REVIEW for Addition

A big thank you to the author for sending me this book.

TITLE: Addition

AUTHOR: Toni Jordan

GENRE: Fiction

RATING; 2 stars

I really, really wanted to love this book. I thought the basic premise sounded very intersting. Here is the story of a single woman, who is smart and intelligent, but lives in her world of extreme order and detail - everything she does must be counted. She counts her steps, the letters in her name and basically does the same things over and over again. This makes her feel safe and secure. However, this safe and secure world is also making it impossible for her to work or to drive or to basically function outside of her well ordained life.

One day, at the supermarket, she realizes that she only has 9 bananas in her cart - she MUST have 10 (as 10 is a favorite number for Grace. So, conveniently, she looks over at the basket of the man standing in line behind her and he has exactly one banana in there - when he is not looking - she swipes it from him - but he notices. Enter Seamus Joseph O'Reilly who thinks Grace is adorable. As they start dating, Seamus realizes that Grace is not only quirky, she is also very weird - but, of course, this just makes him want her more.

From her side, Grace is amazed at the fact that when she is with Seamus, her tendancies towards all things weird - diminishes. Yet, through all of the romance and the battles within, Grace comes to realize that her absolute need for an absolutely ordered life masks a lifetime of pain. Grace forges ahead and tries to 'heal' through the support system that surrounds her - her psychiatrist, her support group and of course Seamus.

The publishers have really been praising this novel, which really makes me feel horrible. I just did not like it. Grace was annoying as heck and frankly, did not really deserve the love and support she got. I would like to say that she was a strong heroine, but I just could not stand her.

Also, let's get real here - a disorder such as this does not really 'diminish' because of the presence of the man she loves. This novel does deserve much credit for dealing with mental illness, also seems to do it a disfavor by implying that if you love someone enough - your symptoms will diminish.

I am extremely glad that the author added the scenes whereas Grace finally starts understanding that what she has needs to be treated by professionals and that she needs a support system around her AND that it will not be easy.

For me, the most interesting part of this book is when Grace finally find the willingness to start dealing with her stuff in an honest manner.