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Finding Joy
When his wife, Joy, died very suddenly, a daily drawing became the way Gary Andrews dealt with his grief.
From learning how to juggle his kids' playdates and single-handedly organising Christmas, to getting used to the empty side of the bed, Gary's honest and often hilarious illustrations have touched the hearts of thousands on social media.
Finding Joy is the story of how one family learned to live again after tragedy.
From learning how to juggle his kids' playdates and single-handedly organising Christmas, to getting used to the empty side of the bed, Gary's honest and often hilarious illustrations have touched the hearts of thousands on social media.
Finding Joy is the story of how one family learned to live again after tragedy.
- GenresNonfictionGraphic Novels
192 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2020
6 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 18, 2024
A tender and heartwarming sketch of hope found through living with grief, loss, love, and Joy.
I rarely read memoirs of grief that end with hope. This book is wrapped with such love and tenderness, the hope becomes contagious.
I rarely read memoirs of grief that end with hope. This book is wrapped with such love and tenderness, the hope becomes contagious.
September 24, 2024
A few minutes after finishing the book, I checked if it was available anywhere. I clicked "Buy Now" as soon as I saw it on an online platform somewhere. Now, if that doesn't tell you how beautiful this book is, I don't know what will.
I casually went up to my friend's aisle to have a piece of the chocolate I got for her from Hong Kong and then I remembered that she had told me about a wonderful book I needed to read. She handed it over to me without warning except for the title and maybe a little.
Next thing I knew, tears were crawling down my cheeks while my friend was blasting away on her keyboard. Out of all the books about loosing people we love, this is by far the closest that I can relate to. One dad, 2 kids. Oh, what fun!
I love that it doesn't contain too many sentences but because it hits home, I can fill in the blanks. It felt like reliving everything I went through these past couple of months which may explain why it was an emotional read.
The best thing about this book is that despite of it being about the loss of a loved one, it feels absolutely hopeful without being overly optimistic. It allows you to excuse yourself on bad days and feel absolutely like a winner on good ones and that despite of it all, it's not so impossible to find joy.
I casually went up to my friend's aisle to have a piece of the chocolate I got for her from Hong Kong and then I remembered that she had told me about a wonderful book I needed to read. She handed it over to me without warning except for the title and maybe a little.
Next thing I knew, tears were crawling down my cheeks while my friend was blasting away on her keyboard. Out of all the books about loosing people we love, this is by far the closest that I can relate to. One dad, 2 kids. Oh, what fun!
I love that it doesn't contain too many sentences but because it hits home, I can fill in the blanks. It felt like reliving everything I went through these past couple of months which may explain why it was an emotional read.
The best thing about this book is that despite of it being about the loss of a loved one, it feels absolutely hopeful without being overly optimistic. It allows you to excuse yourself on bad days and feel absolutely like a winner on good ones and that despite of it all, it's not so impossible to find joy.
May 1, 2025
Dajte túto knihu všetkým pozostalým prosím.
January 16, 2025
Heartbreaking but also very sweet.
August 30, 2020
This is a beautiful book. When his wife Joy died very suddenly a daily drawing became the way Gary Andrews dealt with his grief.
I've been following Gary on twitter/Instagram for a few years now. His daily doodles are something I look out for each day. This collection is poignant, funny, and above all full of love. Highly recommend. His social media handles are @garyscribbler & well worth a follow.
I've been following Gary on twitter/Instagram for a few years now. His daily doodles are something I look out for each day. This collection is poignant, funny, and above all full of love. Highly recommend. His social media handles are @garyscribbler & well worth a follow.
October 22, 2020
This is a book about finding joy from sadness. How time can heal things, how life becomes a new normal, but you still remember those who have gone.
Gary Andrews is an animator, married the love of his life, had two beautiful children, and sadly lost his wife suddenly in 2017. He continued his daily doodles through his grief and this collection has been put together to show us the progression through his grief in the following 3 years, showing the ups and downs. It's heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hopeful.
The illustrations are black line art, with some sketching and white highlights. Set against a brown paper background, they are really simple but pretty and very aesthetic. What really makes this book great though, are the comments alongside the drawings.
Covering grief, loneliness, sadness, depression, friendships, new relationships with his children, coping as a widower and single dad, it made me cry. It is written in a way that you instantly fall in love with this family and the funny observations of the kids are so cute. Things get worse, they get better, and we end with hope.
The end includes resources for charities, health advice for things to watch out for in regards to sepsis, mental health resources, and Andrews' own advice for coping. I love when authors include this at the end as a book like this can really bring up emotions in readers and it's important to provide support following it, especially when dealing with mental health. I think a lot of people will relate to this book. I can only imagine what it is like losing someone so close to you, but this book shined a slither of hope that things can get better, albeit a new normal.
Gary Andrews is an animator, married the love of his life, had two beautiful children, and sadly lost his wife suddenly in 2017. He continued his daily doodles through his grief and this collection has been put together to show us the progression through his grief in the following 3 years, showing the ups and downs. It's heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hopeful.
The illustrations are black line art, with some sketching and white highlights. Set against a brown paper background, they are really simple but pretty and very aesthetic. What really makes this book great though, are the comments alongside the drawings.
Covering grief, loneliness, sadness, depression, friendships, new relationships with his children, coping as a widower and single dad, it made me cry. It is written in a way that you instantly fall in love with this family and the funny observations of the kids are so cute. Things get worse, they get better, and we end with hope.
The end includes resources for charities, health advice for things to watch out for in regards to sepsis, mental health resources, and Andrews' own advice for coping. I love when authors include this at the end as a book like this can really bring up emotions in readers and it's important to provide support following it, especially when dealing with mental health. I think a lot of people will relate to this book. I can only imagine what it is like losing someone so close to you, but this book shined a slither of hope that things can get better, albeit a new normal.
May 3, 2025
A gentle reminder not to take people around you for granted.
September 6, 2020
A beautiful book about love and loss with wonderful illustrations, I would highly recommend it.
October 8, 2025
Finding Joy by Gary Andrews is a powerful and very moving memoir told through the author's daily doodles following the sudden death of his wife, Joy.
Using his simple, expressive illustrations, Andrews honestly chronicles the messy reality of grief as a widowed father. It captures the pain and exhaustion alongside the unexpected moments of laughter, love, and hope with his children. It's a remarkably uplifting and life-affirming read that beautifully honors his wife's memory and offers comfort to anyone navigating loss.
Using his simple, expressive illustrations, Andrews honestly chronicles the messy reality of grief as a widowed father. It captures the pain and exhaustion alongside the unexpected moments of laughter, love, and hope with his children. It's a remarkably uplifting and life-affirming read that beautifully honors his wife's memory and offers comfort to anyone navigating loss.
September 27, 2020
I absolutely loved this book! It’s heartwarming with beautiful drawings. It was definitely a highlight of my day when I would sit down to read it and it’s one of those books that I know I will always be returning to read a few times a year. It’s beautiful. ❤️❤️❤️It made me laugh, cry and feel generally happy. What a beautiful story.
October 29, 2020
This is a beautifully sad, funny and hopeful read, I lost my Dad last year and my Mum in June so the message and sentiment really resonated with me. I have struggled to read especially books about grief mostly because they are too wordy. Gary manages to portray with a picture what I have felt, above all I see hope in the book and that warmed my heart.
June 25, 2024
found this randomly at a book sale- just one copy randomly placed on an island of other unrelated books, and oh, what a joy to find this. It's just heartwarming to see grief laid out so simply but so gently and full of love. A little sprinkle of hope. I hope the author and his family are doing well.
4.5
4.5
October 17, 2025
Krásně zobrazený příběh o lásce, truchlení, nalezení klidu a naději. Pro mě osobně je inspirativní autentičnost a otevřenost, se kterou pozůstalá rodina mluví o svých emocích, myšlenkách, obavách a představách do budoucna - jak v tom procesu truchlení nejsou sami, ale spolu. V neposlední řádě bych chtěla ocenit edukaci o sepsi na konci knihy a také odkazy na pomoc pro pozůstalé v ČR.
January 21, 2021
A books that breaks your heart but heals it the further you get into the book.
The quality of the paper was good. The brown paper that was used really gave me the idea that I was going through someone’s sketchbook.
Because of this you feel the emotions and love that went into the drawings.
The quality of the paper was good. The brown paper that was used really gave me the idea that I was going through someone’s sketchbook.
Because of this you feel the emotions and love that went into the drawings.
July 13, 2021
A fascinating and uplifting journey through a widower’s grief. Not at all as depressing as it sounds. The illustrations capture the emotion and pain and also the beauty that still exists and shows itself to the two children and Father as they learn to remember with Joy
January 13, 2021
Beautiful book. Well worth reading. Tender and true.
January 17, 2021
I’ve followed Gary on Twitter and enjoy his drawings - the biggest thing to take from this is healing takes time and grief should never be rushed - joy can be found even in the darkest of times x
June 5, 2021
I’ve followed Gary on twitter for ages and always have enjoyed his doodles. They capture so much emotion and sometimes can be humorous. It’s a quick read but with a lovely message.
January 29, 2022
Beautiful, tear-inducing, life-affirming message of Love conquering all in the end. Can't ask for more than that
June 3, 2023
Heartwarming, a true insight into life just carrying on.
July 26, 2023
Such a sad book with heartbreaking and joyful words. Wonderful illustrations. My heart went out to the whole family. 💔
July 8, 2024
god i love this, felt so warm and close to my heart
November 8, 2025
Absolutely beautiful book
December 23, 2025
super cute and real. nice how he made a comic of daily life. very endearing.
January 26, 2021
Bought for a friend's birthday and thought well to order 2 copies. I read this earlier in the year in one sitting.
Gary Andrews is an extremely talented and expressive illustrator whom captures the love he has for his late wife with rare honesty and vulnerability.
I followed his journey via instagram and couldn't be more pleased to have a hard copy of some of what he posted.
Gary Andrews is an extremely talented and expressive illustrator whom captures the love he has for his late wife with rare honesty and vulnerability.
I followed his journey via instagram and couldn't be more pleased to have a hard copy of some of what he posted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2020
Beautiful imagery for such a strong, sad story. Worth reading for anyone who is dealing with grief or knows someone who is. It has some incredible explanations (and from my own experience - very accurate) for how one feels during a time of loss and grief. There are also many cute fun and funny moments, as there usually is in life!
March 21, 2024
Good book! Beautiful illustrations! Heartbreaking.
June 11, 2025
I love it to bits. 🥹
Reach for it when: you need help in managing loss of a loved one (esp. if it came out of nowhere)
Reach for it when: you need help in managing loss of a loved one (esp. if it came out of nowhere)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews