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Live Through This: A Novel
A modern suburban western set at the edge of 2016, Live Through This is at once a family drama and political saga about a woman who is forced to face her complicated grief in order to avenge her husband's death and her own life.
LIVE THROUGH THIS is a modern-day western about love and violence, trauma and redemption, and how, in the end, the destiny which controls us, is also up to us to control.
Jane is a woman trying to reconcile the joyous mediocrity of middle-aged life. Formerly a producer for Blake Edwards, one of television’s biggest broadcasters, Jane felt destined for stardom. But when her romance and career with Blake unceremoniously ended, she found herself picking up the pieces with another dreamer gone astray, Theo, a former LA Dodger whose career was also derailed. Both recovering addicts, they began a new life of car seats, day jobs, meaningful tattoos, and the micro-aggressions of marriage.
When tragedy strikes, disrupting everything they’ve built, Jane must not only confront her past, but the potential she abandoned years before. After Blake’s new producer calls her, Jane finds herself again on center stage. Negotiating between advocacy and exploitation, Jane must decide if she is willing to fight for the dream she left behind, and against the systems that destroyed it.
LIVE THROUGH THIS is a modern-day western about love and violence, trauma and redemption, and how, in the end, the destiny which controls us, is also up to us to control.
Jane is a woman trying to reconcile the joyous mediocrity of middle-aged life. Formerly a producer for Blake Edwards, one of television’s biggest broadcasters, Jane felt destined for stardom. But when her romance and career with Blake unceremoniously ended, she found herself picking up the pieces with another dreamer gone astray, Theo, a former LA Dodger whose career was also derailed. Both recovering addicts, they began a new life of car seats, day jobs, meaningful tattoos, and the micro-aggressions of marriage.
When tragedy strikes, disrupting everything they’ve built, Jane must not only confront her past, but the potential she abandoned years before. After Blake’s new producer calls her, Jane finds herself again on center stage. Negotiating between advocacy and exploitation, Jane must decide if she is willing to fight for the dream she left behind, and against the systems that destroyed it.
- GenresFiction
304 pages, Hardcover
Published October 10, 2023
2 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 28, 2023
This novel crams a LOT into one story. It will definitely whisk you back to the election window of 2016 and the pre-pandemic political climate, the entire story a response to a fictionalized mass shooting incident.
You will like it if your politics align with those of the story, are interested in depictions of how people process grief and loss, or are hungering for a story of a woman’s empowerment emerging out of personal tragedy. You may also find its portrayal of how the media cycle covers important news issues and the inner workings of political/social movements interesting.
It is not subtle - more of a cri de coeur - so may not be to everyone’s taste.
You will like it if your politics align with those of the story, are interested in depictions of how people process grief and loss, or are hungering for a story of a woman’s empowerment emerging out of personal tragedy. You may also find its portrayal of how the media cycle covers important news issues and the inner workings of political/social movements interesting.
It is not subtle - more of a cri de coeur - so may not be to everyone’s taste.
February 17, 2024
I’ve read this book 3 times. The first time was a PDF ARC while I was doing spokesperson work for an anti-gun organization. This story is crucial for the reshaping of American society and the violence perpetuated not just by the Gun Industry, but the indifference of us all. Everything must change. Bravo to Kristen for roaring so loudly.
December 14, 2023
This is a modern-day western about a mass shooting and the woman who must face her complicated grief to avenge her husband's death. At the center of the book is Jane, who survives the mass shooting. A lot of the book is about navigating the emotions of the shooting, which is horrific and traumatic, as well as the loss of her loved one. Also, while grieving, she’s propelled onto this new public platform. The book is about love, marriage, motherhood, and female friendship. It’s a heart-wrenching domestic drama and a political saga.
When I picked up this book, I thought it would be a memoir about a mass shooting, so I was surprised when it turned out to be a novel. I was delighted by what a great writer the author was. She took Jane’s story and brought it to life. There was a moment right after the shooting when Jane was still shell-shocked and decided to make a statement to the reporters in the waiting room. All she says is, “Guns do this.” Her mom asks why she did that. But for Jane, and perhaps for all survivors, there's that question: do you come forward? What do you say? Do you want to speak out? I love books that make me feel. I knew it was fiction, but this book had me holding my heart. Live Through This explores themes of trauma, love, marriage, motherhood, and female friendship, aiming to emotionally galvanize readers against gun violence in America.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
When I picked up this book, I thought it would be a memoir about a mass shooting, so I was surprised when it turned out to be a novel. I was delighted by what a great writer the author was. She took Jane’s story and brought it to life. There was a moment right after the shooting when Jane was still shell-shocked and decided to make a statement to the reporters in the waiting room. All she says is, “Guns do this.” Her mom asks why she did that. But for Jane, and perhaps for all survivors, there's that question: do you come forward? What do you say? Do you want to speak out? I love books that make me feel. I knew it was fiction, but this book had me holding my heart. Live Through This explores themes of trauma, love, marriage, motherhood, and female friendship, aiming to emotionally galvanize readers against gun violence in America.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
February 11, 2025
Extraordinarily compelling in all the ways. 5 stars. Definitely going to be recommending often, and this will be one of my favorites of 2025. Longer review to come.
May 26, 2023
This book was given to me in early release. I have not felt this seen in maybe forever. The descriptions that flow from within the mind of the protagonist …struggling through a dystopian marriage are so incredibly poignant. She perfectly reflects the sacrifice of the career woman in becoming a wife and a mother. The character’s shock and guilt in her grief are humbling and raw. I loved every second of this novel. Bravo!
March 14, 2024
the back of this book says it’s “compulsively readable” and that’s certainly true. grief, love, politics, family. addiction recovery. entertainment industry. gun control. def pulls u back to 2016- in the throes of the presidential election. VERY la centric, so lots of fun for me to read. silver lake, melrose trading post, topanga canyon. i did not expect for it to become gay for a second!! a very happy surprise, but didn’t really continue as a central storyline. heavy and well written.
SPOILERRRR*****
my favorite line that stayed with me throughout the whole book: Jane’s husband was killed in a shooting while the two of them were at a show together listening to a musician Jane and her best friend loved in their youth. This reflection is following his death, as she reflects on how they had been raising their baby, Zoe (Theo, the stay at home dad working odd jobs while she was the breadwinner in a job that didn’t feed her soul. making ends meet).
“We knew that daycare was a common enough solution, but we wanted Zoe at home with us. Theo would always remind me that we could just move to his parents’ island in Greece and live off the land.
‘Then we can be with Zoe all the time,’ he would promise, but it was one of those ideas that never felt like a real option until you find out that life is a finite timeline with infinite choice.”
LIFE IS A FINITE TIMELINE WITH INFINITE CHOICE.
do the thing. take the risk. sometimes life is short.
i am reminded of how important it is to love one another and take care of each other. blessings.
SPOILERRRR*****
my favorite line that stayed with me throughout the whole book: Jane’s husband was killed in a shooting while the two of them were at a show together listening to a musician Jane and her best friend loved in their youth. This reflection is following his death, as she reflects on how they had been raising their baby, Zoe (Theo, the stay at home dad working odd jobs while she was the breadwinner in a job that didn’t feed her soul. making ends meet).
“We knew that daycare was a common enough solution, but we wanted Zoe at home with us. Theo would always remind me that we could just move to his parents’ island in Greece and live off the land.
‘Then we can be with Zoe all the time,’ he would promise, but it was one of those ideas that never felt like a real option until you find out that life is a finite timeline with infinite choice.”
LIFE IS A FINITE TIMELINE WITH INFINITE CHOICE.
do the thing. take the risk. sometimes life is short.
i am reminded of how important it is to love one another and take care of each other. blessings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2024
To comments that this book had too many things in 300 pages: do you read one plot novels without any turning points?
I did not think this book had too many subjects in it. In fact, I thought that it was such a tasteful fictional discussion of so many topics Americans, and people across the globe, experience everyday and deal with in their lifetime. Anyone’s life is not just one thing, but many more facets that are extremely intricate and all intertwined.
The storytelling, scene setting, fiction, character development, plot, everything…it was all fantastic! The author truly gave Jane a magnificent voice and let readers in the mind of a woman struggling in a 21st century marriage, balancing motherhood and her career and being a good wife, a recovering addict, politics, politics with family members and opposing views, grief, single motherhood, mass shootings, the Me Too movement, working in corporate America, friends, and gun control.
This is one of the few books that I have ever thought to myself, “this might be a good movie.”
Congratulations to the author!
I did not think this book had too many subjects in it. In fact, I thought that it was such a tasteful fictional discussion of so many topics Americans, and people across the globe, experience everyday and deal with in their lifetime. Anyone’s life is not just one thing, but many more facets that are extremely intricate and all intertwined.
The storytelling, scene setting, fiction, character development, plot, everything…it was all fantastic! The author truly gave Jane a magnificent voice and let readers in the mind of a woman struggling in a 21st century marriage, balancing motherhood and her career and being a good wife, a recovering addict, politics, politics with family members and opposing views, grief, single motherhood, mass shootings, the Me Too movement, working in corporate America, friends, and gun control.
This is one of the few books that I have ever thought to myself, “this might be a good movie.”
Congratulations to the author!
April 5, 2024
"Live Through This" is a bold book about the complexities of marriage, family, love, loss, gun violence, activism, power, and the people we take for granted. Kristen McGuiness situates her story within the political tension and unfortunate circumstances of recent times: "No one wants to walk into a bar or a church or a school and hear the loud clap of a gun, the screams, the silence" (204). The characters and relationships are thoughtfully inclusive, regarding race, gender, and sexual choices. Through a passionate protagonist, McGuiness shows readers what sobriety, grief, and resilience feel like after a tragedy—experienced by a mom turned widow. This well written novel is mostly set in California, and the outspoken author knows, "We can't change the world by staying silent" (240).
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March 11, 2025I wasn't prepared for the realistic trauma and grief that this novel takes us through. There are so many things to love in this novel, from the protagonist's very real, complex, loving, imperfect relationship to her husband, her past addiction, career and motherhood, to conformity verses using one's unique voice for good. The last makes this book a call to action, while LIVE THROUGH THIS focuses this call on gun control, the call is much bigger and very needed.
Despite the deeply agonizing pain it is weirdly uplifting, a reminder that we all face our own traumas but we are all strong enough to live through it and to possibly make bigger, more meaningful lives because of them.
Despite the deeply agonizing pain it is weirdly uplifting, a reminder that we all face our own traumas but we are all strong enough to live through it and to possibly make bigger, more meaningful lives because of them.
November 18, 2023
"Live Through This" by Kristen McGuiness is a compelling masterpiece- she seamlessly weaves together raw emotions and profound storytelling. Her ability to capture the complexities of life in America brought tears and laughter and something that may liken to PTSD. Highly recommended for those seeking a poignant exploration of the human experience and the just out of reach revolution we need.
December 15, 2023
Too philosophical and political for my taste. Some moralizing and sermonizing, although I agree with some points. I just don't necessarily want to read a novel with them.
Super character-driven. After the inciting incident, nothing of significance happens. Except I guess the MC finds herself. Sort of. 2.5 stars.
Super character-driven. After the inciting incident, nothing of significance happens. Except I guess the MC finds herself. Sort of. 2.5 stars.
January 4, 2024
LOVE THIS STORY!
Kristen has a way of writing that sucks me in right away! I loved every part of this book! She is a wonderfully talented writer! I hope for another book in the future!
Kristen has a way of writing that sucks me in right away! I loved every part of this book! She is a wonderfully talented writer! I hope for another book in the future!
July 24, 2024
A beautiful book and call to action. As a Gen X single mom affected deeply by gun violence and the threat of gun violence, and as someone who felt compelled to leave a job/career due to gender inequities from a family of Trump supporters, I felt seen by this novel. Well written and engaging.
October 31, 2023
If you have a partner you love, if you have a child, if you have a heart, “Live Through This” will make you feel things you may not want to admit.
Like how deeply complex it is to love someone. How you never really know anyone, nor do they know you. That you never know if you loved them the “right” way, or made the right choices. And all you can ever do is try your best. And keep trying.
So many things are out of our control, hovering in this big smokey sphere above us. But some things we can do. Some things we can be brave about no matter how small. That’s what love is. ‘Live Through This’ is about loss, but it’s also about unwavering devotion, facing difficult choices, and enduring promise. It reflects how deeply love lingers and weaves its way inside of us, so rooted that it becomes a part of who we are forever. Often driving us forward in unexpected ways. Even as the person behind that love is gone from this world, and we realize all we can do is try our best, to live through this.
Like how deeply complex it is to love someone. How you never really know anyone, nor do they know you. That you never know if you loved them the “right” way, or made the right choices. And all you can ever do is try your best. And keep trying.
So many things are out of our control, hovering in this big smokey sphere above us. But some things we can do. Some things we can be brave about no matter how small. That’s what love is. ‘Live Through This’ is about loss, but it’s also about unwavering devotion, facing difficult choices, and enduring promise. It reflects how deeply love lingers and weaves its way inside of us, so rooted that it becomes a part of who we are forever. Often driving us forward in unexpected ways. Even as the person behind that love is gone from this world, and we realize all we can do is try our best, to live through this.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews