Customer Reviews

5 reviews

• Sophia D. Ajayi from Online Book Club

  Attachment Patterns by Stephen Metcalfe is a fantastic book that deserves a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I must note that the book was not professionally edited, resulting in several grammatical errors and missing punctuation throughout, which could be distracting. Nonetheless, if the book were to receive professional editing, it could potentially earn a complete 5-star rating because it truly is a wonderful read.

• Matt McAvoy

  I really enjoyed its subject matter, its metaphorical allegory, and, most of it, its very subtle hints toward the complexity and virtues of its protagonist. Bob is a troubled soul, a tortured impressionist artist with a tremendously good heart. Unwittingly, he cannot stop himself from trying to compensate or help fix the problems of the needy all around him. He brings joy to the moment for many, yet never takes a moment to consider this, as his own happiness continuously eludes him. You genuinely empathize with Bob; you want him to be happy or at least content, and to stop beating himself up. You find yourself wanting to do the same for him when he finds himself compelled to attend a group CBT program for varied suicidal and depressed individuals. What follows is an intimate look into his mind and his coping mechanisms, but rather how he appears to those around him. I like this book and found myself genuinely with a surprising affection toward it and its characters.

• chris knight

  You will go through your whole list of emotions. I have read the majority of Mr. Metcalf's writing. This does not vary greatly from the majority of them. This is showing people at their rawest. Certainly very dystopian in nature. It is reminiscent of his character development in what I believe is his best writing which was his play Strange Snow then with the adaptive screenplay/movie Jacknife. In my opinion a very underappreciated and it emotionally placed you on a rollercoaster. Attachment Patterns started out slow for me but do the same for me. The main reason it was slow at the beginning is I did not like any of the characters, especially Robert Boone. However, as the story evolves I was drawn into their growth and development both good and bad. It drew me in and at the end, I did shed tears that were both happy and sad.

• Kieran Richardson

  I can't paint, but I can relate to the artist struggling to connect to other people Definitely worth a read. A compelling story built on relatable characters. It will make you laugh, and make you think and if you can put yourself in the characters' shoes, it might make you a better person. Without a wasted word, it pulls you through the story and allows you to feel of the power of when people actually start to change -- sometimes for the better.

• carolynrachel

  Incredibly well written. This book is all that it says it is -- well-written, emotionally charged, and a really good read. According to his daughter, Isolde Boone (Holdie), the artist Robert Boone doesn't believe he's crazy. Although he was recently hospitalized after expressing a desire to die, he attributes this to pandemic-related exhaustion and considers himself calm, stoic, and self-possessed. However, the doctors have recommended that he participate in a three-week Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program. The story proceeds from there to create a captivating look into the mind of Robert Boon, the artist. Like I said, great read.

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