The Other Side of Yet: Finding Light in the Midst of Darkness

by Michelle D. Hord

Winner of the 2023 Memoir Prize for Books from Memoir Magazine and the Christopher Award A “contemplative, emotional, and spiritual” (Shondaland) memoir about how resilience, hope, and defiant faith can lead to powerful transformation even amid our darkest hours.Media executive Michelle D. Hord has suffered loss at almost every major phase in her life—the most devastating being the murder of her beloved daughter at the hands of her ex-husband. Yet through it all, there was a voice inside her insisting that she must let the light shine through the holes in her heart. A timeless and accessible book for anyone who has experienced grief or loss, “The Other Side of Yet will guide you to find the light” (Robin Roberts, Good Morning America). With evocative prose and spiritual insight, Hord offers “inspiration and a road map to help us get to the other side” (Barbara Corcoran, founder of The Corcoran Group and star of Shark Tank) of unimaginable pain. Finding strength in God and her faith, she shares how, while we can’t control the pain or trauma that alters life as we knew it before, we can always pivot to a yet and rebuild a new after. In this deeply vulnerable tribute to her daughter, Hord provides a guide for “the radical healing after loss that must occur as we seek to recover from unimaginable trials and tribulations” (Essence). The Other Side of Yet is about creating a life of purpose, passion, and possibility regardless of what is thrown at us and highlights how we can face our hardships, yet also choose to keep fighting.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Christian, Inspirational, Self Help

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2022

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Side of Yet is a rare beauty. Within its pages, media executive Michelle D. Hord chronicles her journey to the other side of grief after her ex-husband murdered her seven-year-old daughter, Gabrielle. Hord — or as I know her, Auntie Michelle — pours her very soul into this memoir, honoring the legacy of Gabrielle and testifying to the edifying power of defiant faith.

The Other Side of Yet is the second memoir I’ve read about grief by a journalist — the first being The Year of Magical Thinking (2005) by Joan Didion. In both novels, these women, who built their livelihoods in the public eye, imbue their prose with naked vulnerability. For me, there’s something inspiring about their willingness to put words to one of the most inexplicable and private emotions: grief.

What sets Hord’s story apart from (and above) other stories though is her distinct, assured voice. She writes from her position as a journalist, a mother, a Black woman, a person of faith — a multi-faceted human being. Her defiant voice is anchored in a “defiant faith” that will resonant with every reader regardless of their spiritual journey. 

This memoir talks about so much more than grief. As much as I treasured Hord’s insights on resilience and trauma, I equally appreciated her reflections on Black woman/motherhood and the “strong, superhuman Black woman” stereotype. She has a rare gift for distilling complex emotions into gorgeous, lyrical prose. I just want to place her book into the outstretched hands of every Black woman on the planet. This, this is soul food.

Full Review: https://medium.com/barrett-book-revie...

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a memoir about the author's experience of the devastating murder of her beloved daughter at the hands of her ex-husband. It's divided into Before, Yet, and After from that verse and these universal moments where we thought we knew what life would look like. She talks about what it's like to come back from the ashes. She shares how we can rebuild after pain and trauma that alters life. How do you survive? How do you find joy in crazy moments? How do you keep your wicked sense of humor? And how do you find love again?

This book is the author's journey on how you get to the other side of something that completely knocks you on your ass in a way you can never imagine? This book is for those struggling with loss, forgiveness, and trying to move forward.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...

[Elizabeth Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before - yet - after

It took me a while to read this book - I found myself reading and re-reading. It's such a beautiful tribute. The focus is on loving and living, in spite of things that (can, and do!) happen.

"It is the frailty of love, commitment and friendship that makes all the difference in this life journey. You build something despite not knowing when or if you will ever need it. You invest in others not knowing who you will change, who will reach out, who will make a difference for you. Ultimately, those investments can pay off with rich dividends."

[Lisa V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot express this book. I picked up this book because I watched and interview with her on some morning show and I just thought it would be an interesting read. Well …. As I began to read her story I just could not put it down.Although I have and hope to never experience what she has gone through or could I ever imagine going through what she has been through. Her determination and her faith to stand up through hardship is amazing and very much encouraging and some what contagious if I may say so myself. I am not experiencing anything like she has but at the present time in my life now it seems like everything she is saying I can apply to my life and help me through the tough times I am dealing with now. I am so glad that I read this book and it came at the right time in my life.”Though he slay me YET will I trust him” I encourage anyone who is going through a difficult time in your life to pick this book up and read it .

[Nelly Lavaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so tough to read or rather listen. I don’t think I would have been able to endure and persevere in faith the way this woman had. Devastating and heartbreaking it was so touching how in the midst of all this turmoil she was faithful. She didn’t question God. She stayed resolute in her faith and likened herself to how Job handled his turmoil and pain. God bless this woman because I would not have been able to continue on in life after enduring what she endured, she says faith saw her through and faith continued to see her through. I pray for her continued healing and also for the repose of the soul of her precious little girl. I know writing this book was hard for her and I hope she found some peace in telling her story, though it’s a battle that she will always have to fight I pray she’s holding on ok.

This book was very very good. The power of prayer. Lord!!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times repetitive and long winded but overall an excellent book. She describes her grief so well it is hard not to get choked up. This wonderful resilient and faithful woman suffered a tragic loss and came through the other side. Her thoughts, faith and wisdom are inspiring.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of, The Other Side of Yet, by Michelle D. Hord. This was a good book on a sensitive topic. Losing her daughter to murder, the grief and mental anguish that follows. Learning how to live again, in a new reality.

[Ke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The constant thought that kept running through my head was but for God! But for God Michelle D. Hord would not have been able to share this story, to preach the word of God and still have hope.

Ms. Hord experienced every parents nightmare, no parent should ever have to bury their child, that is not the natural order. But for God she’s still standing, she is still finding hope and strength besides the betrayal and unspeakable from her soon to be ex-husband. Ms. Hord talks of her pregnancy, the time spent with her daughter, the horror that happened that happened at the hands of estranged husband.

Once having a life that looked like a dream that changed to a nightmare. Ms. Hord I am in awe of you, I pray for you, and after reading your book you have strengthened my faith in God and the hope and strength he can Instill.

[D.J. Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim at the library. Not knowing the story, obviously, since who picks up a book about a murdered child on a whim? (So, no, my mom would not read this book.)

Yet, I did give the book 5 stars because 1) I bought my own copy, and 2) I will either re-read the book or refer to the parts of the book again. I disagree with readers who found the book sanctimonious. Hord does write how she got through her days, but she includes plenty about the days when she did not get out of bed, days when she didn't find life worth living. It is true that there are going to be people who have been through the horrors she has and not have the opportunity to have people stay with them day after day (week after week, month after month, year after year).

There are readers who wanted Hord to stick to just her story, not include any self-help. Um, why? They don't think the getting through part is also Hord's story? Hord clearly states that she has learned that people grieve differently. Hord recognizes and acknowledges "this is how I keep living; I do have a lot of resources; still, if you can gain anything from my story, at least some good can come from me writing it all down" (my summary clearly).

Some readers don't like Hord seeing her personal story echoing a bigger story in history or seeing God at work -- then this book is not for them. I have a friend who did not like Frankl's 'Man's Search for Meaning' because of the lack of acknowledgement of God in Frankl's book. Hord's book could be the answer to those who found his book lacking. Hord is defiantly (and that is not a typo or misspelling) faithful. It also could be a difficult book to read if the reader has gone through the horrors (same or worse) which Hord has, yet does not have what Hord has available to make it through.

Beyond a personal read, I recommend the book to therapists and leadership classes.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

In her memoir, Michelle Hord, a former Good Morning America tv producer, discusses the tragic loss of her 7 year old daughter at the hands of her ex-husband just hours after they filed for divorce. This is her experience and journey through loss, grief, and learning to live again.

I too lost my 7 year old child, however, the circumstances were nowhere near what Hord experienced. I could definitely relate to many things she experienced in the aftermath of her loss though, and that’s always a comfort of sorts.

I didn’t find this memoir particularly helpful, mostly because I’m 7 years into my loss, and I’ve already found my own ways of navigating the unimaginable. Hord also spends a lot of time discussing the death of her mother, which is something I can’t relate to. Many parts were faith-based as well, and not being a religious or spiritual person, these passages were ones I chose to gloss over quickly.

I think this memoir will be a good resource for some people, but it did not resonate with me as much as I anticipated it would. I think it would be most helpful to someone that isn’t brand new to grief; someone with a year or two under their belt who’s looking for some guidance on how to keep going. A lot of what is offered and suggested is probably beyond someone fresh with grief who is just trying to get out of bed every morning.

[Courtney (AnaiseIsDead)]

Michelle's memoir sheds light on what it looks like to move forward after an inconceivable tragedy and ultimately how leaning on God and her God given support system helped her push through and find the light in the darkness. I knew that some parts of this would be tough to read through. She really lays her emotions bare on these pages. But I'm glad I read her story and grateful that she had the courage to write it down. And it's very eloquently written.

Just a side note, Michelle gives a lot of credit to God for helping her through her situation. However, she also mentions that for people who don't believe in a Higher Power, looking to the universe, etc. can help in the same way. I don't agree with this, as I feel that it discredits God. Why look to God if the universe will suffice? Just something I thought about while reading this.

But I'll reiterate that this is a very well written and inspiring testimony!

[Virginia Alice Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admire the author for finding faith in the face of deep tragedy, for being an example of a shining light to others in the deepest of darkest places, and for rising above the devastation of such a giant loss to a place of hope. I cannot imagine losing my only child, much less in the way Michelle did; I’m not sure I could go on. And I appreciate her sharing her story with the world, as a way of helping others suffering such deep grief and as a way to show how God continues to work in our lives despite the evil that lurks in the least expected of places or persons. If you have not read this book, and are suffering from any type of loss, I highly recommend it. Its pages are filled with faith, hope, and gentle words. Words to help you cope with the sorrow you still carry way down deep within your soul.

[Jena Roach · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman's journey dealing with grief after her 7-year-old daughter is murdered by her ex-husband. This was a tough read. I found Hord's story and her voice compelling and inspiring in many ways. She's known the deepest kind of pain--to lose a child--and undergone the torments of grief and a trial to convict her ex-husband. I genuinely enjoyed her story.

I think if Hord had stuck to a memoir narrative for this book, it really would have shone. Her story is the very heart of this book and the reason I kept going. Instead, however, she dips into self-helpese to offer readers a way through their own grief and hardships. It came across very trite at times. Maybe because I'm not walking through my own grief journey, but some of her advice seemed very superficial. Not helpful. I do appreciate the way she tried to help her readers, but I wish she had stuck with her own story instead.

[Julie Trapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Media executive Michelle D. Hord has suffered loss at almost every major phase in her life; the most devastating being the murder of her beloved daughter at the hands of her ex-husband. Yet through it all, there was a voice inside her insisting that she must let the light shine through the holes in her heart. With evocative prose and spiritual insight, The Other Side of Yet offers a compassionate blueprint on how to harness your inner strength. She shares how, while we can’t control the pain or trauma that alters life as we knew it before, we can always pivot to a yet and rebuild a new after. [amazon synopsis]

"Despite the religious references, the author makes some great suggestions and offers some helpful advice on how to deal with profound loss." from an Amazon reviewer. Could not have said it better.

[Larkin Tackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brutiful book by Michelle Hord, who I had the privilege to train with to become a leadership coach. Although no one should experience the tragedy her family faced, everyone would benefit from the purpose Michelle found in her pain. "If there is a single, most profound thing I learned during those years" she writes, "is that the human spirits wants to thrive. Like our physical bodies, it craves strength. It desires to be stretched and moved. We are designed to grow our physical, emotional, and spiritual muscles so that we can carry the superhuman weight that life sometimes gives us."

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“One of the scriptures I’ve often wrestled with in the Bible is in 1 Corinthians 13- the famous love passage. It says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Cor 13:13) Love is powerful, yes. And the agape love of God certainly supersedes anything else. But for me, hope is the most enduring. Hope is the stabilizer. It literally keeps us breathing when everything around us is trying to steal our breath….. Love, as I've known it, is like water. It's only held safely when it's in a vessel that's not cracked or broken.”

[Dana Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with the hopes of gaining insight to love my grieving friend who grandson died in a horrific way. Would fail and I could only tell her I am praying for her so many times (although I was) before I felt like it had become cliché.
Only someone who has lost someone to violence can really explain to others the grief and eventually healing they will walk through .
I am thankful she took the time in the midst of her sorrow to love others And share her story.
Gabriel’s story broke my heart and gave me great hope for those who suffer this side of heaven.

[Elena · Rating 1 out of 5]

While my heart goes out to Ms Hord regarding the murder of her daughter, I found her book to be sanctimonious.
When Ms Hord wrote about her own experience, her writing was far more authentic then the rest of her preachy self-help monologue. Too bad most of the book was filled with the latter rather than the former.

[Jessica Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started listening to this book prior to hearing about the Robb Elementary School shooting. Though I have not connection to that tragedy this book really helped with my thought process and how to handle this with my kids. Every parent who lost a child should be gifted a copy of this book. Very powerful.

[Lola Marguerita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been on my TBR for a while - mostly because I knew it would be a very difficult read. And while as expected I read several passages through tears, I admire the author for her grace and her wisdom as she works through her grief and thoughtfully helps others travelling along a similar path.

[Anelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is all right but it is quite repetitive. She does a thing I've seen other self help books where she spends a chapter making one point only to pivot in the final paragraph to make a nearly opposite point without any illustration or guidance. Annoying.

There is also a significant background of privilege she only partly acknowledges.

Not as good as I had hoped not not bad.

[Sheri S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hord's book is a mix of self-help and memoir. She describes her life and relationships though focuses mostly on how she made it through the most devastating circumstances in her life. She encourages readers to make deliberate choices to process through grief, surround themselves with supportive people and be honest with their feelings. Her story can provide hope to those seeking encouragement.

[Rene Low · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

The personal story in here is incredibly tragic and the author navigates us through it with honesty. Her heart is evident and her pain harrowing. And yet when the author preaches to us about “how things are” and “how life is”, I tuned out. This is a mixed bag and some of it is great.

[Angelique · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to “love” a book that is a result of someone’s deepest pain and tragedy. This book is a testament to the resilience of one who chooses to have defiant faith and defiant hope in the face of the unthinkable.

“I became an extremely reluctant symbol of fortitude and resilience.”

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous insight into moving through a trauma. I’ve been taking the book only a chapter or two at a time so that I can deeply consider the writing. I appreciate the reminders that the book (and author) provide for everyone to take care of themselves and respect boundaries.

[Angela James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal and touching read!

I could not put this book down! Michelle’s heartfelt journey and words touch every bit of home and a constant reminder that although we at go through different journeys, heartaches/heartbreaks, loss, grief and pain - we are not alone.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the inspiration.

[TJ Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the saddest yet most positive books I’ve ever read.

[Marissa Corona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really beautiful. Evoked so much sorrow but above all, hope and spirit of perseverance.

[Danielle Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did find the message of this book very good. Sometimes I found myself skimming certain paragraphs, but I do feel it got the author's point across.