I Liked My Life summary

The Aftermath of a Tragic Loss

In I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi, we are introduced to Maddy, a loving wife and mother, who unexpectedly commits suicide. The story then unfolds through the perspectives of Maddy, her husband Brady, and their teenage daughter Eve. Maddy's death leaves her family and friends shattered, struggling to understand why she would take her own life.

Brady, a workaholic, and Eve, a high school student, are left to piece together the puzzle of Maddy's life and death. They discover that Maddy was not as happy as she seemed, and that she had been struggling with her own demons. This revelation forces Brady and Eve to question their own roles in Maddy's unhappiness, and they begin to doubt their own memories of her.

Connecting from Beyond

Meanwhile, in the afterlife, Maddy is given the chance to make amends for her past mistakes. She is allowed to observe her family from beyond and attempts to guide them towards healing. Maddy's presence is felt in the small gestures, like a favorite song playing on the radio or a found photo, that bring comfort to Brady and Eve, convincing them that Maddy is still with them in some form.

As the story progresses, Maddy's ghostly presence takes on a more substantial role. She tries to prevent Brady from moving on too quickly by influencing his romantic choices. Maddy also tries to steer Eve away from a rebellious phase by influencing her friendship choices. However, her attempts at controlling their lives from beyond the grave only serve to complicate matters further.

Acceptance and Moving Forward

In the end, Maddy realizes that her attempts to control her family's lives are doing more harm than good. She learns that she needs to let go and allow her family to live their lives without her. Brady and Eve, on the other hand, come to terms with Maddy's death and their own roles in her unhappiness.

Brady faces his guilt over being an absent husband and father, while Eve confronts her anger towards her mother for leaving her. They both understand that they cannot change the past, but they can work towards a better future. They learn to appreciate the memories they have of Maddy and find comfort in the fact that she will always be a part of their lives.

Unearthing the Truth

As the story unfolds, we also learn the truth about the events leading up to Maddy's suicide. It is revealed that she had been struggling with a deep sense of failure, stemming from her inability to achieve her career dreams. Maddy had been a talented artist, but she gave up her passion to support her family. Her sense of unfulfilled potential and the loss of her artistic identity had been eating away at her.

In the end, I Liked My Life is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and forgiveness. It portrays the complexity of human emotions and the impact of our actions on those we love. It also serves as a reminder that even in death, our presence can continue to shape the lives of those we leave behind.