Book Review: Helen Fernald’s “Love, Helen – Letters to My Mother: Creating a Loving Connection after Loss”
by ReadersMagnet | August 26, 2025 | Literary Executive Review | 0 Comments
Helen Fernald compiles personal letters dedicated to her late mother, written for over three decades.
Love, Helen is an emotional healing book that explores the deep mother-daughter relationship of Helen and her mother. The book is a compilation of personal letters, written for over three decades, dedicated to Fernald’s late mother. Through her letters, Fernald navigates through her sorrow and suppressed grief, allowing her to have a spiritual awakening. Blending her poetic reflection and personal story, Helen Fernald’s letters become therapeutic tools for healing and holding onto their inner light.
This book takes its readers on an emotional journey through letters of grief, longing, and life updates. Helen Fernald connected well with her audience. Her storytelling is captivating. The reading experience becomes a personal space to read a letter from a friend or a compelling memoir.
Despite being a compilation of letters of personal updates, Fernald still possesses poetic talent. Her words paint images that let her readers imagine what’s happening. The reading experience also feels like Fernald is right in front of you, sharing her personal life.
What makes Love, Helen compelling is that it connects well with its audience, emotionally. For people who have not read it yet, they might think this is just a compilation of letters, but it actually has a much deeper purpose. Fernald’s letters enlighten, inspire, and empower her readers. Each of her letters would end with encouraging words that would spark one’s motivation to do good every day. Yes, it still shows a rollercoaster of emotions on Fernald’s side, but she always ends them with something positive to balance everything out. The book does not just share mere letters; it uplifts.
The graphic design of the book is simple. There is a red rose lying against a white background. This rose is not just an object in the design. It carries a symbol, especially that it suggests that it was laid down by someone, like on a grave.
Love, Helen is a dedication to Helen’s late mother. The rose signifies that – a dedication. Red roses mean love, respect, and undying passion for the deceased. The fact that Fernald uses this as a symbol in her cover conveys her love for her mother.
Above the rose is the title in cursive – Love, Helen. Right there, readers already have a glimpse that the book is about personal letters. Below the rose is a straightforward description of the title – Letters to My Mother: Creating a Loving Connection after Loss. Even the way the word “after” is written in all-small caps can mean that the author conveys grief. The grief tells her readers that she was not ready to let go. That subtle way of giving an all-small-letter word in a title gives a glimpse of the emotional rollercoaster in the book.
The white background signifies that the book conveys a positive message. If it were all-black, it could all mean that the book only shares grief. The white background is a great choice for a book that shares something motivational, while also conveying one’s longing for a loved one.
From a brand and marketing perspective, the book has the perfect image. Both the cover and the content, along with the author’s message, all align. Yes, it gives a glimpse into the life of the author, longing for her late mother, but it also shares a positive message that motivates readers in their own healing journey. The way the book is written connects well with its readers. Helen Fernald knows her target audience well.
Overall, Love, Helen is a must-read for those who need light in their lives, despite adversities. This book is especially great for those who have experienced loss, as it inspires them to find their way to healing.
Book Rating: 5/5 Readers can get a copy of Love, Helen: Letters to My Mother: Creating a Loving Connection after Loss by Helen Fernald on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
