READERS GUIDE

1. Laura chooses to take the honeymoon she planned with Devon despite her devastating loss. Why do you think she made that decision? Do you think you would have done the same?

2. Laura often describes feeling “out of sync” with the people around her, especially as friends and peers continue with their weddings, babies, and everyday life. Have you ever experienced a moment when your life felt out of step with those around you? How did you relate to Laura’s reflections on that feeling?

3. Laura’s memoir explores the idea that grief is not a linear process. What moments in her journey best illustrate the unpredictable nature of grief and recovery?

4. Throughout her travels, Laura meets strangers and builds unexpected connections. How does this shape her experience and what does the book suggest about the role of community and connection when it comes to healing?

5. Travel serves as more than a backdrop in the memoir. How do the different places Laura visits—from London to Ireland to Tuscany—mirror her emotional journey? Were there particular locations or moments that felt especially symbolic to you?

6. Throughout the memoir, Laura returns to the idea that grief is the price of profound love. How did her story shape your understanding of the relationship between love and loss? Do you agree that the depth of grief reflects the depth of connection?

7. The memoir explores the balance between honoring the past and embracing the future. How does Laura navigate this, and what wisdom does she offer about carrying loss while continuing to live fully?

8. One of Laura’s central goals is to help readers know Devon as a person rather than defining him by the tragedy of his death. What qualities of Devon stayed with you most strongly, and how did his presence continue to shape the story even after he was gone?

9. By the end of the book, Laura concludes that the goal is not to eliminate pain but to learn how to carry it alongside joy. What does the memoir ultimately suggest about healing, hope, and the possibility of building a meaningful life after devastating loss?