Bomb Shelter

A New York Times Editors' Choice One of NPR's Best Books of the Year "A beautifully wrought ode to life...a precious gift to the world." --The Washington Post From the bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink comes a poignant and powerful new memoir that tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear with humor and hope. As a daughter, mother, and friend, Mary Laura Philpott considered herself an "anxious optimist"--a natural worrier with a stubborn sense of good cheer. And while she didn't really think she had any sort of magical protective powers, she believed in her heart that as long as she loved her people enough, she could keep them safe. Then, in the early hours of one dark morning at home, her belief was upended. In the months that followed, she turned to poignant memories, priceless stories, and a medley of coping mechanisms (with comically mixed success) to regain her equilibrium and find meaning in everyday wonders. Hailed by The Washington Post as "Nora Ephron, Erma Bombeck, Jean Kerr, and Laurie Colwin all rolled into one," Philpott tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear--not to mention the lessons of an inscrutable backyard turtle--with hope, humor, and joy.

"Bomb Shelter is a gorgeous, gut-wrenching memoir that drew me in immediately. Mary Laura Philpott puts words to the human condition in a life-affirming, joyful, and surprisingly funny way -- even as she leaves readers in tears. I'm blown away." --Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, "Bomb Shelter pierced my heart with its truth and beauty, humor and insight....This is a beautiful, moving, can't-put-it-down book that will stay with you long after you finish reading the final page." --Cheryl Strayed, New York Times bestselling author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things on her "Wild Reads" Literati Book Club Pick , "An unforgettable memoir about holding it together when it's time to let go, Bomb Shelter met me exactly where I am and gently walked me towards humor and hope. This book is a must read--a treasure to savor now and save for always. I loved it." --Glennon Doyle, Author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller Untamed and Founder of Together Rising, "At the heart of Bomb Shelter is a truth parents know deeply: 'I felt the universe had entrusted me with so much more than I could possibly keep safe.' I put this book down feeling less anxious as a mother and more inspired as a writer. Why? Philpott reveals, page after page, that the love that makes us vulnerable is the same force that makes us powerful." --Maggie Smith, bestselling author of Keep Moving and Goldenrod, "Each of these powerful, beautifully written essays is like a tiny grenade aimed straight at the heart. Mary Laura Philpott is a trustworthy guide, ushering us through the magnificent, harrowing terrain of being human. Trust me: you will laugh, you will cry. You will fall in love with her voice." --Dani Shapiro, New York Times bestselling author of Inheritance

Mary Laura Philpott, nationally bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink and Bomb Shelter, writes essays and memoirs that examine the overlap of the absurd and the profound in everyday life. Her writing has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, among many other publications. A former bookseller, she also hosted an interview program on Nashville Public Television for several years. Mary Laura lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family