I enjoyed reading Jessica Turner's previous books and was excited for the chance to read her newest one. I appreciate her honesty and vulnerability in sharing her family's story. It is easy to read and thoughtful, and I would recommend it to my friends.

When Jessica Turner's husband came out as gay, her world was turned upside down. From personal to professional relationships, her world was no longer as she had planned. In this book, part memoir and part advice, Jessica gives practical thoughts and resources to deal with disappointment when life doesn't turned out as expected. This would also be a great resource for someone experiencing unexpected change or someone who is coming to terms with a life that isn't turning out like they expected or wanted.

Having followed Jessica Turner on Instagram for many years, I've been excited about this book for a while now! "I Thought It Would Be Better Than This: Rise From Disappointment, Regain Control, and Rebuild a Life You Love" tells the story of Turner's dissolution of her marriage after her husband confessed that he's gay. Turner, in her usual transparent and encouraging voice, encourages her readers to travel through their disappointments and say, "this happened to me, and . . ." rather than just saying, "this happened to me." We all have moments in our lives where we are absolutely stunned and don't know what to do, and Turner asserts that we should make the best imperfect choice available to us right now. She quotes fellow author Jeanne Stevens when she says, "Worry is simply living in a not yet that is worse than your now."

When going through difficult times, Turner implores her readers not to hide from the grief we're going through. She asserts that we believe the following lies about grief: it has an end point, it's too much for others, and it should be hidden. She further gives her readers several strategies to use when navigating grief. I really appreciate how approachable and loving Turner is in her writing, and think so many people will be blessed and encouraged by this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.