A beautifully written book with lots of reflections from the author's own life. The steps and advice given are based on research, and they would likely help anyone going through a divorce, grief, or other struggle. The book was enjoyable and hopeful.

Jessica Turner’s new book is a beautiful, heartfelt memoir and self-help book combined. This book follows Jessica as she navigated her husband coming out and their subsequent divorce. As she shares her story and what worked for her healing journey she also shares ways that you, the reader, can apply those same principles and techniques to your own journey regardless of the struggles you are experiencing. As a longtime follower I knew that when Jessica shared her story that it would be beautiful, heartbreaking, insightful and inspiring. This book has helped me tremendously in my own journey with divorce and for that I will be forever grateful to her.

This book likely would have been better for me had it been written 14 years ago when I was muddling my way after my own divorce. After many years of healing and becoming a therapist, this book did not have much to offer me. When I first got divorced, I was the first among my friend group and felt alone. I had no one to talk to who understood what I was going through, firsthand. This is the audience I think this book is intended for. The writing was fine, though I wished the chapters were shorter. I also felt the book had many parallels to the book It Wasn't Supposed to Be This Way. Again- I think this book would be a good resource to those who are newly into a divorce or life disappointment, but I struggled to finish it because it was not very applicable to me.

This book was part memoir and part self help. If you are someone struggling with disappointment in life, or have ever felt sadness over something going a different way that you imagined it would, this book is for you. Reflective and mildly prescriptive, this book is beautifully written and will inspire you to see the life you are living in a new light.

What a unique book. Jessica weaves her own story with research, advice from experts, data from studies, and exercises you can do in your town time to process grief over thinking "I thought it would be better than this." I don't think there is anyone around who hasn't uttered that phrase, or knows someone close to them who has. She cites her sources and brings receipts, all of which can point you to further resources for exploring, grief, trauma, and recovery. I know I will spend time reading the work of the authors she mentions,, and I feel like I have more tools in my toolbox now after reading this book. I applaud Jessica's vulnerability, candor, and tenderness as she shares the most vulnerable parts of her life in hopes that she can help others survive and thrive after thinking "I thought it would be better than this."

I am no stranger to Jessica Turner's books and social media presence. I watched in real time, as did thousands of others as her whole life changed against her will in 2020. This book carries the pain, disappointment and beauty in that change with such grace and love that I teared up several times while reading. It's perfect for anyone going through a season of struggle. There's so much hope, light and love with the lessons Turner shares that the reader feels as though she's a friend, sitting down for a cup of coffee and a chat. I loved it. I hope you will, too. The title releases this week. Go check it out!

I Thought It Would Be Better Than This by Jessica Turner--This memoir/self-help book releases on 4/8. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. In her new book, Jessica Turner tells the story of her grief and disappointment after her husband of 16 years came out to her as gay. They eventually divorced but remain close and dedicated co-parents. Jessica shares in an honest and vulnerable way about her process of rebuilding her life and family post-divorce. She gives the reader tools and exercises to help them work through their own disappointments and challenges in life. Most of these ideas are not necessarily new but the context of her story may help readers see them in a new way. She does have a Christian worldview but the majority of the book is not religious in nature.

Review: I Thought It Would Be Better Than This by Jessica N. Turner

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book will stay with me for a long time. I had the incredible honor of reading early drafts as part of a focus group last year, and I’ve been thinking about the rest of the story ever since.

Jessica Turner has written a powerful blend of memoir and self-help that speaks directly to anyone who’s ever looked around at their life and whispered, “I thought it would be better than this.” With vulnerability, honesty, and grace, she shares her journey through heartbreak, disappointment, and rebuilding after the end of her 16-year marriage—while offering real tools for readers to process their own pain and start again.

This book isn’t just about divorce. It speaks to grief, identity loss, burnout, unmet expectations, and the quiet ache of feeling stuck in a life you never planned for. And yet, it never feels heavy or hopeless. It feels empowering. Uplifting. Honest in a way that feels like sitting with a wise friend who’s walked through the fire and wants to help you find your way forward.

I also listened to the audiobook—narrated by Jessica herself—and it was perfection. Her voice is filled with warmth and wisdom, and it adds a deeply personal touch to an already impactful read.

Whether you’re in the middle of a hard season or just searching for clarity and hope, this book offers both. It’s one I’ll be recommending over and over again.

Follow me on Instagram @jammers_bookstacks for more honest, heartfelt reviews and book recs you can trust. I’d love to help you find your next favorite read!

We all have (or will have) our own "this" in life, and this book is the perfect reminder of the fact that no matter how alone we may feel while going through "this", our experience is in fact universal. The author's openness and vulnerability creates space for the reader to feel seen and heard. Most books of this ilk - part memoir, part self-help - veer too much in one direction or the other, but this is the perfect blend of personal tale and lessons applicable to every reader.

I Thought It Would Be Better Than This by Jessica N. Turner is the self-help and personal development book that I did not even know I needed, but I am so glad to have had read!

In this book, Turner discusses the extreme disappointment, sadness, and grief that she felt when, ensconced in a lengthy and loving marriage, her husband came out as gay. Turner reflects on how she thought her marriage, her life, would be better than "this," what she had to face, knowing that the future was uncertain, as she and her husband discussed, and ultimately agreed upon, divorce. Turner then had to completely rebuild her life, turning it into one she would be happy with in the future. Turner points to concrete steps that she took to rise from the depths of the shock and sadness of her situation to the rebuilding of the life she now loves.

I know so many people, myself included, who have a "this" -- a marriage that did not end up being all sunshine and roses; a difficult parenting journey, which was unexpected; a dream job that took an unexpectedly hard left turn; etc. This book is both comforting, in that it offers plenty of "me, too" moments, and empowering, in that it offers such great advice for regaining control and turning one's life into something even better than your former "this." I, especially, loved Turner's suggestions on journaling, forgiveness -- both of yourself and others, and finding community. And, before you think you've heard all of these tips and tricks before, I assure you, you have not heard it told in a voice as gentle and compassionate as Turner's or with a background story as compelling as Turner's.

This book is for anyone who feels alone on life's path, for anyone who thinks the journey should of, could of, been better than "this." In short, this is a great book, which reimagines life's disappointments as opportunities for something even better. I highly recommend it.

I Thought It Would Be Better than This by Jessica N Turner is part memoir and part self-help. I have enjoyed Jessica’s other books and enjoy for her on social media, so I was looking forward to this book. My favorite parts were when she focused on her story and what she learned from her own experiences. The exercises and “you” focused parts didn’t resonate with me, though they are well-written. I’m sure it will be just what some people need. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is really powerful on two levels. My first read-through was focused on Jessica’s story and the grief she experienced when life didn’t turn out as she expected. It’s a compelling memoir and story. But then, I re-read it slowly and took time with each chapter to process the disappointments and grief in my own life. Each chapter focuses on helpful tools to aid in discovering what’s really going on under the surface and then really practical tips to move through the pain to growth and healing. This could take months to apply all that this book included! The author has done a lot of really hard work in her healing and growth and generously shared all she’s learned with the reader. I highly recommend this for an interesting narrative and also a helpful resource for those who are disappointed with where they find themselves (hint: everyone!)

I love following Jessica on social media, and her story is beautiful and vulnerable. The writing style was just okay. She relies heavily on analogies and illustrations, and I thought sometimes they seemed forced or overdone. But the memoir sections and self-reflections are spectacular.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I Thought It Would Be Better Than This
Author: Jessica N. Turner
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: April 8, 2025
 
What would you do if your beloved husband of 16 years and father to your three children admitted he was gay? The author lays out a well-developed plan charting a new life plan and moving forward into a new life. Her story is not unusual, and I was interested in hearing how she dealt with a difficult situation for a much-loved husband. I believe he did the right thing in coming out because it allowed the author to chart a new life for her family while acknowledging the grieving process. This book, though, would be helpful to anyone dealing with an uncertain future and life changes. I would think that all of us, be it death, divorce, loss of job, etc., will face a rough spot in our future. It’s helpful to have someone who has met a challenge and come out on the other side. A quick read that includes detailed notes and a reading group guide.
 
#Ithoughtitwouldbebetterthanthis @jessicanturner #netgalley @netgalley @hachettebooks #divorce #loss #grief #growth #newfuture #memoir #nonfiction #self-help #book #books #bookstagram #bookreviewer

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

This is relatable to anyone who has gone through disappointments and grief—so, everyone. Through Jessica's honest writing and vulnerability she provides a ton of tools and resources to help you move forward.

Thank you, NetGalley and Worthy Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is classic Jessica Turner -- warm, real, honest, vulnerable, and action-oriented! The title alone is completely relatable to... everyone (likely) but it's her encouragement to be courageous and to build a new and richer life in the face of disappointment that shines bright. Maybe a smidge too much focus on finding a new boyfriend/love but still an honest and heartfelt story, definitely worth reading. Thanks so the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advanced copy and the opportunity to share my thoughts.

This is the first book I’ve read by Jessica Turner. I was immediately sucked in and read it in one sitting. This is a great book where Jessica is transparent and open about her life. I love how the author is so honest and provides a lot of encouragement throughout the book. This is a great book about healing and moving forward.

I thought it would be better than this.

The title immediately attracted me to this book, as I’m sure most people have related to this phrase at one point or another. Jessica Turner begins with her own personal experience that caused her stop and say aloud “I thought it would be better than this.” While everyone’s “I thought would be better than this” moment no doubt differs, the sentiment remains the same, and Turner’s experiences remind us that it is okay to experience disappointment over the life you expected to live. Some of the most important takeaways from this book are, It is okay to feel how you feel, but you have to acknowledge it. Put words to your feelings, talk about how you’re feeling, consider what is making you feel like this. It might feel impossible to imagine moving forward in times of despair, but allow the smoke to settle, and allow yourself to make a plan to move forward. Part of Turner’s plan to move forward and heal involves forgiveness and how holding resentment only causes harm to yourself. I had to pick and choose which parts of this I resonated with, as I am not ready or willing to forgive the person in life that comes to my mind, however, she provides great information on how to stop blaming, and forgive YOURSELF as well. This part struck a nerve because so often I find that I insult myself for tolerating what I have in the past, and saying I was suffering from“dumb bitchitis”. I’m sure self deprecating jokes are a way many of us cope with trauma, however they’re ultimately not helpful and you have to forgive yourself to move forward. This book is loaded with analogies that at times can seem excessive, and there are *a lot* of mentions about the author’s husband coming out, which I understand is the reason the story came to be, but at times it distracts the reader from the actual point of the story. This book is equal parts memoir, and equal parts self help. It truly covers so many different topics and while the target audience is women in their 30s+, so much of this advice is ESSENTIAL for younger women. There are a few religious references throughout, but not in excess, and the chapter on religion is skip-able. Overall, “I thought it would be better than this” was a very inspiring read, and something that would have been life changing to me had I found it around the time of my divorce. I would recommend this to any and every woman.

Thank you so much Net Galley for the ARC of this book, I look forward to publication day!

I appreciate the opportunity to have been given an early copy of this book thanks to Net Galley. A long time follower of Jessica Turner, I was so thrilled to hear she wrote a new book, I Thought It Would Be Better Than This. She explored disappointment and loss in this book that is part memoir and part self-help. Jessica shares about her surprising divorce when her husband came out as gay. Jessica and Matthew navigated this mutually difficult revelation with grace and transparency. I really appreciated Jessica’s practical suggestions and advice for walking through loss, challenge and change, but also loved her own memoir moments the best. Her writing style is straightforward, but warm and most importantly, her ideas are applicable no matter the situation that one is facing. I am thankful for Jessica’s bravery to write this book and for the impact it will have on others walking similar paths.

Have you ever found yourself in a place of unexpected disappointment? Of course, we all have, but that doesn't make such experiences easy. How shall we proceed? Upon the demise of her sixteen-year marriage author Jessica N. Turner found herself bogged down with grief, disorientation, and a profound sense of loss. This book is birthed out of her journey towards not just healing but also a rich and fulfilling life in the unexpected "after." Jessica candidly and gently shares the loss of her marriage. She also shares a myriad of tips and the tools she utilized to find her authentic self once and for all. While some of the methods she describes do point to a certain level of financial privilege, the concepts here are useful to virtually anyone who finds themselves in all manner of disappointing situations. Jessica reminds us that even in disappointment, we are the authors of our own stories and can find wholeness when we take the reigns of our lives.