might not be tangible, like losing a baby or a miscarriage. But it’s still a loss, I have grieved, felt it's weight heavy on my heart and to this day end up with painful hot tears at random times, imagining what it would be to hold a toddler in my arms right now, a sibling to my son.

I really appreciated the format Clare adopts in the 18 chapters which discuss the various aspects of grief. The chapters start with snippets of Clare’s own life experiences - which made it very authentic, adding that personal touch, as we understand just how raw, visceral and unspeakably impossible her grief was.

As Clare clarifies, this book is no guide or manual for how to handle the heartache, anguish or helplessness you may feel as you grieve. But it will hold your hand, shine a torch through the darkness, help you by validating and normalizing the pain, the ‘why me’s, the most horrible of thoughts and crushing feelings.

It is rather a promise in so many forms, as it reassures you that - you will emerge on the other side, find purpose, shun the fear, the anger, guilt and exhaustion, that you will not be jealous of others’ happiness, or feel pathetic on anniversaries or uncomfortable with unanswerable questions, slowly discover your happiness again, that you will learn to coexist with the brokenness, you won’t forget and finally that it will not hurt you like this forever.

I went through my own catharsis, cried, came to accept my loss and grief as I read this.

If grief has ever touched you (I hope not), then this book can bring you great comfort.

As someone currently enduring the grieving process, this book was perfect for me. Clare Mackintosh is raw and truthful, showing a side to an author that readers normally do not get to see. The perspective and the anecdotes provide a humanness that allows a reading to feel connected to other humans. It is definitely a book for the healing.

Loved this so much. It was a great book even if I myself have not gone through a similar grief process. I think the author did such a good job of making it relatable.

Its been almost two years since I lost my 10 year old niece and this is the book I have been needing since that loss. Thank you Clare Mackintosh for putting grief on the page in a way I could absolutely resonate and for giving me hope.

. Almost everybody has had some significant loss in their life, whether it would be loss of parent, spouse, child, friend, etc. Loss effects everybody differently. In this book we see how Clare handles her loss. I think this book is relatable at some point to everyone. Thank you netfalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a review.

Requested this so I can read it at some point. Not sure how I'll feel about it or what kind of state of mind I will need to be in to properly process and enjoy this. But this saying is. Somewhat relevant to my life at the moment.

I have been a long time fan of Clare Mackintosh’s thriller/mysteries and always admired her writing. I am also a widow and have read a lot about grief. In this work, Clare combines her excellent, sometimes humorous writing with helpful, optimistic words for grievers. I will recommend this to anyone I know who experiences loss. Thank you Sourcebooks and Thoughts from a Page Patreon group for the advanced reader copy.

I have read several books about grief over the past sixteen months and this book has helped me the most. Author Clare Mackintosh lost a five-week-old son almost 2o years ago. I lost my 22-year-old son in 2022 and my life will never be the same. Mackintosh assures us, the parents of deceased children, that we too, can survive this nearly impossible path in life. This book is for anyone who is struggling with grief. Have the tissues near by. You WILL cry.

I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was released 19 March 2024.

We lost our nephew last year and when I saw this was written by Clare Mackintosh (I love her mysteries!) I knew I needed to read this... for me, for my sister and for the rest of our family who misses Jake.

It's a very emotional read but I think helpful as well I even listened to the audio version which Clare read it herself.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 26 March 2024

An amazing book. She writes for people who have lost a loved one, but it's a wonderful comfort for anyone who's had a major upheaval in their life.

What a tough, brave book for Mackintosh to write. I've read her thrillers before and very much enjoyed them. I didn't realize she had this sadness in her past. Each chapter she describes a different way grief can affect people, and a different way to try and survive it. I would absolutely hand this to someone who has lost a close person in their lives, so that it would be waiting for them when they are ready.

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…⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐