A difficult subject matter of miscarriage, death and grief, and how a marriage can struggle under the weight of it, but a beautiful look at how love can respond with grace and patience and selflessness. 

I thought miscarriage and the grief and loss from it was dealt with well and sensitively. Having 2 earlier miscarriages than Celia’s, it resonated with what she felt. While my processing was different, I understood how she internalized and blamed herself - it’s something women often do well unfortunately. Also, the section on how a young child looks at trauma and blame I thought was also very insightful. 

I loved the romance of a spouse struggling to win the other in an existing marriage. It’s not one that I’ve read often and it was a refreshing change. The selflessness and process of that was inspiring. 

Also, I loved the characteristic of Burnaby being autistic and having to navigate a relationship like that and the challenge it brings. As a mom of an autistic kid, I loved the perspective. 

The only detractor for me was it felt like there was a concept of God causing the suffering and of calling a child to heaven when they died. In all my experience of deeply difficult circumstances that God was very much in the midst of, I can’t subscribe to that. God allowing suffering, of course, using it for sure - but not causing it. Maybe I completely misunderstood what was in the book or it was a character’s faulty view at one point, but that was disappointing for me. 

Overall tho, the book was excellent and I really enjoyed it. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.