How Lulu Lost Her Mind by Rachel Gibson

☆☆☆☆
ebook, 251 pages
Expected publication: July 21st 2020 by Gallery Books
About the Book:
Lou Ann Hunter’s mother, Patricia, has always had a passionate nature, which explains why she’s been married and divorced five times and spooned enough male patients to be ousted from three elderly care facilities. She also has Alzheimer’s, which is why she wants to spend the rest of her life surrounded by childhood memories at Sutton Hall, her family’s decrepit plantation home in Louisiana. Lou Ann, a.k.a. Lulu the Love Guru, has built an empire preaching sex, love, and relationship advice to the women of America—mostly by defying the example her mother has set for her. But with Patricia suddenly in need of a fulltime caretaker, Lou Ann reluctantly agrees to step out of the spotlight and indulge her mother’s wishes, even if it means trading in her Louboutins and Chanel N°5 for boots and mosquito repellant. Upon her arrival at Sutton Hall, Lou Ann discovers that very little functions as it should—least of all Patricia’s mind. And as she adjusts to this new and inevitably temporary dynamic with the help of a local handyman and a live-in nurse, she is forced to confront the reality that neither her nor her mother’s future is going according to plan.

Let's get the tough stuff out of the way first, because this means a lot to me. This book tackled a topic that I think is really important but easily over looked. I loved the way Rachel Gibson made memory a visceral entity at least in part - remembered through our senses even when our brains have betrayed us. The author's sensory appeals are so beautifully written that I felt as if I experienced Patricia's slow memory loss first-hand.

An enjoyable read and inspirational for those who've met with life-altering issues. I enjoyed the strong women characters and the dynamic between mother and daughter. A portrayal of possible challenges we meet in our lives and the growth which comes from acceptance and the determination to overcome and succeed.

My second book by this author, I loved how real the characters felt. The writing brought out the antics of the three women and made me get the feels. There was a poignancy and depth in it. The whole book felt superfluous as change soon started happening with new outlooks to love and life. It was the perfect escape from the realities of the world. Emotions and humor made it a delightful afternoon read.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and Rachel Gibson for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

#NetGalley