The Love Project: A Journey of Intimate Conversations

by Alison van Diggelen

"The author’s deeply absorbing prose honors the complexity of real, meaningful life stories, invites empathy for those around us, and affirms that love, with all its imperfections, remains a vital and animating force in our lives. A warm tapestry of stories highlighting connection, community, and the courage it takes to live with an open heart." --KIRKUS REVIEWS.

The Love Project is already sparking conversations across communities of readers, thought leaders, and celebrities. How do we find love? How do we live and love fully? And can we find healing and purpose after loss?

In her quest to understand love and healing, Alison van Diggelen explores how empathy, self-love and personal growth can transform ordinary lives into extraordinary ones, distrust into loving intimacy, and grief into purpose. The Love Project looks at a community through the lens of love — romantic, familial, platonic -- and the quiet, yet powerful bonds we share with community and nature.

With candor and compassion, these real love stories reveal how people overcome challenges, grief, trauma, and societal prejudice. From the windswept beaches of Carmel to moments of quiet self-discovery in neighbors’ homes, each story reminds us of the human spirit’s resiliency and capacity for growth and connection.

Whether you are seeking inspiration for your own journey of self-improvement or the comfort of knowing you are not alone, The Love Project offers a gentle guide to finding love and hope, living authentically, and embracing life’s most transformative moments.

The Love Project debuted as a #1 New Release in Interpersonal Relations on Amazon and is a HOT New Release.

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2025

About the author

Alison van Diggelen is a journalist and regular contributor to the BBC. She's had intimate conversations with Oscar winners, Nobel Prize winners and tech visionaries including Meryl Streep, Paul Krugman and Richard Branson. Her interviews and reports have appeared on NPR, PBS and BBC TV.
"The Love Project, a Journey of Intimate Conversations" is Alison's first book. Imagine "Sex and the City" meets "Eat, Pray, Love." It's a celebration of all kinds of love, a gentle balm in these troubled times. Join Alison as she explores true love stories that will inspire, amuse and surprise you.
Alison believes in nurturing empathy and encouraging personal growth and enjoys exploring the complexity of human connection. She hails from Bonnie Scotland and now lives in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Learn more at The Love Project Book website and connect with her on Facebook @AlisonvanDiggelen and Instagram @alisonvand

Reviews

[Deb Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison’s timing is perfect, handily delivered in the fourth quarter of 2025. Hers is a gently incisive exploration of love’s dimensions, across the human life span. Set in storybook Carmel, it sends ripples that cover much of the world. Packed with immigrant adventures, it’s a compassionate reminder that this is precisely what has sustained the American dream - for 250 years. My own mother has been gone for decades but reading this book I felt the infinite reach of motherly love.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t recommend "The Love Project" by Alison van Diggelen highly enough! This captivating non-fiction book immerses you in a rich tapestry of love stories that truly resonate. Each narrative feels so intimate that it’s as if you’re right there, eavesdropping on heartfelt conversations. Van Diggelen’s exploration of love’s many forms is both enlightening and moving, leaving you with a profound appreciation for the diverse experiences of affection in our lives. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to understand love in all its beautiful complexities!

[Cecilia Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely journal of intimate conversations anchored in the beautiful village of Carmel felt as cozy as an indoor fireplace and sometimes as tough and raw as the weather can be in Carmel. Alison has a knack for garnering an array of stories from a range of inhabitants who disclose their hardship and struggles when asked about what love means to them. It’s a human reminder that we all strive to love, a characteristic we all possess. Sometimes it’s blunted, discarded or abused but we strive. And often with unbound success. Alison shares her interpretation of the interviews - which leaves much room for thought long after the book is read. The object of human love is as infinite as the human experience.

[Cheryl Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, Thoughtful, and Deeply Human
This is such an interesting and provocative book. Alison van Diggelen approaches each subject and story of love with unflinching honesty—whether it’s love of art, family, or work. The voices she captures span a broad spectrum of humanity and feel authentic throughout.
What especially elevates this book is her open admission that it’s subjective. She owns the fact that she’s at the stage of life when you wonder: am I becoming my parents, and if so, in what ways? That self-awareness gives the writing a rare depth.
I loved how she ends each chapter by connecting her subjects’ perspectives back to her own life. The dedication to her mother, who adds a personal, tender layer. I could almost picture them chatting over tea and sharing stories about the neighbors.
This is a book to savor. Each short chapter left me pausing to reflect.The Love Project: A Journey of Intimate ConversationsAlison van Diggelen

[Kirsten Osorio · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Love Project by Alison van Diggelen is a book that will open your heart and expand your world. I found myself inspired to look more closely at my own community and neighbors and to begin to share stories, struggles, and triumphs happening right beside me every day.

Van Diggelen has a gift for describing her subjects with such tenderness and clarity that you can see them. Each story feels so alive. I was moved by the way she captured a gesture, a memory, or a moment of courage and vulnerability. Her own healing journey is woven throughout the book, making the entire project even more meaningful.

The city of Carmel-by-the-Sea becomes its own character. She creates a living, breathing presence that infuses every chapter. Carmel’s geography, architecture, quiet corners, and sense of belonging all shape its unique community.

This book left me feeling uplifted and connected, and it reminded me to pay attention to the beauty of nature and the people who surround us. A beautiful and inspiring read.

[Jennifer J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison's amazing talent of conducting great, engaging interviews is put to a new use in this charming and insightful book which is also a love letter to a very special part of the world: Carmel, CA. If you have never been, this book will give you a wonderful feel for the vibe of this lovely hamlet on the Central Coast of California...and if you HAVE been, you will want to go back to dig deeper and see some of the places/people that are highlighted in the book.
I highly recommend this book as one you read a bit at a time to let the stories seep in over time...each story is very unique and leaves the reader with an urge to absorb and see what resonates with their own live experiences...
Can't want to go back to Carmel to experience the town in a very different way, knowing more about the people who are behind the scenes and living their lives...

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison van Diggelen's superpower as a journalist and interviewer is gently coaxing out her subjects' most candid, heartfelt, and raw thoughts and feelings. She does this by being present, honest, and vulnerable with them. The result is an inspiring and aspirational look at love–for others and for ourselves. I enjoyed walking with van Diggelen as she explored her own doubts and fears. Her insights have given me the courage to start to explore my own. Carmel makes for a beautiful setting, but the lessons and insights from this book extend beyond its borders, offering helpful guidance for all of us to take to heart in this age of polarization and contempt.

[Nancy Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful collection of stories is as heart-warming as it is honest. Alison van Diggelen’s curiosity and skill as an interviewer bring forth stories from a diverse array of Carmel-area residents and workers, but it’s her compassion that allows these stories to shine and resonate. Throughout the collection, she is vulnerable and open about her own personal struggles, weaving her story into those of the people she interviews and sharing how she draws strength and healing from them. This is a love letter to Carmel, yes, but also to the human spirit. A lovely read!

[Pamela]

At the local Independent Bookstore in Los Gatos Beyond Text
Sunday, January 25th 2026, at 1 PM

a book talk & signing with Alison van Diggelen, author of The Love Project.

This book grew out of deeply personal conversations about love — romantic, familial, complicated, unexpected. Alison spent years talking to people around the world about how love shapes us, challenges us, and sometimes completely rewrites our lives. The result is thoughtful, honest, and quietly powerful.

Come listen, ask questions, meet the author, and get your copy signed.
Free event. All are welcome.

[Lisa Lubliner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison van Diggelen weaves together intimate portraits of people’s lives with tenderness and respect. From Carmel to faraway places, the voices she captures feel vivid and real. The book reminded me of how much courage it takes to share our truths, and how healing it can be when those stories are heard. Each chapter offers a window into resilience, vulnerability, and the many ways love shapes our lives. It’s a heartfelt celebration of connection and the power of listening.

[M.A. Suchecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van Diggelen has the interviewer’s talent of bringing the subject to life. Every person she talks to is rendered with vivid detail. The result is that the reader cares about every subject. I couldn’t put it down, because each subject left me wanting more. Van Diggelen’s style is wonderful, easy to read and captivating. Her compassion shines through and she really cares deeply for each subject. From the cleaning lady to the mayor, each person is treated with respect and dignity. I highly recommend The Love Project.

[Karen Ashby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gem! A thoughtful peek behind the picturesque postcard at the people who make up a community. The author skillfully weaves her own personal story with honest and vulnerable narratives of love from members of her adopted hometown. I felt a strong connection with so many of the stories that were shared. It was hard to pick a favorite.

[Kj · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of portraits of love by an author who observes keenly and empathetically. Van diggelen’s descriptions are colorful and insightful, enabling the reader to feel present in the room as she uncovers these intimate relationships. It’s a reminder of what it’s important and essential in these troubling times.

[Carole Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read, The Love Project expands our perspective on love in all its complexity. With tenderness and vulnerability, Alison van Diggelin brings us stories that reveal love’s resilience, fragility, and surprising forms. It is a luminous collection that lingers, inviting us to notice and cherish the love woven through our own lives.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nourishing our longing for connection through personal conversations about love, grief, growth and healing

[Trina Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazing I know I will read it a second time!

[Cherryll Sevy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written book. I loved each honest, heartwarming personal love story of these fascinating residents living in a small California coastal community. The joy, pain, and vulnerability were shared sensitively by the author. Her experience as a journalist gives her writing a refined clarity in these tender conversations about love and the community they love. These stories also explore the layers of lives in the seemingly idyllic wealthy village of Carmel. I highly recommend this book to warm your heart and renew your spirit.