Come What May: An uplifting guide to navigating hard times from the UK's leading expert on recovery

by Lucy Easthope

'An unlikely superhero' Sunday Times

'Easthope is that rare thing, a genuine philosopher thinking through what she is doing in the mitigation of human suffering.' New Statesman

In one way or another, everyone experiences disaster. But times of crisis are also opportunities for change, and to find strength we never knew existed.

No one knows this better than Lucy Easthope, who has been supporting survivors of major disasters for decades. Time and again she has watched how people the work, the pitfalls and the fragile joy.

In this book, she distils what she has learned for all of us, examining the questions that are often posed to her as a responder, including those she has found hardest to answer. She reveals surprising truths about the twisting path to recovery. And through poignant stories and hard-won wisdom, she offers a roadmap for resilience in the face of adversity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Psychology

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2025

Reviews

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not what I expected,. It sounded like a good self help book set in reality with real life examples. The reality was there was more examples than actual self help. It felt like i hearing a life stories drawn out with then references to self help stratergy. I kept listening in the hope it would all just come together but it did not. The burb needs re-writing to make the true subject matter clearer. This is more autobiographical than self help, in that genre it would sell well as the life events and the feedback do work together. In my opinion this tried to be both things but failed at both. I didnt discover stratergies just an interesting life story which i would have enjoyed more if i was aware that was what i was listening to at the start. Thank you netgallery, publisher, author and narrator

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy publication day 🎧🥳🎉

I found this title, whilst hugely helpful, to be really quite heavy, I had to read it alongside another title which is something I never do. The content should be weighty though, that also reflects the authors intentions I suppose.

A lot of the content was quite triggering and anxiety inducing for me personally, but it’s often important to sit in your trauma, and perhaps this book found me at a time of self reflection and realisation, I needed to hear a lot of it, and it helped me make some decisions. I’d need to open up some really personal things to explain myself properly here. So I suppose I’ll just say, I’d recommend this to anyone who needs a little push of a reminder to try to help yourself.

I appreciated hearing the authors own words in her own voice, her narration was excellent.

My rating is middle of the road as no real reflection to the author or the writing, it’s an important book, maybe I’ll come back as a better version of myself with a higher rating at some point.

Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Gem ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed with pragmatic and perceptive advice and examples of how humans can navigate all kinds of crisis from huge disasters, to divorce, ill health and death. I felt the author was gentle and so kind in her words both about the people that she has come across over years of emergency planning but also her own personal crisis and it felt like chatting with a friend, both comforting and enlightening.
This is ultimately an uplifting and positive book about the very worst that humans can encounter but so many reasons why this shapes us and connects us.

[Tara George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure what premonition/karma meant I’d started listening to this brilliant book as an audiobook 3 days before the bombshell that was being unceremoniously dumped by my husband after 27 years together . I couldn’t read/listen at all for a while but I got back to it, and all Lucy’s wisdom and compassion is definitely helping.

Would 100% recommend

[Jenny Saltmarsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Lucy, her first book was excellent and she just writes as she speaks. I can hear her speaking each sentence.

If you've been through any trauma (and let's face it most of us will have been) parts of this might be a tough read but in the same sentence it will be liberating and validating.

Sensible self-care in dotted through the book which gives connection and a human touch. The care of individuals throughout this book and seeing them for who they are is amazing but credible.

On one of the toughest subjects, this book delivers on every front.

[SusyHD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, very honest and relatable. I loved the Disaster Recovery Graph. The author mentioned aspects of emotional responses to disasters that I'd never seen mentioned before, including a propensity towards nihilism, or at the other end 'hopium' (a personalised, delusional version of 'toxic positivity') and 'being an a**ehole' (a side effect of the bitterness created by long-term stress and fear). She completely accepts that disasters are both personal and happen within a community: she does not create a hierarchy of pain but heartily encourages the reader to accept their own suffering, not dismiss it or compare it to others in seemingly worse conditions. A divorce can be as devastating to an individual as a flood, a bereavement as responsible for long-term pain and disruption as an accident. Easthope does not set out a plan for recovering exactly but instead makes suggestions to guide a person away from feeling stuck in the worst of their pain, and is gently but unflinchingly honest about the difficulties that may come. Too often people try to comfort by reducing pain or pretending it can be easily solved: "you'll be fine", "it's been months now, you're ready for a new start", "cheer up, it might never happen". Easthope acknowledges the damage done by denying a person's personal responses to a life event that has shocked them and instead educates the reader on a proactive but patient approach that has acceptance and truth at its core. I've been recommending this to everyone.

[Bookwormbadger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an insightful, interesting and sensitively written audiobook about disaster recovery and coping in the aftermath of major traumatic events.
With grateful thanks for Hodder and Stoughton Audio, Lucy Easthope and NetGalley for my advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Lucy's wealth or experience shines through and although a little tough to read at times (from a personal persepctive) it was a book I very much needed to read and I know I will carry forward many of the lessons from the book.

[Vicki Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy’s books are always super fascinating. A leading expert in disaster recovery, Lucy is a fountain of knowledge about how we individually, and as communities and societies, heal.

Another great audiobook as Lucy narrates it perfectly.

[Cat Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy her writing. Thought this was another memoir initially but more self-help for tough times. Times are not tough right now so good book, wrong time for maximum impact? Practical and empathetic and would absolutely return to it.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting social history lesson. There is also some tips in there for your own survival but what really struck me was how humble these stories left me feeling. How lucky am I!

[Laura Housley]

(NYT recommended)

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Come What May' is a well written account of what humans (singularly and as a society) experience after trauma occurs. This is laced with author Lucy Easthope's own experiences, which are numerous and varied, due to her job as an Emergency Planner. Lucy consults to set up plans in-case of incident, as well as working with survivors in the aftermath. Hearing about the work she and recovery workers do was highly interesting and got me wanting to know more about these roles, which are often not spoken about within communities.

Lucy leads the reader through what can happen in the aftermath of experiencing a traumatic event, backing herself with models, psychological principles such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs and her own wealth of experience. The chapters are well laid out and it is useful at equipping the reader with a greater understanding of their own needs in times of crisis.

For me, I feel I would have really enjoyed hearing a little more about Lucy herself. The subject matter covered felt a wide topic for one book and I think could actually have enough depth to be separate works. I'd love to hear a memoir all about her role; and a separate take on her personal traumas and advice, touching lightly on where these lessons were learned. It feels like it spans both a helpful guide to the impact of trauma and an overview of coping with the aftermath of various world events/ global disasters. I gained a lot of insight into how to psychologically process the markers of our shared lives, such as the pandemic and terrorist attacks; but to me it didn't quite go far enough to help translate this into the more everyday, such as relationship breakdown, loss of a job or personal grief. I really liked the sections where I heard Lucy's life experiences with these more personal matters and would have loved more of this. This would have helped it feel more emotionally connecting and potentially resonate on a deeper level.

This is a book full of knowledge, clearly well-researched and very human feeling. I personally listened to the audiobook, so may have felt slightly different with a physical copy, which I could 'dip' back into more. As an audiobook, it felt lot to digest as a singular narrative.

I'd certainly recommend this book for people who are impacted by societal events. I can bring to mind some individuals who would really benefit from the messages held here. For me, it didn't go as emotionally deep as it could, because of the breadth of content and so might not be as impactful for those looking for specific advice on how to handle something deeply personal and affecting.

The content is important as a topic and it was fantastic to see the wonderful, unseen, work that goes on surrounding our day to day lives.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.

[Jill Rattray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book.

I adored this book. I think if anyone has anxiety about the future this would really help. It’s full of practical advice and emotional advice, but it’s things that feel doable.

Maybe it’s the scouser in her but Lucy always feels incredibly grounded, as does her advice. She gets what people can and can’t afford, that for some people participating in things with a group of friends can be as helpful as therapy, and she has no truck with toxic positivity.

I think our society would be a much better place with more Lucys in charge.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly written with thoughtful and practical advice. I particularly liked the index, further reading and notes on references. It feels like Lucy’s lessons, written with humour, hope and humanity are essential reading.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough and thoughtful examination of what makes good help and self care before, during and after the worst has happened. It's a hard read at times but important. a must read for everyone