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The Stars Will Still Be There: What losing my daughter taught me about life, love and hope – a memoir
The heartbreaking but life-affirming memoir from Nicola Nuttall about her inspirational daughter Laura
Laura Nuttall was in her first term at King’s College London in 2018 when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. She was given just one year to live.
Laura decided to do something positive with every second she had left. She worked her way through the most incredible bucket list, from fishing with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer to graduating from the University of Manchester, meeting Michelle Obama to dancing on stage with Peter Kay in front of 10,000 people.
In the four years between Laura’s diagnosis and her death in May 2023, her mum, Nicola, documented every small moment of joy – and every bit of utter heartbreak. THE STARS WILL STILL BE THERE is Nicola’s gorgeous tribute to her incredibly special daughter and a life lived to the absolute fullest.
Laura Nuttall was in her first term at King’s College London in 2018 when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. She was given just one year to live.
Laura decided to do something positive with every second she had left. She worked her way through the most incredible bucket list, from fishing with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer to graduating from the University of Manchester, meeting Michelle Obama to dancing on stage with Peter Kay in front of 10,000 people.
In the four years between Laura’s diagnosis and her death in May 2023, her mum, Nicola, documented every small moment of joy – and every bit of utter heartbreak. THE STARS WILL STILL BE THERE is Nicola’s gorgeous tribute to her incredibly special daughter and a life lived to the absolute fullest.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2024
13 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 3, 2025
Heartbreaking and inspiring in equal measure.
July 13, 2024
A beautifully sad memoir of a fantastic woman, from a fantastic family, who has inspired me so much in the short time it has taken me to read this book. Thank you to Nicola for sharing these precious memories with us.
November 12, 2025
This book was so inspiring, a difficult read, but I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it must have been to write and to live. Laura sounds like an amazing person, and her life really puts mine into perspective. I really resonated with Gracie’s emotions and feelings, and how hard it must have been for her at the time.
September 5, 2024
An amazing memoir about an amazing young woman.
June 9, 2024
Whilst in her first term at university Laura Nuttall was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive and life limiting condition, after a routine Opticians’s appointment. She was determined to live her life on her own terms and to achieve and experience as much as she could in the short time she had, whilst becoming an ambassador and fund raiser for Brain Tumour Charities in order to help others.
This book is her mother’s record of the traumatic and yet uplifting events of those four years. From the lows of diagnosis and treatment to the highs of ‘bucket list’ events, it is a book that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. #BeMoreLaura
This book is her mother’s record of the traumatic and yet uplifting events of those four years. From the lows of diagnosis and treatment to the highs of ‘bucket list’ events, it is a book that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. #BeMoreLaura
October 13, 2024
Beautifully sad but so eye opening, rest in peace Laura ✨💓
November 17, 2024
🍂 The Stars Will Still Be There: a memoir 🍂
By Nicola Nuttall
Publisher: HarperElement (May 2024)
Genre: nonfiction memoir
“Laura told me that it was only when she realized she was going to die that she truly began to live”.
It’s non fiction November but truth is, I read nonfiction all year round. And more specifically memoirs. Whether they’re celebrities or just the normal lives of someone who could be my neighbour, I love learning people’s stories. And the reason why is very simple: because we at the heart of it all, we are all the same.
Some ppl dream big lives but most of us just want to feel safe, loved and part of something. And based on the hundreds of memoirs I’ve read, I would say that’s the common thread.
This book came to my attention randomly. I happened to be on X and saw something about a young girl who has cancer and was meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales. This book isn’t about Elizabeth’s story but her mother had retweeted this book which piqued my interest.
It’s Laura’s journey through brain cancer which began with the optic nerve disc swelling which (most ppl don’t know this) my son had last year. It was like hell in a basket while he underwent many tests and appointments to see if it was indeed a tumour like Laura. It was not, and while I’m grateful, in that quick synopsis , I felt a connection to their story and needed to read it.
“Stars” is Laura’s mother’s voice. It’s full of pain and gratitude. It doesn’t shy away from fights or fear. Or even flippant comments. There’s space within that talks about the ‘glass child’ and how the cancer affects everyone in the family. While the parents grieve the unnatural order of life and losing a child, it’s also Laura’s sister who has huge emotions about the pain of losing her sibling, her sister, and then losing her parents while they fight the disease.
It’s hard to read as a parent. It holds every fear of our worries. But it also shows you the strength of a parent’s love. A sibling who battled beside.
I’ll end it with this:
“Everyone dies alone. But if you mean something to someone, if you helped someone, if you loved someone, if even a single person embers you, then maybe you never really die at all”.
And with that epilogue, another person all the way in Canada knows about Laura.
By Nicola Nuttall
Publisher: HarperElement (May 2024)
Genre: nonfiction memoir
“Laura told me that it was only when she realized she was going to die that she truly began to live”.
It’s non fiction November but truth is, I read nonfiction all year round. And more specifically memoirs. Whether they’re celebrities or just the normal lives of someone who could be my neighbour, I love learning people’s stories. And the reason why is very simple: because we at the heart of it all, we are all the same.
Some ppl dream big lives but most of us just want to feel safe, loved and part of something. And based on the hundreds of memoirs I’ve read, I would say that’s the common thread.
This book came to my attention randomly. I happened to be on X and saw something about a young girl who has cancer and was meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales. This book isn’t about Elizabeth’s story but her mother had retweeted this book which piqued my interest.
It’s Laura’s journey through brain cancer which began with the optic nerve disc swelling which (most ppl don’t know this) my son had last year. It was like hell in a basket while he underwent many tests and appointments to see if it was indeed a tumour like Laura. It was not, and while I’m grateful, in that quick synopsis , I felt a connection to their story and needed to read it.
“Stars” is Laura’s mother’s voice. It’s full of pain and gratitude. It doesn’t shy away from fights or fear. Or even flippant comments. There’s space within that talks about the ‘glass child’ and how the cancer affects everyone in the family. While the parents grieve the unnatural order of life and losing a child, it’s also Laura’s sister who has huge emotions about the pain of losing her sibling, her sister, and then losing her parents while they fight the disease.
It’s hard to read as a parent. It holds every fear of our worries. But it also shows you the strength of a parent’s love. A sibling who battled beside.
I’ll end it with this:
“Everyone dies alone. But if you mean something to someone, if you helped someone, if you loved someone, if even a single person embers you, then maybe you never really die at all”.
And with that epilogue, another person all the way in Canada knows about Laura.
February 15, 2025
If there were such a thing as a seven-star read, this book would be it. I truly hope the author receives an award for this profoundly moving and well-documented work.
This is the first book that has ever made me cry while reading. It is an emotional rollercoaster—a poignant blend of unbearable sadness and grief, yet also an astonishing testament to positivity and resilience. Beautifully written by Nicola, Laura’s mother, it tells the story of Laura and her family, who created a bucket list like no other, filling Laura’s tragically shortened life with extraordinary experiences and joy.
The love and kindness from friends, family, the community, and even strangers from around the world shine through these pages. Their unwavering determination to find a cure for glioblastoma is both inspiring and humbling.
If you or a loved one has been affected by cancer, this book serves as a powerful reminder to keep the faith, remain positive, and cherish every moment. Nicola’s tenacity in researching treatments and potential cures is nothing short of remarkable. This book is not just a tribute to Laura but a guide to finding light even in the darkest times.
This is the first book that has ever made me cry while reading. It is an emotional rollercoaster—a poignant blend of unbearable sadness and grief, yet also an astonishing testament to positivity and resilience. Beautifully written by Nicola, Laura’s mother, it tells the story of Laura and her family, who created a bucket list like no other, filling Laura’s tragically shortened life with extraordinary experiences and joy.
The love and kindness from friends, family, the community, and even strangers from around the world shine through these pages. Their unwavering determination to find a cure for glioblastoma is both inspiring and humbling.
If you or a loved one has been affected by cancer, this book serves as a powerful reminder to keep the faith, remain positive, and cherish every moment. Nicola’s tenacity in researching treatments and potential cures is nothing short of remarkable. This book is not just a tribute to Laura but a guide to finding light even in the darkest times.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews