"Heartfelt, emotionally engaging, impressively insightful, deeply personal yet universal in theme and purpose, Endure: A Memoir of Grief, Resilience, and Love by Kelly McCoy is a deftly and candidly crafted memoir of love, loss, and recovery that is unconditionally recommended reading for anyone having to deal with and recover from the tragedy of suicide. Unique, effective, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, counseling center, and college/university library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections in general, and to Suicide, Grief, and Bereavement Counseling collections in particular." - Midwest Book Review
Endure: A Memoir of Grief, Resilience, and Love has received three 5-Star reviews from professional reviewers at Readers’ Favorite. Here’s what they had to say:
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
Endure: A Memoir of Grief, Resilience, and Love by Kelly McCoy is a profoundly moving exploration of loss and healing that transcends traditional grief narratives. McCoy courageously shares his personal journey of navigating the devastating loss of his son, Cooper, through a series of heartfelt reflections that transform personal pain into a universal message of hope. I was deeply moved by how McCoy finds beauty and meaning amid overwhelming grief, particularly through his poetic use of metaphors like crane migrations that symbolize resilience and continuous movement. His narrative goes beyond a simple recounting of loss, offering readers a compassionate guidebook for understanding and experiencing profound emotional transformation. The memoir’s lyrical prose elevates the most challenging emotional landscapes, creating a space of genuine connection and understanding that speaks directly of the human experience of grief and healing.
Author Kelly McCoy demonstrates remarkable emotional depth and literary skill in crafting a narrative that is simultaneously vulnerable and strong. The writing style reveals how personal narratives can become powerful tools for collective healing, exploring spiritual growth and resilience with incredible sensitivity. I was deeply impressed by McCoy’s ability to transform a personal tragedy into a beacon of hope for others navigating similar emotional challenges. The way he articulates the complex emotions of loss and recovery provides both practical and emotional guidance for anyone wrestling with profound grief. There are steps here that readers can implement and benefit from immediately. The author’s choice of words has a unique power to comfort and inspire, offering readers a deeper understanding of how love can persist and even flourish in the face of devastating loss. Overall, I highly recommend Endure as an essential read for anyone seeking understanding, comfort, and hope in the face of life’s most challenging moments.
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers’ Favorite
Endure: A Memoir of Grief, Resilience, and Love by Kelly McCoy is a deeply moving narrative that invites readers into a grieving parent’s raw and unfiltered journey. The memoir is a tribute to McCoy’s son, Cooper James. The narrative acts not only as a tribute to Cooper but also as a call to destigmatize discussions about mental health and promote compassion. McCoy’s examination of resilience, spirituality, and community offers a framework for understanding the complexities of grief while highlighting the enduring bonds of love that remain beyond tragedy.
Kelly McCoy takes readers deep into his life and emotions to convey the pain of losing a child. Cooper’s unexpected death by suicide intensifies the emotional impact, as there were no clear outward signs that anything was wrong. The vulnerability in McCoy’s writing is raw and honest, and I cried from beginning to end while reading. His reflections balance heartache with hope, drawing from his experiences to craft a story that will move every reader it touches. The photographs throughout the book depict Cooper at different ages, smiling and joyful, reminding us that we can never truly know what lies behind a smile. The intimate reflection of going on with life after the death of a loved one captures the balance between sorrow and the human capacity to find meaning and connection. Endure is a moving and inspiring memoir about love and loss that won’t be forgotten. Thank you, Mr. McCoy, for sharing Cooper’s life and helping others cope with grief.
Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers’ Favorite
Losing a loved one is among the most challenging and painful experiences. Whether or not it was expected, even though no one ever really expects death, it is never easy to accept that a person you deeply cherished is no more and that you will never see them or share moments with them again. For many, the grief that follows such a loss may break them, and they may never heal. But then, is there an appropriate period for grieving a loved one? And is there a right way to mourn a loved one? In Endure: A Memoir of Grief, Resilience, and Love, Kelly McCoy, who lost his twenty-three-year-old son to suicide, shares his experiences of navigating the challenging journey of grief, resilience, and raw hope.
Kelly McCoy’s Endure is a must-read for anyone dealing with grief. Using anecdotes and an authentic conversational tone, McCoy gives the feeling of his grief, depicting the emotions involved in a down-to-earth way. I could feel McCoy’s love, pain, profound sadness, and longing for answers. You can tell how much Cooper was loved from all these details, and by looking at the images in the book, he was very much loved by family and friends. Through Cooper’s struggles, McCoy addresses various themes affecting the youth of the current generation, especially boys, which include self-acceptance, conformity pressure, mental health wellness, suicide, and more. Through his very poignant journey of grief, McCoy offers readers the tools to honor loved ones and to live alongside loss with grace, courage, and enduring love.
