Official Selection from the Ladies' Home Journal Book Club

Signs of Life

A novel by Natalie Taylor

“Told with pulsing heart-in-the-hand pace—this book reads like a primer for anyone who has experienced the beast that is grief. With wit, gutting honesty, and a modicum of self-pity, Natalie Taylor gives us permission to cry the necessary gamut of tears that healing requires…and that includes tears of joy.”
—Laura Munson, author of the best-selling memoir This Is Not The Story You Think It Is: A Season of Unlikely Happiness

About the Book

Twenty-four-year-old Natalie Taylor was leading a charmed life: she had a fulfilling job as a high school English teacher, a wonderful husband, Josh, a new house, and a baby on the way. Then, while visiting her sister, she gets the news that Josh has died in a freak accident. Four months before the birth of her son, Natalie is leveled by loss.

What follows is an unexpected transformation as Natalie calls upon resources she didn’t even know she had in order to reimagine and rebuild a life for her and her son. Natalie finds herself drawing insight and inspiration—from her beloved authors like J.D. Salinger and Alice Walker to radio personalities like Ira Glass and Dr. Joy Browne—and in so doing, she assembles her own unique team to pull her out of the clutches of grief. With the strength and support of her quirky family and friends and her imaginary fairy godmother who guides her grieving, Natalie embarks on an unforgettable journey to find life again after loss.

Heartbreaking and hilarious, Signs of Life features a powerful, wholly original debut voice that will have you crying and laughing to the very last page.
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Reader's Resources

Signs of Life Discussion Questions
(downloadable PDF)
The Reading Group Center's Tips for Book Club Discussions
A Letter from Natalie Taylor
(downloadable PDF)
Visit the Reading Group Center for more great reading group resources.

Signs of Life by Natalie Taylor

About the Author

NATALIE TAYLOR and her son, Kai Taylor, live in Royal Oak, Michigan. Natalie teaches high school English and recently earned her master's degree in education. Kai is working on writing his letters, counting into double digits, and memorizing all things Star Wars.