WARNING: This is another ugly cry book. Have your tissues ready.
I've never read anything by M. Leighton before. WHY have I never read anything from M. Leighton before? This was breathtakingly beautiful.
After Lena receives bad news concerning her health, her and her husband, Nate, decide to spend 3 months in Europe. In this time Lena is faced with making some tough decisions. I don't want to give you too much of the back story because it would ruin it, but I will say that M. Leighton takes us on one of the biggest emotional roller coasters of all time.
Oh geez. I seriously cried just reading the dedication at the beginning. That wasn't even a part of this story and I'm already tearing up. I knew then that this was going to be an epic story.
This story was magical! A love so strong between two incredible people who have come face to face with the worst news anyone could ever get.
This was about having hope & believing. We don't always understand why bad things happen to us and we often find ourselves questioning our faith. I saw that with Lena and I knew exactly how she felt because I myself have done the same thing.
Brave
Courageous
Inspiring
Selfless
Compassionate
Strong
I could think of many many more to go along with the above list to describe Lena. She was a badass heroine in my eyes. She was going through hell and she was more worried about her family. She got bad news, the worst news a person could get and had to make some of the hardest choices. I could feel her pain. It was as if I was right there making decisions with her. Seeing things through her eyes. Feeling every emotion with her.
Nate was the most amazing husband. I felt his pain and heartache just as much too. To have to sit there and watch your significant other wither away and there's nothing you can do about it is heartbreaking. You wish you could take the pain away but you can't. You wish it was you instead of them but it's not. It was gut-wrenching reading Nate's thoughts.
Lena and Nate's relationship was beautiful. Always, always there for one another. They tried keeping their emotions in check while they were together. Never wanting the other to be sad. Their love was magical. If you're lucky enough to find a love like that in your lifetime then you are the luckiest person on earth! My heart broke for both of them.
Now...Nissa, the best friend, I loved her. Coming over and dancing to the FRIENDS theme song...seriously the best! We all need a best friend like her. She was great!
Leighton took us on a heartwarming journey. We were up front and center as Lena and Nate we're dealing with this tragedy that was thrown their way. I couldn't have been more proud of Lena. She was one of the strongest heroines I've ever read. And Nate. Nate was just so understanding in everything Lena decided. He never made her do anything she didn't want. He trusted her decisions and after everything was said and done, he was dedicated to his family. He did everything he promised. He's one hell of a man!
This, at times, was agonizing and painful to get through. But it's real and tragic and it hit me hard. Sometimes we read books that are funny and light-hearted and sometimes we come across books that make us feel like we've never felt before. They remind you of things you've gone through in your own life. They are stories we take with us forever and this is one story I will never forget. Lena and Nate will always hold a special place in my heart.
I have to say that this is going to be one of my top favorite books of all time. I'm so happy M. Leighton wrote this and I came across it. The writing was flawless and beautiful. This story is worth it! So if you haven't read it yet then I highly suggest it.
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About the author
Cathartic. Beautiful. Poignant.
I knew before I read 'The Empty Jar', that it was going to be difficult to read. I knew it wasn't going to just cause tears, but it would cause ugly tears. What I didn't expect was the beauty within its pages, nor the healing to be found, nor the laughter that would flow freely. Knowing the circumstances driving the writing of this book, I was afraid it might be more than I could handle. You see, my father lived with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia for 16 years, and died on July 13, 2013, six months after being diagnosed with lung, liver and stomach cancer. I usually avoid books which deal with cancer now. So, this book was a leap of faith for me. But, I had a feeling this one would be different. Because Leighton was coming at this from MY perspective. From someone who watched their loved one suffer. From someone who felt that ache, that pain, that anguish of not being able to do anything ... that helpless feeling. The most beautiful thing happened. She put all of that love and all of those fears, and all of the “what ifs” and “what nows”, into the most amazing and beautiful love story. It will make you cry. It will make you smile. It will make you laugh. But above all, it will make you realize, that when you find true love, you have to cherish it, you have to cultivate it, you have to nurture it. A "non-traditional HEA", 'The Empty Jar' is a story that will remain with me for years to come. A story of sacrifice, and of true love, it is breathtakingly beautiful. An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review and did not influence my opinion of the book.
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Top reviews from other countries
- AndreaReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2016
If you only read one book this year, then let it be this!!
Format: KindleVerified Purchase - charity scheskeReviewed in Canada on May 22, 2016
Heartwrenching yet beautiful story
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
