IT’S OKAY TO LAUGH (CRYING IS COOL TOO) by Nora McInerny Purmort & Giveaway

Nora McInerny Purmort, author of IT’S OKAY TO LAUGH (CRYING IS COOL TOO) wants you to know her memoir is “not a cancer story, it’s a love story. With some cancer.”

After bouncing around dating losers, twenty-seven-year-old Nora McInerny Purmort, finally met the perfect guy, Aaron. He was an art director and comic-book nerd, who made her laugh all the time. The only problem? He developed a rare form of brain cancer, glioblastoma, to be precise. Well, that could have screwed up their dating life, but Nora and Aaron refused to let a little thing like that get in the way of their love! No way! They got engaged, while on chemo had a baby boy and started fighting the battle of their lives.

Nora started a blog called “My Husband’s Tumor,” where she shared every heart-wrenching moment of their journey. It eventually became this memoir, IT’S OKAY TO LAUGH (CRYING IS COOL TOO) (DeySt.Books). Nora and Aaron were able to pack five decades of marriage into the three years they were blessed with. While in hospice, lying in Nora’s arms, Aaron revealed that he was Spider-Man and his son would have to carry on his crime-fighting ways and kick cancer’s ass.

This book is pitched as a “hilarious memoir that’ll have you laughing out loud.” I chuckled here and there, but I guess I’m different. This book isn’t a downer, but I didn’t break-out into belly laughs. I did read it with respect for Nora’s vulnerability and her decision to honestly share such a personal story. My guess is the marketing department pushed for the “funny angle” to give it broader appeal; that wasn’t necessary. Then again, perhaps it was Nora’s idea to keep a bit of distance and protect herself. Either way, IT’S OKAY TO LAUGH (CRYING IS COOL TOO) is relevant, without any marketing tricks.

The takeaway for me after reading Nora’s memoir, is gratitude. It’s for me to be thankful for every moment I’m alive, because it could be over in a heartbeat. Embrace the people I care about, look them in the eyes and repeatedly tell them, “I love you.”

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”    Ferris Bueller

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Nora McInerny Purmort

Nora McInerny Purmort was voted Most Humorous by the Annunciation Catholic School Class of 1998. It was mostly downhill after that, but she did get to spend three glorious years married to Aaron Joseph Purmort (aka Spider-Man). Her work has appeared on Cosmopolitan.com, Elle.com, and the Huffington Post, and in the Star Tribune. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her son, Ralph. They really like it there.

Find out more about Nora at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours http://www.tlcbooktours.com and Dey St. Books, we have one copy of IT’S OKAY TO LAUGH (CRYING IS COOL TOO) to give away. Just tell us one thing you’re really grateful for. I’m incredibly grateful for the ability to read, write and speak, which I almost lost not too long ago. We’ll pick a winner next Monday, June 6th. Have a great Holiday week!