Live Your Life

My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero

By: Amanda Kloots, Anna Kloots

Narrated by: Amanda Kloots

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Performed by the author featuring original music by Nick Cordero.

Amanda Kloots bravely reflects on love, loss, and life with her husband, Broadway star, and Tony Award nominee Nick Cordero, whose public battle with COVID-19 and tragic death made headlines around the world.

In March 2020, Broadway star and Tony Award nominee Nick Cordero was hospitalized for what he and his wife, Amanda Kloots, believed to be a severe case of pneumonia. Entering the hospital, they had every reason to believe that Nick - a young father and otherwise healthy man - would return home. After an eventual diagnosis of COVID-19 that led to Nick’s being placed on a ventilator, Amanda took to documenting their journey on social media, showing the dangers COVID-19 posed to everyone, regardless of age. Her updates quickly captivated millions, inspiring people around the globe to dance each day to Nick’s song “Live Your Life” and offer positive thoughts and prayer. When he passed away after 95 grueling days in the ICU, the world grieved for Amanda, her infant son, Elvis, and the future COVID-19 had snatched away from them.

Live Your Life is the story of Nick and Amanda’s life together - of their beautiful relationship, of Nick’s dramatic fight for survival, of those sudden tragic months that permanently changed her world and ours - and of their interrupted future as a family. From the confusing early days of his illness to searching for signs of hope in every update from the doctors to the healing sound of Elvis’s laughter, Amanda details how she approached even the most devastating moments with the personal optimism and faith that have shaped her life. Written with her sister Anna Kloots, who was with her every step of this journey, Live Your Life explores how Amanda’s willingness to accept help from an entire community of people - friends, family, and even total strangers - played a vital role in enduring this hardship. In the process, she offers a touching meditation on how even the worst times have silver linings that deepen our connections to the world around us and to the people who matter most.

What emerges is an inspiring and unexpectedly uplifting message for life in the time of COVID, a vision of courage for anyone coping with overwhelming loss or the collective trauma of what the pandemic has taken from us. A poignant reflection on love, hope, motherhood, and the transformational power of music, Live Your Life is a love letter to Nick and a reminder that, sometimes, celebrating life today is the only path through tomorrow’s darkness.

©2021 Amanda Kloots and Anna Kloots (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Inspiring and emotional

After following Amanda and Nick's journey from the very beginning I knew this book would be incredible. While it is sad, it is also so inspiring. Anyone who followed this story, and reads this book will not be able to help but be inspired. Beautifully written.

Loved

It’s a beautifully written story of one family’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. I enjoyed listening to it in the authors voice as the true emotions behind the words come through so raw and vibrant. Even though I knew Nick’s fate when I started the book, I couldn’t help but root for a happy ending along the way. I’ve read other reviews critical of Amanda and her good fortune, and even started to feel the irritation the other reviews expressed. But then I stopped and asked myself what I would do in her shoes, and I think we can all same the same. I don’t think anyone would turn down having access to a hospitalized loved one during a pandemic because someone else wasn’t being allowed in. The story unfolds beautifully showcasing the love of a family, a community of support, and the way we all rallied around each other at the beginning of the pandemic. It leaves you feeling ready to make the most of your own life, cherish your time with your loved ones, and find your own silver linings.

AMAZING! Heartfelt

I never ever write reviews! But this story about love, faith, humanity, hope, and loss was everything I needed at this moment in my life. After a really crazy year Amanda and Anna have given everyone strength and realization of how thankful we are to live our lives. Highly recommend both audible (I cried hearing Amanda read her story) and paperback (unseen pictures that tie back to the story).

Incredible

I loved this on Audible! Hearing Amanda tell her story was so special. Highly recommend

Just What I Needed

When I heard on the news about Nick Cordero's battle with Covid I started following Amanda Kloots on Instagram and praying for his recovery every day. After his tragic death I was tremendously impressed by how Amanda got on with her life while being in deep sorrow. She was and is an inspiration to me because my darling husband died a year before Nick and I struggled every day from my loss. When her book was published I knew that I needed to hear Amanda tell her story. Books are a part of my DNA and I have never been changed by a book and the author reading it until now. The way that she wove their story from life before Covid and life during Nick's battle was seamless, fascinating and extremely well done. I experienced the terrifying roller coaster of days of rushing to the hospital with doctors telling me that my husband wasn't going to make it followed by days of hopefulness. No one I know had experienced what I did and hearing Amanda read her story gave me a connection that was deeply comforting. If my husband was still alive I would have still been spellbound by Amanda's story. Thank you Amanda Kloots for your honesty and for sharing your story. You are an extraordinary person.

Great story

Amanda is such a positive person. I cried starting at chapter 13. Really good book. Thank you for sharing.

Heart breaking but beautifully written

As a dancer and New York Broadway addict I knew of Nick Cordero before Covid. I followed Amanda’s story from the beginning and was so sad it ended with her losing Nick. This is a beautiful love story. Amanda and her families courageous battle to fight for Nick is
beyond words . Be prepared to cry , along with Amanda as she tells her story. I loved this audible book and felt like she was personally telling me all about this painful journey. RIP Nick🙏 God Bless Amanda and Elvis🙏 🌷

Live Your Life!

Anyone who followed this story in real time will be blown away by the depth of Amanda Kloots’ resilience, grit and positivity, all of which are on full display in this heartfelt narrative.

Toward the end of the book, I couldn’t help but wonder if the song “Live Your Life” was written FOR Amanda & Elvis, with some prescience on Nick’s part. Having endured this difficult and emotional journey with such grace and humility was the real story here, in my opinion. I sincerely hope that Amanda & Elvis’ next chapters are filled with great joy and laughter. Live YOUR life!

Heartbreaking, gut wrenching, and inspiring

An amazing book telling the story by the person who lived it.
Nick’s battle with COVID-19 and Amanda’s telling of their story and how people rallied behind them is heartbreaking, gut wrenching, and inspiring.

Amazing Read

This is truly one of the most moving and inspiring reads I’ve experienced. Amanda is a true inspiration and my thoughts will always be with her and everyone in her family!