REVIEW - The Food of Love ebook

The Food of Love by Amanda Prowse (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This was a November 2016 Amazon First Reads book. I cannot believe that I have had it for over seven years. I was scrolling through my Kindle app and found that I had a book by Amanda Prowse that I had never read. WHAT?!?

Full disclosure, I adore Amanda Prowse's books and this is the thirteenth book that I have read by her. This book moved me almost as much as her book written with her son, Josiah, The Boy Between. 

This is a story about a family that has the mental illness of anorexia invades their home and stays entrenched. It is about the time before, during, and after the battle of this brutal disease. I am speaking in military terms here because I believe that you truly fight a war with all mental illnesses including and most specifically anorexia.  

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

The writing, as always, was amazing. Amanda writes beautifully with warmth and affection for her characters as well as the story itself. She writes descriptively, but not overly precious. Additionally, the author writes in such a way that you feel what is happening in the story - specifically, this one touched me, especially as a mother to a young adult daughter. 

 

Character development: 5.0 stars

The main character is Lexi, a high schooler and the younger daughter in the family, who is diagnosed with anorexia. The most difficult part was reading about the deceit and deception that someone suffering from anorexia exhibits. It is a disease that takes over the entire family dynamic and affects everyone in the family.

The secondary characters are the mother, Freya; the father, Lockie; and the sister, Charlotte. These three characters go through hell and back to save Lexi while putting their interpersonal relationships in jeopardy to do so. 

The tertiary characters are friends, family, medical professionals, and of course, anorexia, itself! 

Storyline:  5.0 stars 

The storyline was really creative and well done. I thought that one thing was happening in the "timed" chapters and I was totally wrong (sorry, no spoilers). The other chapters involving the telling of the story let you feel and understand how horrible anorexia is. 

The before, during, and after times are continually heartbreaking. Anorexia takes over the family and changes everything forever. You feel what each member is going through and how much anorexia sets up in a family to try and destroy it. 

The main locations are primarily in England with a brief time in Florida.

Memorable/Informative:  5.0 stars

Anorexia is a mental illness that is not about food per se but more about control until the person dies from starvation or is in recovery. With all of the focus on being physically beautiful through plastic surgery, diet, and weight loss drugs, it makes sense that this mental illness occurs. We as parents and society need to watch our messaging to our children in our homes, limit social media, and talk about how these celebrities look so "perfect".

The first time that I knew about someone dying from anorexia was during my senior year of college when the talented singer, Karen Carpenter, died from this horrible mental illness. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

So appropriate. 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Right on point!

HIGHEST recommendation

EBOOK DETAILS

Amazon First Reads - November 2016 (ebook) 

The Food of Love by Amanda Prowse 

364 pages

Lake Union Publishing

Release date of 12/01/2016

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Amanda Prowse

My Goodreads review

Lake Union Publishing

Amazon First Reads

Happy reading 📚! 

Dorothea 💜