How Lulu Lost Her Mind by Rachel Gibson ~ a Review

by MK French

 

Lou Ann Hunter is known as Lulu the Love Guru, advising the women of America about love, sex, and relationships. Her mother, who currently has Alzheimer’s, has been married and divorced five times, and was kicked out of multiple aging care facilities for getting too close to the men there. Lulu’s advice empire is pretty much the opposite of what her mother has ever done. Her mother has no other facilities to go to, so Lulu has to put aside her career to care for her mother. Unfortunately, nothing goes according to plan.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

July 2020; Gallery Books; 978-1982118112
audio, ebook, print (336 pages); southern fiction

We start with Patricia getting thrown out of the nursing home and landing in Lulu's condo right when she's at the start of a tour. With as much speed, we get the rundown on Lulu's life growing up with Patricia, bouncing around from one place to another, the actual start to Lulu the Love Guru, and then Patricia's wish to go to the family estate in Louisiana. It's a rapid-fire first three chapters, and we have a rollercoaster of emotions in the following ones.

With Alzheimer's disease, there are times where memories and personality are crystal clear, and it varies with moments where Patricia flubs her way through the day. Lulu is stuck with emotional whiplash, so we are as well. Some moments are wonderful, others devastating. "They say they know how I feel. I don't think that can possibly be true. Not unless they've experienced a pain so deep it pierces their soul. Not unless they are completely alone in the world and nothing will ever fill the massive hole where their heart once beat."

There are brilliantly written passages that draw me in, and I really enjoyed the journey that Lou Ann took as she let go of Lulu and got to know her mother and the extended family she never knew about. She opens up to new possibilities for her future, cherishing the good days she has with her mother and mother's nurse. They feel real, and the topic is a serious one that many people go through as the population ages. It's handled here kindly and seriously, with hope for the future.

Buy How Lulu Lost Her Mind at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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