REVIEW: The Next Thing You Know by Jessica Strawser

The Next Thing You Know by Jessica Strawser: Utterly heartbreaking and uplifting simultaneously, so much so that you feel compelled to hold your breath and audibly exhale at the same time, The Next Thing You Know is a point blank must. For romance and drama fans alike, this challenging read will take you places unimaginable. So much so that the thing you hate the most is equally the thing you love with your entire being so that the dichotomy of inner conflict experienced throughout is the very reason you maintain hope until the final page.

Developing as a non-linear, perspective based narrative, we explore the events leading up to and beyond the moment Mason Shaylor took the plunge to engage with an end of life Doula – Nova, whose authentic, not-by -the book approach teaches people the value of life and love whilst creating a space wherein they are at peace with letting go of it. From beginning to end, Nova was an outstanding character, one whose life experiences enabled her to exist in every moment and truly embrace the here and now. Kind hearted, warm, considerate and with wisdom in spades, Nova’s strength, and bravery was entirely unique and like a moth to a flame, Mason was understandably drawn to her.

Initially skeptical about what a Parting Your Way Doula could offer him, Mason, suffering from seemingly degenerate injuries that rendered his music career dead in the water attempted in his own ways to embrace the steps Nova was teaching. And as things progress, it does seem they grow beyond their professional capacity until things come to a nightmarish end, for Mason, for Nova’s business partner Kelly and her beloved daughter willow and agonisingly, for Nova herself.

Exploring grief, death, life, love, The Next Thing You Know will leave you with an unrelenting hope that the bold ideas that challenge in unimaginable ways could relent just a little to provide a happily ever after that doesn’t exist in real life. And thus, whilst the perfect happy ending is genuinely grieved, it’s difficult to not bare witness to what occurs – brilliant people who follow their yellow brick road, who learn that there is no place like home, and indeed, that home will forever be where the heart is. I simply cannot recommend this enough!

Book Info:

Publication: 22nd March 2022 | St. Martin’s Press |

As an end-of-life doula, Nova Huston’s job—her calling, her purpose, her life—is to help terminally ill people make peace with their impending death. Unlike her business partner, who swears by her system of checklists, free-spirited Nova doesn’t shy away from difficult clients: the ones who are heartbreakingly young, or prickly, or desperate for a caregiver or companion.

When Mason Shaylor shows up at her door, Nova doesn’t recognize him as the indie-favorite singer-songwriter who recently vanished from the public eye. She knows only what he’s told her: That life as he knows it is over. His deteriorating condition makes playing his guitar physically impossible—as far as Mason is concerned, he might as well be dead already.

Except he doesn’t know how to say goodbye.

Helping him is Nova’s biggest challenge yet. She knows she should keep clients at arm’s length. But she and Mason have more in common than anyone could guess… and meeting him might turn out to be the hardest, best thing that’s ever happened to them both.

The Next Thing You Know is an emotional, resonant story about the power of human connection, love when you least expect it, hope against the odds, and what it really takes to live life with no regrets.