Devastating, early stage dementia. Realising you’re loosing yourself, being unable to halt the process, attempting to ‘help’ yourself believing you don’t need the help then the realisations dawn that life will never ever be the same. Very poignant read, evoking again for me, the struggles my grandmother and mother struggled with while I tried to support them. Concisely and succinctly written, covers the early onset of dementia and living with the loss. Ironically reading this memoir has given me hope that it is possible to live with dementia. Wendy Mitchell is an amazing lady!

Wendy Mitchell, you are an inspiration. What an amazingly hard journey you have been on and continue to go through, yet you have fought this disease every step off the way (sometimes, the same steps over and over). This book needs to be sent out across the world to show Dementia doesn't only have an end, there has to be a beginning and a middle.
I couldn't recommend this book more. Thank you for letting us in Wendy. Xx

An excellent insight into a truly heartbreaking disease. A book I cud not put down that both inspired me and devastated me.

I’m going to confess.... I didn’t read the synopsis of this book, just knew it was about Alzheimer’s, which did impact on how I felt about the first 40% of the book. As I was finding it quite ‘samey’ at that point I decided to look at the reviews. Of course that changed my whole opinion of the book once I knew it was a true story, and that Wendy is actually suffering from Alzheimer’s. I’m amazed how she has managed to relate her story whilst suffering and am full of admiration for how she copes.

This is an absolute must read!!! I hadn't realised it was a biography when I started it, however this has absolutely moved me with its factual tale of life with dementia and how to adapt to this.

There are so many ideas that could be taken for anyone living with dementia or a family member who is. This also shows what an amazing woman Wendy is through this.

It is not often I close my kindle and immediately feel the need to write a review - I usually like to mull over my thoughts for a day or two. But today I just want to say WOW!
I was unsure about reading this memoir of life with early-onset dementia and was concerned it would be unbearably sad and difficult to read. But far from it - this was no poor-me pity-party but an incredibly uplifting, even life-affirming, beautifully written, often humorous account of life with dementia by an utterly amazing woman. With the support of two much-loved daughters and an indomitable spirit, she has become an Alzheimer’s ambassador and spokesperson, travelling alone all around the country to speak at conferences. Determined to make people understand that the face of dementia can be articulate, witty and empathetic, Wendy Mitchell, ever a fiercely independent, single mum, devises coping strategies: she uses her iPad to remind her to eat and take her medication, post-it notes to remind her where she is when she wakes in the morning in an unfamiliar hotel; she uses photos taken from Google to familiarise herself with an intricate journey taken to attend conferences as a keynote speaker; and photos of the insides of her home cupboards and wardrobes to remind her what is behind their incomprehensible doors. Far from being beaten into submission and an easy existence in the comfort zone of her home, she seeks to participate in as much clinical research into Alzheimer’s, and country-wide conference speaking, as possible. Even though her speech-memory deteriorates over time, her written word-memory does not desert her and she continues to write an online blog describing her daily life.
Somebody I Used to Know should be read by everyone, whether or not directly or indirectly affected by dementia, because it is an inspirational insight into the world as experienced by the author, adamantly “living with, not suffering, dementia”.

This was a inspirational story of a lady diagnosed with dementia at 58 years old. Scary but really interesting book.

I wish I had read this book earlier.

Wendy Mitchell writes wonderfully documenting her experiences living with early onset dementia. Emphasis on living with.

I think everyone should read this book and take the time to think about how you interact with those who are living with an illness, and whether your reactions are supporting them or yourself.

Having personal experience of relatives with dementia this book was at times a hard read for me as Wendy described behaviours which were upsetting to her and in which I could see some of my own reactions.

I honestly believe everyone should read this book.

Beautiful, real, raw and honest book which gives you a very real insight into a life with someone with dementia.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

Wendy’s story is truly inspirational. Faced with a disease that will ultimately win out, she has chosen to live for the moment, to still appreciate that there are some positives in amongst the vast array of negatives, and to use a substantial amount of her precious time to raise awareness of a condition the majority of the world doesn’t understand.

The daily measures she has to take, measure that are ever increasing, are eye-opening. The true appreciation comes however from Wendy’s ingenuity and persistence to stave off the effects as much as she can whilst embracing the ‘Yes’ attitude she refers to so fondly.

Thanks NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for a review copy.

This is a heart-rending and sensitive memoir about what it's like to live with Alzheimer's - albeit an early-onset form of the disease. It's something we are all hearing a lot about nowadays and Wendy Mitchell has done something quite incredible here: she tells it as it is.

Mitchell, a single mother of two, was diagnosed in her approaching-retirement prime - as a fit, ambitious professional. She realised things weren't right when she fell, for no apparent reason, when out running. And from here on in, the memoir describes her life; her diagnosis; and doing everything in her power to learn as much about dementia before it's too late.

During reading, I thought a lot about how Mitchell managed to write - to remember - so much of the contents. I imagine she had support, given the complications of the illness. As someone whose own mother is suffering from Alzheimer's, so much of this rang true, from the foggy, unexplained brain, to getting lost in familiar situations, and other people's perceptions (often quite negative/misunderstood) of the disease.

This is a superb read for anyone who knows about dementia - or wants to know more. Being a significant disease in our world today, I would advise this being read by as many people as possible. We probably all know someone who is suffering, or has suffered, and this book sheds much-needed light on life for anyone affected by dementia.

A brilliant insight into learning to live with early onset Alzheimer's and its effect on the person, her family and work colleagues. Every student nurse and medical student should read this, It may also help those with the same diagnosis.

Somebody I used to know by Wendy Mitchell a thought provoking and educating five-star read. This is an inspiring read and one I will be telling everyone who knows and deals with someone with dementia as it shows us behind the curtain, shows us the side we can be afraid to ask the questions of. This is an insightful and honest story and it makes you want to go and shake a very brave woman’s hand.

An awe inspiring book, an honest view of someone living with dementia and the ways in which she is able to continue at home on her own by devising plans. Photos, IPad alarms and different methods of reminding herself. It is sad to see her declining as time goes on, but she carries on giving hope to lots of people living with the same condition

A great book that really explores the progress of dementia and how it impacts on others and also their perception of the disease.

Beautifully heartbreaking and inspiring read. Many of us will face the challenges of dementia in some form in our lifetime, but I wasn't expecting to find such an uplifting book about a remarkable woman and her battle to try and 'outwit' the disease. A story that will stay with me for a long time to come.

What an inspirational book! I have worked with people living with dementia for most of my 45 year nursing career but learnt so much from Wendy. Every nurse should read this book as part of their training and people in the public sector need to have training on her messages. A very brave lady who has so much to offer. Good luck Wendy in the rest of your journey

This is such an inspiring, yet sad, story. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there, especially when it comes to describing in great detail something which affects the very essence of who you are as a person. The author has done this in a remarkable way.

I can’t say too much about this book. What I will say is that everyone should take a chance and delve into its pages. It’s not an easy read, it’s an emotional journey into the struggle of a truly inspiring woman who fights every day against an illness which is stripping her of everything she knows.

Huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

What a amazing book as you read what Wendy is going through you realise that if you have a friend family with dementia the way you speak to them or about them is all wrong.
I wish I had read this book with the tips when I was a career. Parts made me laugh and others cry, the description of Blackpool took me right back to being a kid.
Thank you Wendy for letting us in to see just a tiny bit of your life.

I'm so happy for Wendy that she got to write this book not just for herself but for everyone that gets to read it. Most of us will know or meet someone with Dementia at some point in our lives and it's extremely important that we don't write them off straight away. I thought that this book was going to be rather depressing but in true Wendy style it was really uplifting and positive. There is obviously alot to to be done to change the attitude we all have towards those living with Dementia - especially doctors. But luckily champions like Wendy are doing all they can to make sure this happens.

The book itself is very easy and enjoyable to read.