No Happy Endings - Nora McInerny

Memoir

Rating: 9/10

“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are stronger in the broken places.” This quote came from Hemingway rather than this author, but it’s these spaces that she explores in this remarkable memoir. She lays bare her open heart and invites us to find our own story in the eloquent narrative.

Despite what the title might imply, the author unspools a story of happiness that has, out of necessity, been built on the remains of what has been lost. And with that, gives hope. Her portrayal of real pain somehow doesn’t leave you squirming in discomfort, instead you are reminded that you can be both sad and lucky.

There was much I found to be profound and beautiful in this book, below are a few headlines of some of what stuck.

· How to have a complete breakdown…

· Falling off the bottom of your friends “to care about” list…

· Don’t should yourself. Somewhere between our youngest and oldest years we mire ourselves in should and could and would…

· Telling someone to smile is tantamount to saying please adjust your face to my liking…

· Yes, And. Changing but to and…

Footnote: I enjoyed this book through audio rather than paper and I would encourage you to do the same. You won’t want to miss the author and podcaster’s (Terrible, Thanks for Asking) vocal charisma.