I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This - by Clare Mackintosh (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Grief doesn't follow rules. It ambushes you at dinner. It quiets your joy. It rearranges your world--and leaves you wondering if it will ever feel okay again.

In I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This, bestselling novelist Clare Mackintosh writes with stunning honesty as she turns to memoir;, offering 18 gentle, deeply felt assurances for anyone living through loss. After the death of her infant son, she searched for true comfort and ended up creating the very book she needed: a steadying companion through the storm.

Whether your grief is fresh or decades old--whether it's a parent, a partner, a child, or a friend--you'll find comfort, clarity, and companionship in these pages.

Inspired by a viral Twitter thread Clare wrote on the anniversary of her son's death, this compassionate memoir brings solace and encouragement to anyone walking with grief. Mackintosh writes with emotional precision, offering brief chapters that validate, comfort, and remind us that love--not loss--defines our story.

If you're grieving, or loving someone who is, this book promises one thing: you don't have to go through it alone. And no, it won't always hurt like this.

Review Quotes

"Mackintosh delivers a salve for broken hearts. Readers who've been touched by loss will find comfort in these pages." -- Publishers Weekly

"Mackintosh's words deliver because of her honesty and openness about getting past the pain. Highly recommended." -- Library Journal

"No matter who you have lost or how recently you cried, you are not alone. Mackintosh and her indispensable book are right there with you." -- Bookreporter

"She wrote this slim volume as an antidote to the countless books concerned loved ones gave her when she was grieving -- which actually didn't help. Instead, Mackintosh compiled a series of stories and takeaways designed to help everyone." -- Zibby Owens for Good Morning America

"Thank you, Clare Mackintosh, for every single word." -- Sara Haines, host of The View

"This heart-wrenching portrayal of loss and motherhood is a must-read." -- SheReads

About the Author

Clare Mackintosh is a former police officer and a multi-award-winning author. Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide and have been New York Times and international bestsellers. Mackintosh has spoken on television and radio about the death of her son and the themes of grief and healing, which consequently appear in her novels. She lives in North Wales with her family and can be found at claremackintosh.com, or on Instagram and Facebook at @ClareMackWrites