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A review by angiew23
Love Anthony by Lisa Genova
5.0
Love Anthony was my third Lisa Genova book and while I didn't love it quite as much as the first two of Genova's books I've read, I do think that it was a great book. This one follows two women, Olivia and Beth. Olivia is a recently divorced parent whose 8 year old son passed away. She moves to a small beach house in Nantucket to grieve her son and her failed marriage and find a way to start fresh. Beth is a mother of three (pre)teen girls who is going through a trial separation after finding out her husband cheated on her with a younger woman. Both women are struggling to find their roles in their families and careers and after a few chance encounters discover a common connection that will prove to be very powerful for both of them.
Love Anthony is a little different from some of her other books in that the neurological disease discussed is autism, and none of the characters are grappling directly with their own diagnosis. Olivia's son Anthony was autistic and through journal entries we learn about the challenges this diagnosis and his symptoms caused Olivia and her family, but it was not nearly as prominent as the diagnoses in the first two Genova books I read. Still, Genova did a fantastic job explaining things in a way that non-medical readers can easily understand but that is also interesting and educational! I also love that Genova explores an almost psychic/spiritual/paranormal theme as she connects these two women, without being reality-tv-medium-level weird. It definitely added an element that the other books did not have. I don't think Love Anthony is a front runner for my favourite Genova book, but still a great read!!
Love Anthony is a little different from some of her other books in that the neurological disease discussed is autism, and none of the characters are grappling directly with their own diagnosis. Olivia's son Anthony was autistic and through journal entries we learn about the challenges this diagnosis and his symptoms caused Olivia and her family, but it was not nearly as prominent as the diagnoses in the first two Genova books I read. Still, Genova did a fantastic job explaining things in a way that non-medical readers can easily understand but that is also interesting and educational! I also love that Genova explores an almost psychic/spiritual/paranormal theme as she connects these two women, without being reality-tv-medium-level weird. It definitely added an element that the other books did not have. I don't think Love Anthony is a front runner for my favourite Genova book, but still a great read!!