Reviewed by Robert A. Groves for Readers' Favorite

Jesse Kuhn offers a remarkable and useful tool when experiencing the death of any loved one, but especially a spouse. As I read Always Here: Death of a Spouse, I took away six key points to apply to the grief process. While many people might think of grief as grounded in the psychological realm, Kuhn provides evidence-based proof that it is more physiological. Both the body's chemistry and nervous system are affected, which alters mood. Secondly, almost everyone who has faced the loss of another human knows that eventually a period of silence sets in. This is when your exterior support system, other people, stop responding as they move on with their lives while you are still trying to cope with a new normal. This is when people are at their most vulnerable and need assistance the most. So, one of the new technological tools that people should consider using is an AI companion. Kuhn does not advocate for it to be used in place of therapy, if one needs to access that care, but more as a safe place for you to reflect on your loss without burdening others. In addition, there is the use of daily rituals to ground you. Some people might be more familiar with this concept as mindfulness. Whichever term you apply, the purpose is to have a place for your grief, so it becomes less a part of your daily activities. Lastly, contrary to conventional wisdom, you never get over grief. However, you can learn to “move on” by employing new tools that others have not previously had access to. In our busy world where human contact is now the exception, you can learn to live a new best life while preserving the memories you shared with your loved one.

I wish Jesse Kuhn’s Always Here had been available 14 years ago when I lost my spouse. In reading this grief companion, I realized that I still had some unresolved issues of my own. So, since I am also a writer, I started doing the journaling exercises mentioned. They do indeed work! What I most appreciate about this work is that the reader’s pain is never minimized. As I moved through the pages, I felt seen and understood. The book created a sense of safety. It reminded me that grief is not a form of failure. It is a real biological, emotional, and spiritual response to love. Kuhn’s advocacy for the use of a modern tool – AI – was not something I would have otherwise considered. But using it to journal allowed me to receive validation, not only for my pain, but also for the good memories I hold all these years later. Readers will find this book to be a compassionate guide. It doesn’t promise quick fixes but instead offers presence. The grief process will be experienced differently by each person. Most importantly, this guide offers grounding and permission to move at your own pace through the days ahead. I highly recommend Always Here. It is a comforting light in a very dark room.