The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path
Author: Emma Heming Willis
Narrator: Emma Heming Willis
Published: September 9, 2025
Audiobook: 8 hours 57 minutes

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: September 15-18, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars

Book Description:

The day Emma Heming Willis’ husband, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), all they were given was a pamphlet and told to check back in a few months. With no hope or direction, Emma walked out of that doctor’s appointment frozen with fear, confusion and a sense that her world had just fallen apart.

In fact, it had. Bruce and Emma had their story written, their future mapped out. Yet all those dreams crumbled with that diagnosis, and Emma felt alone and more isolated than ever. How would she care for her husband while parenting their young daughters?

At that devastating time, Emma just wanted someone who’d been through it to tell her, “This feels terrible right now. Your life is in shambles. But it’s going to be okay. Here are some things to think about and put in place so you cannot just survive but thrive.”

With The Unexpected Journey, Emma has written the book she wishes she’d been handed on the day of Bruce’s diagnosis: a supportive guide to navigating the complicated, heartbreaking, and transformative experience that is caregiving for your loved one. Weaving her personal journey as a care partner with the latest research and insights from the world’s top dementia, caregiving, and integrative experts she offers the guidance and wisdom caregivers everywhere so desperately need to hear, including:

• A diagnosis isn’t just a label, it’s a starting point. It helps you better understand your person’s behavior and respond with more clarity and compassion.
• Taking care of yourself is not optional; it’s mandatory. It will make you a better care partner. It’s not selfish, it’s self-preserving.
• You don’t have a choice about being on the dementia caregiving journey. But you do have a choice in terms of how you approach it and reframe it.
• Caregivers are human so you aren’t always going to be patient and selfless. You have challenges and struggle with conflicting emotions and that’s okay.

Ultimately, The Unexpected Journey shows you how to care for yourself while doing one of the hardest, most heartbreaking jobs in the world. Because if you don’t take care of yourself, you are not going to be able to look after anyone else—especially your loved one with dementia.

For anyone caregiving for a loved one with any form of dementia, and even for those caregiving for other conditions, The Unexpected Journey shows that you are not alone. As Emma writes, “I know that no two caregiving journeys are the same, but we are connected by the same unchosen thread. It’s not an easy path for you, your loved one or your family. But I’m here to let you know that you are not alone, and, in time, you will find your footing, and a way forward.”

Jessica’s Review:

Don’t go into this book thinking you will learn about her life with Bruce Willis, The Unexpected Journey is a book written for those who have found themselves on the journey of Caregiving, whether expected or unexpected and this is why I wanted to listen to it.  I am not on this journey but this book will definitely help those who find themselves in this situation. 

We do get one chapter of how the couple met and their love story, but Willis’ love story continues down this path of being a caregiver for her husband along with caring for their young children. Willis seemingly wrote the book that she wished she had been able to read when all she was given was a pamphlet of some information at the beginning of their journey.

She acknowledges that she has more resources than most caregivers, but she shares her story of navigating loss, confusion, fear, love, and managing day-to-day life also while parenting.  Willis gives information to help a caregiver reach what can be attainable for them.  She gives research and advice from medical and wellness experts. This book would benefit caregivers of individuals with various diseases but specifically if ‘their person’ is suffering from FTD (frontotemporal dementia). ‘Their person’ is the term that Willis uses, and it is a good term to use.

Willis is very candid and upfront. She emphasizes the importance of how small things can add up.  She also states that taking care of yourself first as a caregiver is extremely important. Many times a caregiver passes away before the one being cared for (their person) does.  The author does mention this, but the chapters of the book are structured so that each one can be read independently, which results in some overlap of information. Again, this is for the person reading the book who is a caregiver, and one chapter may be more important in their specific journey. 

Emma Heming Willis also narrated The Unexpected Journey and listening to it I felt the heart and soul she put into this book. She really wants to help other caregivers. This is an informative and heartfelt book that is a must read for caregivers.  Thank you to Willis for writing what she feels will help others.  

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK