This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Lunches with Ed: A Dementia Journey of Love by Judy Collier is a heartfelt and deeply human memoir that tells a love story challenged by the slow, heartbreaking progression of dementia. Told through personal journal entries and reflections, the book follows Collier’s life with her husband, Ed, from his diagnosis through years of caregiving, his eventual move to long-term care, and the bittersweet final months. The story begins with Ed’s early signs: leaving the bathroom water running, burning a pan, and subtle but unsettling changes that signal the start of his decline. Collier, already familiar with dementia from her father’s experience, takes on the caregiver role with love and determination. Her voice is personal and sincere, describing the daily realities of managing his health, emotions, and dignity.
Judy Collier’s voice is unvarnished, capturing both the exhaustion of caregiving and the quiet joy in shared rituals. Simple moments like offering watermelon slices, praying before lunch, and watching the sun outside the café take on deep meaning when seen through the slow fading of a loved one. The narrative never romanticizes the disease, but fiercely preserves the love at its center. The book is a valuable guide for others walking similar paths. Collier intersperses her story with practical appendices: communication tips, self-care suggestions, and resource lists for caregivers. These additions reflect not only her personal journey but a desire to help others find steadiness in times of uncertainty. Lunches with Ed honors both the beauty and the hardship of loving someone with dementia. It is about love expressed through action and presence and provides a helping hand to those navigating their own caregiving journeys. Collier captures both the rawness of grief and the grace that can live inside it, leaving readers with a quiet, enduring sense of hope.
