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A truly moving and beautifully written book.
Love, Labour and Loss is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it. Ms writes with such honesty, emotion and humanity that the stories and experiences within it feel incredibly personal and deeply relatable.
Having had the privilege of being taught by Ms myself, I’ve always known her to be someone with a remarkable ability to connect with people, and that comes through so strongly in her writing. There is a real sense of heart behind every page, and the book captures the complexities of love, work, loss and the experiences that shape us as people.
What makes this particularly special for me is seeing someone I knew as a teacher put so much of herself into something so meaningful. It’s a wonderful achievement, and one she should be incredibly proud of.
A heartfelt, thought-provoking and beautifully crafted book. Absolutely worth reading.
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What can I say about Mrs Gotheridge’s ‘Love, Labour and Loss’
This book has definitely given me a new perspective on life . So many relatable chapters. As soon as I saw the chapter ‘First one to the sea: Part 2’ all the memories from primary school came flooding back, the memories of the year 6 seaside adventure, the dedicated memory of the best headteacher any student could ask for. Mrs Gotheridge I’m so pleased you followed your dream and so grateful to be given such a wonderful book!
This book definitely pulls on your heart strings
Me and mum will treasure it forever
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A heart on your sleeve account of one lady's trials and tribulations throughout her life and the moments that helped her make profound changes to help carry her through reflected in the small but significant acts of kindness of others
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Wow what an amazing read .i couldn’t put it down until I finished it !
After working in education for so many years and being so busy reading school policies .. it was the first proper book I’d read in years !
Short grippy chapters - I saw so much of my life mirrored in what Jo wrote-about
School life, personal life ,bereavement
And life with undiagnosed ADHD
I totally recommend this book and have been re-reading chapters too
Total therapy
Amazing book
Thank Jo
A must read !
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This is an open and deeply personal account of one woman’s journey through teaching, motherhood, loss, mental health difficulties and, ultimately, towards a greater understanding of herself.
What struck me particularly was the honesty with which the author looks back over the different stages of her life and career. From the demands and rewards of nearly thirty years in education to the very personal experiences of miscarriage, motherhood, menopause and a later diagnosis of ADHD, she is willing to share experiences that many women will recognise but may not always find easy to talk about.
I was particularly moved by her reflections on caring for an elderly parent: the guilt our consciences can inflict on us, however much we are doing, and the complicated emotions that accompany that responsibility. Her account of losing her mother, and of the grief that followed, was one of the parts of the book that resonated most strongly with me.
At its heart, this is a hopeful book. It is about reaching a crossroads, looking back at the life that has brought you there, and beginning to understand yourself differently. I imagine it will resonate particularly strongly with women who have spent much of their lives caring, working and meeting the needs and expectations of others, only to find themselves asking, somewhere around midlife, “What about me?”
A courageous and generous account of a life lived through love, work, loss and change.
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Finding Light in Loss: A Deeply Reflective Look at Joanna Greaves's Hopeful Memoir
When I first began reading Love, Labour and Loss, I expected a memoir centered entirely on grief. While the book certainly embraces bereavement, I quickly discovered that it is far richer and more expansive than its title implies. Greaves looks beyond the pain of loss to explore the fundamental pillars of our existence: love, friendship, resilience, and the patient process of rebuilding purpose after a crisis.
What impressed me most is Greaves's remarkable ability to uncover profound meaning in ordinary experiences. A house overflowing with inherited books becomes a meditation on legacy. Family photographs prompt reflections on memory and accepting both joyful and painful seasons of life. A day at the seaside evolves into a moving reflection on remembrance. These observations elevate the book beyond a straightforward autobiography, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives.
The book explores universal themes through deeply personal stories. Greaves recounts her mother's peaceful final days with tenderness and gratitude, illustrating how compassionate caregiving shapes the grieving process. She reflects on those steadfast "winter friends" who remain faithful during dark seasons, shares how school bullying strengthened her resolve to protect vulnerable children as a teacher, and describes how an observant neighbor helped her heal following a stroke. Because the collection explores such an incredibly vast landscape of human experiences, each narrative naturally prompts you to look inward and ponder the distinct chapters and transitional phases of your own journey.
Even as the text delves into the sobering depths of relational trauma and physical decline, in the end it carries a quiet confidence that healing is indeed possible. Her Christian faith gently informs her perspective without becoming didactic, allowing readers from many backgrounds to appreciate her insights. The conversational style and short chapters make the essays easy to digest, showcasing the practical wisdom she brings to personal growth. And by integrating deliberate artwork into every story, the book delivers a richer experience where the visual motifs and the prose gracefully elevate one another. Ultimately, Love, Labour and Loss is a celebration of the ordinary moments that quietly transform us, proving that great losses can become starting points for renewed hope.
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Loved this heartfelt and uplifting read! Every chapter - or ‘episode’ as the author calls them - relates to a different part of Joanna’s life, and speaks to a different part of the reader as a consequence. Topics range widely and are shared with humour and relatability.
Particular favourite chapters were Those Who Walk by Your Side on the Path (about friendship); Nature’s Voice (symbolism in nature); and The Life of a Duracell Bunny (a look at a later-in-life ADHD diagnosis).
A great memoir of loss, hope and renewal.
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For saying this is Joanna's first published book it is thought provoking and sensitively written about so many different aspects of life that we all may experience in one way or another. You definitely find yourself resonating with the words on the page which are perfectly formed and finds you wanting to read another chapter. A particular favourite chapter is 'Those who walk by your side on the path' as this rings true for many different friendships over the years and I could easily fit people into the differing seasons. A great analogy!
Looking forward to her next book....
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