Back in November, @kennedyryan shared the dedication for Hendrix’s story. It reads: For the ones who have used your magic to lift, protect, and illuminate everybody else…rest is our new resistance. Rest & shine, my loves. Rest & shine.”

I knew from that alone, that Hendrix’s story was going to hit in a way that the others hadn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I found community with both Yasmen’s and Soledad’s stories, but before reading, I knew something about Hendrix’s would hit me to my core. 

Hendrix was a mirror to my own identity. 

Childfree by choice - ✅

Auntie to friend’s kids - ✅

Ambitious and driven - ✅

Hyper independent - ✅

A little thug, but a lot of sweetheart - ✅

110% giver - ✅

Loyal friend - ✅

Funny and a little crass - ✅

But here is the similarity that rocked me to my core. Hendrix’s mom’s name is Betty. Just as my sweet mother’s name. The same mother I lost unexpectedly in 2018. It was in the prologue of the book that I first saw mention of Hendrix’s mother and upon discovering, I immediately paused. I knew I would need to process the grief that still lingers and that would naturally rise when seeing my own mother’s name in print while reading of Hendrix’s struggles with taking care of an aging parent. 

For me, this book was way more than Maverick and Hendrix. Don’t get me wrong, I loved seeing Maverick love Hendrix out loud and boldly. It’s something that like Hendrix, I sometimes do not think will happen to me. But to its core, this book is also a love letter between mother and daughter. And while I did not have the privilege of watching my mom grow as old as Hendrix’s mom, I did have the opportunity to be reminded of the good times, the memories, the sweetness of her, the loudness of her laughter, the warmth of her soul, the essence of Betty. 

So, once again, I’m thanking Kennedy for writing books that not only tackle tough issues, but also for writing book that can speak to the core of one’s soul. In her books, I’ve learned not only the importance of romantic love, but also the platonic love for friends and colleagues, and most importantly, the love that you SHOULD give to yourself.