Five Stages of Grace

by Casey Nott

What do you do when life almost gives you everything you've ever wanted - then threatens to take it all away?



Grace Granger has one to become a mother. It's all she and her husband can think about. But when a small lump on her neck turns out to be cancer, the life Grace was building - the marriage, the family, the future - becomes a battle for survival.



Told through the five stages of grief - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance - Grace's journey is raw, heart-wrenching, and unexpectedly hopeful.



As she navigates invasive treatments, an overbearing mother, busy friends, and a husband who feels further away with each passing day, Grace must will she fight for the life she's losing, or learn to embrace the one she still has?

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2026

About the author

Casey Nott is a contemporary fiction author.

Her stories celebrate women and explore the challenges they face in modern society.

Her debut novel, Forgotten, was long listed in the 2023 Hawkeye Manuscript Development Competition and was released on 26th July 2024, with Hawkeye Publishing.
Her second novel, Five Stages Of Grace was shortlisted in the 2025 Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize and will be released on 1st May 2026.

When she’s not writing (or reading) she enjoys keeping active by practicing yoga and playing pickle ball. She is happiest when she’s creating and making things.

She lives in Melbourne with her husband, three children, one cavoodle, and far too many indoor plants.

Reviews

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Compulsively readable and beautifully articulated.

Grace thirty-two has always wanted to have a baby, it’s not happening and time is running out. But when Grace receives a devastating cancer diagnosis she finds herself facing the fight of her life through an emotional journey of evasive medical treatments and life changes.

This story is beautifully written with heart and warmth and is based around the five stages of grief (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression & Acceptance) and how one’s life changes so dramatically after a diagnosis. I couldn’t put it down, I was so invested to know when happened next.

Casey has used her experience battling cancer to deliver a passionate, raw and authentic story that is unexpectedly funny at times and relatable. An inspiring reflection of grief, love, hope and second chances. 100% recommend.

Publication date 01 May 2026
Publisher Hawkeye Publishing

Thank you so much to Casey Nott and Hawkeye Publishing for an early copy of this book.💖

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief has a way of surreptitiously enveloping you until it wraps itself around your throat, making you gasp for breath. Sadness can linger indefinitely. An unliftable haze, tainting whatever is left of breathable air.

This book was raw, honest and heart wrenching. It will require emotional support chocolate or wine and potentially a packet of tissues.

Our protagonist Grace is unexpectedly diagnosed with lymphoma, crushing the image she had planned for her life with her husband Adam.

We follow Grace’s journey through the 5 stages of grief through her diagnosis and treatment. We see Grace mourning her life when she’s still alive, in a pit of depression and unable to get out. You cannot help but feel connected to Grace and empathise with her journey.

This book hit close to home for me, my mother passed away from Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma and my dad was also diagnosed in 2009. I felt emotional throughout this book.

I loved the “rebirth” of Grace post the big C, she learns to live in the now and enjoy the small moments.


I am looking forward to meeting Casey at our May Bookclub and chatting about the novel with her!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book arrives with a packet tissues, then I know it’s going to break my heart and Five Stages Of Grace did just that, but in the best possible way. Grace Granger wants nothing more than to become a mother, but after months of disappointment she’s feeling like it will never happen. When she discovers a small lump in her neck and then receives a devastating cancer diagnosis, her life becomes all about survival. Divided into the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance, the novel follows Grace’s cancer battle with authenticity, honesty and humour and I was so completely invested.

Grace was an incredibly relatable character with dreams that many women can relate to. That all-consuming need to be a mother and the constant heartbreak when it doesn’t happen. To then receive a life threatening diagnosis was absolutely unthinkable and knowing this was based on Casey’s own life made it all the more devastating.

Throughout this novel I could hear Casey’s voice and signature dry humour which kept this book from sinking into dark places. The heavy themes were perfectly balanced by laughter, friendship and hope and I was mesmerised.

Casey you have written another unforgettable and touching read full of warmth, heart and beauty. Five Stages of Grace deserves all the stars. If you’re yet to buy a present for Mothers’ Day this Sunday, then you need to grab a copy of this. Actually grab two, as your Mum will love it and so will you.

[Cassandra Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stages of Grace is the most heartfelt, heart wrenching and heart warming novel I have read in a very, very long time.

The story follows Grace as she is dealt a life threatening diagnosis and her exploration of how to survive not just the gruelling treatments but her marriage and her future.

Each chapter showes another piece of Grace’s journey and it was written with such conviction and feeling that I knew it had to be a lived experience. Casey has not hidden the fact that she did in fact suffer this horrific fate as a young woman, and every pain she felt has been written into these pages with such awareness, precision and sensitivity.

I devoured The Five Stages of Grace in two sittings, once I was invested in Grace’s story I could not put it down. It was so beautifully written that the waterworks were constantly flowing, it was raw and emotional and I still think about it daily. I was also glad for the chuckles that were strategically placed to dry my tears if only for a moment.

Please mark 1st May on your calendar and get yourself a copy of this amazing book! Thank you to Casey for this early reading copy it is one that will stay with me always.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Grace Granger has one dream: to become a mother. But when a cancer diagnosis shatters the future she and her husband were building, her life becomes a raw, heart-wrenching battle for survival. Told through the five stages of grief, Grace must navigate invasive treatments, strained relationships, and a drifting marriage. As her world unravels, she faces a profound choice: will she desperately fight for the life she is losing, or learn to embrace the one she still has?

Gosh, the synopsis of this book made me brace for impact - I was absolutely terrified I’d be bawling my eyes out the entire time! Surprisingly, Casey Nott managed to maintain an upbeat tone despite the heavy nature of the plot.

What I loved most about this story was the realism in the details. In movies, a character facing this situation would usually drop everything to focus solely on the diagnosis, the therapies, and every possible avenue for recovery. In reality, however, life doesn’t just stop. Grace couldn’t simply shift away from her deep desire to have a baby, and she still had to navigate the challenges surrounding Adam’s job and handle her family’s complex reactions.

This book was full of incredibly powerful moments, such as when Grace was allowed the grace (pun intended) and space to feel envious of other people’s happiness. It felt so authentic. When I realized that Casey was drawing from her own lived experience, the profound depth of the writing made complete sense. Grace absolutely embodied strength through her reactions and choices.

I’d highly recommend checking this out if you love powerful, uplifting contemporary fiction. This was my first Casey Nott book, but it will definitely not be my last!

(Thanks to the author for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Lisa Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Five Stages of Grace
✍️ @caseywritesstories
📚 @hawkeyepublishing
📅 1 May 2026

All the feels (5 🌟)

I don't think anything l write for this review, will do this all the justice it so deserves. Trust me, its a MUST READ. It will truly leave an imprint on your heart that will remain there forever.

It's:
Told through the five stages of grief,
Raw,
Life-threatening diagnosis,
Numerous,
Love,
Second chances,
Small, meaningful moments,
Emotional (more tissues please),
Resilience,
Battle of survival,
Heartbreaking,
Tackling heavy topics,
Poignant,
Rediscovering yourself,
Pain,
Warm,
Tender,
Beautifully written.

Grace Granger has one dream: to become a mother. It's all she and her husband can think about. But when a small lump on her neck turns out to be cancer, the life Grace was building - the marriage, the family, the future - becomes a battle for survival. Told through the five stages of grief - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance - Grace's journey is raw, heart-wrenching, and unexpectedly hopeful. As she navigates invasive treatments, an overbearing mother, busy friends, and a husband who feels further away with each passing day, Grace must decide: will she fight for the life she's losing, or learn to embrace the one she still has?

Thank you so much, @hawkeyepublishing, for gifting me a copy of this. I just needed more tissues 🥺.
I don't think I am ever going to recover. For now, I will drink tea Mum made me and sit still hugging this book.

❓️ What was the last book that gave you a book hangover?

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Heart Squeezing, Emotional, Hopeful

full review ⬇️

Casey Nott’s debut novel Forgotten is still one of my all time favourite reads so my expectations were high going in to this one.

There’s books that hit hard and then there’s ones like Five Stages of Grace that do it so beautifully all while being deeply heartfelt and honest as Casey draws from her own incredible survival story.

This story tackles the very heavy subject of cancer and I’ll be honest, that as a theme can sometimes be hard to sit with. But what Casey does so well is balance that weight with hope, love and those small, meaningful moments that make everything feel a little lighter.

Yes it’s emotional but it never feels overwhelming or bleak. Instead, it shines a light on support systems, connection and rediscovering yourself when life takes an unexpected turn.

Casey’s trademark humour is there too which added warmth and authenticity to even the hardest parts of the story (and if you’re not following her for plant and mum content laughs on Instagram, you’re honestly missing out 😅).

This is the kind of story that gently breaks your heart and then pieces it back together again in an even more beautiful way.

If you love books that explore tough topics with care, balance emotion with humour and leave you feeling hopeful despite it all this is one I would both gently and highly recommend. But also bring tissues, lots of them.

Thank you to Hawkeye Publishing for the early copy (and the much needed tissues that came with it 🥹).

[Book My Imagination · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotionally driven book this is.
It is both heart-wrenching & beautiful. And as you are sitting in the passenger seat with Grace, you get to feel it all.
This is a first-hand experience that Casey knows, her diagnosis was different but still the big C.

The beauty in this book is in the rawness of Grace's emotions. It's all here. The fear of the unknown, the fear of the known, having to be stoic in a shitty situation, not wanting people near but needing them close.
The isolation that illness brings, the envy of others, the joy in the little things and the bargaining.

And then couple that with a marriage that is in need of the spark that once was.

I felt so much of this. Illness of any kind brings with it so many of these feelings, & I cried with Grace and felt her hope, her love and fear.

It's one of the few books that shows a realness to the treatments needed to survive, and what it takes from you in order to give you life again.

Grace has some beautiful moments throughout this read, one of which was the time spent with her father, watching his favourite movies and eating pastries... well, he ate them.

One of the lines that hit hard was:
"Statistics are only comforting when you're not on the wrong side of them"
Such truth!

Overall it is another fab read by Casey and one that stays with you after the last page.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely amazing novel!!

This is a deeply moving book which had me hooked from the very first pages. Casey has drawn inspiration from her lived experience in battling cancer, to deliver a deeply emotive story that had me crying, laughing, incredulous with rage, cheering for joy and pretty much every other possible emotion. She cleverly intertwines the five stages of grief into Grace’s storyline - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.


I felt such a strong connection to Grace and the detailed portrayal of her experiences with chemo really helped explain the physical and emotional pain a cancer patient endures.

There is a lot of Casey’s humour woven throughout this book. Her (mostly) likable characters are real, raw, honest and so relatable.

I can’t wait for this to be released so I can talk about it more! Trust me, this is one you are going to want to get your hands on as soon as possibly and May can’t come quickly enough!

I loved Casey’s debut book, Forgotten, (if you haven’t read it yet, please do!) but this shows how quickly her writing has evolved and reached another level.

Thanks so much to Casey for trusting and enabling me to be one of the first readers of this amazing story.

[Racheal Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the emotions reading this one. Bring the tissues.

I devoured Five Stages of Grace by Casey Nott in just two sittings. I physically couldn’t put it down, even though I spent half the time reading through a blur of tears. Seriously, if you pick this up, bring the tissues. All of them.

This story is breathtakingly beautiful, raw, and painfully honest. It follows Grace Granger, a woman whose world is flipped upside down just as she’s dreaming of motherhood. Instead of a nursery, she’s faced with a Hodgkin Lymphoma diagnosis and a fight for her life.

The book is structured around the five stages of grief, and you feel every single one of them right alongside her. Casey Nott writes with such authenticity (drawing from her own experience), making Grace’s battle with treatment, changes in her relationships, and the loss of her "old life" feel incredibly real.

I work in the haematology space and have for many years now. It’s the space I am most passionate about so this resonated so much with me and felt so real and raw and speaks to so many others stories.

Thankyou to Casey for sharing this with the world.

It’s a heart-wrenching journey, but it’s also a story about resilience, second chances, and finding hope in the wreckage. A must-read for 2026.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Hawkeye Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
Five Stages Of Grace is Casey Nott’s second release.
After loving her debut Forgetten, I was impatient to see where Casey would go next.
And the time is now……
This story is equal parts heartbreaking, raw, honest, tender, humorous, poignant and stimulating.
Grace has a great life, a loving husband, a home and a career.
The only thing missing is her dream of becoming a mother.
But then a small lump threatens it all.
It turns out to be cancer and all that she holds close is threatened.
Grace goes through the five stages of grief and accesses her life and surroundings while fighting for her survival.
A tale that explores the difficult emotional challenges that women experience and Casey is not afraid to go there and has a talent for this.
It’s written with passion, truth, beauty and candid.
Grace is a character that’s hard not to forget.
Determined, believable, relatable and funny.
So follow her journey as she navigates her world through the good, the bad and the ugly.
A book not to be missed.

[Emma (nicestack) · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Five Stages of Grace 📚

Casey Nott's second novel Five Stages of Grace allows the reader to understand what it's like to live through a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Similar to What Does it Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella, the heavy themes are lightened with humor and make for 'easy reading'.

Having beaten this same form of cancer, Casey has shared many intimate titbits, from enemas to chemo to the fears that plague your thoughts and also the fear of hope.

Receiving a pack of tissues with my gorgeous book parcel from @hawkeyebooks was worrying, but necessary! It's not necessarily the cancer storyline that wells up your eyes, it's Grace's parents, her best friend Sophie and colleague Willow. It's those little moments between them that zap you in the heart.

I can't for Casey to join us in Meeniyan later in the year along with Shannon Kelly-White!

Highly recommend! Available in store and online now 😊

[Sarah Todman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced copy of Five Stages of Grace and knew within the first chapter this one was going to be compulsive reading.

Grief. Love. And second chances. Indeed.

This book is raw and so very beautiful because of it. As Grace battles cancer, moving through the five stages of grief to learn a new way of being, she is also asked to confront secrets and lies in the relationships that are most dear to her. We see her life stripped raw and at various stages in the novel, wonder how she will survive. She does though, and more.

Nott's second novel shows such exciting development of craft. It digs deep with insight; written with a delicate hand that makes the characters nuanced and flawed, and takes readers on a difficult journey, but a very rewarding one. I loved seeing Grace's inner strength emerge. I feel wiser having got to know her.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter of Five Stages of Grace, I laughed, I cried, and I knew without a doubt this was going to be a five-star read – and it is. Casey Nott has a gift for creating characters that feel achingly real, and Grace is no exception: strong, flawed, funny, and utterly relatable. While this is a story that begins with a life-altering diagnosis, don’t mistake it for a tale about illness – it’s a powerful exploration of resilience, identity, and what truly matters when life throws you off course. This novel has everything I love about Casey’s writing: her sharp wit, raw honesty, and the kind of emotional depth that stays with you long after the final page. Five Stages of Grace doesn’t just tug at the heartstrings – it leaves an imprint.

[Gabrielle Traeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Five Stages of Grace by Casey Nott. This is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve put it down.

It had me in tears more than once, but also made me pause, reflect, and really sit with what I was reading. The way Casey writes about her lived experience with cancer is raw, honest, and incredibly moving—there’s a depth and authenticity that feels both intimate and powerful.

Having read her previous book, I was already a fan, but you can really see her growth as a writer here. The emotional depth, the nuance, and the storytelling have all elevated in this second novel.

I found myself reaching for it in every spare moment—not wanting to put it down. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt story that I would highly recommend.

[Helen Farch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey Nott has done it again! After her amazing debut 'Forgotten', her new book is just as heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure.

This book will make you laugh, make you cry, it will break you down, but also build you up again.

As Casey says in her Acknowledgments, this is a work of fiction. But you can tell that it also written by someone who has experienced the harrowing experience of cancer treatment - which makes for difficult reading.... keep those tissues close at all times.

But despite all that, it is a book that I devoured in one day.

If you love stories about strong women, strong friendships, then this is a book for you.

Thanks to Hawkeye Publishing for a review copy of this book

[Jo Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey Nott’s second novel, 'Five Stages of Grace,' secures her place as an author who is not afraid to tackle the deep emotional challenges that face women juggling the demands of work, family, and self fulfilment. Like her first novel, 'Forgotten,' her writing can be read on several levels making it both a compelling read and one that will have you questioning the status quo. I found myself slowing down and taking time to notice the small joys in the mundane of the everyday. A heart wrenching and affirming reminder that our lives are fragile and that we should embrace every day with curiosity and never be afraid to let go.’

[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace has always wanted to be a mother but when a cancer diagnosis throws a dent into her motherhood plan, she finds herself just battling to live. Told through five stages of grief, we follow Grace through her journey.

Wow, what an amazing book this was! Casey Nott did a fantastic job writing about such sensitive subjects and it was evident she'd put a lot of research into it as well. I kept thinking surely Grace would get a break but with every extra blow, I found myself tearing up, watching her struggles. And while I was cheering for her throughout, I did also find myself smiling at the end as things resolved.

If you enjoy books that get you emotional, this one needs to be on your list. It's worth all the stars.

[Edita Mujkic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully and skillfully told story of cancer, love, and relationships—and how fragile we all are in this life where we often think we are invincible—peppered with little pearls of wisdom and wit.

The cancer treatment details are painfully raw, especially if you know the authenticity is based on what the author experienced as a cancer patient a decade ago. But the story is not heavy—the pain of going through chemotherapy is well balanced with other aspects of life that continue on, regardless of they unimportance when compared with the threat of dying.

An emotional read, but well worth the tears.

[Leearna Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stages of Grace is an immersive and compelling story of a woman stripped bare by cancer. As she’s forced to confront the long road back to recovery, Grace finds herself beginning to question the life she thought she knew and a future she can no longer rely on.

Illuminating the often uncomfortable and brutal reality of the illness and the uncertainty of what comes after, Grace’s battle with her own mortality is, while heart-wrenching, ultimately one of hope.

Emotional, uplifting and compulsively readable!

[Holly Cardamone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling and utterly unforgettable, Five Stages of Grace is one of the most powerful books I’ve read in some time. The clever structure, the incredible writing and the sheer authenticity of the story deftly manages the messy, raw experience of being laid bare by grief and illness. Moments of bleakness are balanced with sardonic humour in wonderful prose that is perfectly paced. It’s an understatement to say how moving I found it. It struck a deep chord and I can’t imagine it leaving me any time soon. Highly, highly recommend this beautifully written story.

[Michelle O’Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG OMG OMG.
Talk about hit you in the feels.
Heart wrenching, sad,funny it’s got it all.
A tough read but so worth taking the ride with Grace.
Unlike some of the characters Grace is so loveable.
You’ll be cheering her all the way on her roller coaster ride of life while she learns to cope with so much more than one person should have to.
Casey Nott has a beautiful and clever writing style which adds to the experience of reading her story.
Thoroughly recommend reading this book.
Also loved her debut ‘Forgotten’

[Porscia Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delicate piece of perfection Casey Nott has delivered. Sensitive and charming, with a unexpected twist.

Nott has created in Grace an extremely relatable protagonist who is whip smart, vulnerable and flawed in the most likeable way. I very much enjoyed the fact that even in her worst moments of suffering Grace never missed an opportunity for a well-deserved snide remark.

Having read this book, I finally feel like I have a glimpse into what it means to endure cancer treatment - Nott describes this in the most visceral way. A brilliant story told with class.

[Brooke Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stages of Grace invites you in to Grace’s world with such easy humour and disarming honestly that it feels less like fiction and more like talking to a dear friend.

Casey’s lived experience of cancer underscores every sentence with authenticity, and her writing packs a hefty emotional punch while still being light on its feet. You’ll laugh, cry and cheer Grace on as she navigates the greatest challenge of her life.

Grace is a protagonist you’ll adore and the supporting cast is brilliant. Can’t wait to see what Casey Nott does next!

[Kate Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stages of Grace has a way of lingering in your thoughts, both during and after you finish reading it.

What I loved most was the honesty in the writing and in Grace’s interior monologue. Not a sugar-coated word in this book. Real, raw, and hard-hitting.

The emotion and pain leap off the page, smacking you dead centre in the chest.

And yet, Casey magically makes a heavy topic feel lighter, weaving in wit and humour.

If you loved Forgotten (like me), you’ll love this too.

[Catherine Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw, messy, and deeply human in all the right ways. This book doesn’t try to tidy up grief or growth, it just lets you feel every uncomfortable edge.

The writing is incredibly easy to connect with. It has that rare quality where it feels like someone is telling you the truth rather than performing a story for you. The emotions land because they aren’t overworked or polished into something pretty.

I’ll definitely be reading more from Casey Nott after this.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A raw honest description of what it’s like to discover at a young age you have cancer. Grace is only 32 when a lump in her neck leads her down the path to a cancer diagnosis. Despite having a loving husband who together they have been trying to start a family, cracks begin to show and her life implodes. I enjoyed this story about loss, love and determination. I have the authors first book in my kindle so must get that read. Another new Aussie author has arrived!

[Emma Mugglestone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly captivating, vulnerable and filled with heart, Five Stages of Grace will stay with readers long after they’ve finished Casey Nott’s brilliant story.

Casey Nott's second book is as enthralling as her first (Forgotten - make sure you get a copy of it as well) and not to be missed. I read and early copy and could not put it down.

Five Stages of Grace is a must read.

[Kelly Sgroi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stages of Grace is a deeply emotional and sharply written contemporary novel from one of the wittiest voices in fiction. Nott masterfully captures the complexities of relationships and the unpredictable ways life can unravel. This book is about self-discovery, acceptance and everything in between. A beautifully structured read. I laughed, cried, and turned the last page with a full heart.

[Philippa Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first paragraph I was transported.
I journeyed through Five Stages of Grace like she and I were best friends. The heartache, the triumphs, being ripped apart and remoulded. Not only that but I also laughed out loud.
Casey mixes just the right amount of tragic with a generous pinch of humour.