As an end-of-life doula, Nova's job is to help the terminally ill cope with their impending death. When Mason Shaylor, an up-and-coming indie singer-songwriter, comes in asking for help to say goodbye after a deteriorating condition that has already caused him to lose his ability to play the guitar. Months later, Mason's mom comes in accusing Nova of assisting Mason's suicide after he dies in a car accident, Nova questions everything she thought she knew about a patient she had become extremely close to.

The Next Thing You Know is a top-level tearjerker, expertly drawing you into the characters and perfectly timing revelations to emotionally wrench you. Reminiscent of Me Before You, Strawser's novel makes you think about how to cope when life as we know it ends. A must-read for anyone who enjoys women's fiction, The Next Thing You Know is sure to make waves in 2022. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy because I guarantee you will need them.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.