Stage Seven

by Ruth F. Stevens

Barbara Gordon is a self-reliant, divorced mom, brilliant at managing her life with lists and spreadsheets. Lately, though, the demands of a teenage daughter, a manipulative sister, and a mother with worsening Alzheimer’s are more than she can handle. Then Barbara meets Jack, an appealing older man married to a late-stage dementia patient who no longer knows him. Jack and Barbara hold the power to make each other happy…but only if Barbara can break her long cycle of romantic abstinence.Funny, sad, and heartwarming, Stage Seven is about two people caught between love and duty, and the risks we take when we commit our hearts to family, friends, and lovers alike.

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2021

About the author

Ruth F. Stevens likes to create stories that will make you laugh and cry, as she did with her debut novel, Stage Seven. She has a duology of funny-sad contemporary novels from Black Rose Writing: My Year of Casual Acquaintances (Sept. 2024) and The Unexpected Guests (Dec. 2024).

Ruth says: “I find myself motivated to write about the topics that worry me the most. Since I worry about a great many things, there is never a shortage of material. I’m also a big believer in the power of laughter to ease our pain and anxiety. Humor is a component in anything I write, no matter how serious the subject matter.”

A former public relations professional, Ruth has been writing for her entire career—including hundreds of articles for magazines, newspapers, and journals—but creative writing is her passion. She took up this endeavor full-time after quitting her day job in 2017. At last count, she’s written two plays and three novels. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, hiking, winetasting, hip hop, Broadway musicals, movies, leading a book club, and visiting her grandsons in Manhattan.

Ruth is a resident of Torrance, California. She is a former public relations professional (in NY and LA) and proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America, the Women Fiction Writers Association, and a volunteer and acquisitions editor for AlzAuthors.

Reviews

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: Strong mixed feelings. Loved some parts. Disliked some other parts.

Story:

Barbara, a single mom to teenaged Sally, has dedicated her life taking care of home and family. She is underconfident about her strengths but is a whiz with organising and planning. Their mother Dolly has recently been admitted in a nursing home as she is in an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Here, Barbara meets Jack, an older man whose wife Helen is at an even later stage of AD. Soon a bond develops between Barbara and Jack. But will their circumstances allow them to take their relationship ahead?

The story comes to us from the first person perspective of Barbara, and third person narratives from the points of view of Jack, Sally and Jack’s grandson Scott.

Where the story clicked for me:
💖 The portrayal of AD and dementia, and the devastation they cause on a person was traumatic and brilliantly portrayed. Helen's struggles made me really emotional. I could feel her sense of helplessness as she struggled with her failing memory. This was the best part of the book. The author’s note at the end says that she based this on her own experiences with her mother. No wonder it seemed so authentic! AD is a horrid disease not just for the sufferer but also for the caregivers, and the author covers both their struggles perfectly.

💖 All the characters are portrayed with layered emotions rather than being predictably 2D. This adds to the appeal of the story, more so as it is a character-oriented book. No one is portrayed as being completely good or bad so every person comes across as realistic.

💖 A few of the subplots feel like they will go along the predictable route but they don’t. Can’t reveal more without spoilers, but I just want to acknowledge this as a strong positive for me. The story kept me hooked through its ups and downs, and even managed to throw in a couple of surprises my way.

💖 It’s a pretty quick read despite its length of almost 380 pages.

💖 It seems that this was originally a play by the same author. But nowhere would you feel that something has been lost in transition. The story feels as if it was written in novel form. Well done on the conversion between these two distinct formats!

Where the story didn’t work for me:
💔 I didn’t expect such a great part of the story to be dedicated to the romance between Barbara and Jack. It would have been great as a subplot, but it didn’t work for me as the main focus point of the second half.

💔 Barbara is 51. Jack is 72. If they want to have a relationship, I’ll keep aside my scepticism and try my best to understand and accept it despite the huge age gap. But I didn’t really like this romantic direction being taken while Jack’s wife was still alive; it went against the rest of his character portrayal, though the book does become strongly defensive about it. What I also don’t want to hear about is constant allusions to Jack’s physical appearance: his youngish looks, his springy chest hair, his firm buttocks,… Gotta confess, it was cringeworthy to read! (My shortcoming, not the book’s.) Plus, it felt like the author was trying too hard to justify why Barbara fell for Jack. (Book’s shortcoming, not mine.)

💔 Nowhere is the story connected to politics. Yet there are more than a few references to the US presidential elections, positive references to Obama and Hilary Clinton and many terse remarks about Trump’s win. I didn’t understand why these needed to be included in this story, except to promote personal political beliefs. They were unnecessary and distracting, regardless of how accurate they were.

💔 There’s a constant switching between first person and third person, and within Jack's chapters, between the past and the present. Nowhere are there clues about which character narrative or what timeframe is going on. This makes the reading experience a bit taxing.


For a debut novel, the story is still impressive and bold. The chinks in the plot are mostly minor and will get ironed out with more writing experience. If you want a genuine portrayal of Alzheimer’s and dementia, do give this a try.

3.5 stars from me, rounding up to 4 mainly for the genuine portrayal of the heartbreaks wreaked by Alzheimer’s on patients and their families.

One line from the book that will stay with me for long:
"Which would be the lesser of two evils - an intact body with a failing mind or an intact mind with a failing body?"
That’s such a tough one to answer. 😕


My thanks to DartFrog Books and NetGalley for the ARC of “Stage Seven”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.




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[Heather Adores Books]

My hoopla loan expired, whoops 🫣, so DNF at 38% for now...maybe forever, we'll see if it comes up as a bonus borrow again 🤷‍♀️

[Ann Campanella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful is not the word you expect to hear describing a book about Alzheimer's. But it fits Stage Seven. Readers will be surprised by how this novel balances the difficult aspects of dementia with characters who are hard to let go of by the end of the book. My two favorites are Barbara, the stressed out, slightly neurotic middle-aged woman who cares for her mother and daughter and is bullied by her sister, and Jack, the 70-year-old man who cares for his older wife whose dementia has progressed to a severe stage.

With the right chemistry, a love story blossoms in the most unlikely of places -- a memory care facility. Author Ruth Stevens does not skirt around the touchy issues of grief, guilt and family expectations. As readers, we get to navigate these feelings along with the characters who are not perfect but are oh so human. Stevens has done her homework, describing Alzheimer's and its various stages along with details of caregiving that ring true. I especially loved that this novel, despite the sorrow that inevitably accompanies dementia, is seasoned with unexpected joy and hope.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching story with accurate reflections on Dementia journeys

Stage Seven is a touching novel about the lives of people experiencing the devastating journey of caring for and loving someone with Alzheimer’s Disease. Ruth Steven’s presents some very common experiences which can serve to inform and comfort those who may be in that journey with their loved one. By focusing on the lives of those who are seeing their loved one slip away, we feel all the feels along the way: guilt we may have missed some signs, frustration at our own frustration, impatience, immense sadness, anger, denial and the feeling of constant unpredictability. It’s also a hopeful story that helps us know that there is life for those during and after losing someone to dementia. The needs of the caregivers are very real, they can continue to grow as individuals and they can love again and anew. Lovely story with lively characters we care about.

[Sheri Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tale of intertwined love stories over time and through the progression of Alzheimer's. It is a story of families connected and affected by the disease, told with sensitivity, tenderness, respect, humor, and sadness. The characters come to life with the full range of conflicted human feelings including nostalgia, exasperation, hope, exhaustion, concerns about division of labor, duty, fidelity, anger, and love. If you know someone touched by dementia this book may give some insight and perspective into the progression of the disease and the emotions and experiences of the family members and friends close to them. It’s about more than dementia though. It’s about the struggle of keeping ones own heart and mind alive while still caring for and being loyal to someone who is slipping away both mentally and physically.

[Gail Olmsted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Gordon has a lot on her plate: memories of a cheating ex, a teenaged daughter with a crush on an older boy, a bossy sister and a mother suffering from Alzheimer's. Her spreadsheets and lists keep her organized but where is the romance? the spontaneity of love? When is it Barbara's turn to experience true happiness? But love comes in different forms and sometimes when you least expect it. Barbara's life is about to get even more complicated, if she follows her heart and not the advice of others. Stage Seven is a realistic story about finding love, not knowing where it fits and making the adjustments needed to allow yourself to be happy. Well-written with memorable lead characters.

[Janet | purrfectpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Angela Y (yangelareads) ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by DartFrog Books.

Barbara is a single mother who is caring for her own mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and has just moved her mother to Tropical Gardens, a Alzeimer's facility. It is here that Barbara meets Jack, a man who cares for his wife who is on stage seven of the disease, the last stage before the inevitable. A relationship quickly develops between these two people who are linked by the fact that they are caring for a sick relative.

Overall, my opinion of the book is rather mixed. I liked the idea of the book, and I know that taking care of a sick family member is difficult and it often seems that people who are in the same situation understand you better. I was not shocked by the love affair between Barbara and Jack, even though he is still married to his wife. However, I found it hard to attach to the characters and the book could of been shorter. I also got confused with the switching between first and third person, I wished it was more consistent, since it just kept confusing me.

[Annie Fauve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stevens' novel confronts if we can love again, and how to take that risk. I've rarely read a book that treats caretaking, and Alzheimer’s, with such a gentle touch.

[Carolyn B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stage Seven cleanly lays out the realities and emotions that confront a family caring for a loved one with dementia or Altzheimer's disease. The surprise of this book is the humor and warmth with which the interconnected experiences of characters are told. I found myself laughing even in the face of sad realizations. The lesson I think is that nothing about life stops when a family is in this predicament. Comedy and tragedy exist together. A very tough subject treated in an entertaining, three-dimensional and self-reflective way. Of course, the operative coping methods are love and compassion.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great mixture of humour, pathos and facts. The author manages to weave all three of these factors into her story. As I started to read “Stage Seven” I was quickly drawn into the characters’ personalities, their inner thoughts, desires and their angst. The two main protagonists, Barbara and Jack are convincing and appealing as each is dealing with their mother’s/spouse’s escalating dementia and their own guilt associated with this. The author is brave in tackling these issues and does so both from Barbara’s first-person narrative as well as the third person narrative and this, of course, throws further light on what’s going on for them.
As a reader, I certainly identify with Barbara’s levels of worry and self-doubt (and her self-deprecating humour) which the author weaves, sometimes subtly, into her narrative. I didn’t expect to chortle out loud but some phrases just tickled me: when Barbara describes how her mother still deals with her make up and washing, she writes “she also liked to slather on her favourite gardenia scented perfume, causing her to smell like an over-eager bridal attendant…”
Not only is this a touching love story, it is a book full of information about dementia and the descent into Stage Seven. I learned many things but not in a didactic way, the information was cleverly and quietly filtered into the narrative. I was left feeling sad and upbeat – how curious!
In short, it’s the sort of book I would have liked to have written myself!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! It had humor, romance and hardship. I loved it!

[audrey oaks · Rating 4 out of 5]

❄️I just returned from a week long tropical vacation to Puerto Rico and we had a blast. Rainforest excursion, local eateries, a wedding, and lots of pool time. Stage Seven by Ruth F. Stevens was my poolside reading and I can’t rave enough about it! To be honest- I couldn’t wait to escape my family and get back to reading it!
❄️Barbara Gordon is a single mom whose own mother has recently moved to Tropical Gardens memory care. Barbara is struggling with constant worry, a sister who doesn’t help, and also raising a teenaged daughter with an irresponsible ex-husband. Then she meets Jack, whose wife is also in Tropical Gardens, and her life begins to change for the better. But with family, friends, and strangers disapproving of the relationship- is it doomed?

❄️To be honest, I am not a fan of books about illness and disease. I prefer to escape when I read books! But Ruth F. Stevens wrote this fabulous book in an entertaining and informative manner so that it was the perfect balance of “the circle of life” and a whole lot of romance! I really loved it. It reminded me a lot of a Elin Hilderbrand or Sally Hepworth book where you just identify with and love the characters.

[Brodie Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara and Jack are the respective primary family support for Barbara’s mother and Jack’s wife at a residential Alzheimer treatment facility. Barbara and Jack bond over their shared burdens, and flashbacks movingly portray how each of them came to terms with the harshness of their loved one’s declining mental faculties. This story focuses on Barbara’s and Jack’s roles as caregivers and how they come to terms with the heartache of Alzheimer’s toll on their loved one, as well as unequal family contributions towards the patient, communications with the greater family group, and a sense of loyalty to a person who is now very different than the one who had been in their lives. This is an important book for all of us since, as brain and behavior expert Dr. Richard Restak says: “In America today, anyone over 50 lives in dread of the big A.” Ms. Stevens did a great job giving depth to Barbara’s and Jack’s various emotions—loss, loneliness, uncertainty, guilt—as the disease inevitably progressed and each of them tried to face a new reality without their loved one.

[Erica Karlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Stage Seven by Ruth F. Stevens several weeks ago and it is still with me. This engaging tale of families striving to connect and find love in the face of a debilitating disease is at once thoughtful, sad and laugh-out-loud funny. A humorous book about Alzheimers may seem counter-intuitive but Stevens’ astute observations and frank though tender handling of her subject matter walks that line beautifully.

Like Barbara, I, too, had a mother with Alzheimers who passed away and so was a little worried that this novel would be too painful to read. In fact, the opposite was true. The struggles and triumphs of Barbara, Jack, Vickie and the supporting characters were so relatable, and even the toughest moments they faced were delivered with warmth and humor. Stage Seven turned out to be a comfort to me and even therapeutic. I heartily recommend it to anyone touched by Alzheimers — or anyone who just loves a great read.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I started reading this story of fiction, it became more and more a recollection of the end of my marriage which began sometime in earnest during 2014 when my husband was diagnosed with early onset Dementia. By 2018 it became apparent that home care was no longer an option as so many little and major events were occurring with more frequency. After six months in lock down assisted living, pneumonia developed along with full blown Alzheimers requiring permanent nursing facility care. All this while Covid made it difficult for onsite personal visits. Foods were not received well, and worries over daily work schedules took over his waking hours. We sang and danced at the Christmas parties while in both facilities. My husband got very good care til the end in Aug 2020. The staff were helpful to me and sorrowful at loosing a good patient.
Won this book from the author, who graciously signed it for my local library, West Warwick Public Library, West Warwick, RI.

[Sal · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a grandmother who died from Alzheimer's and now an uncle who was recently diagnosed, this novel touched me personally. Before reading it, I wondered how humor could be used in a story about a subject so serious and sad. But I found myself smiling, even laughing many times as the engaging character relationships developed. Humor is used in ways that do not disrespect real-life people who suffer from the disease, or their families. I found the levity refreshing as tensions evolved in the storyline.

Although the story is fictional, I learned helpful information about Alzheimer's that I didn't know. Further, I was inspired when a different, uplifting perspective on emotionally dealing with the progression of this disease was shared by one of the characters. I'm going to remember and share this interpretation with family members as we care for my uncle.

[Fanny Rothschild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stage Seven beautifully conveys—through a variety of points of view—the interwoven stories of people whose lives have become struggles to care for close family members with Alzheimer's. Stevens skillfully portrays these protagonists as they move from loneliness to camaraderie and resiliency in order to navigate these challenges.

I was moved particularly by the interlacing of one daughter’s memories of her mom throughout the book, as if she were taking on the intimate task of remembering for her mother.

As this pageturner unfolds, we are left to enjoy getting to know colorful characters who guide us to learn that life has loving surprises, should we open up to them.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm, humorous journey through a late-in-life romance that blooms in the least likely of circumstances yet has the ring of truth. I enjoyed the author's use of alternating points of view which portrays Alzheimer's in a readable and relatable way and speaks to the unique qualities of each Alzheimer's situation. There is the first person (as there would be for memoir) yet there also are POV of major characters (as in narrative fiction), so you have the central picture constantly in front of you while the characters revolve around. Interesting and intimate. Also enjoyed the setting in a place I know well. The author writes her characters and their professions with authority.

[K L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm, humorous journey through a late-in-life romance that blooms in the least likely of circumstances yet has the ring of truth. I enjoyed the author's use of alternating points of view which portrays Alzheimer's in a readable and relatable way and speaks to the unique qualities of each Alzheimer's situation. There is the first person (as there would be for memoir) yet there also are POV of major characters (as in narrative fiction), so you have the central picture constantly in front of you while the characters revolve around. Interesting and intimate. Also enjoyed the setting in a place I know well. The author writes her characters and their professions with authority.

[Mary Toth · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up this book I had no idea what I was getting into. Initially I was hesitant when I learned that the setting was in a memory care facility. I thought to myself " oh no, another depressing story." Boy, was I wrong. As promised, Ruth F. Stevens made me laugh and made me cry, but most importantly she kept me coming back for more! I really enjoyed her story telling, despite the ugly topic. Start to finish a must read.

[Letitia Andrewartha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved getting to know Barbara and her family and friends. Tackling the difficult subject of caregiving and dementia with wit candour and pathos, this story will have you laughing and crying at the trials and tribulations of Barbara and her family. A story you will want to read again and again.

[Eve Reymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the circumstances of families dealing with the dementia of their loved ones but life goes on and there was so much to connect with even if this is not your reality. Loved the characters Great book club discussion.

[Sharon Kiyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, touching story about dealing with Alzheimer’s. Ultimately it’s a story about love. Enjoyed reading it and would definitely recommend.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a carefully created to story that talks about many kinds of love, while detailing the devastation of Alzheimers and the difficult decision those who love the patient must make.

[Diana Seyb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealing with the loss of her mother through Alzheimer Disease for Barbara, the main character, was very real and challenging. Her relationship with her sister became even more strained, while
Barbara made all the decisions about placing their mother in a care facility. Her sister blithely accepting Barbara taking full responsibility, without the sister finding any time to visit their mother. Been there and done that with my sisters, when difficult family decisions had to be made. The author's portrayal of the mother gradually descending into a mindlessness was sad. I have friends who are managing their parents, and also dealing with their own health issues. This book is also joyful with Barbara growing, great character arc, slowly like normal human beings. I loved that the author has Barbara and Jack, husband of another Alzheimer patient, getting involved and having sex-yes, older humans do have sex. I like the author having some chapters from the viewpoint of the other characters, not always the main character. This book kept me engaged, made me cry, and had me laughing at real human experiences. I had a hard time putting it down to do my own writing!

[Virginie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barbara is a single mother who is caring for her own mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. The latter lives in a specialised institution for people with the disease. It is here that Barbara meets Jack, a man who cares for his wife who is on stage seven of the disease, the last stage before the inevitable. A relationship quickly develops between these two people who are linked by the fact that they are caring for a sick relative.

My opinion of this book is rather mixed. At first, I liked the idea. I know from experience that caring for a sick relative is difficult and it often seems that the only people who can understand us are those who are in the same situation as you are. As a result, I was not shocked by the love affair between Barbara and Jack, even though he is still married to his wife. For me it was not a form of adultery, his wife was already ‘gone’. So, from that point of view, I found the book interesting.

However, there were also moments that made me cringe. In particular, those about weight that were completely unnecessary to the story (if such comments are necessary at all). I also found it hard to get attached to the characters. Honestly, if I could have, I would have thrown Barbara’s sister out the window (and I live on the sixth floor). I also had trouble with the constant shifting of viewpoints. You go from ‘I’ with Barbara to the third person following way too many characters. This confused me more than anything else and, as a result, this book was not a smooth read for me.

I will give it an average of 2.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley, DartFrog Books and Ruth F. Stevens for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stage Seven by Ruth F. Stevens. Thanks to @dartfrogbooks for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Barbara is a single-mother; responsible, self-reliant, and maybe a tiny bit lonely. When she puts her mother in a memory care facility for Alzheimer’s, she meets Jack. Jack spends time with his ailing wife at the facility, despite the fact that she no longer recognizes him.

This book was so realistic. It honestly read as a non fiction to me probably because I spent time with both my grandmothers in a memory care facility. The mental deterioration and emotions involved were mirrored in my experience and this book. A memory care facility is really the last place you’d expect romance to bloom, but it did in this novel. I felt it was done sensitively and genuinely. The romance really took a backseat as the main story was Alzheimer’s and the experience of a loved one suffering from it.

“If you’ve met one person with Alzheimer’s, you’ve met one person with Alzheimer’s.”

Stage Seven is available now.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost quit this book in the early pages. It was too corny and clichéd for me. But I had committed to reading it, so I went on. Protagonist Barbara’s “Ma,” Dolly, has just moved into the Tropical Gardens dementia facility. She’s still pretty feisty, but she’s a handful. Barbara, an obsessive planner and worrier, is furious that her loud-mouthed sister Vicky is always too busy to help. While Barbara is visiting at Tropical Gardens, she meets Jack, whose wife Helen is much farther along in her illness and not responsive at all. Jack is handsome and charming, and they fall in love. But he’s married. Meanwhile, Jack’s grandson Scott and Barbara’s daughter Sarah are also falling for each other. Complications ensue. I have never met anyone that attractive at a nursing home, but okay, we’ll go along with it. It’s entertaining. The author, whose mother had dementia, wrote this as a play before turning it into a novel.

[Amy Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stage Seven by Ruth Stevens explores the impact of Alzheimer's disease on two families. Moving deftly back and forth through time, the story is narrated by a divorced middle-aged daughter, a devoted, but worn-out husband, and two coming-of-age grandchildren. As we come to know Dolly and Helen, the two women afflicted by Alzheimer's, we can't help but grieve alongside family members as we witness the gradual erosion of their dynamic personalities. We feel the emotional ups and downs of the main caregivers as they handle exasperating relatives, or help guide their adolescent off-spring, and we cheer them on as in the midst of all the chaos, they navigate an unexpected romance. Infused with wisdom and at times, laugh-out-loud humor, Stage Seven is at heart a warm and open-eyed embrace of what it means to be human and a part of the circle of life.