The Sunday Times bestseller Dear Life was shortlisted for the 2020 Costa Book Awards, long listed for the 2020 Baillie Gifford Awards, chosen as a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and as Waterstones’ Non-Fiction Book of the Month for September 2020. It was judged by the Independent to be the overall best book of 2020.

Based on Rachel’s work in a hospice, Dear Life explores loss, grief and dying. In palliative care, she argues, there is more of what really matters in life - love, strength, kindness, joy, tenderness, grace and compassion - than you could ever imagine. 

The Costa biography judges described it as: “A beautifully written, powerfully moving book that tackles an emotive and difficult subject with professional compassion and personal insight.”

More praise for Dear Life:

“She writes with a tender, lyrical beauty.”

Christina Patterson, Sunday Times

“Her words are brimful of love, grace and kindness.” Madeleine Bunting, Guardian

A magnificent, tender book.”

Martin Chilcot, Independent

“A truly wonderful book.”

Henry Marsh

“What a remarkable book this is; tender, funny, brave, heartfelt, radiant with love and life… It sings with joy and kindness.”

Robert Macfarlane

“A truly beautiful book about death and life and the price of love..”

Matt Haig

“Rachel Clarke should be essential reading for all of us… Dear Life is a remarkable book.”

John Crace, Guardian