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ABOUT THE BOOK
What happens when you look at your life and think, I thought it would be better than this? You know you can’t stay where you are, but have no idea what to do next.
When Jessica N. Turner, a mom of three, lost her 16-year-marriage after her husband came out as gay, her life shattered. With grit and determination, she picked up the pieces, chose hope and courageously rebuilt a beautiful next chapter.
During this process, Jessica discovered universal tools that can support you, no matter what you’re facing. Using thoughtful reflections and exercises, vulnerable storytelling, and practical takeaways, Jessica will help you:
- Evaluate your disappointments, heartaches, and unmet expectations so that you can move forward in healing.
- Talk candidly about your feelings to forge healthier and more meaningful relationships.
- Practice forgiveness and empathy for yourself and others so that you live with more love and less pain.
- Regain control over the parts of life where you have agency instead of passively waiting for things to happen to you.
- Discover creative practices to cultivate daily satisfaction and contentment.
- Learn to love yourself and the characteristics that make you unique so that you can be more confident and content.
I Thought It Would Be Better Than This is a manifesto of hope that will empower you to transform your circumstances and move forward with intention and purpose.
What People Are Saying
“This book will change your life! If you’re wrestling with disappointment, heartache, or the curveballs life throws at you, Jessica Turner’s story will speak right to your soul.”
One of the fundamental questions of life: How do we make new lives when the lives we planned on – and loved – are no longer an option? This book is required reading for any of us who have found ourselves asking that question, and Jessica is an honest, wise, endearing guide through the wilderness.”
“This beautiful book shows readers how, even in our darkest moments, there is hope for making it through and an opportunity for a transformative new beginning. I’ve seen firsthand how my friend Jessica lives with grace and resilience. Her journey is a reminder that we can reclaim our story and rediscover the beauty of our lives. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is ready to create beauty from the ashes and begin living their fullest lives.”
“I Thought It Would Be Better Than This offers strategies to improve your life, no matter what your individual circumstances are. Part memoir, part personal improvement guidebook, Turner takes readers on a journey through some of her most difficult moments, demonstrating how she overcame obstacles in spite of everything that was working against her. This book is a must-have for people navigating personal and professional transitions.”
“A beautiful, tender invitation to explore the universal experience of grief and disappointment. In this validating, courageous book, you’ll find your own story reflected and the courage to move from sorrow to strength. If you’ve ever wondered how to make sense of loss, or if the weight of grief can ever be lifted, this book will remind you that you are not alone—and that redemption isn’t just a possibility, it’s a path we can all walk.”
“If you feel like your loss is too hard, too different, or too big, Jessica Turner is a kind companion. Her advice is hard-won and lived in, blending personal story with practical tools. For anyone in a dark tunnel who can’t yet see a light, this book is a candle— a reminder that hope is always an option and redemption may be closer than you think.”
“Turner knows the brutal heartbreak of unexpected loss and calls upon the reader to keep going, encouraging them to manage expectations, call deep on courage, and to risk embracing change even when it means moving closer to the pain inevitably found inside transformation. This book is a must-read for everyone who has experienced loss and wondered, ‘What in the world do I do now?’ ”
“I Thought It Would Be Better Than This offers the calm, gentle wisdom we seek in quiet times. You’ll learn to name your experiences and disappointments, grieve them, and find actional steps forward to heal and move on, empowered and clear.”
“A beautiful, honest, and practical guide for anyone who has found themselves facing unexpected hardships. Jessica’s story and hard-won wisdom lets us know we aren’t alone and leaves us with hope that even the most challenging things in life can lead us to beauty. A must-read.”
“Jessica vulnerably offers a personal but universal guide to navigating life’s most painful realities. Both poignant and practical, this beautiful book will help heal your broken heart.”
MEDIA AND PODCASTS
Honored to have been featured in the following media outlets and podcasts.
Media and Placements
- Parade | ‘After 16 Years of Marriage, My Husband Came Out as Gay—Here’s How I Rebuilt My Life’
- The Tennesean | Nashville influencer Jessica N. Turner on turning her trauma into a self-help book
- (in)courage | Trust in the Slow Work of God
- She Knows | Why I Take Vacations with My Ex-Husband
- Local 2: In Conversation with Jessica N. Turner (TV interview)
- Today in Nashville: Author Jessica N. Turner on New Book
- Nashville Lifestyles
- Liturgies for Parents: A Prayer for Those Who Are Disappointed
- The FlowSpace: 12 Must-Read Books If You’re Going Through a Midlife Divorce
- Modern Mrs. Darcy: What I’ve been reading lately
- Emily in Your Phone: FRIDAY ROUNDUP: Moms, Cults & Cozy Soup
- WKRN News 2: Jessica N. Turner: “I Thought It Would Be Better Than This”
- Balanced Achievement: 10 Transformative Self-Help Books Released in April 2025
- H-Town Live: “I Thought It Would Be Better Than This”
Podcasts
- Couple Things
- For the Love with Jen Hatmaker
- The Jess Connolly Podcast
- The Papaya Podcast
- Currently Reading
- 10 Things To Tell You
- The Mary Marantz Show
- 3 in 30: Takeaways for Moms
- Best of Both Worlds with Laura Vanderkam
- Totally Booked with Zibby
- Meg’s Reading Room
- The Southern Tea
- Mint Arrow Messages
- Jo Piazza
- The Currently Reading Podcast
- Grief is My Side Hustle
- Becoming Church
- What Fresh Hell
- The Parentologist Podcast
- Grief Is My Side Hustle
- The Art of Raising Humans
- The Enneagram & Marriage
- Thrive
- Bloom & Grow Show
Join Jessica in your city!
April 8 | Nashville, TN
Draper James | 6-7:30 pm
RSVP for free here
April 24 | Chicago, IL
Three Avenues Bookshop | 6 pm
RSVP for free here
April 26 | Brookfield, WI
Barnes and Noble | 1 pm
No RSVP needed
April 27 | Oshkosh, WI
Caramel Crisp | 2 pm
RSVP for free here
