Last Updated on March 8, 2026 by Home in the World
Recommended read for your next plane or train journey – or even if you’re simply looking to curl up with a good book at home.
Today’s ‘Recommended Read’ comes courtesy of my physiotherapist! Despite having been going to him for several years now, it only recently came up in conversation that his wife was an acclaimed writer of women’s fiction novels. I had no idea!
After hearing him describe her latest book, Love and Other Battles, I immediately bought a copy (which Tess was also kind enough to sign) – not only because it sounded right up my alley, but also because I always believe in supporting local writers. I was very intrigued to see what it would be like, and promised to tell him honestly what I thought of it.
Well, I finished it last night and wow – I am still reflecting on it! For me, when a book stays in my head and heart for several days after, it’s definitely a good thing; it means it really resonated with me. I never give spoilers in my book posts on here, so don’t worry; it’s safe to read on.
What is Love and Other Battles about?
There are 3 plots to Love and Other Battles, each centred on a different generation of women in the Stone family: Jess, a free-spirited Melbourne nurse who falls in love with a doctor who is sent off to the Vietnam War; Jamie, her daughter, who, in 1989, meets an emerging musician who sends her life down a very different path to what she had anticipated; and CJ, Jamie’s daughter, who experiences her own set of problems when she becomes entangled with one of the coolest boys at her school.
All 3 plots are beautifully interwoven, and I found the overall pace to be just right. At no point did anything feel too rushed or too long-drawn-out; the reader was exposed to a perfect mix of all 3 stories and was able to develop a connection with all three of the strong female protagonists.
It must be said that the book does cover topics such as suicide and self-harm, which may trigger some readers. But even these delicate issues are handled in a dignified manner – realistic and no sugar-coating, but without going overboard with graphic detail either.
My impressions of the book
Tess Woods really captures the raw emotions that come with these complex matters, and it is this compelling style of writing, equally interspersed with injections of humour, that made this novel so rich for me. It was very apparent that a lot of research had gone into developing an understanding of the issues each of her strong yet flawed characters was going through, and into really creating a sense of place for each plot: from 1960s/’70s Australia gripped by Vietnam-War-related politics, to the prime experimental Gen X years of 1989-2000, to the ‘joys’ of modern technology in contemporary high-school life, and even the bright lights of Nashville’s country-music scene.
I have found so many endings in books these days to fall flat. I get 90% of the way through a novel that I am really enjoying, only to be let down hard at the end – to the point that I now even get a bit nervous to become too enraptured with any book until I have actually finished it, lest I be left disappointed.
And while I had that same trepidation with Love and Other Battles as I got ever nearer completing it, I am very pleased to report that the ending did definitely deliver. It had the knock-out twist every reader wants, while still tying up loose ends and leaving a satisfactory feeling overall. What a relief! That is why I was able to give it 5 stars on Goodreads, which is quite rare for me.
Why read Love and Other Battles by Tess Woods?
Love and Other Battles is an unputdownable masterpiece of Australian fiction – equal parts romance, tragedy, humour and family saga spanning three generations of inspiring, richly characterised female protagonists. Tess Woods has done a fantastic job and I am genuinely so impressed with her writing.
Irrespective of her being my physio’s wife, if I had not liked the book, I simply would not have bothered to write a whole blog post about it, and nobody would have been the wiser. But I truly did find this a stunning page-turner. I was always hoping I would love it – and I must say it actually exceeded my expectations.
You don’t even have to take my word for it; read it for yourself and I’m sure you will agree. Leave a comment below if you have already read it or are planning to! I would love to hear your thoughts. You can also follow Tess herself on Instagram.
** This post, like everything else on this website, has been written entirely by me. No ChatGPT or any other AI tool has been used. It takes longer to create, but I value 100% human-generated content and I hope you do too! **
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This sounds a fascinating read🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It really was – highly recommended!
Sounds like a must read!
It definitely is!