By Amber Emily Smith

A must-read book!

Life was never guaranteed to be without hardships. We’ve all been through valleys of grief, some just a brief season, and others where we collapse on the bathroom floor, unable to go on. So when the devastating news comes, what will you do?

Amber Smith had the picture perfect life. Her husband was a rising country music star, they had their dream home in Texas, and their family of three children was complete. But in 2019, a picturesque summer evening turned into a nightmare when her three-year-old son, River, drowned in their backyard pool. Grief dragged her and her family down into the deepest, darkest valley. But it was in that valley, on the bathroom floor, that she learned she was not alone. Jesus was there, carrying her through the grief, and showing her purpose through the pain.

Pros: Someone once asked me when I uttered the phrase “good grief” if I thought grief was good. I said yes. If you have never grieved, then you have never loved. But while grieving is a normal part of life, sometimes it can turn into quicksand. Through her grief journey, Amber unpacks the good, the bad, and the ugly of grief, illuminating the dark paths grief can lead to and pointing to the only true comfort in the valley. Grief can drive you away from God if you’re not careful, but when you turn to Him and rest in His comfort and peace, your grief can be turned into something good.

Cons: Yes, this book is a memoir, but it is primarily a book on grief and trusting God through it all. If you manage your expectations, you won’t be disappointed.

Bring Kleenex. A whole box.

Bottom Line: Whether you’re grieving now or later, this book offers a peek into one of the deepest valleys and shows you who is there through it all.