Lost Without You: Loving and Losing Tanya

by Vinnie Jones

'This is not a love story I ever wanted to tell, because I hoped it would just go on and on, and never end. I thought that we'd grow old together. I never wanted it to be a tale.But here I am, a middle-aged man sitting at the kitchen table as the California light fades, thinking about the coming night and how to get through it. Trying to explain to someone - to anyone - what it was like to live through something an amazing three decades that happened to me. Three decades that are now over.'In July 2019 Vinnie Jones tragically lost his wife and soulmate Tanya after her six-year battle with cancer. Tanya and Vinnie had shared 27 amazing years and raised a beautiful family together. Her passing was a devastating shock to everyone - and Vinnie found himself struggling to cope.In this extraordinarily intimate memoir, Vinnie tackles his grief honestly and with heart, sharing warm and colourful stories from the 25 years he spent married to Tanya, and unfiltered accounts of the reality of grief. From the darkest hours to the happiest moments, and everything in between, it is tender and heart-breaking, deeply honest but also full of humour and hope.Written to honour Tanya's life, Lost Without You is a beautiful and brave story of love and loss. Nothing will take away the pain of Tanya's death, but if in sharing his experiences Vinnie can inspire others in the depths of the unspeakable to find the help they need, then he will have succeeded in the keeping her kind, caring and selfless spirit alive.

Genres: Nonfiction, Football

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2020

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest and say I know very little about Vinnie Jones’ personal life. I know he was a footballer as well as an actor but that is about it. I had no clue who he was married to, how many children etc. This was a great insight into his personal life as well as seeing a different side to the hardman that is portrayed to us by the media.

The one thing I did notice in the book is that there is very little about the couples son, Aaron. Kaley, Tanya’s daughter, was from her relationship with Steve Terry and there is no denying the bond between not just mother and daughter but Vinnie and Kaley also. At the end of the book it states that Kaley helped Vinnie in writing it. Not sure if this is why or if Aaron preferred for not much to be said regarding him. It did make me feel a little sad that more wasn’t mentioned about the mother and son relationship as I’m sure that the bond was just as strong but it was quite noticeable that their relationship was never mentioned not even his birth.

Like I say I knew nothing about Tanya before reading this book. Having now read it, I have learned what a courageous woman she was. Having battled health issues since her heart transplant when she was 21, it never seemed to get in her way of living her life. Being married to someone famous obviously didn’t change her either and you feel what a genuine and kind person that she was.

This felt like such a personal and heartfelt story. Vinnie himself admits that he wasn’t an angel. He relied heavily on drink which made him aggressive and saw him getting into trouble with the law more than a few times after getting into fights. You can see though that Tanya and Vinnie were made for each other. They loved each other unconditionally and my heart breaks for Vinnie and the rest of Tanya’s family for losing this kind soul far to early in life. It was a great eye opener to what a lovely man Vinnie is and more than anything what a wonderful love story they had. He also opens up in how he deals with the loss and to a certain extent, offering light and hope to others who have lost a loved one also.

[Jane Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I cried all the way through this book! I knew Vinnie as a footballer and actor and that his wife had died but now I feel I know a little more about the man and his love for his wife. Carpe Diem.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book to me was so beautiful and sad at the same time. I think Vinnie should be proud. Definitely recommend.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down So so heartbreaking but joyous as well. What a fantastic couple they were.it certainly was true love

[Matt Boulby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always known Vinnie Jones. A tongue and cheek Leeds legend, Eurotrip, She’s The Man, the list goes on. This book is extremely open and totally transparent about dealing with grief of losing the most important person in your life. I took away 3 key areas of emphasis in the book:

1. Who was Tanya Lamont who become Tanya Jones and why was she such a special person?
2. What made their love so deep and so passionate?
3. How to deal with grief when the time comes

A book that can help people. I think this book needs to be more widespread, it certainly helped me with my admittedly minuscule amounts of grief in comparison. Great read, easy read, fascinating, emotional - all wrapped up into 235 pages.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched The Gentlemen on Netflix and then read a little about Vinnie Jones which is when I found out about his beautiful wife, Tanya. After that I purchased this book which is basically a love story to Tanya from Vinnie. They were soulmates. This book charts Vinnie’s life from him as a young lad playing football for various teams and how he knew Tanya when they were both young and how their lives slotted back together again. What Tayna went through was dreadful but Vinnie always stood by her side with the help of close family and friends. I heard recently that he has found love again. I am pleased for him. He deserves happiness. A true love story.

[Stephen Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I have ever read


This book has everything, I could spend hours writing a review, but I won’t. What I will say is this that this book is pure, raw emotion. I felt every part of Vinnies pain. I cried for the first time reading a book, I felt like I was their, watching a friend go through their pain.


This books gives so many amazing messages about life, the most important one being, to love. Love people with everything you have, love unconditionally.

Thank you for writing this book.

[Lucinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved Vinnie from the days of Snatch and Lock Stock and while I’ve not read his other books, felt I needed to read this.

The love from such a young age he had for Tanya is all through the book.. she was his world and vice versa.

This book brings some of his life into this but it mainly centres around Tanya and how they supported each other through the bad and good!

A very easy read, full of love and giggles.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about love and life! It’s heartbreaking the love vinnie & Tanya had for each other, you have to treasure every moment and makes you think of your own love you have for the special person/people in your life. Very down to earth people who have shared their life. Really enjoyed this book even through my tears of sadness and joy.

[Simon Pert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really was a beautifully written book, a love story and a journey spoken from th heart. I have nothing but praise for Vinnie Jones who stands up, admits his flaws, speaks of his emotions and lays his soul bare. It is a book I will go back to because it is a lesson in life, don't give up,dream big, stay humble.

[T.A. Rosewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book by a huge hearted man who has for the best part, been misjudged by many.
What a beautiful person Tanya was in her short life. Heartwarming and touching from such a 'hardman' - I really enjoyed it and the banter style.
Let's all hope we experience lasting and eternal love like this - I know I am.
Well done Vinnie - you are an alright bloke with a heart of pure gold!

[Joyce Combe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So emotional and heart breaking to read, lovely to see someone like vinnie looking after his beloved wife throughout her illness until she passed away. She seems a lovely person, sad that she's passed away.

[Herb Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heartfelt book of love and grief. A public figure lays himself bare to honor the memory of his late wife. During this time of Covid, reading this book is an antidote for the current spirit of malaise. The is a very human story full of love, loss, grief and survival.

[Megan Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very raw, open and emotional book showing how he dealt with the loss of his beautiful wife. Really does demonstrate how people cope with grief in different ways. Brave to write it so soon after her death

[Danni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely heartbreaking. I had so many emotions reading there story. My heart was breaking for Tanya and what she had to go through. I absolutely loved how Vinnie loved Tanya and loved her until the end.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely beautiful

So so sad for Vinnie to loose his beautiful wife ,I was absolutely choked reading this story ,and couldn’t put it down , they were devoted to each other ,definitely Two Swans. Tania sounded like such a Beautiful soul x

[Gareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story. Sometimes people are just meant to be together but sometimes life can be cruel. Be thankful for, and make the most of, what you have today. You never know what tomorrow’s going to bring. A sad tale but also a heartwarming one.

[Claire Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad for only giving this 2 stars given the subject matter but it just didn’t gel for me. It was really slow and I found myself skipping parts. I also found the constant use of Tanya’s full name beyond annoying.

[Kayleigh Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really moving, especially if you listen to the audiobook read by Vinnie Jones. You can hear all the emotions in his voice. In this book he is not Vinnie Jones the celebrity, the successful actor. He is simply a grieving man, who has lost the love of his life.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

After seeing the Piers Morgan interview, I just had to buy the book. Totally heartbreaking.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional.

Behind the scenes, a spiritual love that will always be!
Tanya will always be with those she loved and the love was returned.

[vicki crombie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never judge a book by its cover (so true)

This was written from the heart, Mr vinnie Jones is not the bad boy thug the press made me think he was,

[Bill Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vinnie shares his love story with his wife Tanya and the devastation and love that got them through her dealing with cancel and the aftermath of her eventual death

[Ronelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m disappointed in the book he did non describe how he handled his grieve. His love for Tanja is true.

[Sue Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an emotional book and to experience love like that must have been incredible, hats of to you Mr. Jones. Tanya was a lucky lady

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I have read in a very long time. Brutally honest and heart warming. An insight into a gentle giant’s life.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an emotional rollercoaster...
Brilliant insight into their relationship throughout the years, felt the whole story with Vinnie 💜

[Amy Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved this man and in this book is exactly why. Such an incredibly emotional read but absolutely beautifully told

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving and honest

[jo lodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Heartbreaking knowing how much losing Tanya broke his heart. It made me want to give him a big cuddle