Live Your Life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero
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- Create Date：2021-06-22 12:31:08
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Amanda Kloots
- ISBN：1665097507
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Amanda Kloots bravely reflects on love， loss， and life with her husband Broadway star and Tony-nominee Nick Cordero， whose public battle with Covid-19 and tragic death made headlines around the world。
In the early spring of 2020， Broadway star and Tony Award nominee Nick Cordero was hospitalized for what he and his wife， Amanda Kloots， believed was a severe case of pneumonia。 Entering Cedars-Sinai， there was no indication that Nick—a young man in the prime of life with no pre-existing conditions—would never return home。 Diagnosed with Covid-19， this rising star—who only a few days earlier was the picture of health—soon deteriorated。 Suffering a series of complications – minor heart attacks， an amputation， sepsis—he was kept alive for weeks， hooked to a ventilator， bypass machines， dialysis， and a specialized heart-lung bypass machine。
Staying strong for Nick and their infant son， Elvis， Amanda shared their journey on social media， documenting Nick’s condition and the risks of Covid-19 for all ages。 Her updates quickly went viral， inspiring millions of followers around the globe who offered positive thoughts and virtual prayers， and danced each day to Nick’s hit song Live Your Life。 When Nick passed away after 94 grueling days in the ICU， the world grieved for Amanda and her family’s devastating loss。
Live Your Life is her and Nick’s story: of their love and fairy-tale marriage， of the disease that quickly upended it， of the fight for Nick’s survival—those sudden tragic months that permanently changed her world and ours—of her grief and how she came to terms with his death， of keeping Nick’s memory alive for Elvis and the world。 Offering courage and inspiration to anyone coping with overwhelming loss and written with her sister Anna Kloots who was with her every step of this journey， Amanda’s story is a thoughtful and poignant reflection on love， hope， motherhood， and the power of community in times of hardship。 In sharing her experience， she shows us that， through positivity and community， even the most impossible circumstances can be endured。
Live Your Life includes 16 pages of color photos exclusive to the book。
In the early spring of 2020， Broadway star and Tony Award nominee Nick Cordero was hospitalized for what he and his wife， Amanda Kloots， believed was a severe case of pneumonia。 Entering Cedars-Sinai， there was no indication that Nick—a young man in the prime of life with no pre-existing conditions—would never return home。 Diagnosed with Covid-19， this rising star—who only a few days earlier was the picture of health—soon deteriorated。 Suffering a series of complications – minor heart attacks， an amputation， sepsis—he was kept alive for weeks， hooked to a ventilator， bypass machines， dialysis， and a specialized heart-lung bypass machine。
Staying strong for Nick and their infant son， Elvis， Amanda shared their journey on social media， documenting Nick’s condition and the risks of Covid-19 for all ages。 Her updates quickly went viral， inspiring millions of followers around the globe who offered positive thoughts and virtual prayers， and danced each day to Nick’s hit song Live Your Life。 When Nick passed away after 94 grueling days in the ICU， the world grieved for Amanda and her family’s devastating loss。
Live Your Life is her and Nick’s story: of their love and fairy-tale marriage， of the disease that quickly upended it， of the fight for Nick’s survival—those sudden tragic months that permanently changed her world and ours—of her grief and how she came to terms with his death， of keeping Nick’s memory alive for Elvis and the world。 Offering courage and inspiration to anyone coping with overwhelming loss and written with her sister Anna Kloots who was with her every step of this journey， Amanda’s story is a thoughtful and poignant reflection on love， hope， motherhood， and the power of community in times of hardship。 In sharing her experience， she shows us that， through positivity and community， even the most impossible circumstances can be endured。
Live Your Life includes 16 pages of color photos exclusive to the book。
Reviews
Jessica
，
An absolutely heartbreaking， yet inspiring story of Broadway star turned entrepreneur/talk host whose husband， Nick Cordero， spent 85 days in the ICU after feeling fatigued。 The 41-year-old was healthy and had no underlying conditions， yet he got COVID-19 and he became sicker and sicker。 Trying to remain upbeat and positive for their son， Amanda tries to navigate the health care system in a time when nothing is certain and no one has concrete answers。 She becomes known worldwide as she sings Nic An absolutely heartbreaking， yet inspiring story of Broadway star turned entrepreneur/talk host whose husband， Nick Cordero， spent 85 days in the ICU after feeling fatigued。 The 41-year-old was healthy and had no underlying conditions， yet he got COVID-19 and he became sicker and sicker。 Trying to remain upbeat and positive for their son， Amanda tries to navigate the health care system in a time when nothing is certain and no one has concrete answers。 She becomes known worldwide as she sings Nick's original song， Live Your Life， live on Instagram every day at 3 pm， and celebrities and ordinary people reach out to help。 Ultimately， Nick succumbed to the vurus， but Amanda cherishes the time they had together and continues to look for the silver lining in the good and bad things that the world challenges us with on a daily basis。 I could not put this book down！ 。。。more
Lindsey R
，
Wow。 This was heartbreaking but I had followed their story throughout the pandemic。 Amanda opened up about behind the scenes and how she managed to stay positive。 She’s an inspiration！
Renee
，
This book was equal parts beautiful， heartbreaking and inspiring。 We should all have someone in our lives who loves and fights for us like Amanda Kloots did for her beloved husband Nick Cordero。
Amy S
，
I think this book tells the story of her family， loss， positivity， struggles， and love very well。 It kept my attention and I finished it quickly。 I follow Amanda on Instagram and her positivity through this tragedy is truly inspiring。 I couldn’t help but think of the privileged situation she had。 I wish her story had ended differently， but the loss， struggles， and hopefully the good of people wanting to help transcends to so many。
Beth
，
I generally don’t read nonfiction， but I could not put this book down。 I followed Nick and Amanda’s story as it was happening last year， and they were always a reminder to me of why it was so important to follow covid guidelines。 I was in a world where I felt isolated and frustrated， but I watched Amanda’s Instagram daily for updates and felt connected to them and everyone following their story。 This was a continuation of that。 This book was a beautiful tribute to Nick and his story。 I am so gla I generally don’t read nonfiction， but I could not put this book down。 I followed Nick and Amanda’s story as it was happening last year， and they were always a reminder to me of why it was so important to follow covid guidelines。 I was in a world where I felt isolated and frustrated， but I watched Amanda’s Instagram daily for updates and felt connected to them and everyone following their story。 This was a continuation of that。 This book was a beautiful tribute to Nick and his story。 I am so glad that I was ableto read their story。 It did involve a lot of Kleenex。 I think it is also a great read to think about what the last year and a half meant and for all of us to mourn what was lost but to be thankful for what we gained。 I love Amanda and Anna’s positivity and always looking for the silver linings。 It helped me to do the same。 。。。more
Claudia
，
What an extraordinary story， what an extraordinary book。 It broke my heart and made me laugh all at the same time。
Patricia Schroeder
，
I highly recommend the audio version of this book。 I was following Amanda Kloots’s Instagram during this journey with Nick and Elvis and learned more details in the book。 I was inspired by her positivity even in the bleakest of times。 I love how her faith and family are so important to her。 Nick would be so proud of Amanda！
Michelle "Champ"
，
I am going to warn you one thing， have a tissue handy。 Amanda tells of a story of love， devotion， dedication， and fear of Covid-19。 Being a fan of Nick's Waitress role， I followed this story online as it was unfolding， and the story Amanda told us then was sad。。。。here she elaborates on the events you told us about on Instagram and we see her fear， her desire to make all the right decisions and her faith in God。 This is a beautiful tribute to Nick。 I am going to warn you one thing， have a tissue handy。 Amanda tells of a story of love， devotion， dedication， and fear of Covid-19。 Being a fan of Nick's Waitress role， I followed this story online as it was unfolding， and the story Amanda told us then was sad。。。。here she elaborates on the events you told us about on Instagram and we see her fear， her desire to make all the right decisions and her faith in God。 This is a beautiful tribute to Nick。 。。。more
Bigi Sann
，
Decided to listen to this on Audible so I could hear Amanda Kloots read her own story。 It was heartbreaking and beautiful。
Laura
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After rooting for Nick and his family last year， I knew I would want to read this book， so I preordered it and read it the week it was released。 It was better written than I expected （as I knew the co-authors were first-timers）。 The disease was so new when all this happened and no one knew for certain how best to treat it。 There were two main doctors involved with Nick's care that exemplified two ends of the spectrum: Dr。 Welch was more realistic/pessimistic and Dr。 Ng was more realistic/optimis After rooting for Nick and his family last year， I knew I would want to read this book， so I preordered it and read it the week it was released。 It was better written than I expected （as I knew the co-authors were first-timers）。 The disease was so new when all this happened and no one knew for certain how best to treat it。 There were two main doctors involved with Nick's care that exemplified two ends of the spectrum: Dr。 Welch was more realistic/pessimistic and Dr。 Ng was more realistic/optimistic。 Amanda is a true optimist by nature and wanted to believe that there was a chance her husband would survive， so she gravitated more toward Dr。 Ng。 One of my takeaways is that she and Nick's family members learned how to pay attention to details， like levels of medications and numbers on the machines， but didn't realize the big picture until nearer to the end。 。。。more
Mindy
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I have some mixed feelings about this book。 I learned about Amanda Kloots and her family from Instagram when her husband became one of the first public young faces of Covid。 I’ve followed her ever since and was excited to read her book。 Things I liked:I listened to the audio version， which， at times， was absolutely heartbreaking。 The pain and devastation you can hear in her voice so many times was gut-wrenching。 While it was often painful， listening to her tell her own story was also very enjoya I have some mixed feelings about this book。 I learned about Amanda Kloots and her family from Instagram when her husband became one of the first public young faces of Covid。 I’ve followed her ever since and was excited to read her book。 Things I liked:I listened to the audio version， which， at times， was absolutely heartbreaking。 The pain and devastation you can hear in her voice so many times was gut-wrenching。 While it was often painful， listening to her tell her own story was also very enjoyable as she talked about some of the happier moments- times with family， her days in New York， etc。 I liked a lot of the anecdotes and stories of how her friends and family were there for her。 Going back to the beginning of Covid in her eyes and hearing how it impacted people all over so differently was very interesting。 She seems to have an amazing family and the times she spent with Todd and Anna were a heartwarming bright spot in the middle of tragedy。 Things I didn’t love:While those who followed her Instagram would know， we were under an impression， though never explicitly stated， that she was unable to visit or be with Nick due to all of the Covid restrictions。 You learn from the book that she was actually given special treatment and was permitted to visit him quite regularly。 And while she attempts to mention that she knows this was a privilege， that is often undermined by her words and actions。 While many people would have been so grateful to visit a dying family member even once， she is quite frustrated by the length and frequency of her often daily visits。 There is a scene where both she and her sister are loudly singing， dancing， and playing music for Nick in the ICU， remarking on what a sad place it is and that they should form a pep squad to cheer everyone up。 All I could think about was how many families could only communicate with hospitalized loved ones via phones or iPads held up by the hospital staff， never getting to see or speak to their loved ones。 They all likely would have welcomed the opportunity to cheer their own loved ones。 This sense of privilege and perhaps insensitivity didn’t strike me at the beginning of the book but it became very prevalent and a bit off-putting as it went one。 While her husband was dying， she was consistently gifted with things- a home to use from an unnamed celebrity wife， Malibu beach house vacations， gourmet meal trains from Sarah Michelle Gellar， and an lucrative Go Fund Me that paid to refinish her home。 While she was always very grateful about these things， this very comfortable lifestyle doesn’t ring true for most people who have lost a loved one to Covid or any other long-term illness。 I think if he editor had helped to finesse some of those parts， it may have been better？ It just got a little heavy at times。That certainly doesn’t diminish the sadness and tragedy she and Nick endured。 To hear of his struggle is truly heartbreaking。 。。。more
Lia k
，
This book is beautiful and so needed for anyone questioning how to face all that life throws at you。 I fully recommend it to anyone facing challenge， has gone through loss， or just needs a way to shift yourself out of a negative thinking。 It's empowering， compassionate， and so very human。 This book is beautiful and so needed for anyone questioning how to face all that life throws at you。 I fully recommend it to anyone facing challenge， has gone through loss， or just needs a way to shift yourself out of a negative thinking。 It's empowering， compassionate， and so very human。 。。。more
Michelle
，
Dear GOD， this book was written SO beautifully。I highly recommend the audio book。Full review to come。Thank you so very much to Libro FM for allowing me to be an ALC Influencer and getting to listen to this as soon as it was released！ 5 ⭐️。
Jess Bowden
，
The storytelling was very good but the writing had a lot of grammatical errors。 I would’ve given it a 5 if it was written better。 The use of the word “that” drove me nuts。
Molly
，
I followed Amanda and Nick’s Covid journey while it was unfolding and I knew this memoir would be both heartbreaking and inspiring。 Loved listening to Amanda read the audiobook。 Thank you for my complimentary copy Libro FM！
Mariss
，
Could not put this book down once I started reading it。 It somehow wraps so much positivity， beauty， kindness， and inspiration into one of the most tragic stories to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic。 Through such a traumatic event in her life， Amanda Kloots and Anna Kloots’ book shows us the power of sticking by those you love， remaining positive， and never losing hope。 Highly recommend giving this book your time， you definitely will not regret it。 Filled with so many beautiful life lessons。 ❤️
Mallory
，
I am equal parts emotionally gutted and full of hope after finishing this book。 I followed Amanda and her family’s story as it happened last year， and fell in love with her infectious energy despite the trauma she endured。 Reading this book opened my eyes to the details we never knew， there was so much more to the story。 I couldn’t put this down。 What an incredible family and community。 Amanda is truly one of a kind and I’m so thankful she shared their story。
Jamie Spinato
，
I remember seeing Amanda Kloots for the first time on Instagram pleading for prayers for her husband， Nick Cordero， in April 2020。 I remember it so vividly because hearing about Nick’s complications from Covid made me even more worried about my parents’ wellbeing。 At the time， the CDC stated that only those who were elderly or had any underlying conditions had to worry。 Nick was 41 years old and healthy， with no previous health conditions。 Nevertheless， the news was telling us one thing; Amanda I remember seeing Amanda Kloots for the first time on Instagram pleading for prayers for her husband， Nick Cordero， in April 2020。 I remember it so vividly because hearing about Nick’s complications from Covid made me even more worried about my parents’ wellbeing。 At the time， the CDC stated that only those who were elderly or had any underlying conditions had to worry。 Nick was 41 years old and healthy， with no previous health conditions。 Nevertheless， the news was telling us one thing; Amanda was telling us Nick’s story。In preordering this book， I planned to read it in one sitting once I received the package。 But， instead， it took me five days to finish the book。 Stretching this book out longer was simply because of Amanda’s positivity。 While I knew the outcome of Nick’s long battle with Covid complications， I think I kept reading with the same hope that I had back in April that Nick would wake up and go home to be with Amanda and Elvis。 Throughout the pages of this book you can feel Amanda’s positivity radiate off every word。 Even with knowing what the end would be， I still held out hope for a different ending。 That’s what Amanda does。 She keeps you looking at the bright side of the road。 Don’t think that this book will have you feeling depressed。 Read this book when you need reminding on how wonderful life can be and how everything has a purpose。 Amanda reminds us that while Nick’s death may seem like an unhappy ending， all the events that occurred throughout allowed for friends and family to be together， Nick’s dreams to come true， and for the world to heal through positivity。 Nick’s original song， “Live Your Life，” helped to remind the whole world to do just that。 。。。more
Sarah Aslan
，
Devastatingly sad， but equally inspirational and uplifting。 Amanda’s courage during the scariest time is something to behold。 Loved this book— what a gift she has left to her son。
Janet C。Geller
，
“Code Rocky” Achieved！Nick had people around the world lined up and applauding as he heroically fought Covid and beat it for over 3 months。 He became an acclaimed world wide star after all。 This book affirms all kinds of love including that also real and true kind that happens in this age of social media。
Samantha
，
After following Amanda for years and watching her stories daily this book ha dms in tears in the stories we never knew but we thought we all knew from watching her lives。
Angie Hahn
，
Highly recommend listening to Amanda Kloots read this story that she lived - heartbreaking and very inspiring at the same time。
Jenni
，
This book is a gift of grief and hope。 Much of the story will resonate with anyone who has experienced loosing a loved one。
Brit Boone
，
Warning， this will make you cry， especially if you listen to the audiobook。 I know that a lot of people have reservations about this story because it is so soon after COVID-19， but as someone who went through COVID herself and watched her husband battle with it for 4 months， I found Live Your Life a honest telling of how tough it is to battle this devastating virus。 I found myself bawling my eyes out sitting at my desk at work as I listened to Amanda's heart wrenching sobs as she told about loos Warning， this will make you cry， especially if you listen to the audiobook。 I know that a lot of people have reservations about this story because it is so soon after COVID-19， but as someone who went through COVID herself and watched her husband battle with it for 4 months， I found Live Your Life a honest telling of how tough it is to battle this devastating virus。 I found myself bawling my eyes out sitting at my desk at work as I listened to Amanda's heart wrenching sobs as she told about loosing the love of her life。 More than that though， I laughed， I celebrated， and listened in awe as she talked about how friends， family， and strangers all came together to help her， Nick， and Elvis during this devastating journey。 。。。more
Katie
，
After following this in real time last spring/summer it was even more heartbreaking， poignant and at the same time inspiring， to hear the whole story from Amanda and Anna。 Beautifully written。❤️
JanEyre9
，
This is a really hard book to review。 I love Amanda Kloots。 I follow her on Instagram and always find joy in her AK thoughts of the day， musical mornings with Elvis， and reminders about how we should be grateful to move our bodies every day。 Her positivity and honesty are inspiring and I admire her for sharing her covid journey with the world to spread information and awareness。 The best parts of this book involve openness。 Kloots gives lots of inner details about Nick's sickness， their courtshi This is a really hard book to review。 I love Amanda Kloots。 I follow her on Instagram and always find joy in her AK thoughts of the day， musical mornings with Elvis， and reminders about how we should be grateful to move our bodies every day。 Her positivity and honesty are inspiring and I admire her for sharing her covid journey with the world to spread information and awareness。 The best parts of this book involve openness。 Kloots gives lots of inner details about Nick's sickness， their courtship and marriage， her extended family， being a mother and a sister， and Canyon living。 It's unquestionably interesting and warm and makes you feel like you know everyone involved。 Kloots also doesn't spare us from any of the darker moments which takes a lot of courage and feels selfless。 However， I felt uncomfortable for much of this book。 Even though picking up a celebrity memoir is asking for that inner glimpse and even though when it is written by the actual celebrity they are inviting you over， this felt almost too voyeuristic to me。 Having watched Amanda and Nick's journey on Instagram and experiencing that daily emotional roller coaster this felt too soon and painful to relive， even as a stranger。 Maybe because I knew there could be no happy ending， it hurt my heart most of the time。 That said it is a beautiful tribute to Nick and I admire Amanda and Anna even more now than I did before。 I would recommend this with the caveat that it will gut you， especially the audio read by Amanda。 。。。more
Jessica Barak
，
This is a beautiful， heartbreaking story of love， life， grief and more importantly faith。 Amanda’s strength， optimism and fearless faith is incredibly inspiring。
Claire Bautch
，
Everyone needs to read this book！ Everyone needs to read this book！ I have tears in my eyes as I write this review， both out of deep sadness and true joy and gratitude to be alive。 Amanda Kloots lost her husband LESS than a year ago to COVID-19， and throughout the busiest year of her life she somehow managed to write a book telling the story of his life and his battle with this terrible disease。 Although this book will undoubtedly make you cry， it is also a breath of fresh air and a reminder of Everyone needs to read this book！ Everyone needs to read this book！ I have tears in my eyes as I write this review， both out of deep sadness and true joy and gratitude to be alive。 Amanda Kloots lost her husband LESS than a year ago to COVID-19， and throughout the busiest year of her life she somehow managed to write a book telling the story of his life and his battle with this terrible disease。 Although this book will undoubtedly make you cry， it is also a breath of fresh air and a reminder of what true love （in all its forms） looks like。 As a nurse and someone who has experienced death in both my personaI and professional lives， I feel that Amanda perfectly portrays the complexities of death and dying in a hospital setting - there are so many difficulty decisions to be made， a lot of people with different personalities and opinions are involved， and it can all be so frustrating （especially during a pandemic）。 I hope you’re convinced to read this story - it touched me in so many ways and reminded me of why I do what I do and of my purpose in life！ 。。。more
Quinlan
，
I had followed Amanda Kloots' journey through the worst of times when I heard about Nick's hospitalisation。 It was his youth， vitality and strength taken by this disease that was so shocking to me。 And I kept up-to-date every day， praying with so many others that he would pull through。 Beat it！Soon， my attention moved to Amanda and her plight through this。 The only thing I remember thinking was， Lordy。 Amanda is a strong woman， no BS here， straightforward， ensuring there was never a hopeless mom I had followed Amanda Kloots' journey through the worst of times when I heard about Nick's hospitalisation。 It was his youth， vitality and strength taken by this disease that was so shocking to me。 And I kept up-to-date every day， praying with so many others that he would pull through。 Beat it！Soon， my attention moved to Amanda and her plight through this。 The only thing I remember thinking was， Lordy。 Amanda is a strong woman， no BS here， straightforward， ensuring there was never a hopeless moment。 She was finding light in every moment fighting for her family。 I felt empathy， compassion， awe， wonder， terror， anger， and fear for her。 And quite often， disbelief that one person could stay this strong and motivated when life was so unbelievably cruel。 She climbed my Instagram algorithm quickly and subsequently became the first person allocated to my story feed， and she has remained there ever since。 I followed her singing， dancing， crying and laughing through some of the most life-affirming moments that any person can imagine。I pre-ordered this book in Audible because I wanted to hear her tell it to me。 I wanted her words to be in my ears in her voice。 But， boy， am I glad and devastated that I made that choice。 I was sobbing before the epilogue even finished。 I had to pause it and walk the room and get myself ready to continue。 I listened every chance I got， and last night at bedtime， I got to chapter 13。 Rookie Audible Mistake - most unbelievably harrowing chapter right before bed！ I eventually caught some zzz's at 03。40 only because I could keep my eyes open。I have just finished the book and sang along to the closing credits like a crazy person in my classroom while grading exams。This book is nothing short of a testament to what some individuals have had to endure during this pandemic quietly， trying to survive in the worst of times。 Charles Dickens pops into my mind every time I try and write this。 'It was the best of times， and it was the worst of times。' This book showed me both sides of that coin， and Amanda Kloots， I was in awe of you before this book， but now quite simply， you are my heroine of this pandemic。 Yet， even on your darkest day， you found love and light。Please read this book; it will be one of the books that will describe this phase in our shared history the best。 WOW！ 。。。more
Cameron Adams
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