Doug is a guy and he is a widower! I'm a single woman in my 20s.

But I felt a soul connection while reading about his story and struggles.

Doug was devastated when his wife, Hailey, died. He tries to live and stay normal, but he can't escape the ruthlessness of being lonely at night.

He hates it when people feel sorry for him. He knows he'll be okay soon, but that doesn't mean he'll stop feeling the pain. 

He doesn't hurry up; he lets time heal him, he lets Hailey's memories comfort him, and he allows himself to feel his love for her even after she's gone.

He trips, he fails, he struggles through the cruelty of life, but he doesn't stop living. He tries to be okay. He knows he'll be OK.

He’s so human. So authentic, so gritty... so me.  

You'll laugh at his boo boos, you'll grieve with him, you'll feel his love, you'll love his imperfections.  

Let me write here again why I love Doug:

I know exactly what it means to act as normal as possible for the world to see.

I know how hard it is to hold on to something you used to have but isn't there anymore. 

I know how awful it is to deal with something that happened so abruptly, so sudden, and how cruel it is that the world would not even give you enough time to let it sink in first before it goes on.

I know how crazy it is to get pissed and then feel guilty about getting pissed and then get pissed about feeling guilty.

I know how difficult it is to cry yourself to sleep, wake up without feeling the purpose of waking up anymore but getting up anyway and showing the world you're still okay.

I just know how messed up Doug felt and I’m glad that he made me realize I’m not alone, even if he’s just a fictional character.

Reading this book made me realize that I may not be a widower, but we all have a Doug in us.