Book Review: Hello, I Love You

There’s something inexplicably powerful about an autobiography; the authority of the personal pronoun (and of course, a heart-wrenching narrative) is profound. ‘Hello, I Love You‘ is no exception. It is a memoir of truly personal and, more often than not, painful experiences for Ted Kluck and his wife, Kristin.

In all honesty, I wasn’t sure how I would fair with this book when I first held it in my hands. The author – male. The perspective – male. And the author’s occupation as a sports journalist – probably as ‘male’ as you can get. But it was the book’s subject that interested me most: international adoption.

I was more than pleasantly surprised when, page after page, I was met with a very casual style of writing and a sense of humour which (literally) had me laughing out loud in all the right places. It was refreshingly honest and – more significantly – approachable. I felt an instant connection with the Klucks, and each bump in their emotional and spiritual journey was relatable.

The book is separated into two sections, the first is an account of their decision to adopt a little boy from Ukraine, interjected with a series of love letters penned by Ted to his future son, Tristan. The second, much like a personal journal, portrays a heavier series of events and the couple’s inevitable struggles with despair as they face infertility and a second adoption process.

Ted is bold in discussing the nitty-gritty aspects of infertility; how it affected their marriage, his role as a provider, his dreams, his relationship with friends and his view of the Church. He speaks about their desire to not push people away, but inadvertently doing so because it seemed as though everyone around them was so ‘fertile’. Hearing these emotions from a different (even male) perspective was reassuring; knowing that there are others who have felt the very real pangs of childlessness.

And so, while contemplating adoption as a possible option for the future, this book has been vital to understanding the mechanics and emotional aspects of the process. Ted and Kristin were put through their paces financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually. There were times when it looked as though the adoption wouldn’t be successful, when there wasn’t enough money, and when they just didn’t have the strength to carry on. Each time, God provided. Ted makes it abundantly clear that the journey wasn’t easy, and certainly not cheap, but the end result – he said – was worth it.

Even in the midst of their deepest pain, Ted’s style continued to flow effortlessly and each anecdote remained laced with humour. More importantly, his emotions and struggles were tangible; not afraid to write when he crying, angry, guilty, broken or sinful. All in all I would recommend this book to just about anyone. Yes, the subject is quite specific, but it helps us to also understand more of what it means to be adopted into God’s family, as well as gaining further insight into His providence, grace, love and strength even in the bleakest of circumstances.

Liked this? Read about another one of Ted’s books, Dallas and the Spitfire