Women are fiercely passionate people, aren’t we? We connect deeply with other women, and oftentimes develop long lasting friendships that make an enormous impact on our lives. We create bonds that are unbreakable, and fiercely love each other through the unfortunate falls and the tumultuous turns we endure. Our connections with each other are often the very lifelines we create to live more richly and love more fully. Our beloved friends can lift us and carry us through battlegrounds of suffering and trauma, while they can also raise us higher than we are through passionate encouragement and loyal commitment. There is a wondrous and fulfilling sisterhood that develops through these friendships, and I have been blessed with many that have planted a profound place in my heart.
But what happens when our beautiful bonds become broken? How do we navigate those unpredictable and painful turns in the road of our relationships? We are flawed. I am betting that every woman reading this right now, can testify to a crack in her path’s ground where she once walked with a beloved friend… and somehow lost her through unfortunate, misleading and often mistrusted intentions.
I know I can. And that very profound place in my heart is forever broken. There will always be a lingering residual pain that radiates through my every day because I lost my best friend of over 25 years to those things…
Unfortunate, misleading and mistrusted intentions.
I will grieve the loss forever.
Today I am honored to share a new amazing book of such powerful stories of friendships full of love and loss. This compilation of talented writers and bloggers have boldly shared their experience of their heart breaks in “My Other Ex: Women’s True Stories of Losing and Leaving Friends”. The book is a compelling read from start to finish, as each of the 35 stories share a gripping and honest tale of fallen friends and the lingering and lasting loss from their experience.
Jessica Smock (School of Smock) and Stephanie Sprenger (Mommy For Real) set out to publish their first book about friendships, “The HerStories Project: Women Explore the Joy, Pain, and Power of Female Friendship.” Which featured several gifted writers sharing their experiences of deep female friendships. They were inspired to continue their mission in their second book about friendships that for one reason or another, came to an end.
“We started this book looking for answers. We wanted to know why these stories resonated so deeply with women, years and decades later, revealing wounds deeper than the scars left from romantic relationships. We wanted to know why women’s friendships begin and end so differently than men’s. We wanted to know why women seemed to feel more guilt, more shame, more trauma, and more remorse about the ends of friendships than the loss of romantic partners.”
Both women are incredible forces in the blogging industry and they have inspired many women to be published through both of their anthologies. Many of the authors in both books are dear friends of mine, and I am thrilled to support their published work!
Friends, this is a good read for any woman who knows all too well the pain of losing a beloved friend. You can now pre-order My Other Ex: Women’s True Stories of Losing and Leaving Friends from Amazon until the release date of September 15, 2014!
Chris, thank you for your beautiful words, and never ending loving support. It is an honor to walk alongside these 34 other writers, and I thank you for YOUR friendship.
I am thrilled to support such amazing women writers, and I will continue to share this great book for weeks to come Alison!! I’m so grateful for precious friends like you. Oh, I am blessed!!
I love this book and I too got to review (will be sharing soon) and definitely also had have had my fair share losing female friends, too. Hugs and know you truly aren’t alone on this!
Isn’t it amazing Janine? I have yet to meet a woman who hasn’t experienced this kind of heat break. It was such a great book idea, and I love that you are supporting it too!! 🙂
I’ve heard much about this book. I shall place on my Kindle.
Happy Weekend, Sweet Wonderful Chris. xxx
Oh Kim, you will LOVE it. Many of the writers in this book, you know and love- I’m sure! Amazing, powerful stories.
Happy Weekend to you, my precious friend. XOXO
Sounds great–can’t wait to read it!
You would love it Marcia! You know many of these fine writers. 🙂
Sounds like quite a lovely book! Thanks for sharing 🙂
It’s quite profound really. The stories will hit your heart hard. Women have such deep and passionate friendships, it’s no wonder when we lose a friend it leaves a lasting wound.
Oh – I will have to get this book – 2 years ago I went through a terrible friend loss (I considered this friend and her family my family) and I still struggle with it a lot!!!
It’s amazing how these break ups really break our hearts, isn’t it Kim? The wounds seem to linger long… I’m not sure I will every truly heal from my loss. It still haunts me to this day. I’m so sorry you had to go through that terrible loss too!! You’ll love the book.
This really is such a powerful subject and frankly I’m surprised no one came up with a concept like this before…which is a GREAT one! I would think that almost every woman can relate to having and subsequently losing an important friendship. I have grappled with how to proceed with some friendships this past year….women who I thought would be there to hold me up and weren’t. I still don’t know how to deal with it. I better go read t his book for real….
Oh Emily, it’s amazing how we learn who are true friends are during the most difficult times of our lives! I am always amazed at who really comes through in times of struggle and hardship… and who doesn’t. Such a hard reality to face especially in a season of suffering!! It’s like adding more cracks to an already broken heart… I know. I’ve been there countless times.
Embrace the ones who held you up. <3
Ah, the bonds of friendship. That sisterhood has helped me through the past six months in so many ways. I am lucky in that I have not lost a close friend. I am so interested in reading both these books though!
I absolutely LOVE that you haven’t lost a close friend, Jen. WOW. I’m so glad you have not had to experience the heart break of this kind of loss. <3
What fantastic encouragement! It blessed not only me but the friend that I forwarded it too! Thank you!!
This book is so powerful Karmen. Friendships falls are so deep and intense, and this book recounts so many amazingly passionate stories. It will grab your heart good. SO glad you forwarded this to your friend!! Thank you!!! 🙂
This is highly on my radar. I’m scared too. I’ve lost some friends along the way. Most recently, it was people I actually thought were too nutty.. even for ME! (I’m nutty)
It was sad. I’m trying to rebuild with one of them. The other.. probably never.
I will read this. I will probably cry!
You will definitely cry Tamara. And there are definitely some friends that may be a bit too nutty… there’s a boundary to NUTTY-ness. Good Lord, I hope I can find it. 😉
I just read it this weekend and will be doing a review soon. I couldn’t put it down and was so angry with myself for not submitting because OMG amazing stories!!!
ME TOO MEE TOOOOO!!! I kept kicking myself remembering when the opportunity came and I chose not to write about my own experience. I just didn’t feel right about publishing it- and now, I have second thoughts. DARNIT. What were we THINKING??!!
Oh well…
There’s always next time. 🙂 Can’t wait to read your review!
YOU are an amazing friend. I’m sure of that.
As are YOU, sweet love. As are YOU. <3
Hi Chris! Looks like from the comments that this book has already made a big impression. I agree that our friends, especially the spiritual ones are so important. When it becomes time to move on, for whatever reason, it’s so painful!
It’s a great topic. Thank you for letting me know about it!
Ceil
It’s truly a part of all of our lives, letting go and grieving over loss- and I think the painful break in friendships can radiate such hurt for many. Especially the ones that are not bound and wrapped in God’s love and grace. There’s no way around heart break… even for the faithful. <3
We really appreciate this review! Thanks so much for taking the time to read it, and we are so happy that it resonated with you! You, also, are such a powerful and positive force in this blogging world- we are grateful to share it with you! 🙂
I am honored to share it and be a part of this book launch Stephanie!! It is truly an incredible piece of work filled with amazingly gifted writers with powerful stories that I know will deeply touch many hearts.
Your words are such an encouragement to me, my friend. Thank you!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I’m intrigued. Have a great day!
It’s an incredible read Andrea. You would love it. Really amazing and passionate stories that will truly touch your heart. XO
The way you explained the fierce passion of women makes so much sense. I can’t wait to read this book!
You know quite a few, if not all of these amazing women in the book Meredith! You will totally love it. How could you not? 🙂
Beautiful review, Christine! Friendship woes make the heart ache, for sure. I am so proud to be a contributor in this wonderful project.
As you SHOULD be my friend! It’s an amazing book. Every woman will be touched by each story, indeed.