Porter Loves Cleo

by Jane Burns

At first glance this book appears to be an adorable story about young love, but the depth of insight, emotion and empathy is so profound you suddenly realise you have entered a storyscape that has many many levels.

The personal journey of grief and loss whether through a relationship ending or a bereavement has rarely been portrayed as beautiful. But this story with the wonderful drawings by Matthew Kelly is in this reviewer’s opinion- simply breath-taking! When there is loss there is always love is a key message of this work. This perception of life, love and loss makes the reader engage with the images and then experience. the emotional side of the story. So much so that after a few panels it is very hard not to care about Porter and to want the very best outcome for him.

Key characters such as Porter’s grandfather who through walks and talks acts a life guide and companion- offering wisdom to help in the understanding of everyday life and loving people help Porter’s manage his current life experience as well as preparing him for life and all types of loss. A key message that permeates throughout.

The short synopsis offered by the author is that it’s a story of love, loss and apple pie is an invitation to journey with Porter as he asks everyone he meets what their experiences are with love, loss and goodbyes. Through his adventure in love, Porter faces the storm, bakes a pie and travels further from the life and home he has always known than he ever has before. Why? Because you never give up on love.

Matthew Kelly, is an artist but a storyteller first. He cleverly uses action such as cycling, running and moving through the sea on a very small boat to take the reader along on his quest to be reunited with Cleo.

The very serious pain of grief and loss are treated so gently and considerately. Losing yourself in this story the ideas that sadness from loss are also indicators of how much you cared and still care.

You are not just grieving a person. You’re grieving the safety they gave you. The mirror they held up. The sense of being known. And when you don’t feel safe you can’t feel like you. As Porter reminds us – “Grief is love with no way to exit your heart.”

Reviewers note: The official launch of Porter Loves Cleo took place on September 17^th 2025 at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, Ireland.  Full story here.

Jane Burns is the Director of Education & Public Engagement at the Technological University of Ireland in Ireland who is currently pursuing a PhD in Education at Dublin City University researching the Role of Graphic Medicine. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeaburns/  ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8708-5083