Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief

by Meg Nocero, Habib Sadeghi (Foreword), Sherry Sami (Foreword)

Butterfly Awakens depicts the story of the extraordinary transformation of a forty-something Italian American attorney as she moves through unimaginable grief and sadness watching her beloved mother lose her battle to breast cancer. This tumultuous life experience shifts her world, causing her to question her life choices and opening her up to her soul’s calling. Nocero brings readers along on her journey through a dark night of the soul as she deals with the grieving process, a toxic work environment, and intense stress that results in depression, anxiety, and an acquired somatic nervous disorder called tinnitus. Through it all, she never gives up, instead looking for the help she needs to start to heal and find her light. In the end, like the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly, this story is a beautiful love letter that honors Nocero’s mother’s legacy while detailing the awakening of her own.


There are many stories about breast cancer and grief, but none are quite like this one. Throughout her tale, Nocero pulls the reader deep into her story through the intensity of her emotions; and in the end, after resigning from her career as a federal prosecutor due to a toxic administration, she searches for the lighthouse she saw in a vision when her mother died. Embarking on a spiritual pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain to get to the lighthouse at Cap Finisterre, she sets out to wake up and live again; the butterfly connection and stark honesty of her writing offers readers important lessons learned from moving through grief so that each person can shine their light again.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Mental Health

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2021

Reviews

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so a much-needed book. I have a little sunshine in my dark world after reading this.
I strongly recommend this one to anyone struggling with grief.
The loss of your child, mom, and dad is so hard and where has this book been my whole life?
I want you to read this 5 star book is you are stuggling with grief.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

[Valerie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir has it all!

For a time I hesitated starting Butterfly Awakens (She Writes Press, 2021) by Meg Nocero because I wasn’t sure I could handle reading about grief, especially during a pandemic. Once I opened it up and began reading, I couldn’t put Butterfly Awakens down.

While it is about one woman’s experience facing her mother’s illness and death, this extraordinary memoir is a life lesson about how to get to the other side of that grief. Through her stories of being overlooked as she climbed the ladder as an immigration attorney to inserting herself in situations many of us would shy away from to her spiritual pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain where the blisters on her feet almost prevent her from achieving her goal, we see ourselves. And that is what makes Butterfly Awakens so powerful and a must-read, if you breathe.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in awhile a book comes along and stirs the deepest parts of our souls, raising our awareness to a higher level of consciousness.

This memoir is not only a tribute to Nocero’s dearly departed mother, Mary Jo, it is an experience. A journey. One that every reader—every human being!—needs to take.

Nocero draws back the curtain on her life, giving the reader a peek backstage, sharing her own truths at every bend in the script. She takes us from the darkest of moments at Mary Jo’s bedside to her life in the courtroom as a trial attorney. We see her pitfalls as she slips into a stifling, debilitating depression and bout with tinnitus and other ailments. We see her pain-staking ascension, as she struggles to make peace with both the loss of her dear mother and her chosen career path, knowing it was time to move on from both, despite her attachments and anguish.

Nocero is strong of mind and bright in spirit. She knew this was not how her own story would end. And so she sets out on a spiritual pilgrimage to El Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. The journey becomes reminiscent of The Celestine Prophecy as a series of coincidences and startling connections land right in her pathway as she forges her way to self-discovery and deep healing.

I turned the last page of this book and kissed the front cover. I have never done that before but I wanted to feel apart of the experience, the journey, and to thank Nocero for inviting me into her story world, her heart, and her life. And now, we FLY!

[Leslie Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!
Meg Noceros memoir Butterfly Awakens is the most inspirational book I have ever read. Her story is fascinating, sometimes heartbreaking, but always inspiring. When Meg described her mother’s cancer and eventual death, I found myself with tears in my eyes. I enjoyed hearing about her job with Homeland Security, and her journey as she figured out what her life should be, not what others thought it should be. I was impressed by what she accomplished in Santiago, Spain, and it felt like I was walking all those miles alongside her. As Meg learns a great deal about herself, the reader will learn about themselves, too. When I got close to finishing the book, I realized I didn’t want it to end. This book is for anyone who wants to be inspired to push forward, get out of their comfort zone and reap the rewards that come with that.

[Deborah Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Nocero’s beautiful tribute to her mother and to the indomitable human spirit is a journey from grief and loss to love, hope and transformation, and so needed in these uncertain times. Nocero is a gentle, wise and courageous guide as she makes her way through fear and despondency to experience a spiritual transformation. And she emerges through her writing as the kind of friend you’d like by your side as you navigate life’s ups and downs.

“I embrace the dreamer who lives to inspire others to dream, “ she writes. And she lives by her words.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Memoirs are so personal; I always struggle to review them. I truly appreciate that someone would open up their lives and become vulnerable to us, the reader, with some of their most intimate and heartbreaking moments.

Meg Nocero does just this in 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐬. She shares with us the journey of watching her mother battle and ultimately succumb to breast cancer. She goes on to detail her downward spiral into depression and despair that her grief precipitated.

This is a beautiful journey. You watch Meg transform first through the loss of her mother, along with the pain and grief that followed. Then, she sought out several therapeutic and spiritual techniques to help her heal and “awaken” her soul from the cocoon of grief.

Meg Nocero is an empowerment coach, inspirational speaker, and author who helps others shine and awaken to fulfill their dreams.

Thank you to @suzyappovedbooktours and @megnocero for an invite to the tour and a gifted copy.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Butterfly Awakens, Meg shares her journey losing her mom to breast cancer and her transformational journey afterwards.

Having lost my dad to cancer 4 years ago, this book was sadly very relatable and hit close to home. Our grief journey is so individual but so often it opens our eyes and our hearts, making us realize life is fleeting. We learn through grief, each and every time. Maybe we hug our loved ones more, call our friends more frequently, become more present in daily activities, and sometimes, like Meg, we overhaul our life.

My heart broke for Meg but I was also in awe of her strength. We are never the same after losing someone, often left feeling so lonely. It's extremely isolating and can quickly lead to depression. This book shows you can have hope to live again after the despair and heartbreak.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg Nocero, the author of “Butterly Awakening A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief: has written a reflective and thought-provoking memoir. The author uses the symbolic reference to the cycle of a butterfly, to describe her transformation as well as her mother. The author vividly describes her grief at the loss of her mother, and at the same time is looking for a sense of purpose and validation.

One of the author’s early descriptions of herself is that she feels ugly, and is tormented by bullies in her school years. Her mother is the only one that can comfort her. That deeply resonates with me, as I think how many children are tormented by other children and it deeply affects them. This seems to follow the author throughout her life as she searches for transformation and growth.

Meg Nocero is open to various modes of healing, and this book describes her path and journey for closure and at the same time moving ahead. It is a very heavy book, with some challenging topics, that some readers might find to be helpful.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Butterfly Awakens, A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief
Author: Meg Nocero

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 16 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘clarity of message’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
16 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“The compelling story of a woman going through hell and finding light. Charmingly written, often gritty, but always honest, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I´d recommend this book to anybody who feels depressed and thinks things can´t get any better. They can!” Female reader, aged 65
“There´s a resurrecting feel to this story which I loved. It just shows that there´s always a silver lining and no matter how difficult life is, you can get through it. This book might just help you.” Female reader, aged 38
“An excellent book for anybody who is dealing with loss and how heartbreaking it can be. Thoughtfully written, introspective, and very enlightening.” Male reader, aged 62
“I often find with books of this nature that the content is interesting but the author hasn´t got the writing skills to put things across. Thankfully, this lady can write. There´s a gentle flow to the prose making this book accessible, and a compelling read.” Male reader, aged 59

To Sum It Up:
‘Powerful, honest, and utterly compelling. A FINALIST and highly recommended!´ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

My TikTok review! https://www.tiktok.com/@kellyhitchcoc...

[Carolyn Lee Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring model for recreating your life after it falls apart!
Meg Nocero’s memoir will inspire anyone who feels stuck in their life in any way – in grief, in the wrong job, the wrong marriage – and wonders how to change things.

For Nocero, it is her law career faltering and the death of her dynamic, supportive mother that plunges her into a deep despair. She dreams of bringing love and light to others through writing and speaking, so she throws herself along the path of learning and doing with an impressive amount of chutzpah and persistence. But she continues to have many setbacks professionally and valleys of despair in her grief.

It takes her falling into those depths to think of a way out—to follow a vision her mother had, and walk the famous El Camino in Spain, from Sarria to Santiago and then to Finisterre—the end of the world. This is a huge challenge in itself, but even more obstacles appear– her back goes out before she can train for the hike, and a twisted ankle makes hiking even more unlikely.

But this is when Nocero is at her best and most inspiring. It might look to some, and even to Meg, that she dreamed too big or went on this hike unprepared or thought she could do something when clearly she could not. But Nocero not only persists, she barrels through, completely aware that she might not make it. She carries her giant-sized fears and self-doubts and self-flagellation with her, but SHE KEEPS GOING.

It is this incredible force-of-will persistence that is the lesson for all of us, whether we’ve had easier or harder lives than Meg. It is the very act of trying something so outrageous – engaging Elizabeth Gilbert at a public reading in a conversation about Nocero’s own book club, expecting to be picked to go up on stage with Oprah out of thousands of people, immediately starting an organization for young women modeled after that one moment on the stage with Oprah, jumping onto the 15-20 mile a day El Camino hike with no hiking experience or knowledge of how to take care of her feet over 6 days—that leads to the success she imagines, and might work for us as well. She keeps her dream in mind. She lets go and lets God, but does the footwork. Nocero not only does the footwork, she makes it happen. The Camino was touch and go, and we are not sure she is going to make it. But knowing Meg by then, we have a pretty good guess.

[Reading Our Shelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...

Meg Nocero’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer while Meg was pregnant with her second child. The first 20 percent of the story tells of her mom’s diagnosis, battle, and death.

After that, Meg has some rough times. She eventually takes a brief leave from work, even, to try to get herself together. But still, she struggles. She starts having issues with stress-induced tinnitus – ringing in her ears – which also leads to insomnia. Going to work tired leads to more stress, so it’s a constant circle.

She eventually starts coming out of it by following advice from various friends and inspirational authors, speakers, etc. While this part of the book is often fun, it also feels a little muddled to me. She goes to big events and meets people like Oprah, Wayne Dyer, and Chris Martin (of Coldplay) – and these stories are definitely fun and inspiring! But she never really addresses whether or not she solved her tinnitus or insomnia problems. I assume they lessened eventually, as she found her new “groove” in life?

Meg even writes and self-publishes a book about finding your bliss! But all the while, she is still at her same day job, where she has been passed over for promotions for years. While she’s a lot happier than she was right after her mom’s passing, she is still kind of treating her own bliss as a hobby instead of a full time gig. And I get it to an extent – she has two kids to support, so there’s a financial aspect. But it does seem kind of ironic.

She eventually does quit, though, and plans a trip to hike El Camino in Northern Spain. The preparation and hike take up the last portion of the book. This part was fascinating to me – I loved hearing about the little towns they hiked through, the food, the old churches, and the history.

I enjoyed reading this book overall. There were definitely parts that were sad or frustrating, but there were also parts that were fun and uplifting. It was one in which I bookmarked a lot of the other inspirational things she read, so I can find them later!

[Signe Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Butterfly Awakens'' can easily be described as a book that narrates the transformative properties of grief. The gift of Meg Nocero’s account is that the reader can witness how grief is in part about accepting the loss of a loved one—in Nocero’s life, that is her beloved mother who died of cancer—but also how it exposes the personal wounds and patterns that must be attended to in order to find inner peace and balance.

Nocero’s mother was the person who accepted the young, sensitive child that Meg was; a mother that was nurturing, devoted, and wise, and whose presence supported and comforted the author in troubling moments. The author has a powerful presence, innately guided by the sensibilities of kindness and fairness, which she sensed as a young bullied child, and aligned with throughout her former professional career as a federal immigration lawyer. The loss of her mother revealed to Nocero the inner work that she had overly relied on her mother to support. In accepting her mother’s death, she also needed to accept her own strength and determination.

This is also a fantastic book on faith. As the author’s father states, “Don't’ count out the seemingly ordinary because that is where sparks of the extraordinary begin.” Meg Nocero’s life is a wonderful example of what extraordinary things can happen when the butterfly awakens.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir does a beautiful job of sharing the story of finding happiness even through loss.

Meg breaks her book down into three parts of her journey which I really liked.

In part 1, Meg shares her mother, Mary Jo’s, cancer diagnosis and eventual passing.

In part 2, Meg sheds a very stifling job. She makes life changes and writes a book that not only helped her deal with anxiety so extreme it caused her to have tinnitus but also shares her message that has helped so many others.

In part 3, Meg tells of her 111 km trek walking the El Camino in Spain. Meg has changed and the journey is a culmination of all that Meg has accomplished in spirit since her mother’s death seven years before.

I appreciate in writing this memoir that Meg tells of honoring her mother and freeing herself to become a person of courage, strength, happiness, and love.

Meg is fortunate enough to have a variety of people resources that helped her find her way and I enjoyed the way that she shares with us these folks in her memoir.

I also love memoirs that includes photos and Meg has a photo journal at the end of the book which was fantastic.

A great book that begins each chapter with a quote and impressed upon me the need at times of metamorphosis in our lives.

[Melissa Levens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butterfly Awakens, A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief
Author, Meg Nocero
Pub date: 9.7.21

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours & @megnocero for my #signed & #gifted copy!

What a beautifully written memoir filled with vulnerability, bravery, courage, and hope. An absolute must read for anyone who is dealing with the loss of a loved one- now, or even in the past. Nocero provides such inspiration and encouragement to help in the very personal journal of grieving and ultimately, the journey of healing. She has a powerful way with words and writes of her experience with such passion and grace that I could help but be emotional and inspired.

Even on the first page I was inspired:
~ "Love is what keeps us grounded in the stillness when everything is spinning out of control around us. It's only in that neutral space where the answers can be found and we're able to see that in every loss there is always the change to gain in some other way if we're willing to remain open to it... Only living from love can do that." ~

[Caffeine & Legends book reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful story of love, resilience, and strength.

I was touched, and connected with Meg's writing from the very beginning when she talks about the subtle (or sometimes blatant) cruelties of childhood. But the story goes on to be so much more.
There is so much love and hope when it comes to the parts about her mother. The message is gentle but clear, and always seems to hold a small touch of inspirational wisdom.

"Until then, I had never thought about living intentionally. I was moving through life, numb. Good things happened some days, and other days I just hoped to survive. Now I forced myself to really pay attention to the song in my soul."

There is so much good to take away from these words. Especially when reflecting on our own ability to get through the darkest of times without knowing exactly what will be on the other side.

[Melissa L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Nocero’s book "Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief" is a must read for everyone that is suffering a loss and trying to find their way to peace. I was blown away by Meg's honesty, vulnerability, and courage as she poured her transformative hero's journey onto the page. Butterfly Awakens is a handbook for navigating the loss with grace and forgiving yourself when you are not so graceful. It is a beacon for your inner child to reclaim creativity, imagination, and play as the path to joy. Meg's story will touch your heart, make you laugh, make you cry, and give you hope that there is light and success outside of the cocoon. Your inner butterfly awaits, take the magical, healing journey with Meg! – Dr. Melissa L. Strawser, CEO, Counterbalance Visionaries, LLC, Mindset Coach, Consultant, Reiki Master Teacher, and Yogini

[Cheryl Bostrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dynamic, irrepressible author Meg Nocero experiences life deeply and writes about it with passion. So when her beloved mother declines and dies from cancer, Meg's sorrow becomes a mountain to scale. And scale it she does. In an explosive arc of personal growth, self-described "spiritual eclectic" Meg refuses to let her grief (or a prestigious, but dead-end, job) define or limit her. Instead, she launches into a quest of discovery, tapping wisdom from an array of sources, determined to emerge from her cocoon of heartbreak and loss as a loving, optimistic mentor. Meg Nocero is a powerhouse of contagious joy. I look forward to following her journey through her future work as she keeps growing and soaring on those beautiful wings of hers.

[Sophia Kouidou-Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Navigating her way past grief and pain, career disappointments, but most of all the loss of her mother, the author shares her challenges and victories in an open and vulnerable way.

Each time she confronts a hardship, emotional or physical, including the strenuous El Camino hike in Spain, she moves through it with new insights and energy and continues on her courageous journey.

This is a memoir that leaves the reader with faith in life's tomorrows because, as the author concludes, "...(I) embrace life knowing that there is no one else that I would rather be than me." I highly recommend Butterfly Awakening. The message to the reader is a confirmation of the strength of the human spirit and resourcefulness.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨… 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭.” - 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶 𝘛𝘢𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘯

𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺.

What a great memoir. You know I mostly go into books blind and this one was a big surprise. I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer three years ago and it certainly changed my life, so reading her process and journey touched me deeply. Thank you Meg for sharing your beautiful and inspiring transformation.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this gifted copy.

Butterfly Awakens by Meg Nocero released September 7, 2021.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦: 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘪𝘳𝘴, 𝘕𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘜𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...

[Pam Valois · Rating 5 out of 5]

After completing the El Camino de Santiago walk, Nocero sends herself a postcard: “Meg, It’s just the beginning. Make your peace with your past and fall in love with your life…. Trust the process.”

Butterfly Awakens is the story of a spiritual transformation. Nocero’s engrossing details of working through her grief of her mother’s death as well as her career disappointments take the reader through a woman’s quest for change. I’ve never read such a loving description of the Camino path, although I know so many people who’ve taken that walk. After finishing the book, I want to know more about Nocero’s next steps and I will surely follow her as her journey continues.

[Diana Kupershmit · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever loved and lost—and who among us with beating hearts hasn’t?—this book is for you. Meg’s journey and her ultimate transformation as she moves through the grief of losing her beloved mother, is breathtaking. The loss takes your breath away like a punch to the gut and brings you to your knees. The wisdom and beauty garnered and manifested in the form of this memoir, is the gift that Meg and her mother has given the reader. In the end, you are left breathless in the best possible way, full of hope and inspiration.

[Tammy Pasterick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Nocero's beautifully written memoir recounts her emotional journey of self-discovery after losing her beloved mother to cancer. Her struggles with grief, depression, anxiety, and self-doubt are so relatable as is her disillusionment with her legal career. Nocero's yearning to find more meaningful work resonated with me, and I admire her courage to walk away from her prestigious government job to carve out her own bold path. This exquisite memoir is heartfelt and honest and will inspire those pondering profound change to take a leap of faith and live their best life.

[Peg Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Nocero holds nothing back in her quest to discover her true self, live her dreams, and create meaningful impact. With equal passion, she recounts the journey of transformation. Grappling with devastating grief at the loss of her mother, Nocero embarks on an odyssey that involves her physical and mental health, her career, and most of all, her relationship to herself. My favorite part was her pilgrimage on the Camino in Spain, which taxes her in every way even as it frees her to live with joy. This story of midlife awakening and empowerment will inspire many.

[Sarah Lahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful heartfelt story of grief and triumph.
Meg Nocero’s book ‘Butterfly Awakes’ takes the reader on a personal journey of loss and grief, as the author tragically loses her dear mother to cancer. The subsequent challenges of her depression and anxiety, along with her self-doubt and the quest to find meaning outside her work, are heartfelt and relatable. Her spiritual transformation and journey to recovery are inspiring and uplifting. A divine read.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has a experienced the death of a loved one will benefit from this book. It’s a beautiful and heartfelt book talking about the author’s challenges after her mother passed away from cancer. It’s very poignant and she does not hold back from talking about the heartbreak she experienced along the way. I especially loved reading about her doing the El Camino hike. Wonderful book, one that everyone would benefit from reading.

[Dawnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of transformation. We follow the author through the loss of her mother from breast cancer. Through her sadness and grief. To her giving up her job as a federal prosecutor for a life changing journey from a vision that called to her. Leaving the past behind and taking a new path. My grandmother had breast cancer so this really did speak to my heart. This is a deeply moving and inspirational memoir that touches your very soul.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg is overcome with with grief and sadness at the passing of her mother to breast cancer. She takes us on her journey through grief, pain anxiety and career disappointments as she finds her way to spiritual growth and living her best life. Meg tells us to make peace with the past and to trust the process. This memoir is open and honest and I highly recommend this memoir especially if you have just lost a loved one.

[Faith Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Meg Nocero’s Butterfly Awakens, we witness a woman struggling to hold onto the life that she knows while facing the upending possibility of a life without her mother who is struggling with breast cancer. And after her mother’s death, we join Meg on her journey of despair, struggle, vision, hope, courage and eventually peace with herself and her new life. Meg’s metamorphosis from grief to acceptance and even joy gives hope to all who are on the journey of grieving and healing.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Nocero's lovely memoir chronicles her recovery from the debilitating grief of losing her mother. I love that she delves into the spiritual and tries every imaginable therapy to aid in her recovery. I was especially struck by her Italian family background and the impact of the immigrant experience on her life and work. Nocero shows us that we all can heal from heartbreak but it takes resilience and also the determination never to give up.