What do you think?
Rate this book
Only About Love
There’s no such thing as a perfect family. A perfect life. A perfect man. Frank is proof of this. He’s everyman and yet as unique as a fingerprint. With a wonderful wife and children he loves most in the world, he couldn’t ask for anything more. But time and time again he keeps risking it all. In snapshots through time, Only About Love takes a sweeping loop around Frank’s life as he navigates courtship, marriage, fatherhood, and illness. Told through the perspective of Frank and his family, this story is one of intense honesty about the things we do with and to those closest to us.
144 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2022
1 person is currently reading
82 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 31, 2022
A short book,with short chapters, giving short glimpses of life. It’s easy to read and I flew threw it. The first chapter is one long sentence, stream of consciousness giving an overview in a way of the whole book. Hard to describe, as each chapter is written in a different way but it’s the story of a family, Frank, his wife Liz and their children, John and Dawn. Beautifully done, particularly the latter sections where Frank is suffering from Alzheimers.
December 14, 2023
In this well crafted novella, we follow Frank's life as the narrative goes back and forth in time, we "see" short glimpses of his life from childhood till death. Told from the point of view of Frank and his family members in snapshot chapters.
The quote on the back of the cover said, "Gut-wrenching, heartwarming..." and I only hope if you read it, you get to the ending intact. I will leave the storyline as vague as I can and hope you will trust me on this one and read it. In only 130 pages, this story will test you and will break you, I'll put money on that.
I was glued to this book, though it tortured me, I wanted to read read read and afterward snuggle inside a warm blanket and cry.
Instent 5 ⭐ rating from me.
Content warnings : infidelity, dementia, terminal illness.
The quote on the back of the cover said, "Gut-wrenching, heartwarming..." and I only hope if you read it, you get to the ending intact. I will leave the storyline as vague as I can and hope you will trust me on this one and read it. In only 130 pages, this story will test you and will break you, I'll put money on that.
I was glued to this book, though it tortured me, I wanted to read read read and afterward snuggle inside a warm blanket and cry.
Instent 5 ⭐ rating from me.
Content warnings : infidelity, dementia, terminal illness.
July 6, 2021
Wow! Such a beautiful little book about love, loss, family and the struggles that we face when we love one another deeply and unconditionally. Our main character, Frank, and his family could be any of us. The realities and complexities of life were dealt with time and again, whether they added to Frank's life or took away from it. One thing is certain though, Frank's life was not only about love...it was about decisions and choices made that helped yield the life of love that he yearned for. Thank you NetGalley for this lovely eCopy.
June 21, 2021
In snapshots through time, Only About Love takes a sweeping loop around Frank’s life as he navigates courtship, marriage, fatherhood, and illness. Told through the perspective of Frank and his family, this story is one of intense honesty and emotion.
I adored this novel. At only 140 (small) pages it was the perfect thing to get me out of my reading slump. My favourite books are often character based, and this book was absolutely that. Following Frank from his young years to his final moments was such a heart-breaking journey.
I appreciated the fact that we were told one story through multiple perspectives. Frank’s wife and children had voices and I loved their insights into life and feelings. Finding a book that handles such intense topics so well, and in such a short span of pages is difficult, but this book did that and even more. I read about 60% in a coffee shop, and I may have welled up a few times (I totally would have cried if I was at home).
Overall, such a lovely little novel that is jam packed with emotion and feeling. It was especially poignant on and around Father’s Day. Please mark your calendars for the 5th of August and buy this special book!
Thankyou Fairlight for my gifted copy of this book.
I adored this novel. At only 140 (small) pages it was the perfect thing to get me out of my reading slump. My favourite books are often character based, and this book was absolutely that. Following Frank from his young years to his final moments was such a heart-breaking journey.
I appreciated the fact that we were told one story through multiple perspectives. Frank’s wife and children had voices and I loved their insights into life and feelings. Finding a book that handles such intense topics so well, and in such a short span of pages is difficult, but this book did that and even more. I read about 60% in a coffee shop, and I may have welled up a few times (I totally would have cried if I was at home).
Overall, such a lovely little novel that is jam packed with emotion and feeling. It was especially poignant on and around Father’s Day. Please mark your calendars for the 5th of August and buy this special book!
Thankyou Fairlight for my gifted copy of this book.
July 13, 2021
This may be a Novella and so quite short, and yet so much is conveyed in this heartfelt story of one man - Frank, his life, his family, his love for his family and in the early days after his diagnosis, the fear of his illness.
The book has very short chapters, some perhaps only a couple of pages long and yet each one holds a message. Sometimes told from the point of view of his children Dawn and John, others his wife Liz and often Frank himself.
It tells Frank's story, from his early years, cruelly treated by his Father, to when he met Liz, his life long wife. Yet as much as Frank loved his wife and his family, he just couldn’t help his philandering ways, often putting all that he loved and cherished so much at risk.
It’s a brilliant book but incredibly sad towards the end as his illness takes a hold on everything that Frank ever was. His demise as described by his children - mainly his daughter is heartbreaking to read. It’s wonderfully written, with great sensitivity but at the same time highlights the wretchedness of such a cruel disease that robs families of their loved ones long before they pass away.
A short book, but nevertheless profound in its observation of love in its many forms and whilst ultimately very sad, it did have a lighter side in places with humour and fondness. I loved it and highly recommend this book for its honesty and insight - the title says it all.
The book has very short chapters, some perhaps only a couple of pages long and yet each one holds a message. Sometimes told from the point of view of his children Dawn and John, others his wife Liz and often Frank himself.
It tells Frank's story, from his early years, cruelly treated by his Father, to when he met Liz, his life long wife. Yet as much as Frank loved his wife and his family, he just couldn’t help his philandering ways, often putting all that he loved and cherished so much at risk.
It’s a brilliant book but incredibly sad towards the end as his illness takes a hold on everything that Frank ever was. His demise as described by his children - mainly his daughter is heartbreaking to read. It’s wonderfully written, with great sensitivity but at the same time highlights the wretchedness of such a cruel disease that robs families of their loved ones long before they pass away.
A short book, but nevertheless profound in its observation of love in its many forms and whilst ultimately very sad, it did have a lighter side in places with humour and fondness. I loved it and highly recommend this book for its honesty and insight - the title says it all.
September 6, 2021
This book is deceptively short, and even the 130-40 page count belies the very short chapters and sections that make up this book. But it truly packs a punch.
We are introduced at first to small scenes which almost read like short stories or bits of flash fiction, but we soon start to see how they are connected, telling a heartbreaking story of a family's lives as they deal with the fallout of failing physical and cognitive decline.
There are some beautiful passages that sweep in to meditate on what it means to remember or forget, and then sweep out again just as quickly as they came, giving way to an observation on the absurdity of the role reversal where a parent is being tended to by their children.
Although I tore through this and read it in what felt like no time at all, some of the images from it have lingered in my mind since.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We are introduced at first to small scenes which almost read like short stories or bits of flash fiction, but we soon start to see how they are connected, telling a heartbreaking story of a family's lives as they deal with the fallout of failing physical and cognitive decline.
There are some beautiful passages that sweep in to meditate on what it means to remember or forget, and then sweep out again just as quickly as they came, giving way to an observation on the absurdity of the role reversal where a parent is being tended to by their children.
Although I tore through this and read it in what felt like no time at all, some of the images from it have lingered in my mind since.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2022
What a heartbreaking little book! Somehow, Voisey has managed to pack this little novella with the most touching story, all in under 150 pages! I loved spending my morning with this and getting lost in her gorgeous writing.
If you're yearning for an emotional and quick read, then this is the one for you. I absolutely adored it.
If you're yearning for an emotional and quick read, then this is the one for you. I absolutely adored it.
July 15, 2021
Hands down, my favorite Mad Men episode is Season 1 episode 13 “The Wheel.” In this episode lots of things happen but the most memorable part is when Don Draper pitches Kodak’s new film slide carousel. There are so many that have happened in the earlier 12 episodes. You get to know Don. He’s a womanizer, a seducer, someone who is at the top of his game and gets what he wants. But he is rarely sentimental. This episode gives us a glimpse into his more emotional side.
The whole episode he struggles with how to pitch this carousel. How to make it something that every family will need to have. He ends up loading it with his own family photos and, as always, gives an impeccably delivered emotional pitch.
”In Greek, 'nostalgia' literally means 'the pain from an old wound.' It's a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone. This isn't a spaceship, it's a time machine," he says. "It goes backwards and forwards. It takes us to a place where we ache to go again."
"It's not called 'The Wheel,'" he continues. "It's called 'The Carousel.' It lets us travel the way a child travels. Around and around and back home again. A place where we know that you're loved.”
Sold.
This book reminded me of that episode. Delivered in snapshots of a life. From good, bad, and everything in between, every nostalgic memory that makes life what it is. It is painful, it is funny, it is romantic, and it will break your heart.
Told from varying points of view, this ‘family portrait’ is a journey through life and love.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
The whole episode he struggles with how to pitch this carousel. How to make it something that every family will need to have. He ends up loading it with his own family photos and, as always, gives an impeccably delivered emotional pitch.
”In Greek, 'nostalgia' literally means 'the pain from an old wound.' It's a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone. This isn't a spaceship, it's a time machine," he says. "It goes backwards and forwards. It takes us to a place where we ache to go again."
"It's not called 'The Wheel,'" he continues. "It's called 'The Carousel.' It lets us travel the way a child travels. Around and around and back home again. A place where we know that you're loved.”
Sold.
This book reminded me of that episode. Delivered in snapshots of a life. From good, bad, and everything in between, every nostalgic memory that makes life what it is. It is painful, it is funny, it is romantic, and it will break your heart.
Told from varying points of view, this ‘family portrait’ is a journey through life and love.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
July 28, 2021
"Only About Love" is a novella written by Debbi Voisey. I was unsure what to expect when I first read the blurb, but quickly became entranced with the writing style and story unfolding.
The story follows the life of Frank, a regular man with a nuclear family. Each chapter is brief (1-2 pages), and from the perspective of Frank or one of his family members. Often jumping through time and back again, this story reflects on love, marriage, father-daughter relationships, mistakes, communication, illness, and forgiveness. The first chapter was told in a stream of consciousness, which initially I found a bit off-putting. However, within the context of the plot, it was key to understanding Frank.
I would recommend this book for those who like Kurt Vonnegut's writing style. Although not as bizarre in content (no space zoos in this novella!), the travelling forwards and backwards through time was a clever mechanism to convey Frank's state of mind and wellbeing. The novella was touching in how it conveyed the closeness of Frank's relationship with his daughter over time. And overall, how love is in the small moments, the everyday rituals, and the memories of those around us.
Thank you to Fairlight Books and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review! "Only About Love" will be published in March, 2022.
The story follows the life of Frank, a regular man with a nuclear family. Each chapter is brief (1-2 pages), and from the perspective of Frank or one of his family members. Often jumping through time and back again, this story reflects on love, marriage, father-daughter relationships, mistakes, communication, illness, and forgiveness. The first chapter was told in a stream of consciousness, which initially I found a bit off-putting. However, within the context of the plot, it was key to understanding Frank.
I would recommend this book for those who like Kurt Vonnegut's writing style. Although not as bizarre in content (no space zoos in this novella!), the travelling forwards and backwards through time was a clever mechanism to convey Frank's state of mind and wellbeing. The novella was touching in how it conveyed the closeness of Frank's relationship with his daughter over time. And overall, how love is in the small moments, the everyday rituals, and the memories of those around us.
Thank you to Fairlight Books and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review! "Only About Love" will be published in March, 2022.
November 30, 2021
A gem of novella, so cleverly crafted, so well-paced, narrated with compassion and insight, a gentle and moving tale of family life. Told in a series of short vignettes, we get to know Frank, with all his flaws, his long-suffering wife Liz and his two children John and Dawn, as each gets their turn in telling us their story. It’s an emotional read but one infused with kindness and understanding of how ordinary people cope with everyday life – parenthood, loss, illness, death. It’s a slight book but a profound one which will surely strike a chord in every reader.
December 10, 2025
a short yet impactful book about a man who continually participates in self-detructive behaviors that damage his relationship with his wife and kids... we follow him through the end of his life and see how love transforms not only him but the relationship he has with his family who have surprisingly stuck with him through everything he put them through
the last chapter in itself was beautiful - highly recommend for a quick but eye-opening read about gratitude and love :)
the last chapter in itself was beautiful - highly recommend for a quick but eye-opening read about gratitude and love :)
March 27, 2022
A beautiful novella. Condensed and succinct in its description of family life and loss. The shortness somehow makes it more vivid, like a firework that leaves an after image for a long time afterwards.
August 9, 2021
Each story fragment merges to create a mosaic picture of a marriage and family life. The glue is Frank: father, husband, son and adulterer. Adored by his wife and children, despite his flaws, we follow all their lives as the timeline weaves and twists like memories clamouring for attention, carrying us to the inevitable ending as Frank is devoured by dementia. We experience the pain of grieving for a loved one who is still living and suffering.
Debbi Voisey’s writing is breathless, red-raw and brutally honest. The novella builds to an emotional punch that will leave you heart-broken, and blubbing, but ultimately this is always, and only, about love.
Debbi Voisey’s writing is breathless, red-raw and brutally honest. The novella builds to an emotional punch that will leave you heart-broken, and blubbing, but ultimately this is always, and only, about love.
September 12, 2021
Could he pull it off? This relationship thing? He could see the future stretching out before him like a never-ending ribbon of time and he wondered, for the first time, if he could navigate it and make it to the end, and be happy along the way.
*
Frank is the seemingly confident front man in a local rock-n-roll band, but when he meets his future wife, Liz, he is momentarily disarmed. Something about her is different from the groupies who clamber around him at the end of his gigs. When things begin to look serious, Liz puts her foot down. She won’t put up with any nonsense, she tells him. He’s going to have to behave.
In chapters that move back and forth in time, Debbi Voisey’s beautiful novella gives us snapshots of Frank throughout his life: as he will be, as he was, and as he is now. In quick succession, we see him at the end of his life – confused and infirm, followed by images of him as a much younger man – vital and charismatic. We see him as a loving father to two young children, and as a devoted husband to Liz. But we also see the frightened and lonely young boy that Frank was at the beginning and how those early years shape the rest of his life. Despite his confident appearances, Frank is broken beyond repair.
With his perfectly Brylcreemed hair, Frank continues to be the centre of attention even when he settles down into a routine job to support his family. And more than anything – more than the love and respect of his wife and children – Frank craves attention. Time and again, he gives in to temptation as he moves from one affair after another.
Only About Love, by Debbi Voisey is described as a ‘novella in flash’, with each chapter presented from the perspective of Frank, Liz, or one of their children, John and Dawn, at various points in their lives. We see the heartache and the trauma each character endures, their doubts and disappointments, but despite Frank being the cause of that heartache, his family remain loyal to the end. Yes, he is greatly flawed, but they never stop loving him.
Though emotions sometimes run high (John and Dawn endure the sounds their parents’ many breakups and makeups from adjoining rooms), events are largely reported in a matter-of-fact tone rather than dramatized. Like a crime report, this book documents the evidence and only touches lightly on the impact Frank’s crimes have on his family. There is no climactic moment of confrontation. No cross-examination. And Frank, himself, while acknowledging his crimes, never questions himself, either. There is no introspection. No self-analysis. No self-pity, and no real sense of guilt until it’s far too late.
Midway through the book, the story jumps forward. Frank is seventy-five now, and we see him struggling with tasks he has performed effortlessly a thousand times before. There is a stark change in tone in this part of the story as we view snapshots of Frank’s slow decline. His past unfaithfulness is all but forgotten, now, and piece by piece the man he was is disassembled.
The last few chapters are a tough read at times as the details of dementia – what it does to the person, what it does to his family – are laid out before us. As the disease advances, Frank’s fears and frustrations become our own. Who of us does not fear this long, drawn-out erasure of the self? At the very end, however, we are given a reprieve from the oppressiveness of a life that lingers after the self has gone. Voisey leaves us with memories of happier times, and the reassurance that in spite of everything else, Frank’s story was really only ever about love. And that love endures.
Only About Love is a powerful story of familial love in all its complexity and permutations. It had me in tears at times, and touched me deeply. It’s a thoughtful and ultimately uplifting book.
*
Frank is the seemingly confident front man in a local rock-n-roll band, but when he meets his future wife, Liz, he is momentarily disarmed. Something about her is different from the groupies who clamber around him at the end of his gigs. When things begin to look serious, Liz puts her foot down. She won’t put up with any nonsense, she tells him. He’s going to have to behave.
In chapters that move back and forth in time, Debbi Voisey’s beautiful novella gives us snapshots of Frank throughout his life: as he will be, as he was, and as he is now. In quick succession, we see him at the end of his life – confused and infirm, followed by images of him as a much younger man – vital and charismatic. We see him as a loving father to two young children, and as a devoted husband to Liz. But we also see the frightened and lonely young boy that Frank was at the beginning and how those early years shape the rest of his life. Despite his confident appearances, Frank is broken beyond repair.
With his perfectly Brylcreemed hair, Frank continues to be the centre of attention even when he settles down into a routine job to support his family. And more than anything – more than the love and respect of his wife and children – Frank craves attention. Time and again, he gives in to temptation as he moves from one affair after another.
Only About Love, by Debbi Voisey is described as a ‘novella in flash’, with each chapter presented from the perspective of Frank, Liz, or one of their children, John and Dawn, at various points in their lives. We see the heartache and the trauma each character endures, their doubts and disappointments, but despite Frank being the cause of that heartache, his family remain loyal to the end. Yes, he is greatly flawed, but they never stop loving him.
Though emotions sometimes run high (John and Dawn endure the sounds their parents’ many breakups and makeups from adjoining rooms), events are largely reported in a matter-of-fact tone rather than dramatized. Like a crime report, this book documents the evidence and only touches lightly on the impact Frank’s crimes have on his family. There is no climactic moment of confrontation. No cross-examination. And Frank, himself, while acknowledging his crimes, never questions himself, either. There is no introspection. No self-analysis. No self-pity, and no real sense of guilt until it’s far too late.
Midway through the book, the story jumps forward. Frank is seventy-five now, and we see him struggling with tasks he has performed effortlessly a thousand times before. There is a stark change in tone in this part of the story as we view snapshots of Frank’s slow decline. His past unfaithfulness is all but forgotten, now, and piece by piece the man he was is disassembled.
The last few chapters are a tough read at times as the details of dementia – what it does to the person, what it does to his family – are laid out before us. As the disease advances, Frank’s fears and frustrations become our own. Who of us does not fear this long, drawn-out erasure of the self? At the very end, however, we are given a reprieve from the oppressiveness of a life that lingers after the self has gone. Voisey leaves us with memories of happier times, and the reassurance that in spite of everything else, Frank’s story was really only ever about love. And that love endures.
Only About Love is a powerful story of familial love in all its complexity and permutations. It had me in tears at times, and touched me deeply. It’s a thoughtful and ultimately uplifting book.
January 3, 2022
ARC received in exchange for an Honest Review
Thank you to Fairlightbooks and NetGalley!
“Watching him die will be a privilege. Loving someone means you don’t want them to be alone right at the end. It means no matter how scary it is, or how much it hurts, NOT being there would be so much worse. He witnessed her first breath. She’ll stay until he takes his last”
This is a book I was afraid to read, so please check the trigger warnings as it deals with the death of a parent.
With beautiful poetic snapshots, Debbi Voisey, delivers a joyful and sob-inducing novella focusing on the life of Frank, his wife, his parents, his children, his mistakes, his dreams, and his slow decay due to Alzheimer.
I wasn’t expecting this book to touch so many sensible parts of my being, but like Frank, one of my biggest fears is Alzheimer's as it consumed my strong-spirited grandmother. It also addresses my second biggest fear that is the death of my parents. Only About Love does such a marvelous job at depicting the process of idolizing a parent only to discover that, they too are just human, and have to reconcile those versions you created in your head about them and their flaws into a complex bond that exists out of love.
It is all about love, and as much as I wanted to villainize Frank and tell him how much he deserved to rot sick and alone for putting his family in such misery, I still had pity for him. Voisey speaks from a place of love and some of the aspects that I appreciated the most while reading were:
-The apparently disconnected snapshots and the ‘ah-ha!’ moment when I realized they were all about the same characters from different points of view and different moments in their lives. It feels fresh and intimate, yet the space in between makes us always wonder what lurked in those spaces we don’t get to read.
-The first-person narrative in some of those snapshots pulls you in until you have some in the third person, pushing you away. This game of being in with the secret and then being another viewer fits right in with the structure and the pace.
-The characters, all human, all flawed, all love. Yes, Frank is the sun and all the others revolve around him, which leaves me wanting more of Liz and what her experience was. Or about John and Dawn, the children, as we learned that Frank was marked by his father and that in a certain way that affects how he acts. I want to know how Frank’s influence reflected on John and Dawn as they grew up and formed their own families.
-Lastly, the depiction of Alzheimer’s disease. Such a terrible all-consuming parasite eating away everything you loved from the people who once shined for their personalities and wits. This is the best depiction I have seen as it covers the family’s point of view but also Frank’s as he is confused and betrayed by his own head. A truly hard topic to write about, so Debbi Voisey did a wonderful job at this so memorable book.
Short but powerful, honest, and experimental, Only About Love is a book you must add to your list.
Keep reading, and when you are not You can find me as @isabelsdigest everywhere
#onlyaboutlove #fairlightmoderns @fairlightbooks
Thank you to Fairlightbooks and NetGalley!
“Watching him die will be a privilege. Loving someone means you don’t want them to be alone right at the end. It means no matter how scary it is, or how much it hurts, NOT being there would be so much worse. He witnessed her first breath. She’ll stay until he takes his last”
This is a book I was afraid to read, so please check the trigger warnings as it deals with the death of a parent.
With beautiful poetic snapshots, Debbi Voisey, delivers a joyful and sob-inducing novella focusing on the life of Frank, his wife, his parents, his children, his mistakes, his dreams, and his slow decay due to Alzheimer.
I wasn’t expecting this book to touch so many sensible parts of my being, but like Frank, one of my biggest fears is Alzheimer's as it consumed my strong-spirited grandmother. It also addresses my second biggest fear that is the death of my parents. Only About Love does such a marvelous job at depicting the process of idolizing a parent only to discover that, they too are just human, and have to reconcile those versions you created in your head about them and their flaws into a complex bond that exists out of love.
It is all about love, and as much as I wanted to villainize Frank and tell him how much he deserved to rot sick and alone for putting his family in such misery, I still had pity for him. Voisey speaks from a place of love and some of the aspects that I appreciated the most while reading were:
-The apparently disconnected snapshots and the ‘ah-ha!’ moment when I realized they were all about the same characters from different points of view and different moments in their lives. It feels fresh and intimate, yet the space in between makes us always wonder what lurked in those spaces we don’t get to read.
-The first-person narrative in some of those snapshots pulls you in until you have some in the third person, pushing you away. This game of being in with the secret and then being another viewer fits right in with the structure and the pace.
-The characters, all human, all flawed, all love. Yes, Frank is the sun and all the others revolve around him, which leaves me wanting more of Liz and what her experience was. Or about John and Dawn, the children, as we learned that Frank was marked by his father and that in a certain way that affects how he acts. I want to know how Frank’s influence reflected on John and Dawn as they grew up and formed their own families.
-Lastly, the depiction of Alzheimer’s disease. Such a terrible all-consuming parasite eating away everything you loved from the people who once shined for their personalities and wits. This is the best depiction I have seen as it covers the family’s point of view but also Frank’s as he is confused and betrayed by his own head. A truly hard topic to write about, so Debbi Voisey did a wonderful job at this so memorable book.
Short but powerful, honest, and experimental, Only About Love is a book you must add to your list.
Keep reading, and when you are not You can find me as @isabelsdigest everywhere
#onlyaboutlove #fairlightmoderns @fairlightbooks
August 5, 2021
This is the saddest book I’ve read this year so far. I’m not telling that I didn’t like it I loved it but reading this book made me sad and empty.
This book portraits the family of Frank, his wife Liz and his two children John and Dawn. Written in manner of prose conveyed message that in our youth, when we’re young we forget that we’ll become old someday and reminds us that “history repeats itself”.
The story is about Frank’s how he has a wonderful and loyal wife and children he loved most in the world he couldn’t ask for anything more. But Frank’s audacity keeps risking it all time and time again.
Only About Love is not all about love but choices you make in your life. Frank went through courtship, marriage, fatherhood and illness.
I’m really taken aback reading this small book, a novella which contains this much intense topic.
I’ll recommend this book to both parents and children cause there are lessons to be learned and choices should be taken and think about the outcomes.
“Starting out in married life is never easy. You have to establish boundaries. Rules. You’ve to devote your time and attention to one person, and priorities them over everyone else and forsaking all others. If someone thrust themselves into your life uninvited and unannounced, it can only mean trouble. And there was lots of trouble.”
Read this book to know about Frank and his family!
Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Thank you @NetGalley and @fairlightbooks for the #arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book portraits the family of Frank, his wife Liz and his two children John and Dawn. Written in manner of prose conveyed message that in our youth, when we’re young we forget that we’ll become old someday and reminds us that “history repeats itself”.
The story is about Frank’s how he has a wonderful and loyal wife and children he loved most in the world he couldn’t ask for anything more. But Frank’s audacity keeps risking it all time and time again.
Only About Love is not all about love but choices you make in your life. Frank went through courtship, marriage, fatherhood and illness.
I’m really taken aback reading this small book, a novella which contains this much intense topic.
I’ll recommend this book to both parents and children cause there are lessons to be learned and choices should be taken and think about the outcomes.
“Starting out in married life is never easy. You have to establish boundaries. Rules. You’ve to devote your time and attention to one person, and priorities them over everyone else and forsaking all others. If someone thrust themselves into your life uninvited and unannounced, it can only mean trouble. And there was lots of trouble.”
Read this book to know about Frank and his family!
Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Thank you @NetGalley and @fairlightbooks for the #arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2021
Flash fiction looks easy. It’s short and can be written and read in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea or put on your socks. But the easy is deceptive. The writing has to be good. It has to be controlled. It has to be sharp. In ‘Only About Love’, a novella in flash, the writing is all that and more; each flashed piece stings, like a short well-delivered jab. This is a book about life and about a family and about love – warts and all. It feels real and the sweet is so sweet and the hurt is so damned hard. And the end is the hardest hurt of all. Each flash has the ability to stand alone and each flash here can hold its head up and stand tall; but cumulatively this is a work of some considerable power, the life of an ordinary family carefully pinned down and dissected. Closing the book after the last flash it is as though you have lived it all and life - this family's life - has punched the wind out of you, not once but fifty-two times (there are fifty-two flash fictions to this novella) and you are left defeated and with your heart broken. This is writing at its best. This is mastery. You HAVE to read this book.
August 13, 2021
This is the second Fairlight Modern I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and both have been of high quality. Although Douglas Bruton’s Blue Postcards was a more avant-garde piece, both books feel rich in sentiment and emotion, with Only About Love finding beauty and hardship in the essences of everyday familial relationships.
There is nothing extravagant and out of place here, Voisey’s prose is refined, delicate, and poignant, with each chapter scarcely longer than three pages - encapsulating the most memorable moments in Frank’s relationship with his wife and children.
In many ways this is a story of loss and grief, even before Frank’s health begins to deteriorate. It’s a story of reflection, forgiveness, and learning to love against the odds.
Not my usual type of read, with Olive Kitteridge being the one novel I can call upon for comparison, at least thematically. Similarly to Olive, this is an emotive and honest read with lifelike and sincere characterisations which will make you feel like you’re part of the family.
There is nothing extravagant and out of place here, Voisey’s prose is refined, delicate, and poignant, with each chapter scarcely longer than three pages - encapsulating the most memorable moments in Frank’s relationship with his wife and children.
In many ways this is a story of loss and grief, even before Frank’s health begins to deteriorate. It’s a story of reflection, forgiveness, and learning to love against the odds.
Not my usual type of read, with Olive Kitteridge being the one novel I can call upon for comparison, at least thematically. Similarly to Olive, this is an emotive and honest read with lifelike and sincere characterisations which will make you feel like you’re part of the family.
September 1, 2021
Only About Love by Debbi Voisey is both short and epic, yet powerful throughout. Told in short snapshots, these together form a coherent whole.
The chapters are not, in the true sense, flash fiction since flash fiction is a self-contained story told through implication and what isn't said. But the similarity is strong and they together form a larger story. These short chapters more closely resemble prose poems, though some are a bit long for either consideration. But naming the style is less important than the impact, and these are powerful both individually and as a whole.
Love takes many forms and can have many effects. Voisey takes these moments from one man's life and emphasizes the different ways love can move us, both for good and bad, intentionally or not.
I recommend this to readers who want enough story to get into but enough unspoken to put your own life into. I think many readers will appreciate both Frank's story and what they recall of their own life's story.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
The chapters are not, in the true sense, flash fiction since flash fiction is a self-contained story told through implication and what isn't said. But the similarity is strong and they together form a larger story. These short chapters more closely resemble prose poems, though some are a bit long for either consideration. But naming the style is less important than the impact, and these are powerful both individually and as a whole.
Love takes many forms and can have many effects. Voisey takes these moments from one man's life and emphasizes the different ways love can move us, both for good and bad, intentionally or not.
I recommend this to readers who want enough story to get into but enough unspoken to put your own life into. I think many readers will appreciate both Frank's story and what they recall of their own life's story.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
July 25, 2021
Evocative, profound and carefully crafted. We meet Frank and his family in short chapters that often read like prose poetry and focus on key moments of his life told that shine as if surrounded by an aura because they are told with such intensity and lyricism and the writing, exquisite and compelling, fully captures the power of memory. From a difficult childhood with a violent father to courtship, marriage and deviations and illness, the latter superbly portrayed. Only About Love is an uplifting novel that shows the beautiful imperfection of human experience, embracing our falls and inadequacies in a forgiving act of love. Reading this story filled with hope, longing, regret and acceptance was an emotional experience that touched me deeply.
I ma grateful to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I ma grateful to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2025
I was nervous about reading Debbi Voisey's first novella-in-flash, "Only About Love," because her novella "The 10:25" completely wrecked me. Debbi is masterful at getting to the emotional heart of a moment and capturing it on the page.
For me the tears began in the piece "Two Heartbeats" with this passage:
"You never expected him to get old. You lived with him in perpetual youth through your shared love of the ridiculous, but you don’t see anything funny now."
This, as Dawn witnesses her father Frank's decline, and we with her. Luckily, Debbi gives the reader lots of time to get used to what's coming for Frank, and how it will affect his family, so I wasn't thoroughly wrecked by the end of the book. She is gentle with our hearts, and with her characters, and most importantly, she reminds us on every page that love is the most important thing.
Highly recommended.
For me the tears began in the piece "Two Heartbeats" with this passage:
"You never expected him to get old. You lived with him in perpetual youth through your shared love of the ridiculous, but you don’t see anything funny now."
This, as Dawn witnesses her father Frank's decline, and we with her. Luckily, Debbi gives the reader lots of time to get used to what's coming for Frank, and how it will affect his family, so I wasn't thoroughly wrecked by the end of the book. She is gentle with our hearts, and with her characters, and most importantly, she reminds us on every page that love is the most important thing.
Highly recommended.
July 26, 2021
A study of the life of a man now suffering with severe dementia, Frank's history is told in a series of snapshots from his own, his wife and his two children's point of view. With no holds barred, this celebrates the bad and good in his life, and in his character, from his abusive childhood to his long and ultimately successful marriage that has survived money worries and infidelity.
The opening chapter was delivered in a stream of consciousness, not a medium I'm a fan of, but the writing soon settled down into a natural rhythm, and the format of switched viewpoints worked really well, This is a character study rather than a story with a plot, but ordinary though Frank's life is, he's a fascinating and empathetic character.
A short but very satisfying read.
The opening chapter was delivered in a stream of consciousness, not a medium I'm a fan of, but the writing soon settled down into a natural rhythm, and the format of switched viewpoints worked really well, This is a character study rather than a story with a plot, but ordinary though Frank's life is, he's a fascinating and empathetic character.
A short but very satisfying read.
December 30, 2021
This is a beautiful little book. It is exquisitely crafted with brilliant painting of characters, who are realistically flawed and yet still so engaging and loveable. I really wanted to spend more time with them and missed them when the book ended. It has a very poignant thread running through it about the experience of Alzheimer's but it reflects so much more than that, evoking time and place so well when it takes you into the past and shows perfectly how we love those close to us despite, and even because of their flaws - without them they wouldn't be the same. I loved this gem of a book and would highly recommend it.
August 14, 2023
Only About Love is a powerfully moving novel(la), told in asynchronous fragments from differing points of view, focusing on the life and death of Frank from childhood to his death from Alzheimers 80 years later. Epic in scope, the tale is related asynchronously in tiny chapters from varying points of view (his wife Liz, his children, occasionally Frank himself, with some flashback on how his own father was destroyed by WW2) and in various styles reminiscent of flash fiction. Highly recommended for people who want the emotions of a Big Book in a small format, with humour and lightness of touch along the way.
August 20, 2021
This book is about an ordinary family written in a brilliant way. Being told from the perspective of Frank and his family, it gives us insights on all their thoughts and emotions that will make our heart feel warm and also break it.
Frank has everything in his life and a perfect family still he looks for love elsewhere risking what he already has. The impact it has on their family will make us feel the pain. Later in life he suffers from dementia and the way it is told is heartbreaking. Seeing their loved one suffer makes it more difficult, specially from his daughter Dawn's perspective.
Debbie Voisey has written a flash fiction going to and fro between past and present smoothly talking about happy and sad times. It is a quick read which is honest, realistic and raw. Her writing is clear and so is the narration helping us to know who the speaker is immediately without waiting for the name to pop up.
She talks about hardships in relationship, ups and downs in family, inspite of everything coming together only because of their love for each other. It is always and only about love as she rightly says.
I would recommend this lovely book to everyone if you want to experience a feeling that touches your heart and so does all the emotions.
Frank has everything in his life and a perfect family still he looks for love elsewhere risking what he already has. The impact it has on their family will make us feel the pain. Later in life he suffers from dementia and the way it is told is heartbreaking. Seeing their loved one suffer makes it more difficult, specially from his daughter Dawn's perspective.
Debbie Voisey has written a flash fiction going to and fro between past and present smoothly talking about happy and sad times. It is a quick read which is honest, realistic and raw. Her writing is clear and so is the narration helping us to know who the speaker is immediately without waiting for the name to pop up.
She talks about hardships in relationship, ups and downs in family, inspite of everything coming together only because of their love for each other. It is always and only about love as she rightly says.
I would recommend this lovely book to everyone if you want to experience a feeling that touches your heart and so does all the emotions.
August 31, 2021
This is lovely short story that talks about love , loss, separation and children.
The chapters are quite short snd the writing is beautifully written and I found it easy to read from the first page. The story is about family and Frank talks about his wife and how much he loves her but also knows he has treated her wrong and his children. Frank gets demention and can be abuse at times . The chapters can be from Frank , lily his wife or Dawn his daughter.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book.
The chapters are quite short snd the writing is beautifully written and I found it easy to read from the first page. The story is about family and Frank talks about his wife and how much he loves her but also knows he has treated her wrong and his children. Frank gets demention and can be abuse at times . The chapters can be from Frank , lily his wife or Dawn his daughter.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book.
April 5, 2023
This was a moving read which tugged at my heart strings and kept me reading, sometimes when I didn't want to. The snapshots of a life, spread over the course of many years, are described in simple, vivid prose which draws you into the heart of a family's love and longing. Written from different points of view, the author manages to give us enough insight to view each character with respect and tenderness despite their failings. These are understandable, relatable.
Unsettling and thought-provoking, Only About Love is a beautifully crafted short read.
Unsettling and thought-provoking, Only About Love is a beautifully crafted short read.
July 25, 2021
This book is heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. The main character has dementia, but that's just part of the story. It focuses on the choices that he and his family made over the years, and how those choices changed what happened to them as a family. It has a though-provoking depth to it, yet it''s a quick read. I felt that during the first read I missed a lot and almost read it again straight afterwards (if I had time I would have done).
January 12, 2023
The author has a wonderful way of writing, sad, funny, tongue-in-cheek. There's not a word out of place as we follow Frank and his family through the ups and downs of his youth, mid-life, and finally descent. Sensitive, but doesn't pull any punches, Only About Love is an immersive, rewarding read. I would read the next book by Debbi Voisey in an instant.
May 10, 2022
This is an absolutely enchanting book about an ordinary British family from the 60’s onward. Liz meets Frank when he sings Elvis songs in a rock band. Their love and marriage and family whether many a storm. A beautiful book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews