As someone who has watched many family members suffer from dementia, this book was a very poignant read. It’s honest and brave. Not to mention incredibly raw as the author shares her experience with her dad’s dementia journey.

I hope this book can bring comfort and the feeling of being a little less alone to all those with similar experiences.

WOW. This is a must read for everyone. It is such a powerful book, showing you what life is like with Dementia and the horrible things it can entail too. I feel like this is so informative and everybody should read this! Beautifully written too.

A thoughtful, thought provoking book, written by someone who has personal experience of caring for someone with dementia. A useful book.

A subject that is not easy to write about nor to read about but this book is written to help those who have been or are involved with people suffering form this dreadful illness

A beautiful but bittersweet read about a terrible disease which impacts on so many of us. While it might make for hard reading for those currently supporting a loved one suffering from dementia, it's still a valuable, useful reae.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

The title grabbed me because it is a subject very close to my heart but I have to admit that I found it difficult to engage with the book through no fault of the writer but because of the journey I am currently on with a loved one.

This book is a wonderful insight into a terrible and heartbreaking condition. I have some experience with dementia in my own family, so reading this is both affirming, comforting, saddening and inspiring. My heart goes out to the author for being strong enough to share her own experiences.

What Dementia Teaches Us About Love by Nicci Gerrard, who is one of my favourite authors, is every bit as beautiful and well-written as I had known it would be. To witness the gradual decline of someone you love is incredibly hard, so credit must go to the author for sharing her experiences of her father’s Dementia journey with others who are in equally challenging circumstances.

The book is a compilation and portrayal of facts and figures, moving stories, and personal experiences along with insights into the impacts of dementia on those it affects, in whatever capacity. It highlights the importance of art and music, detailing fascinating and touching accounts of the way responses can still be evoked when words and understanding start failing. The section on carers, which looks at the way previous relationships are affected, using both statistics and personal stories, really struck a chord. The book also shines an unforgiving spotlight on the many failures in providing support. Its pages are filled with empathy and honesty and highlights that a person with Dementia, does not cease to be a person.

The parts that demonstrate how the tiniest glimmer of light can brighten the darkest hours are an inspiration.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Penguin Books (UK) via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

This is essential reading - because you cannot live your life and not expect Dementia to bump along with you at some point. Whether it's a neighbour, a headline, a family member or yourself - this book will teach you about love and care.

Interesting read and well researched... it helped me understand my father in law’s condition and see it under a new light. Thanks to the author for this contribution.

I am ashamed to admit that I knew very little about Dementia until recently after one of my closest family members was officially diagnosed with it earlier this year. I knew of it, but needed something that will give me an insight into the illness and what we inevitably have to face in the future.

I reached for the book for re-assurance, hoping it will give me the peace of mind that it's not as bad as I think. And whereas actually yes it's a horrendous to have to go through, it's not the end of the world.

Nicci's writing is compassionate, humane and encouraging. The book is full of various stories about families and individuals affected by dementia, including her own father.

It is well written, very insightful and gives hope even in the darkest of days. If your family is affected by this savage disease or you just want to get more information about it - What Dementia Teaches Us About Love is the one to pick up.

Emotional but necessary. I consider this a must read.

My father had dementia and this book helped me understand a little of what he must have been going through, very touching.

To have such a respected writer share her thoughts and experiences in this novel was touching and engaging. It provided an endearing balance from using and interesting facts about the disease, its progression and the impact it has on the person and their family, but more also the personal reflections not just from Gerrard, but others that have family members that have lived with dementia too.

Some of the friends are also writers that gives it an added relatable brave and honest depiction. Whilst the nature of the disease is saddening, there was very much a message about the positive approaches to be had when living with dementia, so that the focus is on what you can do, not what you can no longer do. This includes the power of emotion so that someone even if they cannot necessarily make sense of what is going on around them may feel safer, happier and calmer for having someone or somethings that are familiar around them.

Gerrard's natural writing talents allow this book to flow, something not always easy when the book is factual. It is a fairly quick read given the subject matter that is covered and not so long that it becomes a chore. Practical, humane and inspiring it will provide insight and a support to many a reader.

This book is such a stunning and heart-breaking read but one that everyone should pick up and read. Nicci Gerrard takes us through the stages of her father’s dementia – from the early stages right through to death. She is so honest about his symptoms and how it affected her and the rest of their family. We need to talk about about these things and this book is such a brilliant opening to starting this discussion with your own family. I lost my mum to cancer but part of that was a brain tumour that caused her to lose who she was and who I was so I have some sense of what it must be like to have a loved one with dementia. It’s so hard to lose someone in slow motion. I remember as a child my mum had an elderly aunt who had dementia and how distressed she found it every time she visited. This was in a time when no one really talked about it and that just always makes it worse when you can’t talk and don’t know anyone else who’s experienced it. This is why we need books like this. There are facts and figures about dementia throughout the book, as well as stories from other sufferers and their families. It’s all woven together in such a way that even though it’s harrowing to think about you just don’t want to put the book down. I highly recommend this one.

Not an easy read, but one well worth the effort to engage with what is, for most people I expect, a difficult area to even contemplate. Written with Nicci Gerard's typical clear=eyed style, it pulls no punches about the life-changing effects of dementia for everyone involved. I came away feeling much better informed, and happily less afraid for myself or my wife should this disease affect one or both of us. Compassion and unsentimentality appear to be the key attitudes necessary to inculcate. An essential read for all of us - no-one is so far removed from ageing in themselves, friends or relatives that they would not benefit from reading this.

Beautifully written book. Covering all aspects of living and dying with dementia. Having worked as carer for many years looking after people with dementia I would highly recommend this book for anyone working in this field of care.

I've had a lot of personal experience with dementia, and so I approached this with a fair amount of trepidation. However, I've been really impressed by it. It was the perfect combination of research discussion and personal insight and stories that made it a lovely, heart-breaking story that was also informative and educational.

However, as I knew a lot about dementia, it maybe wasn't as informative for me as it would be for those who've had less experience. Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed it, and have encouraged so many friends and family to read this. It would be a fantastic read for anyone with any experience of dementia, as it would help them feel less alone i think.

Overall, I found this book surprisingly uplifting given its focus area, and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in this area.

As a dementia nurse I absolutely loved this book. It really portrayed the realities of dementia and I'll be telling all my colleagues to read it .

Now sit back and breathe!

What Dementia Teaches Us About Love by Nicci Gerrard was (Oh I need some more tissues)

This book was a challenging read for me as I am watching a family member being taken away from me due to having Dementia. I have lost other close member of my family and I just want to understand it more to help my mum. Oh Boy! This was a hard read and had to read it, it short spirts! But I am glad I did.

Nicci has beautifully written book. It was written with care and Love especially as its a very tough subject to tackle! This is a vile disease that is heart breaking to watch someone with it. Its a heart breaking read and you will need lots of tissues! So be warned.

This book is a challenging read and may effect someone you know later in life. But, you will have an understanding what Dementia is all about.

If I could give this book 10 Gold Stars I would.

Highly recommend this book and lots of tissues. - Kitchen roll in my case!

BIg thank Net Galley and Penguin books UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thus is a beautiful and honest look at what dementia is and how it effects the family. I have been through this horrible disease with my mom, my husbands dad and several aunts. I try to help others navigating the ugliness of a diagnosis. I am always looking for books that I can gift to friends who are facing a loved ones spiral into this terrible adventure. This is a great book for that. Lots of information and heartwrenching stories. I will be recommending this book to my friends who are looking for help.