“Powerful . . . honest . . . and inspiring, Reaching for Beautiful is a heartfelt journey through a mother’s grief experience, moving from darkness to light. It demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit, allowing for deep, authentic faith, purpose and meaning after unimaginable loss.” —Rebecca Rosen, spiritual medium and author of What’s Your Heaven?

“In Reaching for Beautiful, McQuillen shares her story with ineffable grace and insight, showing us how ‘over time the light outshines the darkness.’ Whatever hardship you are facing, reading this book will have you believing that her mission is beacon-possible.” —Laura Munson, founder of the Haven Writing Programs and New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of This Is Not The Story You Think It Is and Willa’s Grove

“In the aftermath of her son’s accidental drowning, author Sally McQuillen grapples with a grief complicated by his prior years of alcohol abuse. McQuillen is unafraid to share the roller coaster ride that is family addiction. In recovery herself, devoting her life toward helping others impacted by addiction, her loss is particularly poignant.” —Sukey Forbes, author of The Angel in My Pocket

“Reaching for Beautiful is not just for someone who has lost a child, or has loved a child, it's for anyone who has loved at all. McQuillen writes with the voice of a poet, lyrically, as well as straight to the heart. Her story is both a heartbreaking and a heart-opening must-read.” —Kristen Moeller, MS, literary agent and author of What Are You Waiting For?

“Luminous and deeply affecting, McQuillen’s gift as a writer is to turn a deeply personal story into a blueprint for all of us navigating the line between loving our children and letting them go. With a storyteller’s gift and a therapist’s mind, she leaves the reader with a sense of awe at life’s beauty, and the promise of a love that transcends grief.” —Julie Fingersh, author of Stay: A Memoir of Family, Love and Other Traumas