All My Worldly Joy

Laura Richmond

A Memoir of Motherhood and Mental Health

‘An astonishing memoir’ Sara Gibbs, author of Drama Queen

Funnelled into mental health services while she was growing up, Laura Richmond had tried every medication going. Everyone had different views on what her problem was, but it often felt that no one, however qualified or caring, knew what to say or how to help.

She was increasingly desperate, until the birth of her son sparked a sequence of events that would change everything. Her labour was harrowing and she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, along with her six-week-old son, with post-traumatic stress. That finally set on her on a path to recovery – via an autism diagnosis that finally made everything make sense.

Intimate and compelling, All My Worldly Joy is a story of self-discovery and profound love. It tells how one woman’s life has been transformed through the thousand tiny joys her son brings every day.

‘An astonishing memoir. Perfectly straddling the line of heart-cracking and side-splitting, Laura bleeds her most vulnerable moments in tender, honest prose with searing wit and insight. For such difficult subject matter it’s an astoundingly easy read’ Sara Gibbs, author of Drama Queen

‘Laura Richmond writes with frankness, humour, and great intelligence. This book is beautiful and heartbreaking, but also filled with love and humanity. Her voice is absolutely incredible’ Miranda Ward, author of Adrift

‘Beautifully written and incredibly moving. This book is now going to be my first recommendation for any therapist who wants to work with new mothers’ Dr Miriam Donaghy, founder of MumsAid

‘A wonderful, rich and challenging read that gives such an insight into our mental health system. Laura’s voice leaps out from the page with wit, passion and authenticity’ Dr Becca Moore, perinatal psychiatrist