"A Pocketful of Happiness" by Richard E. Grant is a delightful memoir that offers readers a glimpse into the life and career of the esteemed actor. Grant's witty and charming writing style shines through in this collection of anecdotes and reflections, making it a joy to read for fans and newcomers alike.

The book is a treasure trove of personal stories, ranging from Grant's early days as a struggling actor to his rise to fame in Hollywood. He shares candid and humorous insights into the highs and lows of his career, as well as the colorful characters he has encountered along the way.

One of the highlights of the book is Grant's ability to infuse each story with warmth and humor, creating an intimate and engaging reading experience. Whether recounting his experiences on film sets or sharing encounters with celebrities, Grant's storytelling is always engaging and relatable.

Additionally, "A Pocketful of Happiness" offers a glimpse into Grant's personal life, including his relationships, family, and passion for the arts. His vulnerability and honesty shine through in these passages, allowing readers to connect with him on a deeper level.

Overall, "A Pocketful of Happiness" is a charming and heartwarming memoir that is sure to bring a smile to readers' faces. Richard E. Grant's self-deprecating humor and genuine warmth make this book a delightful and engaging read that will leave you with a sense of joy and contentment.

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

I've been a fan of Richard E. Grant for as long as I can remember, so I immediately requested this book when it came up. I was so happy to see it, that I didn't even bother to read the description.

That was both a good thing and a bad thing.

Good, because I got to read about the amazing wife I knew nothing about, but bad in that I had to lose her just after getting to know her.

Grant's love for his wife shines so clearly through the pages that I feel like I lost a dear friend as well.

"Once you've stepped off the running machine, it's suddenly clear where you're actually standing and who is standing with and beside you. And who <i>ISN'T</i>."
Richard E. Grant

Thank you Mr. Grant for this gorgeous book, this intimate look into the wonderful life that was your marriage to Joan Washington [and by the end, I was so very sorry that I never had an opportunity to meet such a fantastic person] and the extremely intimate look into her illness and death. Even though I cried serious ugly tears throughout much of this book, I would read it again for the first time in a heartbeat. I would read it again for a second time right now if I was told to. It helped me with my own grief and indeed I think anyone who has dealt with grief in any way imaginable, will get something from this book, even if it is an amazingly cathartic cry.

Thank you so much for this book sir. May we all strive to find a pocketful of happiness each and every day.

Thank you to NetGalley, Richard E. Grant, and Simon and Schuster for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Because I shy away from books about death and terminal illness, I put off opening "A Pocketful of Happiness," which is largely about the final months of Richard E. Grant's wife, who died of lung cancer. But while it is about the final illness of Joan Washington, it's also a paean to their masterpiece of a marriage. And in keeping with Washington's instruction to Grant and their daughter that they find "a pocketful of happiness" in every day after her death, it's also a delightful recollection of high points in Grant's career. ("Adorable" is the only way to describe his recounting of the Oscars ceremony where he lost the Best Supporting Actor nod but finally met his idol, Barbra Streisand.) If you've read any of Grant's previous books (I loved his first memoir, "With Nails," and enjoyed his novel, "By Design"), you know he has a distinctive turn of phrase. If this is your first book by him, you're in for a treat—though like me, you're apt to read the final chapters through a blur of tears. Whether you read the book or not, be sure to hug your partner and kids, tonight and whenever possible.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

I first saw the actor Richard E. Grant in a movie called "Warlock" back in 1989 and was instantly smitten. More recently, I saw him portray the character of Bob Crachit in Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" starring Patrick Stewart as Scrooge. In both these roles Richard was tall, dark and handsome, yet evoked a certain sadness, further endearing him to me.

I knew next to nothing about this actor until reading this book, but now having done so regard him as being even more beautiful on the inside than he is on the outside. The book is comprised of a dueling timeline of diary entries telling stories about his career in the entertainment industry, while also sharing the story of his wife's diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer and their journey navigating her illness and eventual death. Theirs was a marriage whose love defied mortality, and it was she who urged Richard to "Find a Pocketful of Happiness in Each Day" after she was gone. Richard shares love letters they wrote to each other which are so touching and profound. They were in a relationship for 38 years and married just shy of 35 when wife Joan Washington (a much celebrated vocal dialect coach in the entertainment industry) died in 2021. Richard is utterly open and honest confiding his unabashed love for his wife. He is also self-deprecating in his fandom among his fellow entertainers in Hollywood, most notably his idolatry for Barbra Striesand! One can't help but be charmed by this fellow's down to earth personality. He has many stories to tell involving other actors and actresses, but there's never a snarky moment in the book. Instead, there's a joviality, a child-like wonder of it all, a great sense of humor- and mostly just being a good bloke.

Richard's detailed diary entries enlist us all on a private journey through his loving relationship with wife Joan, the turbulent road of medical treatments, hospice, death and funeral, ending with tributes from her colleagues in the entertainment industry who thought the world of her. There's even a visit from the then Prince of Wales Charles in Joan's final days. This was a lovely memoir which I highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher Simon & Schuster for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

"Academy Award-nominated actor Richard E. Grant's memoir about finding happiness in even the darkest of days.

Richard E. Grant emigrated from Swaziland to London in 1982, with dreams of making it as an actor. Unexpectedly, he met and fell in love with a renowned dialect coach Joan Washington. Their relationship and marriage, navigating the highs and lows of Hollywood, parenthood, and loss, lasted almost forty years. When Joan died in 2021, her final challenge to him was to find a "pocketful of happiness in every day."

This honest and frequently hilarious memoir is written in honor of that challenge - Richard has faithfully kept a diary since childhood, and in these entries he shares raw detail of everything he has experienced: both the pain of losing his beloved wife, and the excitement of their life together, from the role that transformed his life overnight in Withnail and I to his thrilling Oscar Award nomination thirty years later for Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Told with candor in Richard's utterly unique style, A Pocketful of Happiness is a powerful, funny, and moving celebration of life's unexpected joys."

As with his acting and his other books, I have always admired Richard E. Grant's ability to find the positive in the bleakest of times.

I've been a fan of Richard E. Grant ever since I saw him as the fanged patriarch in The Little Vampire and the irascible manager in Spice World during the late 90's. I can always pick him out in a movie and it brightens my mood whenever I spot his sweet, string bean visage. I had always thought he was English, but I learned through his memoir that he's originally from Swaziland, now known as Eswatini. I thought it was so charming that his wife affectionately called him Swaz in their correspondence and daily life. A Pocketful of Happiness was so easy to read as it was shared through intimate pages of the author's personal journal. It alternated between his wife's final days, early acting experiences, and his exciting Oscar journey in 2019.

My favorite sections were him recounting his time in the Spice Girls movie, becoming a fan favorite on the Loki television show, and all the hullabaloo surrounding his Oscar nomination. He has been in the industry for so long that he's made plenty of famous friends. His wife was also a world-renowned dialect coach who other actors would send their admiration through Richard. I liked his little snippets of celebrity interaction and it was fun to see behind the curtain. I'm sorry he had to experience the heartbreak of losing his wife, but he did share this journey in such a beautiful format. I'm honored to have read this lovely memoir by an actor that I've adored since I was a little girl. I can't wait to see his future projects because I know every role he portrays features A Pocketful of Happiness.

Since seeing him on the screen for the first time in Dracula (1992) I’ve been a fan of Richard E. Grant’s. Until reading his memoir, however, I never knew a single thing about him other than that he was immensely talented.

This is a love story, in a different form - Grant’s love for his wife shines from each page in this. The love, the struggle, the grief, the mourning which can feel like it will never abate, and, always, the continuous love. Though not an easy read, a very moving and poignant one.


Recommended, but be aware that this is triggering for those who’ve recently suffered loss.

I was not expecting how sad and cancer heavy the book was going to be! I’m glad I read it and love Richard E Grant but it was heavy. He told great stories though, his obsession with Barbra Streisand was an interesting and amusing thread. His wife sounds like she was a true partner and friend,

A Pocketful of Happiness by Richard E. Grant. Grant is a great actor and his story of meeting his wife and getting his start, along with her illness and death and his journey thru his grief is both inspiring and hard to read.

I've been a fan of Richard E. Grant for decades, but never really knew much about him beyond his obvious talent. This book changed all that, as he shared stories of his movie-making experiences, his own celebrity crushes (spoiler: her name begins with Barbra) and, most importantly, his relationship with his adored wife and their journey through her terminal illness. Beautifully written with strength and humor, this book has me reflecting on my own life and wanting to be a better person in my own relationships. Thank you, Mr. Grant, for such a gift.