After retiring, two months into the first COVID-19 lockdown, Venrah Ali saw how our world was immersed in negativity. Doomscrolling, isolation, and increased mental stress had become parts of everyday living. With these ongoing daily adversities, it can be difficult to remember the joys of ordinary life. For the Love of a Mother, Grandmother, Friend is a collection of fifty anecdotes which remind us that pockets of joy exist all around us. With warmth and humour, these stories highlight simple pleasures, the power of community, and reflect on what the future may hold. Even in isolation, we can still connect with one another, and this connection