Customer Reviews

11 reviews

• Pete Clements

  Love, the heart-lifting miracle of receiving it, the blessing of giving it; this is the treasure of all human treasures. And yet… The delicate, full-felt, deeply expressive, talent of author Bonnie MacDougall tells the story of 50-year-old Helen Baird, successful literary editor, loving wife, and mother, who loses that very treasure. Runaway daughter Kristen disappears into the streets of midtown Manhattan and returns home only to report pregnancy and drastically failing health. Helen Baird has a constitution as solid as the tiny white stone she now carries to remind her. She stands straight and raises her glass, not just to the occasion at hand, but to herself, realizing that there will always be that forewarning, there will always be Something Terrible About Love. Male or female, young or old, you will learn from, gain from, and devour this novel. -- Pete Clements

• Veda Pendleton

  An amazing storyteller! I was captured in the first chapter and could hardly put down the book. What a story filled with characters who were multidimensional. And although there were several personalities, Dr. MacDougall tied them all to Helen in a complete circle of love. Enjoyed every minute reading it! Brava!

• Jeanne

  This is a heart wrenching story of a mother’s journey with a runaway daughter. Beautifully written, the reader will be thinking about the characters long after the last chapter has been read.

• Susan Clayton-Goldner

  Something Terrible About Love is a hauntingly beautiful account of a once wonderful mother/daughter relationship that has gone awry. Helen Baird is devoted to her run-away daughter, Kristen—and will do anything to get her back and reestablish their bond. It is a densely layered exploration of love, friendship, the pull of family, and the power of all three to transcend time and space. Something Terrible About Love will cast you in its spell and not let go until you reach its final pages. Be prepared to shed some tears. Bonnie MacDougall’s unforgettable story is told with grace, wisdom and the discerning eye of a poet.

• Diana Smith

  Wonderful character development and interesting information about Lyme disease and the danger of late treatment. A mother's love for her estranged daughter, her lengthy search for reconnection, a lost brother found and an old love rekindled. Flawed and lovable characters. Captivating to the end.

• Jacqueline Jacobs

  “Something Terrible about Love“ is a moving story of a mother’s love and anguish over the lifetime impact on her daughter of a dreaded disease; the fear of any mother. It unfolds in unexpected ways as a story of a mother’ hope and determination to save her daughter. It is a must read; have a tissue handy.

• NJ Gal

  It grabbed me from the beginning. Sad but engaging story, with important points to make about living life. Stones and water...read it to learn more.

• F. M. Clements

  Love, the heart-lifting miracle of receiving it, the blessing of giving it; this is the treasure of all human treasures. And yet… The delicate, full-felt, deeply expressive, talent of author Bonnie MacDougall tells the story of 50-year-old Helen Baird, successful literary editor, loving wife and mother, who loses that very treasure. Runaway daughter Kristen disappears into the streets of midtown Manhattan, returns home only to report pregnancy and with drastically failing health. Helen Baird has a constitution as solid as the tiny white stone she now carries to remind her. She stands straight and raises her glass, not just to the occasion at hand, but to herself, realizing that there will always be that forewarning, there will always be Something Terrible About Love. Male or female, young or old, you will learn from, gain from, and devour this novel.

• rosalie b. geisler

  Enjoyed the characters. Kept my interest constantly. The subject is very interesting.

• Shira

  I just finished reading this exquisite novel. Something Terrible About Love. Bonnie McDougall has really written something exquisite. It is a must read, and I highly recommend this book to everyone. Without giving away too much detail about the book I had a dear friend, who had a very similar illness and more attention needs to be drawn to issues like this. Beautifully written. Thank you so much Bonnie McDougall

• Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite

  In Love, Ruthie by Bonnie MacDougall, Ruthie Lucas is enjoying her view of Sebastian Bay when she receives a letter from a close friend, Jane. The letter asks Ruthie for her interpretation of a quote from a William Wordsworth poem, described as "child is father of the man." Ruthie decides to give the idea intense consideration as she recounts her life experiences, searching for instances where her decisions impacted her adulthood, forming her personality. She dissects defining events from her childhood through her early twenties, but one instance from her past solidifies her conclusion. After her reflection, Ruthie reveals her feelings about the line in a letter to Jane and adds a surprise. Bonnie MacDougall builds Ruthie's character from the bottom up, exposing every detail of her experiences to reveal the naivete that comes with the transition from a new adult into maturity. Readers witness Ruthie's good decisions, like her friendship with Jane, and her mistakes - the same most people make in their youth - and understand her developing personality better as she meets her "shadow" during times of intense stress. From her description of sporadic popularity to her feelings about her family's culture, I felt like Ruthie was trying to find a place where she belonged, and I was along for the ride. I enjoyed learning about her self-discoveries and the ones prompted by her friend as she navigated through hardship, heartache, and grief. Readers who like women's fiction with good descriptive language will enjoy Love, Ruthie.

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