Only About Love

Wow! Such a beautiful little book about love, loss, family and the struggles that we face when we love one another deeply and unconditionally. Our main character, Frank, and his family could be any of us. The realities and complexities of life were dealt with time and again, whether they added to Frank's life or took away from it. One thing is certain though, Frank's life was not only about love...it was about decisions and choices made that helped yield the life of love that he yearned for. Thank you NetGalley for this lovely eCopy.

This was a brilliant snapshot of a man's life and his downward slide into Alzheimer's and the effect on his family. For anyone who's been affected by this terrible disease you'll surely shed a few tears.. I certainly did. Well captured, well written. Sad but a story that needed to be told.

This may be a Novella and so quite short, and yet so much is conveyed in this heartfelt story of one man - Frank, his life, his family, his love for his family and in the early days after his diagnosis, the fear of his illness.

The book has very short chapters, some perhaps only a couple of pages long and yet each one holds a message. Sometimes told from the point of view of his children Dawn and John, others his wife Liz and often Frank himself.

It tells Frank's story, from his early years, cruelly treated by his Father to when he met Liz, his life long wife. Yet as much as Frank loved his wife and his family he just couldn’t help his philandering ways, often putting all that he loved and cherished so much at risk.

It’s a brilliant book but incredibly sad towards the end as his illness takes a hold on everything that Frank ever was. His demise as described by his children - mainly his daughter is heartbreaking to read. It’s wonderfully written, with great sensitivity but at the same time highlights the wretchedness of such a cruel disease that robs families of their loved ones long before they pass away.

A short book, but nevertheless profound in it’s observation of love in its many forms and whilst ultimately very sad, it did have a lighter side in places with humour and fondness. I loved it and highly recommend this book for its honesty and insight - the title says it all.

*I will review on my blog on publication date which I think is 5 August '21 according to Amazon*