Alison Larkin is an English- American adoptee, a former comedian and a divorcée raising two children. By the time she reached her 50’s, Alison figured out that she had never allowed herself to experience true love due to personal fears, yet she was longing for it and wondering: is it too late to find her soulmate? Fortunately, she met Bhima - an Indian man
in his 50’s who had moved to America thirty years earlier, and they instantly lost their hearts to each other. After spending a long time together, being introduced to each others’ families, bonding with their friend groups, their love only grew deeper and stronger, and they became totally inseparable. Alison and Bhima readily decided to get married, however, five days after taking this life changing decision, the most unexpected and devastating event took place. Bhima died.
Alison lost the man she had been yearning to meet, the love of her life and her best friend. Loneliness and grief ruled her life; she became emotionally crippled and detached from the outside world. Some people say that when a loved one
passes away, you sense their presence around you initially but by time it fades, but Alison and Bhima’s case was the
exception to this rule. Surprisingly, six weeks after his death, Bhima showed up at Alison’s kitchen table, and was committed to one goal: to help Alison move on with her life and to find love again. to this rule. Surprisingly, six weeks after his death, Bhima showed up at Alison’s kitchen table, and was committed to one goal: to help Alison move on with her life and to find love again. Through Alison and Bhima’s talks - the ones that took place after his death - we get to learn more about Alison Larkin’s story. We get a sneak peek into her adoption, upbringing, career, relationships, marriage
and divorce; though the main focus was on her love story with Bhima, their unique bond, how she lost him, and how he steered her out of her monotonous grieving over his death! This book forced out of me all kinds of tears, those of laughter and of sorrow as well. Not only it is an accurate depiction of true love, but also a very influential and impressive one. Through this story, I came to understand that love can arrive at any moment. It doesn’t follow timelines or recognize age, nor does it knock on your door asking for permission. At the right time, God sends to you your person, they walk into your life smoothly, and love blooms between both of you willingly. Life and death are the two inevitable realities, we get no say in them - neither regarding their timings nor about who will leave first and who will be left behind to mourn. As a matter of fact, the more you love someone, the more you will be in despair upon losing them, but what if your lost one is determined to help you reconstruct yourself from your ruins even after they cease to exist? However, I do not like the way religions and God are being discussed in this book and sometimes I found them completely inappropriate
and unacceptable to me, also mentioning them was unnecessary in my POV. Probably that is the one of the few things -actually the most one- I personally disliked about the book. Therefore it unfortunately did not allow me to enjoy the book as much as I wanted to do, because I found myself constantly annoyed by it. Moreover, it took me longer than expected to finish reading it because at some parts I felt it was going slower than needed.

Grief...A Comedy
By Alison Larkin

"Your story deserves a wide audience because it will bring hope to those who might otherwise resign themselves to despair. You must do whatever it takes to ensure this narrative reaches as many people as possible. And not just in an email to me!" — Archbishop Desmond Tutu

What could be more compelling than a story that Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whom Alison affectionately refers to as "Arch," inspired the author to share? In fact, when she informs him of her endeavor, he responds with glowing encouragement, saying, "You have put a smile on the face of God."

Grief: A Comedy is a beacon of hope for anyone who has experienced loss. As an English teacher, I find joy in the paradox of oxymorons, & the title exemplifies this beautifully. Grief & comedy are not typically paired, yet the remarkably talented Alison Larkin weaves them together seamlessly. This book elicits both laughter & tears, showcasing the interplay of opposites in our human experience.

For those of us who have yet to find true love as we grow older, this story offers a glimmer of hope. It encourages us to appreciate the people we truly cherish. It inspires us to embrace each day with purpose & meaning. Ultimately, Alison discovers love, but her time with Bhima is heartbreakingly brief. Just five days after their engagement, she loses him. Rather than surrendering to sorrow, she shares her journey, leaving behind a legacy for all who are navigating their own personal grief journey—one that honors her profound connection with Bhima.

Once I began reading, I found it impossible to stop. Upon finishing, I immediately sought out the audiobook to experience Alison's story in her own voice. With her comedic talents she takes the reader on a profound journey that encourages the rest of us to cherish the time we have left and the people with whom we spend it.

Alison notes, "People told me that when someone you deeply love passes away, you can sense their presence for a while. But eventually, that connection fades, and they no longer feel near. Not in our case, it seems."

This encapsulates Alison's narrative: a powerful love that endures beyond death.
She finds herself yearning to live—and love—more fully than ever before. This is a story everyone should experience; its impact is so profound that it feels transformative.

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This is one of my favorite books of the year! I read it in under 24 hours and felt so in awe of Alison and the way she humorously and pragmatically handles her grief. The tether she had to her partner is the kind everyone wants to find once (or more!) in their lives. The book is such a gift for anyone who has lost someone special (which is almost all of us).

Being a young widow myself, I truly believe everyone's grief is both different and valid. So while Larkin's experience doesn't necessarily reflect my own, I enjoyed reading her story. I didn't necessarily love the structure (her talking to her deceased fiancee and retelling him their love story) because magical realism isn't my thing..... But the story itself was a good one. She goes back in time and reflects on her own adoption and reuniting with her birth parents, fast-forwards to her post-divorce life, and then recounts her meeting & falling in love with Bhima... and then updates him on her life after his passing. For a story about death, this is not a depressing read so don;'t let that scare you off. This is a quick read and insight into one woman's later-in-life love and too-early-in-life loss.

I love memoirs, give me all of them! I’m really fascinated by people’s lives and the stories they choose to tell. For me, this book stood out for its unique tone and style, but ultimately, it left me with mixed feelings.

The title caught my attention right away, and I was surprised by how whimsical and even fictional the story sometimes felt. Alison writes with a romantic an interesting romantic touch and I really appreciated her voice and sense of humor as it added a lightness to some very emotional topics, but overall surprised me from what I was expecting.

There were moments when I felt a bit bored or disconnected. I wanted to go deeper into her feelings and understand more about the events she was describing. Some parts felt glossed over, and I was left wishing for more emotional depth and detail to really connect with her journey.

Overall, it was an enjoyable and unique read, and unlike other memoirs I've read, but maybe it wasn't for me.

With the title and synopsis, I thought this might be up my alley. I have experienced alot of grief in my life and usually will enjoy books that have that but this one didn't hit for me.

"Grief... A Comedy" by Alison Larkin is a heartwarming and humorous exploration of love, loss, and hope. The story begins with the author's personal experience of coping with grief, showcasing how people deal with it in different ways, from substance abuse to writing a solo comedy show. Larkin's journey takes an interesting turn when Bhima, presumably a loved one, appears at her kitchen table six weeks after passing away, determined to help her find love again.

Thank you Alison Larkin and NetGalley for an ARC of this memoir, in return of my honest review.

Alison is a comedian in her 50’s with two adult children, divorced when she meets the absolute love of her life. The one. The person who finally after years avoiding love shows it to her full frontal. The love that Alison always shied from because she feared so much of loosing it.

Enter Bhima.
Enter a love so grand, unlike anything ever before.

Bhima shows Alison what true love is. They fall splendidly, luxuriously in Joe Dove.

They make wonderful plans for their ever lasting happy future, unbeknown that within mere days of deciding to marry Bhima unexpectedly and tragically dies, his body leaving Alison forever.

In her memoir, Alison unfolds the beautiful memories they created, and her grief which of course leaves her wanting to hide from the world and all the pain that unfolded. Thankfully Bhima and Alison’s adult children would allow no such thing to occur.

Bhima accompanies Alison throughout her grief, he sits with her, her converses with her, he sticks around and when he believes she is ready he, along with her children pushes her to reinter the world and continue living surrounding herself in connections and the love of others.

Through the process Alison realised that in the process of losing this love she now feels more alive than ever.

Thank you Archbishop Desmond Tutu for your encouragement to Alison, to write her story.
This is a beautiful memoir, amongst the pain there was beautiful humour and love, lots of it.
I highly recommend reading this and sharing Alison’s journey of grief.

Thank you for the opportunity to read your memoir and provide my honest review.

How do you write about grief without getting swallowed by it? Grief… A Comedy pulls off the nearly impossible: it finds real, warm, laugh-out-loud light in the shadow of profound loss.

Alison’s story is both intimate and universal. In the wake of a life-changing love and a devastating loss, she begins to experience moments that blur the line between memory, imagination, and something more. What follows is a deeply human, often hilarious exploration of how we continue to live, love, and even laugh when the unthinkable happens.

This book stands out not just because it’s about grief, but because it dares to treat grief as a living, evolving, and sometimes absurd companion. There’s an existential undertone—the kind that wonders what any of this means, and how we go on—but it’s delivered with such sharp wit and compassion that you never feel lost in the heaviness.

Instead, you feel seen.

What makes Grief… A Comedy truly special is its voice: brave, funny, vulnerable, and emotionally honest in a way that’s both disarming and healing. Whether it’s an unexpected conversation or a too-real moment of navigating life post-loss, the book reminds us that to grieve is to have loved—and that love doesn’t end. It simply changes shape.

If you’ve ever loved deeply, lost suddenly, or questioned the rules of what’s “real,” this story will stay with you. It’s not just a book—it’s a permission slip to keep going, messily and meaningfully.

#AlisonLarkinPresents #NetGalley

What a wonderful book told with so much heart and humor. Allison is a gifted writer and comedian, and she taps into both gifts to bring this story of love and loss and hope to life. She doesn't diminish grief, she explores it.

There is no sugarcoating of the pain of grief, yet there is beauty in the use of language and the story is filled with people who, for the most part, are sweet and relatable. I enjoyed going to the coffee shop with Allison and seeing the Bobs - there are several - and the other regulars who become dear friends.

The first part of the book that focuses on the love story between her and Bhima is sweet and funny and touching. It made me smile to follow them from first awkward moments to this is it - the love they both had been searching for their whole lives. And I so appreciated the fact that it was the love relationship that was paramount in the telling, without any graphic sex scenes.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Even though some of the subject matter is dark and heavy, there is plenty of light and humor to appreciate, as well as a great deal of wisdom.

This book was just okay to me. I enjoyed reading it but nothing about it stands out. I’ve finished and already forgotten what I read. I’m sure it will hit with some people, just not with me.

for such a heavy topic this book had me laughing much more than i expected! Larkin tells her and Bhima's love story with such grace and joy I felt like I knew him myself. She was able to broach the heavier topics with the the levity that they necessitate but never lost her voice and the resounding theme that their love was worth the wait. Larkin's voice and narrative style greatly reminded me of Nora McInerny of Bad Vibes Only. Overall this was an easy and very enjoyable read - one i'd recommend to anyone looking for both a laugh and a cry.

I just did not like this book that much. I really wanted to but I didn’t find the author identifiable to me

The title obviously caught my attention and I was happy to receive an arc. This story was obviously heartbreaking but also uplifting. I loved it,

Oh my, what a book. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I laughed, I cried and I was blown away. I wish I would have had the opportunity to see the one woman shows but I'm so grateful that this story is out in the world. I'm going to look fir it on audio book because I would love to hear it in the author's voice. What an amazing talent . I have had many conversations with my Mother since she passed and while bodies do end Love never does!

This was such a wonderful read! Larkin’s voice is so naturally funny, and structuring this book around a literal ghost was such an interesting choice that I think really paid off.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7587383036

quick, upbeat, and interesting book by a very interesting person. very well written and equally funny and thought-provoking. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

How do you write about grief without getting overwhelmed by the intensity of it? Grief… A Comedy pulls off the nearly impossible: it finds light—real, warm, laugh-out-loud light—in the shadow of a devastating loss.

After falling deeply in love later in life, she loses Bhima—her soulmate—just five days after they decide to marry. But instead of sinking into despair, she hears him at her kitchen table. Imaginary? Maybe. But what follows is a deeply human, often hilarious exploration of how we keep loving, living, and even laughing when the person we love most is gone.

There’s an existential undertone here—the kind that asks what any of this means, and why we go on—but it’s delivered with such sharp wit and compassion that you never feel lost in the heaviness.

What makes this book truly special is its voice: brave, funny, vulnerable, and full of the kind of emotional honesty,

Grief… A Comedy reminds us that to grieve is to have loved—and that love doesn’t end when someone dies. It just changes shape. If you’ve ever loved deeply, lost suddenly, or questioned the rules of what’s “real,” this book will stay with you.

Alison's book takes a true look at grief and life in a bold and new approach. Instead of playing the victim of some of life's brutal moments (first husband loosing all their money for instance), she shows how she finds peace/joy in her life when meeting Bhima. From there, you get to follow along as she falls in love with Bhima and the after... where some would say she starts to live again post Covid.
While I don't want to focus on the plot line because I want there to be some surprising parts to the book, the few plot lines I want to mention: 1. the book is mostly focused around the death of Bhima. And the retelling of her life to him (KEY POINT HERE).
The only reason I ranked this four stars is because I don't think everyone will enjoy the way she talks about death... she talks about it from a humanistic point of view and openly about the parts that happen after death (like being alone).
What I do love about this book are some of the great lines that really show how different it is to live once someone has passed... one of my favorites is "I've got to carry on living, and there are these rules one must abide by if one wants to be considered sane".
A must read if you want a more open approach to grief and less self helpish.

Embarrassingly, before this book I was not familiar with Alison Larkin. But 2.5 years ago I experienced my first round of real, capital G, Grief. And like most people experiencing Grief for the first time, I am constantly seeking out other’s experiences with Grief so that I can, obviously, relate it back to my own. And oh boy was I able to relate so much of Alison’s story of Grief back to my own (despite experiencing completely different circumstances.)

We know the ending before we know the beginning. Bhima has passed. But he isn’t gone. Together, Alison and Bhima take us through Alison’s journey to find love (true, real, actual love), her magical romance with Bhima, his tragic passing, and the steps Alison took next as she faced a life where she was still very much alive.

The pacing for this book is fantastic. The anticipation of Alison meeting Bhima. The anticipation of his death. And finally the reflections and questions Alison asks about grief and connection and life after death. When I wasn’t reading , I was thinking about this book. And of course crying my eyes out. (My eyes have been swollen for three days and I am in no danger of developing dry eye.)

So much about this book, and Alison’s story, resonated with me. I think this is a powerful book.