Reviews
Book Review: The Girls At 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib

Book Review: The Girls At 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib

Shelly's Book Corner received a review copy from NetGalley and voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect the opinion of the book or the content of the review.

Book Review: The Girls At 17 Swann Street by Yara ZgheibThe Girls At 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib
Published by St. Martin's Press on February 5, 2019
Genres: Women's Fiction
TropesPages: 375
Format: eArc
Source: NetGalley
Buy on Amazon
four-stars

The chocolate went first, then the cheese, the fries, the ice cream. The bread was more difficult, but if she could just lose a little more weight, perhaps she would make the soloists’ list. Perhaps if she were lighter, danced better, tried harder, she would be good enough. Perhaps if she just ran for one more mile, lost just one more pound.

Anna Roux was a professional dancer who followed the man of her dreams from Paris to Missouri. There, alone with her biggest fears – imperfection, failure, loneliness – she spirals down anorexia and depression till she weighs a mere eighty-eight pounds. Forced to seek treatment, she is admitted as a patient at 17 Swann Street, a peach pink house where pale, fragile women with life-threatening eating disorders live. Women like Emm, the veteran; quiet Valerie; Julia, always hungry. Together, they must fight their diseases and face six meals a day.

Every bite causes anxiety. Every flavor induces guilt. And every step Anna takes toward recovery will require strength, endurance, and the support of the girls at 17 Swann Street.

Review:

The book is about Anna who is anorexic and is in treatment facility. Anna is a professional dancer in Paris. Maintaining a certain weight is crucial. Anna leaves Paris and comes to the States with her husband, Matthias and that’s when things take a turn for the worse.

I really felt bad for Anna in this story. She left her family, her job, and everything she knew. Once in the States things don’t work out as planned and that’s when the depression sets in. This book was told in Anna’s point of view but I would have loved to get Matthias point of view as well. I loved how he never gave up on Anna. Even when Anna was doing her best to drive him away. I did like that the story was told in past and present and you could see everything build up.

I normally don’t read books like this but it was such a good story. I felt for each and every girl at Swann Street. I celebrated their milestones with them and motivated them when they had setbacks as well. I wanted them all to get better and beat their demons. I loved the direct care staff as well. It really felt like I was in the story as I read and I’m glad I took a chance with this book!

four-stars

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