JOANNA NELL, a bestselling author, former doctor and advocate for positive ageing, discusses her new novel, The Funeral Crashers, and the importance of connection.
AKINA HANSEN writes.
Childhood is a time in our lives when dreams are born. Some of us hold onto those dreams, nurturing them through adolescence and into adulthood. For others they fade or fall to the wayside.
For bestselling author Joanna Nell, storytelling was an early passion, but one she only pursued later in life.
Joanna grew up in Bromsgrove, a small market town in the middle of England. Her mother was a hairdresser and her father owned an electrical store. As a result, her home was filled with televisions – and it was through these screens she first fell in love with stories. Books soon followed.
‘From the very first book my parents read to me, Honey Bear by Mollie Clarke, I remember being impatient for more stories, so much so that I taught myself to read before I started school. My imaginary world was very vivid, and I created backstories for all my toys,’ she tells me.
Growing up she was a shy and bookish kid who was badly bullied. And so, she took comfort in the imaginary. Her ability to create stories grew into a love of writing when at age eight her parents bought her a typewriter for her birthday.
‘I loved the escapism of writing and being able to control what happened to my characters when the real world was, at that time, confusing and overwhelming. I never dreamed of becoming a published writer back then because it seemed too conceited an ambition. In many ways I wish I could go back and encourage my younger self to keep writing and dream big rather than let that passion go for so long.’
Life had other plans for Joanna, who at 13 won a scholarship to Bromsgrove school. During these years she developed a love of science and became conflicted between what she should pursue.
‘In the end, I faced a choice and chose the scientific route that led me to a career in medicine.’
She went on to study medicine at Cambridge and Oxford universities and then trained as a general practitioner.
‘I never lost my desire for creativity, however, channelling it into my flowery essays at university – much to the frustration of my tutors, I suspect – and later into writing expansive case notes on all my patients. I still consider medicine as much an art as a science,’ she says.
In 2003 she emigrated and settled down in Australia with her family. Years later in 2012, while working as a mother and full-time GP, Joanna was thrust back into the world of writing. After a fall that required hamstring surgery and six weeks of bedrest, she enrolled in an online creative writing course through the Australian Writers Centre.
‘From the moment I submitted that very first assignment, I felt a visceral shift deep inside me, as though something that had been stuck had finally released. It was the first time I’d really done anything purely for myself, and at first it felt like an indulgence, but I’ve never looked back.’
After successfully getting several short stories published and even winning the Romance Writers of Australia Valerie Parv award for an unfinished manuscript, Joanna finally found the courage to submit her first novel to agents and publishers. While this novel has never seen the light of day, her second novel The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village was picked up by an agent and became a national bestseller.
‘I attended a literary speed dating event in Sydney in 2017 and delivered a three-minute pitch, in what felt like a single breath, to the person who became my first agent. She read the manuscript in a day. Within 24 hours there was a three-way bidding war between publishers, something that I still struggle to believe. Having waited many years, I became a published author overnight.’
. 
. 
Joanna has since gone on to write The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker, The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home, The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital, Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year and most recently, The Funeral Crashers. Her books are celebrated for their witty, lively and uplifting portrayals of older characters – and her works reflect her own advocacy for positive ageing.
‘When I was a child, I spent a lot of time around my active grandparents and saw them as great role models for positive ageing. As a medical student I gravitated towards older patients. Not only were they more interesting from a medical point of view, but I found them more stoical and less impatient with a rookie like me. I often became so engrossed with their stories that I was reprimanded for taking too long to see the patient.’
Joanna’s work as a GP and specifically her work at retirement villages and nursing homes have inevitably influenced her work – all her published novels have followed the lives of older characters.
‘Although all my characters and plotlines are purely fictional, and the Hippocratic Oath prevents me from sharing any details from inside the consulting room, I inevitably draw inspiration from the everyday encounters with my patients. This is especially true of my older patients whose challenges with an ageing mind and body I witnessed first hand. This allowed me to view ageing from a different perspective, not as a disease to be cured, but as an inevitable stage of life that we all face. This experience certainly influenced my writing and my desire to tell more positive uplifting stories about ageing. All my books feature older characters discovering either new friendships, romantic relationships or community, as social connection has been shown to be one of the strongest protectivefactors in ageing.’
Her latest novel, The Funeral Crashers, also draws from her experiences with older adults. It’s a heartfelt story that follows Martin Pottinger and Grace Cavendish, two older characters who are dealing with loss and grief: Martin is still reeling from the guilt of losing an old lover, while Grace has withdrawn from the world since the death of her daughter. When the pair meet at a funeral at All Souls Church, they connect over a shared joy of singing hymns during the service. Afterwards, Grace suggests to Martin that they attend another funeral together to sing at, and a friendship develops. Soon, they are crashing a string of funerals, and along the way they find purpose, community and even a surprising twist of fate – becoming the inheritors of a large estate.
‘The novel began as a number of seemingly unrelated cues. The initial seed was sown during a fireside conversation on a winter retreat with my writing group. Someone brought up the subject of crashing funerals. I remember jumping up and down, and pleading with them to let me steal the idea for a novel. This happens a lot when writers get together. Everything is fair game!
‘Once I had the title, I found the other elements fell into place. Naturally as we get older, we attend more funerals of people we know. My father-in-law happened to mention that he enjoyed attending funeral wakes for a “good feed” and, because he was a gregarious man who loved a chat, for the company. When I started talking about the idea for the book, I was surprised by how many people told me they knew a funeral crasher.’
We see this reflected in the novel, with Martin and Grace discovering how this newfound activity of theirs is shared with many others. It soon becomes clear that, for many, funerals are indeed a place of connection.
‘When my father-in-law passed away, I was struck by the poignancy of his funeral, and realised how important these rituals are, both in bringing the family together and as a vital source of connection in a society that is increasingly segregated. Humans have a fundamental need for connection and loneliness is literally a killer. Equally, modern society has become very uncomfortable with death, both talking about it and accepting it.’
While death is central to The Funeral Crashers, the novel is told with humour and warmth. We see how Martin and Grace gradually grow more confident and livelier as they begin to reconnect with the world. Both of them reckon with their pasts and in the process create new friendships, jobs and even fall in love again.
‘I’ve learned that in approaching dark or sensitive issues, humour helps. In fact laughter has always been an important tool in both my work as a doctor and as a writer. I try to use humour both to put my patients at their ease, but also to encourage them to look at their situation in a different way.’
While Joanna’s depictions of ageing offer readers an insight into the spirit of these characters, she’s also forthright with the challenges that come with this next phase of life.
‘I don’t sugarcoat ageing. My characters often live with common complaints including mobility issues, memory loss and incontinence, and they experience pain, sickness and grief. Basically, everything that makes us human.
‘In a world where loneliness is now considered a major health issue, I hope that readers will realise how essential connection is to wellbeing and perhaps reach out to someone in their community who is alone.’ •
*********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I have always wanted to be a writer, long before I knew how or had anything to write about. I grew up in a small market town in the middle of England. I was impatient for books and stories, so I taught myself to read before I started school.
Recognising the imaginative inner world of their shy daughter, my parents bought me my first typewriter when I was eight. They have kept many of those early stories, most of which were about horses. In primary school, when a teacher tried to dissuade me from becoming a doctor on the basis that it wasn’t an easy career for a girl, I knew that medicine was exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up. But medical school meant swapping the imaginative world of fiction for science fact. Although I remained a voracious reader, it would be many years before I began to write again.
It was a ten pin bowling accident in 2012, and the weeks spent lying on my back after a hamstring repair (a story in itself), that led to me realising my decades-old dream of becoming a writer. After completing a number of creative writing courses through the Australian Writers Centre I began writing short stories. Many of which were published or won prizes. A writing residency at The Bundanon Trust, awarded by the Fellowship of Australian Writers, was the perfect place to begin work on what would become my first published novel, The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village.
I’m an introvert by nature. But attending author events and writers festivals, where I can meet readers and share stories, is one of the most fun and rewarding parts of the writing life.
(5/5)
What a delightful book, I was drawn in from the first few pages.
It was easy to read and I was able to imagine the characters in my mind while reading about their escapades. It’s a story of love, loss and letting go, but also learning to accept things that happen in life and be able to move on and find happiness along the way.
I’ve not read this author before but I am definitely going to look into reading her other books. I thoroughly enjoyed The Funeral Crashers.
(4/5)
Martin is a retired academic with no clear future plan, but it certainly didn’t include bowing to his eccentric 94-year-old mothers every whim and fancy. Edwina had moved in with Martin when she broke her hip and just never left.
Grace is a teacher who retired three years earlier to spend time with her terminally ill daughter. Now she is left with too much time on her hands. She is doing her best to re-join society, but all help offered at her local church is rebuffed by the indomitable Moira.
A chance encounter at a funeral draws Martin and Grace together through their love of singing, and they agree to meet at select strangers funerals to indulge their love of singing hymns (and a joint need to drown out the reverends unfortunate singing voice). So begins a tale of misunderstandings, misadventures and mysteries.
The minor characters are as entertaining as the two major characters and have some of the best lines in the book. They had me laughing out loud, and the typos in the church newsletter are hilarious!
Joanna Nell never disappoints, and The Funeral Crashers is a terrific, fun, light read
(5/5)
Martin, a retired professor, and Grace, a retired school teacher. meet at a funeral singing their hearts out. They then meet up again a couple of weeks singing at another funeral. After that they decided to go to funerals in their parish just to sing to fill in their lonely days.
With Martin thinking about Jane his girlfriend that died in a accident and blaming himself, and putting up with his mother living with him, a lot happens in this book.
I have read all Joanna Nell’s stories and loved them all! Well done Joanna for The Funeral Crashers.
(4/5)
I’ve previously read two other novels by Joanna Nell. The Funeral Crashers is easily my favourite.
The novel’s main characters, Grace and Martin, meet at a funeral. As the book progresses, their friendship develops through “crashing” funerals, and through Grace and Martin’s stories, many of life’s challenges are explored – loneliness, grief, aging, feeling valuable to society in retirement, caring for elderly parents.
Joanna Nell excels at bringing older female characters to the centre of her stories. This is often lacking in novels, with many authors relegating older women to the background as mothers and grandmothers. My only criticism of The Funeral Crashers would be the psychic aspect of the story, which didn’t appeal to me. However, it was probably needed for the overall plot development.
Definitely an entertaining read.
(5/5)
What a delight it was it read The Funeral Crashers.
A wonderful story about connections, community, love, joy, and sorrow at times. The different characters in this book are brought to life and feel like your best friends.
Many issues are sensitively interwoven throughout the book, such as homelessness and domestic violence, but author Joanna Nell handles and intertwines these with compassion and kindness, enriching the story further.
This book takes you on a journey – a rich and wonderful journey. Definitely a 5-star read and I would highly recommend
(5/5)
Having read all of Joanna Nell’s previous books and becoming a big fan of her writing, I was very much looking forward to reading The Funeral Crashers – and it didn’t disappoint!
Grace and Martin are both endearing characters, who are each haunted and struggling to move on from prior events in their lives. While this isn’t what originally brings them together, it helps them understand each other on a more intimate level as their friendship progresses.
I really enjoy the little quirks Joanna Nell’s characters possess, and the way they are bought to life on the pages and in our imagination as we read.
The storyline is peppered with emotion throughout, and had me engaged from the first page. I find Joanna Nell’s books to be like a warm cup of coffee in the morning – comforting, easy to digest and something I very much look forward to!
(5/5)
Joanna Nell has done it again.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Funeral Crashers. It is very funny and loved the relationship between the two main characters.
I would definitely recommend this lovely book, it was a great read!
(4/5)
Have you ever attended a funeral where you knew no-one? Did you ever wonder if that was true for the rest of the “mourners”. Could crashing funerals change your life? Reading this book, it would appear that the answer is yes!
The themes covered in this novel are ones which would be recognised by readers of Nell’s previous books whose protagonists are mostly experiencing the later years of their life.
This light-hearted approach to funerals – an opportunity “for reconnecting with long-lost friends” and family who have not yet passed away will resonate with many. The characters were varied and it was interesting to see how their lives intertwined, as you discover the challenges they each face.
While some of the ideas were not entirely original and the outcome a little predictable it was still a fun read. There was quite a lot of humour and it was easy to picture the characters. Nell, through her books, seems to encourage readers to embrace growing older and not dismiss the opportunities that come their way.
If you can imagine yourself in similar situations, then you will enjoy The Funeral Crashers in its approach to a serious subject.
(4/5)
The Funeral Crashers is a heartfelt, bittersweet story about unlikely connections and finding meaning in unexpected places. The story flows easily with evocative and vivid imagery, and I found myself quickly becoming invested in the characters. Each of them is written with warmth and complexity, and by the end of the book you genuinely care about their pasts, presents, and futures.
This book balances levity and poignancy. Moments of lightness and playfulness are woven into scenes of grief and reflection, making the story feel authentic and relatable. I particularly enjoyed how the characters’ flaws and quirks were embraced and explored rather than glossed over, which made them feel real and human.
Nell has a knack for detail and these small details led to relatable and meaningful exchanges (as an Aussie, the magpie swoop felt particularly true to life). At times, however, the novel included discussions of social commentary (such as kids on phones) that occasionally distracted from the narrative. Despite this, it is an engaging and touching novel.
The Funeral Crashers is both entertaining and moving, and a reminder that love and connection can be found in the most surprising circumstances
(3/5)
Martin and Grace meet at a funeral, subsequently attending other funerals together. Grace is motivated to give attendees the best possible experience at a difficult time; she strives to rectify the minister’s tone-deaf singing through her own melodic voice, then added to by Martin’s. Readers who enjoy choral singing or have any experience of church tradition will relate to the setting.
I was invested in Martin and Grace, but the author makes us wait a long time before revealing Grace’s backstory and her character seems a little hard to grasp before that.
Martin’s personality was easier to recognise as the stereotypical bumbling professor around retirement age. There was a lot going on in Martin’s life; I would have preferred him without his unnecessary psychosomatic health problems.
Some of the supporting characters and their story-lines aren’t quite fully formed. In contrast, the acerbic wit of Martin’s 90+ year old mother comes across strongly on the page.
Joanna Nell writes The Funeral Crashers with insight, and her light and humorous touch makes this book an easy read. However in her attempt to woo us with humour, Nell at times veers towards the farcical.
(4/5)
The Funeral Crashers by Joanna Nell is a charming, heart-warming, feel-good story of two oldies who encounter each other in after life. I begins at a funeral that both Grace and Martin attend for widely different reasons. The characters are likeable and well drawn. I lover the book’s blend of humour and poignancy and I identified with Martin’s grief at the loss of good ‘church choral music’. I absolutely recommend it.
(4/5)
Joanna Nell’s writing is heartfelt, quietly funny, and full of charm. This book is everything I appreciate about her books. I loved the characters. I loved that they are seniors. I loved the setting All Souls Church. I especially loved the writing, as she unfolds a gently woven story about connection, loneliness, and the ways sometimes people are thrown together.
This story left me with a cozy, warm feeling. It was a quick read over a slow weekend.
The idea of “funeral crashing” might sound a little odd at first, but in Nell’s capable hands, it becomes something quite moving and original. Rather than being morbid, it’s handled with care, humour, and grace (no pun intended). The story is filled with warmth and that signature Joanna Nell blend of humour and poignancy that leaves you smiling one minute and deeply touched the next. You’ll be uplifted in The Funeral Crashers.
(3/5)
I thought The Funeral Crashers was a quirky and unique read, just like the characters within the book.
The two main characters, Martin and Grace were cleverly introduced in completely alternating chapters, mirroring their own separate and detached lives before finally meeting each other. The gradual unravelling of lies and deceit all based around crashing funerals was both humorous and thought-provoking to read.
I did find the storyline a little difficult to follow at times, as it felt a bit disjointed when switching between the two main characters. Also, the addition of so many minor characters and the switch between the past and the present confused me slightly. However, I was still drawn in by the clever plot and unexpected twists and turns.
The extra characters all added to the intrigue, and one by one their individual significance was neatly unravelled by the end of the story. Part mystery and part romance cleverly wrapped around historical artefacts, with twists and turns and a sprinkle of comedic value, had me hooked.
(5/5)
Okay. The Funeral Crashers might just be my favourite Joanna Nell book now.
We follow the story of Martin and Grace. Martin and Grace meet at a funeral and a friendship blossoms. The friendship opens up and we get to learn what they have been dealing with – grief and loneliness to name a few. Grace invites Martin to the next funeral to sing hymns and of course chat afterwards. They decide to attend another funeral together and they both get a massive shock. Especially when they have been advised they are apart of the will of a person they’ve never met the deceased’s solicitor. Is this legit or is this a scam? (Spoiler – you’ll have to read the book to find out).
Joanna Nell has written a great novel and one I couldn’t put down. It was packed with humour, sad parts and some amazing characters. I really enjoyed the gate-crashing of funerals and of course the rating of the cakes at said funerals. Nell will continue to be an auto-read author for me and I recommend reading this one. Grab some popcorn and some tissues.
(4/5)
This is a lovely, engaging book infused with gentle humour, the perfect antidote to murder and mayhem.
While The Funeral Crashers frustratingly depicts a very Anglo, monocultural world, it does provide enjoyable escapist literature, like a warm, weighted blanket, best taken with tea and crumpets – preferably not made by one of the book’s characters, an eight-year-old boy who attempts utilising a knife in the toaster to free his.
The book’s adult protagonists, experiencing their own grief and loss issues, are two senior citizens who crash funerals to provide tuneful hymns unlike their tortuously tone-deaf reverend. I always enjoy reading about my contemporaries and the essential need at any age for social connection and purpose. As such, this book did not disappoint.
(5/5)
Never thought I would enjoy a book based around funerals. The characters really came to life, and it was enjoyable to see how they emerged and conquered life after the hardships.
A lighthearted story based around a not so nice topic death and funerals. The plot and characters were very heart-warming.
The Funeral Crashers was a delightful read.
(5/5)
Who knew crashing a funeral to sing a hymn or two could led to not only some rather tasty canapes, but also some rather life changing events.
Grace, a retired schoolteacher and grieving mother, and Martin, a retired professor of Egyptian ceramics, forge a friendship after meeting while singing during funerals held at All Souls – funerals of people they really didn’t know. Deciding to crash further funerals to continue their singing ways, they find themselves suddenly in receipt of some rather good fortune that others are keen to cash in on. Choices must be made and beliefs will be challenged.
The Funeral Crashers is a delightful story that draws you in and requires you to feel all the feelings. Joanna Nell has created a very real world for Grace and Martin, inhabited by a cast of truly interesting and intriguing characters. There are times when you literally want to shake one of them or, alternatively stand beside them to protect them from harm. I do have a very soft spot for Martin’s mum, Edwina. I think she would be rather fun drinking buddy
Absolutely a book that should be added to the reading pile for summer.
(5/5)
The Funeral Crashers is a wonderful and humorous story of grief, loneliness, and finding friendship and love in unusual places.
Martin is a retired archaeology professor and is hoping to woo the new head of his archaeology department. He reluctantly attends a church funeral with his mother, hears a beautiful voice that reminds him of a lost love. Grace who helps out at the church, and sings to drown out the churches Reverend’s awful hymn singing.
The pair decide to attend funerals of people they’ve never met, with funny and unexpected outcomes. Martin’s mother Edwina, with her eccentric ways is funny and a delight and it was easy to fall in love with all the characters.
This is the first book I’ve read of Joanna Nell, and I found it hard to put down, a really enjoyable and a funny read from beginning to end.
(5/5)
The Funeral Crashers is a warm and funny novel about unexpected connections formed through shared grief. When Grace, recently bereaved, meets retired academic Martin at a funeral, their unlikely friendship begins.
It’s a touching and humorous story about companionship, healing, and the surprising ways life brings people together. I found the characters charming and the unusual idea of “funeral crashing” turned out to be a moving exploration of friendship, hope, and new beginnings. I really enjoyed this book.
(4/5)
The Funeral Crashers by Joanna Nell is a heart-warming, gently humorous novel about grief, friendship and second chances.
Grace, mourning her daughter, finds comfort attending strangers’ funerals. Martin, a retired academic, is drawn into her world. Together, they crash funerals – not for mischief, but to find meaning and connection. Nell balances emotion and wit beautifully, with quirky characters and a message that it’s never too late to heal.
(4/5)
The Funeral Crashers had me hooked from the very first chapter.
The book is broken up into separate POV chapters, which I found gave a great insight into each character’s personality and you felt like you really knew them. Grace could easily be your neighbour, Martin could be teaching at the local university and Edwina, well, Edwina is that elderly lady you see out and about dressed spectacularly.
The story has elements of romance, grief, loss, excitement, and anticipation. Although it was a bit predictable at times it was an all round great read. I’m not familiar with Joanna Nell’s works but will be going through her back catalogue based on this book alone.
(4/5)
This book focuses on the unlikely relationship between its two main characters Grace and Martin. They attend a funeral in their local church, where they both hear each other’s singing voices for the first time and develop a mutual attraction. Later that day, they strike up a conversation that leads to a long-lasting and ultimately romantic relationship. But as they say, the course of true love never runs smoothly, and they are confronted with a host of complex and challenging situations, that will ultimately lead them to identify their true feelings for each other.
I believe that the main theme of this tale is the unpredictability of life and how the death of others played a significant part in all of it. I believe that we can see this for three reasons. Firstly, the enduring relationship of Grace and Martin that was initiated at a funeral. Secondly, in the fact that both characters are attempting to come to terms with death in their past. Lastly, we see it also in the impending deaths in their future.
The Funeral Crashers is simple to read and has a series of interconnecting plots that makes it enjoyable too. I highly recommend it.