Shrubaboti Bose's Blog - Posts Tagged "disability"

Special: A Love Story with a Twist by Robert Deason

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A very sensitive and heart-warming story tracing the life journey of love, growth and acceptance

Tyler has Down's Syndrome but the 31 year old man has the innocence of a child and is stubbornly passionate about the love of his life, Emily; protective of his dearest sister Cissy, unapologetic of his demands, announcing he is hungry irrespective of the situation or company, without any reservations. After losing her parents in a car accident, Kate struggles to balance her role as both a career woman and the primary caregiver for her special needs brother while also trying to come to terms with the grief of loss and navigating the various challenges in her love life.

Although the pressure to be perfect in everything keeps Kate at tenterhooks, there is no doubt about her fierce love for Tyler or her inherently strong and independent personality. The best part about this story is that the characters are each portrayed with their own set of foibles and quirks, none of them are flawless and yet their unresolved family issues or insecurities that are buried deep within makes them relatable, like real people with flesh and bones. They will make you laugh, cry and wring your hands in frustration. Another thing to note is the simple wisdom in words that Tyler randomly points out some times.

When Kate feels conflicted about her dates, she asks her brother for his opinion and unlike common expectations, we can see here a special needs character who has significant agency in the plot. Although he has clumsy motor skills and a sharp tongue, Tyler is actually pretty good at judging people, never mincing his words and unknowingly guiding Kate to see things from a different angle whenever she is too blinded by her personal feelings or emotions. It is beautiful to watch these two siblings lean on one another and help each other to confront their new realities. The story is as much about the nuances of having a differently abled family member as it is about the unique ways in which such an experience leads to their emotional growth.

Tender in its reflection of Down's syndrome, this story encourages readers to empathise with others and to become more accepting of differences. Instead of being preachy, it handles the subject with respect and effortlessly breaks common misperceptions and prejudices. Recommended for all.

(Note: ARC obtained on Reedsy Discovery)



View all my reviews