I Can’t Miss the Encore Book Reviews

I read this book while on a cruise with my family, and even during all the fun and distractions, I couldn’t put it down. Of course, it’s personal to me—after all, the author is my mother—but beyond that, it was moving to read stories I’d never heard before and to see familiar moments told from her perspective.

This book is about resilience, identity, faith in Jesus Christ, and the deep bonds of family. I laughed out loud, I cried (genuinely), and I walked away reflecting deeply on my own eternal identity and the kind of person I want to become.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration, struggling to find your place in the world, or simply need a reminder that God is aware of you, this book offers comfort, clarity, and hope. It’s not just a family memoir—it’s a guidepost for anyone navigating the storms of life while trying to stay anchored in faith.

Nik Day— Singer/songwriter of Christian music and songwriting coach

Kris Day is my first cousin. My father and her mother are brother and sister. Kris is also one of my closest and dearest friends and we have shared much over the last 30 years. She has shared with me her knowledge and wisdom, her love and her testimony, has given me a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. I remember so clearly the evening many years ago when Kris and I sat on the bank of the creek in the Durtschi Family pasture and she told me about her same-sex attraction. I wasn’t sure what to think at that time. I’d never thought about anything like that before and I didn’t really know what to say, but I knew I loved her and was grateful that she had trusted me with that knowledge. I’m not, nor was I, sure why she chose to tell me about that at that time, but it became important to me later on. Two of my children are also same-sex attracted and when I needed someone to talk to, she was the only person I knew who would understand.

I thought this book was going to be mainly about her journey with same-sex attraction, but it is so much more than that. It’s also about the struggle of mental illness and despair and resilience. It’s about love and family and commitment. It’s about listening to and following the Spirit. It’s about trials and perseverance and faith. This book helped me understand that there’s is a reason for my children being the way they are, and it’s not something they can just decide to change and walk away from. Although they may not have had the spiritual experiences that Kris did, there’s a plan for them and I know that Heavenly Father and our Savior love them unconditionally, as They do each of us. They are always there for us and are waiting for us to let Them in. I believe that is the most important thing we can take away from Kris’s story.

Don’t skip the music! It’s so important to the overall message and feeling of the book. Take time to listen to each song and read along with the lyrics. It’s truly incredible how the songs, written by her children, fit into her story, even though they were not written for it. The music is what brought the emotions close to the surface for me. My tears flowed freely more than once. This book made me sad and it brought me joy. It gave me hope and it brought me peace. Perhaps there is something in it that will help you, too.