How Lulu Lost Her Mind: a mother-daughter story

How Lulu Lost Her Mind by Rachel Gibson is the story of Lou Ann Hunter aka Lulu the Love Guru, business which includes a blog and numerous books. She is set to start her Find True Love book tour when she gets a call from her mother’s care facility. Her mother, Patricia, is 74 years old and suffers from Alzheimer’s. She was caught in a compromising situation and was no longer able to stay there. Lou Ann must now scramble to find a new facility or nurse for her mother’s care. Soon Patricia begins to talk about her childhood home in Louisiana and wishes to go back. When Lou Ann takes her mom along with her nurse, Lindsey, to Sutton Hall, her family’s estate. The house is in bad shape. With the help of a local handyman, Simon Broussard, Lou Ann sets about fixing up the house and taking care of her mom. Will Lou Ann find a balance between her mom’s care and her business?

I was intrigued by the book’s description that I picked it up, unfortunately it wasn’t the book I thought it would be. It is more a Women’s fiction, mother/daughter dramedy than a romance. Ms. Gibson’s descriptions of an Alzheimer’s patient, their behaviors and the progression were on the nose but her descriptions in other areas were very cringey and uncomfortable. She switches between proper terms and slang. There were many instances in the story that I had to roll my eyes, like “oh geez.” For instance, Lou Ann makes a comment that Lindsey always wears scrubs. What a minute? She’s a nurse, caring for an elderly patient, of course she’s always wearing scrubs! The “family secret” which is casually introduced and then revealed seemed to be an afterthought without any plan to fully flush it out. The ending itself and fell flat. This book was my first by Ms. Gibson and I’m not sure I would be interested in picking up any of her other titles. If you are a fan of Ms. Gibson, you may enjoy How Lulu Lost Her Mind.

How Lulu Lost Her Mind

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook