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Love Interrupted: Navigating Grief One Day at a Time
Simon Thomas (former Blue Peter presenter and, for so long, the face of Sky Sports Football) reveals how grief nearly destroyed him in his heart-breaking memoir.
When Simon lost the woman he had loved for 16 years, the future he’d imagined for their happy family disappeared for ever. Gemma died from acute myeloid leukaemia, just three days after being diagnosed.
In Love, Interrupted, Simon is brutally honest about his journey through grief, and opens up about how close he came to ending his own life. Simon didn’t know how to carry on without Gemma; he just knew that, for the sake of his eight-year old son, he had to find a way …
Love, Interrupted is a moving story of love, loss, faith, and family.
When Simon lost the woman he had loved for 16 years, the future he’d imagined for their happy family disappeared for ever. Gemma died from acute myeloid leukaemia, just three days after being diagnosed.
In Love, Interrupted, Simon is brutally honest about his journey through grief, and opens up about how close he came to ending his own life. Simon didn’t know how to carry on without Gemma; he just knew that, for the sake of his eight-year old son, he had to find a way …
Love, Interrupted is a moving story of love, loss, faith, and family.
200 pages, Paperback
Published June 20, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 19, 2024
A moving and honest insight into grief. I particularly appreciated the frank comments on what was helpful and what wasn’t when supporting those grieving and how open Simon was about how loss impacted his faith.
September 13, 2024
Audiobook. So heartbreaking, but everyone should read this.
January 3, 2024
A powerful and brutally honest testament about grief and the fragility of human life. A really important read.
September 25, 2020
At first glance this book is just about one man’s tragedy and bereavement after the death of his wife., in 2017. But it is about more than that. Simon Thomas chronicles his mental health journey highlighting his problems with celebrity status and alcoholism. The death of his wife, Gemma, and the recovery of his son Ethan are a big part of his journey.
This is a must read for everyone interested in good mental health, a problem which has recently been flagged up by the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex – William and Harry. Understanding the symptoms, which Simon describes in great detail, is important.
This is not a book for the faint-hearted. The description of his wife’s death and his subsequent guilt trips provide harrowing reading but it is lifted to transcendent heights in his outline of his son, Ethan’s contribution to his recovery. We are left in no doubt that Christian fellowship and friends were also important in this.
That Simon Thomas is a minor celebrity is a hook, which pulls you in to start reading in the first place. He was a Blue Peter Presenter before he was contracted to work for Sky Sports and had a successful career as a football commentator. He outlines the beginning of his anxiety and panic attacks in relation to his job. There is no doubt that he had a mental health problem before the tragedy of his wife’s death struck.
The practical details of how Simon Thomas coped with bereavement would be helpful to those experiencing the same problems. His experience as a single father and the accompanying stress relating to this, provide valuable insight into the problems he experienced.
Although this book is not written specifically for the Christian market, it would appeal to Christians. I would recommend it.
This is a must read for everyone interested in good mental health, a problem which has recently been flagged up by the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex – William and Harry. Understanding the symptoms, which Simon describes in great detail, is important.
This is not a book for the faint-hearted. The description of his wife’s death and his subsequent guilt trips provide harrowing reading but it is lifted to transcendent heights in his outline of his son, Ethan’s contribution to his recovery. We are left in no doubt that Christian fellowship and friends were also important in this.
That Simon Thomas is a minor celebrity is a hook, which pulls you in to start reading in the first place. He was a Blue Peter Presenter before he was contracted to work for Sky Sports and had a successful career as a football commentator. He outlines the beginning of his anxiety and panic attacks in relation to his job. There is no doubt that he had a mental health problem before the tragedy of his wife’s death struck.
The practical details of how Simon Thomas coped with bereavement would be helpful to those experiencing the same problems. His experience as a single father and the accompanying stress relating to this, provide valuable insight into the problems he experienced.
Although this book is not written specifically for the Christian market, it would appeal to Christians. I would recommend it.
August 31, 2019
I commend Simon for writing this book and beautifully and truthfully sharing his story. It is clear grief is a very lonely place to be, and I applaud Simon for not masking this in his writing. The world stopped for Simon, Ethan and the whole family on that November day in 2017, and you can feel Simon's pain in his writing. I shed many tears, because even though you know the outcome you just will for Gemma to be cured, and for Ethan to have his Mummy back.
I also loved how Simon brought Ethan's voice across in the book. He let us into Ethan's grief too, and it's actually quite sobering to see another perspective, especially from an 8 year old boy. The photos were beautiful, and from the way Simon wrote about Gemma, you could see her personality radiate from the images he kindly shared. As much as this journey is a tragedy, there is also tangible hope. Grief will never leave Simon and Ethan, they were robbed of so much, but you see glimmers of faith come alive, and by the end of the book you feel hopeful that Team Thomas are having more happier moments than sad. Thank you so much for sharing this with the world Simon. So honestly and wonderfully written.
I also loved how Simon brought Ethan's voice across in the book. He let us into Ethan's grief too, and it's actually quite sobering to see another perspective, especially from an 8 year old boy. The photos were beautiful, and from the way Simon wrote about Gemma, you could see her personality radiate from the images he kindly shared. As much as this journey is a tragedy, there is also tangible hope. Grief will never leave Simon and Ethan, they were robbed of so much, but you see glimmers of faith come alive, and by the end of the book you feel hopeful that Team Thomas are having more happier moments than sad. Thank you so much for sharing this with the world Simon. So honestly and wonderfully written.
June 24, 2019
Simon has written a very brave, unedited book where he shares his horrid journey on the sudden loss of his best friend, beloved wife and mother to Ethan Gemma to blood cancer.
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His journey through grief and beyond, how Ethan at only 8 years of age is his strength and shows his maturity beyond his years.
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As Simon describes grief is very unique for each individual.
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Its beautifully written and Simon is very brave and bold to be writing about such a horrific period his in life.
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This is not only a story about loss but it's also a guide to grief and how it's difficult to explain and how we dont really talk about it.
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I found this book so heartbreaking yet I could feel the love for Gemma, Simon and Ethan coming through the pages. 💓
Thank you so much @simonjthomassky and @triggerpub
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His journey through grief and beyond, how Ethan at only 8 years of age is his strength and shows his maturity beyond his years.
💓
As Simon describes grief is very unique for each individual.
💓
Its beautifully written and Simon is very brave and bold to be writing about such a horrific period his in life.
💓
This is not only a story about loss but it's also a guide to grief and how it's difficult to explain and how we dont really talk about it.
💓
I found this book so heartbreaking yet I could feel the love for Gemma, Simon and Ethan coming through the pages. 💓
Thank you so much @simonjthomassky and @triggerpub
February 7, 2021
Good memoir about Simon’s journey through grief as his wife died suddenly and unexpectedly. Fab to find a friend’s name in it - Dan Ritchie went to my church in Paris and was a great help to Simon and Ethan becoming a good friend to them. I really appreciated reading what reactions from those around him helped most and would love if this book enabled a better reaction from me when those around me are walking through grief. Also a good reminder to check we have life insurance sorted!!
August 18, 2019
Wow a powerful book, poignant and full of love. Remarkable journey his son and himself have come on and the love they have for each other through it all is beautiful. I wish Simon every happiness in his next journey of love and I hope Ethan continues to find love and strength in his dad and Simon continues to find this in Ethan.
July 25, 2021
What a sad and heartbreaking story this is. This book really grabs your heart, not only because of how suddenly his young wife passed, but also the impact it had and how he dealt with it.
This is a very honest memoir about how Simon Thomas dealt with his wife’s death regarding alcohol, depression and also his Christianity.
This is a very honest memoir about how Simon Thomas dealt with his wife’s death regarding alcohol, depression and also his Christianity.
July 12, 2019
A compelling read, but it's heartbreaking. It shows how grief can hit in ways you least expect it, and at times when you least expect it. Not recomended for reading on a train etc as you'll be forever reaching for a hanky. Best wishes to Simon and Ethan as they navigate their way into the future.
July 21, 2020
A very honest and moving account of the first year without his beloved wife. How Simon Thomas and his eight year old son managed to survive their grief and start living again. A book that needs to be read.
January 4, 2024
Very honest and open about how it feels to lose someone unexpectedly. Slight niggles were the overuse of the term My Boy and the constant references to Christianity, but this is personal preference.
June 29, 2019
A brutally honest book of loss but beautifully written. I wish him and his son all the very best for their future.
August 4, 2019
Heart breaking read
February 1, 2020
A truely honest account regarding loss and adaptation to a new life. This should be read by all especially those working with those who are bereaved.
February 6, 2020
Beautifully written
June 28, 2020
Incredibly honest and emotional read
August 24, 2020
One of my favourite grief books, helpful to follow grief through the process
September 14, 2020
Very good, but so harrowing. Very real and a great read for anyone suffering similar. Do not read unless you want a raw emotional read. Those with mental health issues beware.
February 26, 2021
I have been through the same experience and it was good to know that it's not just you that struggle to cope with this situation
February 9, 2023
An excellent insight into the passage of grief. As a 14 year old girl my own mum died aged 40 and this book gave me a glimpse as to how my own dad may have felt.
June 1, 2023
Humbling read
October 29, 2023
If you want to cry multiple times, read this.
December 22, 2020
A very powerful, emotional and thought provoking read. The honestly and openness of Simon gives you a sobering appreciation of why life is so precious. His son is a total star throughout. Highly recommended.
August 7, 2019
One of the best, moving books I have read and felt in a long time. Simon Thomas shares his personal struggles with losing his wife, dealing with grief and bringing up his son as a single parent
November 3, 2019
It was ok but talked too much about Christianity which put me off.
November 5, 2019
4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews