When Dating Hurts

What We Learned About Dating Violence After Our Daughter's Tragic Death

By: Bill Mitchell

Narrated by: Bill Mitchell

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

When Dating Hurts is the heartbreaking memoir about the dating violence murder of a daughter.

In June 2005, Kristin Mitchell was killed by her ex-boyfriend 20 days after her college graduation. Kristin’s family was faced with a decision: Concentrate on healing themselves - or take their experience and help others who might face a similar situation. When Dating Hurts is the detailed account of what the Mitchell family learned the hard way, beginning with a call from detectives.

Listeners hear how dating violence can seize any family in any community. Besides detailing a tragedy, this book offers sound advice gained from domestic violence counselors, law enforcement professionals, and dating violence survivors. Had the Mitchells heard a book like this, they are certain Kristin would be alive today.

Parents should listen to it for the sake of their daughters, or a sister, a niece, a friend, or a coworker. Listen to it, then share what you learn, because one in three women will suffer severe physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner in their lifetimes. It typically happens between the ages of 16 to 24, but can happen at any age.

When Dating Hurt may save a few innocent young women. Let this book help someone you care about.

©2020 Bill Mitchell (P)2021 Bill Mitchell

heart breaking and wonderful

It is amazing that it takes a tragedy to make changes. I feel Bill's pain as he talks about Kristin, but to have the strength to do something good for others is truly epically wonderful. let this book help you or someone you know it can be the difference between life and death

Wonderfully written!

I was touched by the story after hearing Bill’s story on the What Was That Like podcast. I found the When Dating Hurts podcast that then brought me to the audio book. I appreciate the raw and real depiction of grief and loss and relate to it so deeply. From the funeral home salesmen, casket picking, dreams, family stories, triumph and ultimately God’s hand and Kristen’s spirit nearby always. Thank you for sharing your story and for continuing to educate the world on Dating Violence.

VERY SAD FOR THIS DAD, UNFORTUNATELY

First I will start by saying, this is beyond tragic! What a beautiful young woman, Theirs is no doubt this family is at a HUGE! loss and have a void in their family, changing up stories to make HIMSELF relevant is actually pretty sad. His stories always vary, and making "NICK" this abusive mental tourtour, Is just not an accurate depiction of what was going on during that time, NOT Making any excuses for what happened that night. While I didn't know NICK very well, I did know the family because his sister and brother grew up in my moms house, when they were 5 children who were ripped from an abusive home of filthy, neglecting abusive and sexual abuse. NICK was the youngest at about 8, just a little boy. The foster home the 2 youngest boys NICK and MATT went to a home together where Nick was a door prize, it was 1 boy they wanted and it was known to all that the star was MATT he could never do anything wrong. There was no abuse there was no neglect any more but for this little boy there was nothing no nurturing loving person to praise his accomplishments, When the mother died October 31 he was just a young boy there was no big 5 room house ,happy family for these children that's so untrue! This is in no way an excuse for his actions that night, This is a 5'8 far from gym rat preppy kid, That Bill thought "I wouldn't want to tangle with this guy " why Bill ? scared of the color pink maybe the loafers, What was it? because it sure wasn't his stature. So much of this stories is fake not at all did it happen like that. I hope your enjoying your notoriety, you feel important now? Your message is great I'm sure helpful to so many, but it wasn't your daughters story really ! Yes this man did take her lovely soul out of this world way to soon. But it wasn't after months of mental abuse, I met her and she was crazy about him and he her, they both did the calling and checking upon each other and jealous, YES both! but you always fail to mention it. This tragedy affected so many people your family his family his child who was born 3 months after this accrued his life with no father. all the way around this is just a sad sad story.

Vulnerable, real, and incredibly important.

Bill Mitchell is a great speaker and writer and just an all around great guy. His story, Kristin’s story, is so important, and to here it in Bill’s own words is a privilege. This book is a must read/must listen.

On my top ten best books of all times list. A must read that can save multitudes of lives.

I wish I had this book back when I was in High School and college. It would have likely saved me from mentally, emotionally, financially and what started to become physically abusive relationships. I’m now 37 and all the wiser for what I went through, with Bill’s story and background on domestic violence putting words to what I went through and giving me clarity for what to look out for in the future. I plan to get the physical copy of this for my daughter and her friends as they enter High School. I know it will have potential to save them from much of the heartache and danger I went through myself. It was engaging, emotional, compelling and full of inspiration all in one. Can’t recommend this enough. On my top 10 recommended books list of all time list.

Heartbreaking but so informative

Thank you so much for sharing your daughter and her story with us. I started listening to the book yesterday after it was mentioned in the podcast and I just couldn't stop. I listened through the night and finished it early this morning. Your way of detailing the events your family endured after losing your daughter, along with the anecdotes that allowed some comedic relief (while maintaining the somber feelings the situation is owed) made the book so immersive and captivating that it felt as though I was listening to a friend.

It's bothered me for years that relationship health isn't taught in school and even morso that so few people understand the warning signs and reality of abusive relationships despite them being so common. What your family has done, working to shed light on this and save others, is truly inspiring. My heart breaks for you because you did such an amazing job of describing your daughter and the bright star that she was. By the end of the book I felt like I knew her.

It truly is unfair that the world was robbed of someone like her while someone like her abuser gets to still be here, contributing little but pain and suffering, taking from those around them, and being a net-drain on society. I suppose one could argue that those like your daughter were too good for this world, but it's hard not to be angry at the unfairness of it all.

Thank you for everything you and your family have done.

Should be required reading

If it were narrated by a professional, I might have given fewer stars for performance because of the changes in pitch between some chapters - but getting the story from the author himself makes the content all the more relatable and gripping.

I agree with Mr. Mitchell’s assertion that a vital piece of addressing the problem of dating violence/domestic abuse is public awareness. There is still far too much shame in admitting it when it occurs, and too many misconceptions about what it looks like. Stories like these should be required reading in every high school.

Powerful memoir

I heard Bill Mitchell on the podcast This Is Actually Happening, which led me to listen to his podcast, and then this book. This book is a must-read, both for education but also as a work of art. Kristin was a gifted writer and so is her dad.