For Lexi Braithwaite food became an obsession and then the subject of her mental illness. In The Food of Love, Amanda Prowse has brilliantly filled the pages with angst and arguments as the Braithwaites struggle to make decisions concerning Lexi's treatment. So true to life, harrowing at times, I put the book down - but I had to finish it - to read Lexi's story. And I am pleased that I did.

"The Food of Love" is the second novel I have read by Amanda Prowse. It is the story of a family whose teenage daughter has anorexia. This is a painful look at the devastating illness and it's effects on the family. The characters are well drawn and the story is compelling. This novel was a bit uncomfortable for me to read at times as I have a teenage daughter myself whose well-being and health I have worried incessantly over at times. It definitely makes one aware of how you talk about food and your body in front of others. My only complaint about the novel is that the ending felt like it was missing something. Throughout the novel, the family writes letters to Lexie, the daughter with anorexia. Unfortunately these letters really didn't seem to play much of a part in the ending. I would have liked a bit more detail in the end.

I found this book soo irritating. The way the author writes is too prescriptive. Its like she's telling you every single thing everyone is feeling instead of just letting you experience it or feel any kind of empathy. The character of the mother was the worst and all their reactions are geared to try and hit you with a sledge hammer of emotion but it just falls flat.

I started it thinking it would compare to books like "We need to talk about Kevin" or even "December" in terms of dealing with a difficult issue relating to children and families and it just pales in comparison. This was definitely a tiresome read and fell under one of my life is too short to suffer through this.

I did appreciate the style of writing, and the characters were filled out as real people.
But the anorexia was too dominant for me, and the whole book became too sad too continue reading.
People who have an anorexic daughter or friend may find it too traumatic, or may find some part supportive.
Not a book I would recommend to friends, but I think could be useful for young people, and would certainly give grounds for interesting discussions about anorexia.

The Food of Love

I'm ashamed to say that this was my first Amanda Prowse book but one thing is for sure, it won't be my last!

Covering a very sensitive topic of eating disorders, I thought this book was wonderfully written. It covers how eating disorders impact on the whole family, on every aspect of everyone's lives.

I really cannot praise this book enough, highly recommended. 5*++++

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book, with thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

This book is a very emotional read and involves the subject of eating disorders. Freya and Lockie have a very happy marriage with two teenage daughters, Charlotte and Lexi. Lexi, without the knowledge or notice of her family has been researching pro-anorexia websites. Freya writes food articles for a magazine so has a love of healthy food and therefore missed that her daughter was having issues.

Freya is a loving mother but, in some ways, panders too much to Lexi rather than upset her daughter. Lockie is the one who believes they should be tougher with Lexi to help her. Obviously there is conflict and Charlotte gets very left out.

It is tough to see how one person's problem can affect so many others and the hurt and helplessness involved. Amanda Prowse's descriptions of the turmoil are in-depth and heartbreaking. This book has given me a greater understanding of the subject of anorexia and the devastation involved.

I recommend this book and is a definite 5* read.

It did take me a while to start onto this book due to illness and other factors but I'm so glad I did keep it for longer. As the story developed and we got to learn of Lexi's eating disorder the more my heart broke and I wanted to reach out to my family and make sure they had no problems I was unaware of. The despair that Lexi's mother and father displayed throughout the book was so realistic and definitely pulled on the heartstrings. As things got more desperate for the Braithwaites in the book the more I had an idea of how it would end but boy was I wrong. An amazing book from Amanda Prowse that I would recommend 100%.

Wow I really loved this book. I have read others by the same author but this one was the best. Keep me riveted right to the end.

This book blew me away, I just couldn't put it down. I was so involved in the family and what they were going through that I couldn't get it out of my mind. It definitely opened my eyes to what a family has to go through and the huge impact it can have on every family member.
It was so well written, I couldn't get enough. Great ending as well as I was slightly worried all the build up would lead to a rushed ending but it didn't at all.
Well done!

"The Food of Love" isn't the type of book I would normally read. But since I have recently decided to read more books outside of my usual genre, crime fiction, I thought I'd give it a try. And... I am very glad I did. This book is so much more than the description suggests. Initially, I was under the impression it might be a light girls' read. Now I realise it is actually much more serious. I was especially interested in parts describing the mother's feelings. I am a mum of two boys but I can still relate to it in some ways. It also made me realise the mistakes we sometimes make us parents... it scared me, in fact, to know how easy it is to miss the signs... It wasn't the best book I have read but that may be due to the fact, that, as I had mentioned before, this isn't the genre I'd normally read. All in all, I'm glad I gave it a try. Big thank you to the author and NetGalley, for making it possible.

This was a thought provoking book. The author managed to take all of my preconceived ideas and views of addiction and change them. I found myself thinking about the characters long after finishing the book. Highly recommended, One of my best reads of 2016.

A powerful story about a teenage girl suffering from an awful eating disorder. It might not sound like an attractive subject to tackle but the story draws the reader in so quickly and completely you get a good sense of how helpless one feels when faced with this situation.

The story poses questions as to how these disorders arise and some graphic descriptions of the harrowing effects it has not just on the victim but the entire family unity.

After a sequence of increasingly dangerous relapses and increasing in suffering, you are kept guessing right until the final chapter as to which way things are going to go for the girl and her family.

Hopefully the story will help any reader who is affected or knows someone affected by an eating disorder exactly what the prognosis is and encourage them to act sooner rather than later in seeking help.

exThis was one of the best novels I have read in recent times. As a niece suffered from anorexia, it was very moving to read.. With a mother who is a food journalist, and keen cook, and a father who did expert photography, this middle-class family did not expect this problem to arise
However, it was not the expectations of the older daughter, doing her "A" levels that caused the problems. It was the younger daughter, who very nearly starved herself to death. She hooks up with a very unconventional boy at school, and despite her parents misgivings, he is trying to help her.
At the start of the book, I kept thinking the younger daughter was already dead, and the mother, daughter, and to a lesser degree the father were all trying to write down things to read at her funeral.
However, with a very unexpected twist in the middle of the book, it becomes apparent that themother is trying to solve the whole problem herself, without any help from her husband, daughter, editor, or any medical people/therapists are trying, unsuccesfully, to get the daughter admitted to a facility where she can get the best help available.
I was shocked, and slightly nervous of the tiger-mother, and the supposedly cowardly father; as well as the poor older daughter, who must have felt neglected, unwanted, and indeed, unloved by her parents, and her sister.
A very moving, and salutary warning of the pressure of modern life has on particularly girls with distorted body images.
Many thanks to Net Galley for allowing me the [privilege of reading this fine, ceptional novel, as well as thanks to the publisher.

This book has all the elements for an emotional and absorbing read, and judging by the majority of reviews, many readers find this to be the case. But it really didn’t work for me. I have issues with the writing itself, and with the actual story.
Freya lives in a suburb of London with her perfect family. She is a freelance food writer, her husband Lockie is a freelance photographer and they have two teenage daughters – Charlotte, a together, accomplished musician about to take her A ‘levels and Lexi, a fifteen-year-old dyslexic who they discover has anorexia. First of all, the sheer perfection of Freya’s life at the beginning was irritating. Her relationship with her husband was sickly sweet. Her job as a food writer was a little too easy (as any struggling freelancer will recognise) and the fact that she was a food writer was a little too neat – oh, of course, her daughter has an eating disorder because her mum writes about food all day! I do understand that the writer was showing that the perfection was superficial, that the veneer of the perfect life was soon eroded, but it just felt very unrealistic.
Life with a teenager with serious issues isn’t like this. It’s a horrible, emotional, exhausting struggle. The realities were glossed over. The book is set in the UK and as a parent who has experienced the NHS dealing with mental health issues, I know that treatment doesn’t happen this quickly. And although I’m no expert, I’m pretty sure that the battle many people have with anorexia isn’t dealt with this easily. This is an important subject, and I did feel that the author should have researched more thoroughly.
There were elements I did like. The writing is good on the whole, although the dialogue was very unnatural at times, and I was surprised to find so many unnecessary and off-putting dialogue tags in a professionally produced (and presumably professionally edited) book. It does veer towards the schmaltzy at times, but Freya’s emotions and frustrations did come across really well, and I did feel sympathy for her.
There is a good story here, and one that has the potential to be great. However, it all felt a bit rushed, a bit easily resolved. Aside from Freya, the emotions of the other characters, their reactions to the situation and their difficulties weren’t developed fully.
I do hate to be negative, because I do think the author cares about her characters and that there are good intentions here, but this is gritty subject matter, and requires a lot more depth than it’s given here.

This is the story of one reasonably happy family that faces numerous challenges when one member, a teenage girl, is discovered to be anorexic. The rest of the family is baffled by this strange disorder and struggles to make sense of it.
Not fully understanding the nature of this disorder, they try in various ineffective ways to solve the problem. Eventually they are forced to face the reality that they need outside help from experts.

The author effectively communicates the heartbreaking downward spiral of this mental illness as it progresses. The family dynamic is thrown off balance as each person tries to cope with this difficult situation. Relationships are strained and misunderstandings abound.

I recommend this book in particular to those wanting to learn more about this perplexing affliction, anorexia, and how it influences the entire family. It is well written and should also be of interest to anyone wanting to learn more about family dynamics in general, or how mental illness affects families.

Note: I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I only wish I could give this book more than the maximum 5 stars......
Just wow, I loved this book and it kept me hooked from the first few pages. Also lobved the twist at the end I did not see that coming.
A great read about eating disorders and how it can effect the whole family.
Another great book by Amanda.

A beautifully written book taking you into the emotional upheaval of family life. A book I couldn't put down until the end.

The Food of Love focuses on the Braithwaite family and how anorexia can impact on loved ones as well as the sufferer themselves. Amanda Prowse writes in a way that keep the reader interested and it was good to see each family member’s perspective, however I really struggled to connect with Lexi’s mother Freya due to some of the choices she made. Even though I didn’t always agree with her actions, it is definitely a thought provoking and emotional story.

This is well written, but unexpectedly harrowing and quite unlike I expected when I chose it.
Freya is a very lucky woman with a good husband, two kids doing well and a job she enjoys, living in a house she likes and even the neighbours are nice.

This leads her to complacency and arrogance and even when supposedly accepting that mental illness has entered her home, she still knows best for all concerned. She's a good mother but gets so concerned for one child she forgets the most important event taking place for her other child. She has children who are typical targets but has not bothered to arm herself with information about the illness - rather like parents who don't prepare for cyber bullying!

This makes for a really annoying central character who is the star if her life story and others are bit players
The illness is a particularly nauseating kind and thiis book is not something to read with food!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was an interesting look into a family struggle with addiction. The author writes with such passion that her characters came to life. It wasn't your typical "family has a problem, family struggles and wow everything is wonderful" story. She told the story of the struggle with true and compassion, both the good and the ugly.