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This Is Also a Love Story: A Reporter's Search for Goodness in a Cruel World
An acclaimed reporter takes us on an unforgettable journey, capturing the human capacity for love and connection against all odds.
We live in an era defined by crisis—whether it be war and displacement, climate collapse, or growing inequality, and how the powerful profit from violence and exploitation. Celebrated foreign correspondent Sally Hayden has spent her career on the frontlines, uncovering some of the darkest moments of our time. Yet even in the face of unimaginable adversity, she’s witnessed the incredible goodness of regular people.
In This Is Also a Love Story, Hayden reexamines catastrophe through the love stories she has come across. She introduces us to a mother in northeast Nigeria who risks everything to save her daughter from forced marriage to Boko Haram militants, and to a group of Syrian women who have tirelessly searched for their missing spouses and children, while launching a call for justice. We meet a couple separated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and read letters from the bereaved to the dead, still being written over a decade after the tsunami that devastated Japan. Through these stories, which crisscross the globe, from Uganda to Lebanon, Ghana, Rwanda and Iraq, she challenges us to reconsider what it means to be alive on this planet today.
What if news was recounted through the prism of the actions and decisions people take for those they love? Would it become harder to dehumanize those who seem different to us? This Is Also a Love Story dares us to recognize how innate generosity and self-sacrifice can be found in even the most difficult of times, and—as a result—to question what might be needed to create a better world.
We live in an era defined by crisis—whether it be war and displacement, climate collapse, or growing inequality, and how the powerful profit from violence and exploitation. Celebrated foreign correspondent Sally Hayden has spent her career on the frontlines, uncovering some of the darkest moments of our time. Yet even in the face of unimaginable adversity, she’s witnessed the incredible goodness of regular people.
In This Is Also a Love Story, Hayden reexamines catastrophe through the love stories she has come across. She introduces us to a mother in northeast Nigeria who risks everything to save her daughter from forced marriage to Boko Haram militants, and to a group of Syrian women who have tirelessly searched for their missing spouses and children, while launching a call for justice. We meet a couple separated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and read letters from the bereaved to the dead, still being written over a decade after the tsunami that devastated Japan. Through these stories, which crisscross the globe, from Uganda to Lebanon, Ghana, Rwanda and Iraq, she challenges us to reconsider what it means to be alive on this planet today.
What if news was recounted through the prism of the actions and decisions people take for those they love? Would it become harder to dehumanize those who seem different to us? This Is Also a Love Story dares us to recognize how innate generosity and self-sacrifice can be found in even the most difficult of times, and—as a result—to question what might be needed to create a better world.
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First published June 16, 2026
About the author
Sally Hayden
9 books8 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 19, 2026
This Is Also a Love Story is a profoundly eye-opening, worldview-expanding book that does something deeply necessary: it completely strips away the dry, detached language of global headlines and forces the reader to look at the human beings living at the heart of them.
Spanning across the globe, from the shifting gender dynamics in Ukraine and the reconstruction of chosen family structures in post-genocide Rwanda, to the quiet resistance of the LGBTQI+ community in Ghana and unique rituals of collective mourning in Japan, Sally Hayden explores the invisible ways trauma and conflict reshape human lives. For me, the chapter on Iraq felt intensely personal; half my family is Iraqi, some were displaced by ISIS, and I actually visited the country during the battle to regain control of Mosul. Seeing these lived experiences captured with such accuracy and dignity was incredibly moving.
What makes this a definitive 5-star read is the immense care, research, and palpable compassion Hayden pours into every single page. She handles these heavy, complex histories with a delicate respect that honours the survival and agency of the people she interviews, rather than just treating them as subjects of tragedy.
"I hope it stands as an entreaty to the reader to always remember that people exist at the centre of geopolitics."
Ultimately, this isn't just a book about war or crisis; it is a stunning testament to the stubborn resilience of the human spirit. It explores our capacity for hope, trust, and connection under the most brutal circumstances, proving that while instability can fracture societies, our lives are ultimately measured by the ways we support one another.
An essential, unforgettable read that will stay with me for a very long time.
Spanning across the globe, from the shifting gender dynamics in Ukraine and the reconstruction of chosen family structures in post-genocide Rwanda, to the quiet resistance of the LGBTQI+ community in Ghana and unique rituals of collective mourning in Japan, Sally Hayden explores the invisible ways trauma and conflict reshape human lives. For me, the chapter on Iraq felt intensely personal; half my family is Iraqi, some were displaced by ISIS, and I actually visited the country during the battle to regain control of Mosul. Seeing these lived experiences captured with such accuracy and dignity was incredibly moving.
What makes this a definitive 5-star read is the immense care, research, and palpable compassion Hayden pours into every single page. She handles these heavy, complex histories with a delicate respect that honours the survival and agency of the people she interviews, rather than just treating them as subjects of tragedy.
"I hope it stands as an entreaty to the reader to always remember that people exist at the centre of geopolitics."
Ultimately, this isn't just a book about war or crisis; it is a stunning testament to the stubborn resilience of the human spirit. It explores our capacity for hope, trust, and connection under the most brutal circumstances, proving that while instability can fracture societies, our lives are ultimately measured by the ways we support one another.
An essential, unforgettable read that will stay with me for a very long time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
nice love and war story
June 18, 2026
A journalist writing about the love (romantic, platonic) that exists amidst the tragedies - from Ukraine to Nigeria to Syria. Absolutely rec'd, I read it with tears in my eyes. A quiet resilience, reminiscent of A Paradise Built in Hell. Also - badass cover!!
June 16, 2026
"Statistics do not tell us about someone's hopes and dreams, their skills and weaknesses, or who and what they live for. People are much more than the worst thing that has ever happened to them...frequently, while listening to an account of something horrific, there will be a moment when I think to myself: "this is also a love story."
Global journalist Sally Hayden takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of some of the most wartorn and fragile places in the world, including Ukraine, Rwanda, Iraq and Syria, to learn the firsthand accounts of how families and couples navigate life when the ground is shaking beneath their feet at every moment. The stories are expectedly heartbreaking. What was not expected was how deftly Hayden finds the constant thread of love that does indeed run through people's lives despite the machetes and shrapnel that threaten to cut it at every turn.
The powerful are held to account, without fail, as Hayden describes the political and socioeconomic conditions that led to the horrors experienced by her subjects in each of the stories. There are detailed descriptions, for example, of the role of the United States in the destruction of the physical and civil structures of Iraq due to false information about weapons of mass destruction, which was further weaponized by ISIS to control the people to the extent of deprivation of certain medications and other items needed for daily living.
"One aspect has never altered: the way the powerful seem able to disregard the humanity of those they deem to be beneath them. The levels of greed and self-interest can feel fathomless...we should feel more connected to people living far away from us than before. Instead we see increasing levels of dehumanisation. Global systems become ever more unequal, shutting out the poor, oppressed and marginalised...western officials blame them for their own demise. We are watching a wholesale gutting of basic universal rights and dignities, foreign aid and international cooperation."
Yet, Hayden does not leave the reader in despair, as the book focuses without fail on the strength of human spirit to connect and heal, even in the most harrowing of circumstances. We meet couples who met during warfare, who married under ISIS rule, families who formed in the aftermath of genocide and stayed together for 20 years after. We see love, in many forms and fashions, and how global of an experience human love is in the face of any mortal challenge to foster survival.
This book is recommended for those interested in mental health, public health, international politics, racial and economic justice, and history. Content warnings for genocide, warfare, injury, death, grief.
Thank you to Sally Hayden, Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to review in advance of publication on 6.16.2026.
Purchase here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/this-is-...
Global journalist Sally Hayden takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of some of the most wartorn and fragile places in the world, including Ukraine, Rwanda, Iraq and Syria, to learn the firsthand accounts of how families and couples navigate life when the ground is shaking beneath their feet at every moment. The stories are expectedly heartbreaking. What was not expected was how deftly Hayden finds the constant thread of love that does indeed run through people's lives despite the machetes and shrapnel that threaten to cut it at every turn.
The powerful are held to account, without fail, as Hayden describes the political and socioeconomic conditions that led to the horrors experienced by her subjects in each of the stories. There are detailed descriptions, for example, of the role of the United States in the destruction of the physical and civil structures of Iraq due to false information about weapons of mass destruction, which was further weaponized by ISIS to control the people to the extent of deprivation of certain medications and other items needed for daily living.
"One aspect has never altered: the way the powerful seem able to disregard the humanity of those they deem to be beneath them. The levels of greed and self-interest can feel fathomless...we should feel more connected to people living far away from us than before. Instead we see increasing levels of dehumanisation. Global systems become ever more unequal, shutting out the poor, oppressed and marginalised...western officials blame them for their own demise. We are watching a wholesale gutting of basic universal rights and dignities, foreign aid and international cooperation."
Yet, Hayden does not leave the reader in despair, as the book focuses without fail on the strength of human spirit to connect and heal, even in the most harrowing of circumstances. We meet couples who met during warfare, who married under ISIS rule, families who formed in the aftermath of genocide and stayed together for 20 years after. We see love, in many forms and fashions, and how global of an experience human love is in the face of any mortal challenge to foster survival.
This book is recommended for those interested in mental health, public health, international politics, racial and economic justice, and history. Content warnings for genocide, warfare, injury, death, grief.
Thank you to Sally Hayden, Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to review in advance of publication on 6.16.2026.
Purchase here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/this-is-...
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May 28, 2026nice book
June 2, 2026
This is Also A Love Story: Searching for Good in a Divided World by Sally Hayden published May 21st with 4th Estate and is described as 'a powerful account of human resilience, capturing our capacity for love and connection against all the odds'.
We are all battered by the constant onslaught of tragic events that are ongoing in the world today. Every media outlet from print to digital, on our screens and etched in our minds, are images that we wished we had never seen. But imagine witnessing these scenes over and over again. Imagine willingly putting yourself into fragile and dangerous places where communities have experienced unbearable tragedies. Imagine looking for those brief moments where love shines through in all its varied forms. Irish journalist and author, Sally Hayden, didn't just imagine doing any of these things, she did them.
'Reportage can be cold and exacting. Journalism is the first draft of history, but it only offers fragments of a wider truth. What can go missing in that initial retelling is a much fuller tapestry of human behaviour, interactions, and the connections that drive them. Statistics do not tell us about someone's hopes and dreams, their skills and weaknesses, or who and what they live for. People are much more than the worst thing that has ever happened to them.' - Sally Hayden
Sally Hayden embarked on a journey across continents where she met incredible bravery and optimism forged from hardship and heartbreak. Consisting of nine chapters, the book delves into the lives of different communities in Ukraine, Rwanda, Iraq, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Lebanon, Syria and Japan. She encountered stories that chill and anger, but she chose to search for the brightness, chatting to exceptional people who have endured (and still continue to) great pain and suffering.
Based in Beirut, Sally Hayden is witness to humanity at its worst and best. She is living a life that is incomprehensible to most of us. Her words take us behind the shattered walls, the shattered dreams, the shattered lives right into the hearts of people who are suffering so much. Her search for the beauty in all this carnage is staggering but she succeeds, with these moving accounts of goodness amidst acts of evil.
Sally Hayden's vivid descriptions are stunning and the empathy she has for her fellow human being is tangible. There is no glory in war. There is no glory in slaughter. There is no glory is violence. There is no voyeuristic sensationalism in catastrophic climatic events. With authenticity, humility and love, Sally Hayden bears witness to the society we live in today. Reading This is Also A Love Story: Searching for Good in a Divided World provides some hope that perhaps, with passion and empathy, and looking at our world through a wider lens, humanity will step up and pay heed to the impact of decisions being made by those who are driven by greed and the thirst for power. Born out of an extraordinary vision This is Also A Love Story: Searching for Good in a Divided World is an exceptional and striking read, one I highly recommend to all.
We are all battered by the constant onslaught of tragic events that are ongoing in the world today. Every media outlet from print to digital, on our screens and etched in our minds, are images that we wished we had never seen. But imagine witnessing these scenes over and over again. Imagine willingly putting yourself into fragile and dangerous places where communities have experienced unbearable tragedies. Imagine looking for those brief moments where love shines through in all its varied forms. Irish journalist and author, Sally Hayden, didn't just imagine doing any of these things, she did them.
'Reportage can be cold and exacting. Journalism is the first draft of history, but it only offers fragments of a wider truth. What can go missing in that initial retelling is a much fuller tapestry of human behaviour, interactions, and the connections that drive them. Statistics do not tell us about someone's hopes and dreams, their skills and weaknesses, or who and what they live for. People are much more than the worst thing that has ever happened to them.' - Sally Hayden
Sally Hayden embarked on a journey across continents where she met incredible bravery and optimism forged from hardship and heartbreak. Consisting of nine chapters, the book delves into the lives of different communities in Ukraine, Rwanda, Iraq, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Lebanon, Syria and Japan. She encountered stories that chill and anger, but she chose to search for the brightness, chatting to exceptional people who have endured (and still continue to) great pain and suffering.
Based in Beirut, Sally Hayden is witness to humanity at its worst and best. She is living a life that is incomprehensible to most of us. Her words take us behind the shattered walls, the shattered dreams, the shattered lives right into the hearts of people who are suffering so much. Her search for the beauty in all this carnage is staggering but she succeeds, with these moving accounts of goodness amidst acts of evil.
Sally Hayden's vivid descriptions are stunning and the empathy she has for her fellow human being is tangible. There is no glory in war. There is no glory in slaughter. There is no glory is violence. There is no voyeuristic sensationalism in catastrophic climatic events. With authenticity, humility and love, Sally Hayden bears witness to the society we live in today. Reading This is Also A Love Story: Searching for Good in a Divided World provides some hope that perhaps, with passion and empathy, and looking at our world through a wider lens, humanity will step up and pay heed to the impact of decisions being made by those who are driven by greed and the thirst for power. Born out of an extraordinary vision This is Also A Love Story: Searching for Good in a Divided World is an exceptional and striking read, one I highly recommend to all.
August 23, 2026
Honestly this is another book I kind of just picked up because of a reading challenge - like it did still sound interesting but I didn't have high expectations, especially with the description/synopsis it felt like it could easily slip into a fluff piece which is just not really for me. Turns out this will probably make it to my favourite reads of the year and I highly recommend it.
This is somehow simultaneously both the most heart breaking and heart warming book I've probably ever read. You basically follow Sally Hayden on her job as a journalist and also finds acts of love at the core of her reporting from Ukraine, Rwanda, Iraq, Uganda, Ghana. Nigeria, Lebanon, Syria & Japan during recent(ish) crisis's. Hayden really approaches all these situations with a lot of care, explaining in clear language what has or is happening that caused a crisis and how it's affecting local people, she really makes you understand what they are going through (or went through) and how they persevere. I really loved seeing how Hayden approaches her job and how she talks to people and interviews them.
I do think the only thing I would change about this is that all but one of the crisis mentioned in the book was man made - this does make sense since I guess there are a lot more of those than there are natural disasters but it just felt a bit unbalanced if that makes sense?
This is somehow simultaneously both the most heart breaking and heart warming book I've probably ever read. You basically follow Sally Hayden on her job as a journalist and also finds acts of love at the core of her reporting from Ukraine, Rwanda, Iraq, Uganda, Ghana. Nigeria, Lebanon, Syria & Japan during recent(ish) crisis's. Hayden really approaches all these situations with a lot of care, explaining in clear language what has or is happening that caused a crisis and how it's affecting local people, she really makes you understand what they are going through (or went through) and how they persevere. I really loved seeing how Hayden approaches her job and how she talks to people and interviews them.
I do think the only thing I would change about this is that all but one of the crisis mentioned in the book was man made - this does make sense since I guess there are a lot more of those than there are natural disasters but it just felt a bit unbalanced if that makes sense?
August 4, 2026
The author is a journalist who reports from some of the most traumatic places and following some horrific situations. Despite this some of her most memorable experiences is around the love and connection people find during these difficult times.
Stories include keeping love alive in a war zone, developing artificial families to support kids following a genocide, the things mothers will do to protect their children, healing a community following a tsunami, and finding support in an oppressed community.
The book is a hard read but in many places there is hope. It takes you on a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions but was a really interesting read.
Stories include keeping love alive in a war zone, developing artificial families to support kids following a genocide, the things mothers will do to protect their children, healing a community following a tsunami, and finding support in an oppressed community.
The book is a hard read but in many places there is hope. It takes you on a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions but was a really interesting read.
October 1, 2026
I came across this book by chance. This is a compelling read, well researched and full of hope. It gives an insight into the lives of people faced with the horrific events that took place in the countries of Ukraine, Rwanda, Iraq, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Lebanon, Syria and Japan. A stunning tribute to the resilience of humanity when faced with adversity. Unforgettable and highly recommended. One of my favourite reads this year.
August 3, 2026
Even as someone who tends to avoid non-fiction and the daily news, I found this anthology deeply moving. It's honest, tragic yet heartening.
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June 3, 2026no rating as I don’t rate nonfiction but this I think is the most important book I have ever read.
this book explores, from real life survivors, how humans have a basic instinct to talk about love even in times of despair. I when I say despair I mean the worst things that could happen to a human: war, losing family members to the most god awful circumstances, death etc. this body of work explores the predilection of humans to love and care for one and other even to the detriment of themselves and their own safety. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it should be read by everyone and put into the school curriculum.
quotes:
“When faced with abuse and barbarity, love feels like a form of resistance. Its existence can offer hope and inspiration, something to fight for and a goodness to hold on to.”
“War is the thing that props up the terrible and beautiful things and shows us the people who we really are.”
“all over the world we have the same basic desire for human connection.”
“Also, love is not ownership. Love is not lordship. I say love is freedom. So if you see that thing you love, that person that you’re thinking of, you should always think of how to make them freer and not monopolise them, or not monopolise that thing that you see in them that you think you love.”
this book explores, from real life survivors, how humans have a basic instinct to talk about love even in times of despair. I when I say despair I mean the worst things that could happen to a human: war, losing family members to the most god awful circumstances, death etc. this body of work explores the predilection of humans to love and care for one and other even to the detriment of themselves and their own safety. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it should be read by everyone and put into the school curriculum.
quotes:
“When faced with abuse and barbarity, love feels like a form of resistance. Its existence can offer hope and inspiration, something to fight for and a goodness to hold on to.”
“War is the thing that props up the terrible and beautiful things and shows us the people who we really are.”
“all over the world we have the same basic desire for human connection.”
“Also, love is not ownership. Love is not lordship. I say love is freedom. So if you see that thing you love, that person that you’re thinking of, you should always think of how to make them freer and not monopolise them, or not monopolise that thing that you see in them that you think you love.”
August 21, 2026
An Irish reporter reporting from war zones, disaster sites, impoverished areas… across the World Ukraine, Lebanon, Uganda, Japan, Iraq, Rwanda… She interviews a variety of people and tells their stories showcasing the love she finds. I liked the concept of the book but was disappointed in the writing. The writing was choppy and disjointed. I did learn a lot and was glad to read the stories of resilience.
September 20, 2026
really really beautiful, i’d recommend to anyone looking for some hope in a broken world
September 1, 2026
Really very excellent. People are so wonderful and so terrible
July 26, 2026
If you have ever wondered if our world seems to have more wars, natural disasters, and tragedy than it did in our childhood or if it’s just that we hear about it more due to social media and journalism this book is a good pick for you.
As the author Sally Hayden states in the prologue “people are much more than the worst thing that has ever happened to them.” And yet we have most certainly become less empathetic, our attention to the latest news stories becoming shorter and shorter as if what we are hearing about is just normal now.
A work of nonfiction Hayden takes you through her journalism career which has taken her to places of absolute pain and devastation such as Uganda, Syria, Rwanda and Ukraine. Yes, you’ll read about those conflicts but in each chapter are stories about the people she’s met in her travels and how love is the common thread despite the dire circumstances.
As the author Sally Hayden states in the prologue “people are much more than the worst thing that has ever happened to them.” And yet we have most certainly become less empathetic, our attention to the latest news stories becoming shorter and shorter as if what we are hearing about is just normal now.
A work of nonfiction Hayden takes you through her journalism career which has taken her to places of absolute pain and devastation such as Uganda, Syria, Rwanda and Ukraine. Yes, you’ll read about those conflicts but in each chapter are stories about the people she’s met in her travels and how love is the common thread despite the dire circumstances.
June 19, 2026
I went into "This Is Also a Love Story" by Sally Hayden expecting a lot of joy and love. The core idea of the book is beautiful: capturing love, humanity, and resilience amid global crises. Hayden deserves credit for including those moments, visible in the people she meets and their ongoing care for each other despite extremely tough conditions.
However, for me, it was a very challenging read. ****Readers should definitely review CW before beginning.***Hayden vividly describes humanitarian disasters, violence, and systemic failures. While honesty is crucial, the extensive volume and intense details made the book emotionally exhausting.
I hoped for more moments of "light in the dark.” Although such moments exist, they are often eclipsed by traumatic stories and explicit details of some of the gravest man-made tragedies today. The book's balance is somewhat off for me,
I admire Hayden's intent and the compassion shown for the people whose stories she shares. I loved the concept, but I wasn’t ready for how heavy the reading would be, and I personally wished there had been more space for love. Thanks to Sribner and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
However, for me, it was a very challenging read. ****Readers should definitely review CW before beginning.***Hayden vividly describes humanitarian disasters, violence, and systemic failures. While honesty is crucial, the extensive volume and intense details made the book emotionally exhausting.
I hoped for more moments of "light in the dark.” Although such moments exist, they are often eclipsed by traumatic stories and explicit details of some of the gravest man-made tragedies today. The book's balance is somewhat off for me,
I admire Hayden's intent and the compassion shown for the people whose stories she shares. I loved the concept, but I wasn’t ready for how heavy the reading would be, and I personally wished there had been more space for love. Thanks to Sribner and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2026
A great collection of stories around the world, mostly in countries torn by war in the last few decades, in which different forms of love, romantic, familial, friendship. Each story is very affective in creating empathy in the reader.
August 26, 2026
4.5/5
I know we find ourselves in a time where it's hard to feel any loving feelings toward each other for a myriad of reasons, but I always hold strong to my belief that I LOVE people. This book is the embodiment of that feeling. Even in the most dire and most sinister of situations, love exists.
I know we find ourselves in a time where it's hard to feel any loving feelings toward each other for a myriad of reasons, but I always hold strong to my belief that I LOVE people. This book is the embodiment of that feeling. Even in the most dire and most sinister of situations, love exists.
August 29, 2026
Heartbreaking, but a good reminder of the love in tragedy.
September 10, 2026
Touching and interesting. You can tell a lot of research and heart went into writing this book.
September 8, 2026
This book had the shortest waiting list at the library for my Goodreads bookmark so I serendipitously read it - what a good book. Such a needed reminder to hold on to compassion and empathy
August 26, 2026
It’s admirable that Hayden sets out to show how love in its various forms persists amidst the horrendous atrocities against human rights around the world. Unfortunately, I didn’t find that the stories shared came close to balancing the heartbreak. Then again, how could there be any real closure or resolve after experiencing such trauma and loss. It was a good read, sad, but good. And it does lend to the perseverance of the human spirit in its opposition to evil.
June 21, 2026
“We only have a little time to please the living, but all eternity to love the dead” - Sophocles
May 30, 2026
Thank you to 4th Estate for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
For many of us, and especially those of us that work in the margins of conflict and disaster, the relentless agony and inhumanity of the world looms large. Our small attempts to make meaningful change often pale in comparison to the enormity of the suffering.
This book is one reporter’s attempt to write about the love story amidst the catastrophe. Sally Hayden details the small and enormous acts of love by people around the world living through tremendous injustice and pain. This is dignifying and deeply human work, and the end result is something that is needed, now more than ever.
One of my most anticipated reads of 2026, and I cannot recommend it enough—even to readers who may normally stay away from non-fiction—this one is for all of us.
For many of us, and especially those of us that work in the margins of conflict and disaster, the relentless agony and inhumanity of the world looms large. Our small attempts to make meaningful change often pale in comparison to the enormity of the suffering.
This book is one reporter’s attempt to write about the love story amidst the catastrophe. Sally Hayden details the small and enormous acts of love by people around the world living through tremendous injustice and pain. This is dignifying and deeply human work, and the end result is something that is needed, now more than ever.
One of my most anticipated reads of 2026, and I cannot recommend it enough—even to readers who may normally stay away from non-fiction—this one is for all of us.
September 15, 2026
Excellent humanistic reporting: simultaneously a rallying cry for the value of empathy and professional journalism. Some of the pieces were stronger than others, but overall a very recommended read especially in our current state of the world. I wish a copy of this could go to every Fox “News” consumer; would that the antidote to fear and misinformation be empathy and love.
Quotes from the final chapter that stuck with me:
“Dehumanization happens when we deliberately or negligently fail to appreciate the elaborate beauty of other people’s existence, including the loves that drive and bind them. Violence, exploitation, torture, or disregard increase in contexts where dehumanisation is taking place. The more we fail it acknowledge that other people are the same as us, the easier it is for us to hurt them.”
“Systems, structures and algorithms are being strengthened that separate humans from each other, keeping us in our own bubbles. It has become ever easier for the elite to reside at a remove, to avoid seeing the consequences of what they are responsible for. The more this is enabled, the more remorseless subsequent actions taken by the powerful will be. Empathy and compassion feel dangerously lacking today. And what is empathy or compassion but love turned towards humanity itself?”
Quotes from the final chapter that stuck with me:
“Dehumanization happens when we deliberately or negligently fail to appreciate the elaborate beauty of other people’s existence, including the loves that drive and bind them. Violence, exploitation, torture, or disregard increase in contexts where dehumanisation is taking place. The more we fail it acknowledge that other people are the same as us, the easier it is for us to hurt them.”
“Systems, structures and algorithms are being strengthened that separate humans from each other, keeping us in our own bubbles. It has become ever easier for the elite to reside at a remove, to avoid seeing the consequences of what they are responsible for. The more this is enabled, the more remorseless subsequent actions taken by the powerful will be. Empathy and compassion feel dangerously lacking today. And what is empathy or compassion but love turned towards humanity itself?”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hayden is a journalist who tells stories of crisis, conflict and unspeakable cruelty, and still finds the thread of humanity running through them. This is Also a Love Story is hopeful and devastating in equal measures, a reminder that to survive is to live, and the story behind the headlines is always personal.
Some chapters have a clear theme and sense of purpose, others feel a little more retrospective, pieced together from past journalism. But the human capacity for care and courage rings true through every one.
This isn't an easy read; it's not meant to be. Hayden reminds us that behind every headline are lives shaped by loss, resilience and love in its many forms. An important read in 2026.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
Some chapters have a clear theme and sense of purpose, others feel a little more retrospective, pieced together from past journalism. But the human capacity for care and courage rings true through every one.
This isn't an easy read; it's not meant to be. Hayden reminds us that behind every headline are lives shaped by loss, resilience and love in its many forms. An important read in 2026.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
July 6, 2026
As an international journalist, Sally Hayden has spent years documenting some of the world's most brutal conflicts and humanitarian crises. Yet this book is not just a catalog of suffering. Instead, it bears witness to the extraordinary resilience that survives alongside it.
Hayden recounts her encounters with refugees, and the survivors of war, political violence, displacement, and oppression. These stories reveal both the staggering cruelty people inflict on one another and the remarkable ways their victims preserve their humanity. Her reporting is often harrowing. She describes torture, exploitation, and indifference. Although difficult to read, Hayden resists sensationalism. Instead, she adopts a professional approach to illuminating the moral choices—or failures—that allow such atrocities to occur.
What struck me most was not the existence of evil itself. Hannah Arendt, reflecting on the trial of Adolf Eichmann, famously concluded that "the sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil." Hayden's reporting repeatedly illustrates this insight. Again and again, ordinary people comply with unjust systems, rationalize their actions, or simply look away, allowing unimaginable suffering to continue. The greater surprise lies in the responses of the victims. Throughout the memoir, Hayden shows multiple examples of people finding ways to care for one another, preserve hope, and rebuild communities despite overwhelming hardship. Acts of kindness, loyalty, and love emerge not because suffering ennobles people, but because many refuse to let cruelty define them. These stories are profoundly life-affirming and justify the book's title far more than any romantic interpretation could.
My one significant reservation concerns Hayden's inclusion of the devastation caused by the Japanese tsunami. The chapter contains moving accounts of grief and resilience, and the coping mechanisms that emerged are consistent with the book's larger themes. Yet it feels out of place. Nearly every other story examines suffering deliberately inflicted by those with power over others. The tsunami, by contrast, was a natural disaster rather than an act of inhumanity. While the emotional consequences were devastating, its inclusion dilutes the otherwise coherent examination of how people endure and respond to cruelty created by human beings.
Even with that reservation, “This Is Also a Love Story” is an exceptional memoir. Hayden reminds us that journalism at its best is not simply about documenting atrocities but about preserving the dignity of the victims. Although at times painful to read, the book is compassionate, and ultimately hopeful, offering convincing evidence that even in humanity's darkest moments, people continue to find ways to love, support, and sustain one another.
Hayden recounts her encounters with refugees, and the survivors of war, political violence, displacement, and oppression. These stories reveal both the staggering cruelty people inflict on one another and the remarkable ways their victims preserve their humanity. Her reporting is often harrowing. She describes torture, exploitation, and indifference. Although difficult to read, Hayden resists sensationalism. Instead, she adopts a professional approach to illuminating the moral choices—or failures—that allow such atrocities to occur.
What struck me most was not the existence of evil itself. Hannah Arendt, reflecting on the trial of Adolf Eichmann, famously concluded that "the sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil." Hayden's reporting repeatedly illustrates this insight. Again and again, ordinary people comply with unjust systems, rationalize their actions, or simply look away, allowing unimaginable suffering to continue. The greater surprise lies in the responses of the victims. Throughout the memoir, Hayden shows multiple examples of people finding ways to care for one another, preserve hope, and rebuild communities despite overwhelming hardship. Acts of kindness, loyalty, and love emerge not because suffering ennobles people, but because many refuse to let cruelty define them. These stories are profoundly life-affirming and justify the book's title far more than any romantic interpretation could.
My one significant reservation concerns Hayden's inclusion of the devastation caused by the Japanese tsunami. The chapter contains moving accounts of grief and resilience, and the coping mechanisms that emerged are consistent with the book's larger themes. Yet it feels out of place. Nearly every other story examines suffering deliberately inflicted by those with power over others. The tsunami, by contrast, was a natural disaster rather than an act of inhumanity. While the emotional consequences were devastating, its inclusion dilutes the otherwise coherent examination of how people endure and respond to cruelty created by human beings.
Even with that reservation, “This Is Also a Love Story” is an exceptional memoir. Hayden reminds us that journalism at its best is not simply about documenting atrocities but about preserving the dignity of the victims. Although at times painful to read, the book is compassionate, and ultimately hopeful, offering convincing evidence that even in humanity's darkest moments, people continue to find ways to love, support, and sustain one another.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sally Hayden is an Irish journalist who has spent her career covering stories in places devastated by war, violence, and disaster. That she is able to come out of these experiences without experiencing crushing depression says a lot for her strength of soul. I’m glad she was able to do this reporting, because the rest of us need to hear these stories. Through the mainstream media, we usually only hear about the surface information: when the disaster took place, how many people were killed, the politics of the war. It is so important for us to hear these stories: stories of real people, people like us, people who are living through circumstances most of us find unimaginable.
What Hayden has done in this moving book is to look at the love that breaks through the violence and cruelty. We hear about married couples who find ways to stay connected even when one is imprisoned; “artificial” families who come together when their biological families no longer exist; a postbox where bereaved can leave letters to their dead loved ones. Although I knew most of the places and situations that Hayden writes about, I had no idea of what life was like in the middle of them. Hayden does not shy away from telling us some of the (literally) gory details, which makes her interviews even more compelling. That love can exist even in these circumstances is a miracle.
I did find that many parts of the book were difficult to read. I had to take breaks when I started to feel overwhelmed. How would I react if someone I loved was disappeared, abducted or killed in front of me? I don’t know, because I’ve never lived in a place that was being bombed daily, or where leaders sought to kill anyone who opposed them. It is so important for privileged people like me to know that there are millions of people around the world living - and loving - through death and destruction.
As I look over this review, I realize that I’ve done a poor job of adequately describing the heartbreaking beauty of this book. I encourage everyone to read it. Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
What Hayden has done in this moving book is to look at the love that breaks through the violence and cruelty. We hear about married couples who find ways to stay connected even when one is imprisoned; “artificial” families who come together when their biological families no longer exist; a postbox where bereaved can leave letters to their dead loved ones. Although I knew most of the places and situations that Hayden writes about, I had no idea of what life was like in the middle of them. Hayden does not shy away from telling us some of the (literally) gory details, which makes her interviews even more compelling. That love can exist even in these circumstances is a miracle.
I did find that many parts of the book were difficult to read. I had to take breaks when I started to feel overwhelmed. How would I react if someone I loved was disappeared, abducted or killed in front of me? I don’t know, because I’ve never lived in a place that was being bombed daily, or where leaders sought to kill anyone who opposed them. It is so important for privileged people like me to know that there are millions of people around the world living - and loving - through death and destruction.
As I look over this review, I realize that I’ve done a poor job of adequately describing the heartbreaking beauty of this book. I encourage everyone to read it. Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 29, 2026
content - 7/10
style - 4.5/10
resonance - 7.5/10
i picked this up at the barbican library after finishing a hefty one about the syrian war and wanted to get into a lighter non-fiction read, and while the premise was beautiful, i did struggle to get into it a little :/
hayden is a journalist reporting stories from all corners of the world. jaded from the pain and suffering she has witnessed, hayden posits that interpersonal love and empathy continues to exist among natural and man-made human suffering, and she sets out to present that in this book where each chapter delves into a new country, providing its brief historical context and highlighting the love and care that emerges from the rubble.
there were some chapters i enjoyed more than others - that first one on wives waiting for husbands to return from the war in ukraine was really beautiful and the one on rebuilding society after the rwandan genocide was haunting. what i struggled with was the length of each chapter, where the unique history of each country had to be quickly distilled as the background to the stories of different people. some chapters felt too brief and touch and go, and while i recognise that hayden had lots of ground to cover (and i really appreciate how she explores different kinds of love outside of romantic love!), i felt that the book would have been stronger by narrowing the scope of countries and diving deeper into each selected place.
i do really love the point that underscores the whole book - that love and empathy always exists and is part of the human condition, and it really is the best of us
style - 4.5/10
resonance - 7.5/10
i picked this up at the barbican library after finishing a hefty one about the syrian war and wanted to get into a lighter non-fiction read, and while the premise was beautiful, i did struggle to get into it a little :/
hayden is a journalist reporting stories from all corners of the world. jaded from the pain and suffering she has witnessed, hayden posits that interpersonal love and empathy continues to exist among natural and man-made human suffering, and she sets out to present that in this book where each chapter delves into a new country, providing its brief historical context and highlighting the love and care that emerges from the rubble.
there were some chapters i enjoyed more than others - that first one on wives waiting for husbands to return from the war in ukraine was really beautiful and the one on rebuilding society after the rwandan genocide was haunting. what i struggled with was the length of each chapter, where the unique history of each country had to be quickly distilled as the background to the stories of different people. some chapters felt too brief and touch and go, and while i recognise that hayden had lots of ground to cover (and i really appreciate how she explores different kinds of love outside of romantic love!), i felt that the book would have been stronger by narrowing the scope of countries and diving deeper into each selected place.
i do really love the point that underscores the whole book - that love and empathy always exists and is part of the human condition, and it really is the best of us
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