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A review by candelibri
The Match by Sarah Adams
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Alright, strap in everybody.
My main question for the author is - did you have sensitivity readers for this? Because having a mother-in-law with a decade of working as a service dog trainer acting as your inspiration for the novel is not enough.
So first we meet Evie who not only has epilepsy and a service dog, but is also working as a service dog trainer. However, we never learn what kind of epilepsy/seizures Evie has. We just know Evie has been paired with Charlie since she was 23 and an epileptic since she was 16 and that she lost her license/car because of them. (For some easy context that could have been a sentence but wasn't: Evie lives in SC and in SC, the DMV requires epileptics to be 6 months seizure free and then annual periodic updates for three years once you have been registered. Additionally, your neurologist is not required to report your seizures to the DMV. With all of this information - that I came to on my own - I am assuming that Evie has had severe enough seizures that she has not been able to go past six months without having one.)
However, for a book surrounding service dogs and epilepsy we also don't find out too much about what the criteria are for service dogs. The hinge of the plot revolves around Jake's daughter Sam just emailing Evie's "company" and...asking for one. It is barely discussed that a properly trained dog can cost anywhere from $15k-70k depending on the breed and training - it's a few sentences in the first chapter that you may miss if you don't pay attention. We also don't discuss needing a medical sign off on needing a service dog - for epileptics, that would mean a neurologist.
That same neurologist that is never called when either Evie or Sam has a seizure in the book. As an epileptic myself, I am never a fan of calling EMS and usually tell people to avoid it if possible. However, once I have a recovered from my seizure, I always call my neurologist to let him know what's happened, how long I have been unconscious, if I've been hurt, possible triggers, if any medication needs to be adjusted, etc. In both instances when Evie and Sam had seizures, none of that was done/discussed. EMS was never discussed and neurologists were never mentioned.
Another BIG red flag that no sensitivity readers were consulted is the pool party scene. One second, Evie is standing and chatting with someone at Jake's family pool party and the next, Jake is picking her up and THROWING HER IN THE POOL.
- PLEASE DON'T EVER DO THIS. -
Unless you know the person very well and they are okay with this, don't throw an epileptic in the pool within a week of knowing them!! But also - WHERE was Charlie during this scene?? If Charlie was in Jake's space earlier in the book when he "made Evie's heart race" how is Charlie not at attention or even IN THE VICINITY when this happens??
Finally, this is not "bad" epilepsy rep, it's just...not good. It's like the author did a bare bones google search and went "good enough!" but there were enough plot points that were left unfinished that it was frustrating.
- how often are Evie and Sam having seizures?
- what kind of epilepsy do they have
- why is no one taking medication???? Do you know how many alarms I have on my phone so I don't forget a dose?
- no one is talking about avoiding triggers or, if they don't have triggers, trying to discover them
- when someone is coming out of their post-ictal phase, don't immediately move them. Jake comes charging in, checks in with...CHARLIE(?)...and then picks up Evie from the floor. For someone who has an epileptic daughter, this man is oblivious. You need to check them for consciousness and make sure they are responsive. Since he came in to see her convulsing, he needs to make sure she hasn't hurt herself anywhere and comes out of the seizure enough to speak with him before just picking her up and moving her.
CHARACTERS:
- Everyone needed more character development but can we all just side eye Jake and the closet of tampons? Wtf
- Was Evie really going to fire her caterer bc they were working with her mother? How old are you.
- Also - Twilight? Gilmore Girls? Why? Is this supposed to be cute?
- Jake, it's not cute body shaming and name calling your ex-wife.
- Dogs don't roll their eyes, Evie.
My main question for the author is - did you have sensitivity readers for this? Because having a mother-in-law with a decade of working as a service dog trainer acting as your inspiration for the novel is not enough.
So first we meet Evie who not only has epilepsy and a service dog, but is also working as a service dog trainer. However, we never learn what kind of epilepsy/seizures Evie has. We just know Evie has been paired with Charlie since she was 23 and an epileptic since she was 16 and that she lost her license/car because of them. (For some easy context that could have been a sentence but wasn't: Evie lives in SC and in SC, the DMV requires epileptics to be 6 months seizure free and then annual periodic updates for three years once you have been registered. Additionally, your neurologist is not required to report your seizures to the DMV. With all of this information - that I came to on my own - I am assuming that Evie has had severe enough seizures that she has not been able to go past six months without having one.)
However, for a book surrounding service dogs and epilepsy we also don't find out too much about what the criteria are for service dogs. The hinge of the plot revolves around Jake's daughter Sam just emailing Evie's "company" and...asking for one. It is barely discussed that a properly trained dog can cost anywhere from $15k-70k depending on the breed and training - it's a few sentences in the first chapter that you may miss if you don't pay attention. We also don't discuss needing a medical sign off on needing a service dog - for epileptics, that would mean a neurologist.
That same neurologist that is never called when either Evie or Sam has a seizure in the book. As an epileptic myself, I am never a fan of calling EMS and usually tell people to avoid it if possible. However, once I have a recovered from my seizure, I always call my neurologist to let him know what's happened, how long I have been unconscious, if I've been hurt, possible triggers, if any medication needs to be adjusted, etc. In both instances when Evie and Sam had seizures, none of that was done/discussed. EMS was never discussed and neurologists were never mentioned.
Another BIG red flag that no sensitivity readers were consulted is the pool party scene. One second, Evie is standing and chatting with someone at Jake's family pool party and the next, Jake is picking her up and THROWING HER IN THE POOL.
- PLEASE DON'T EVER DO THIS. -
Unless you know the person very well and they are okay with this, don't throw an epileptic in the pool within a week of knowing them!! But also - WHERE was Charlie during this scene?? If Charlie was in Jake's space earlier in the book when he "made Evie's heart race" how is Charlie not at attention or even IN THE VICINITY when this happens??
Finally, this is not "bad" epilepsy rep, it's just...not good. It's like the author did a bare bones google search and went "good enough!" but there were enough plot points that were left unfinished that it was frustrating.
- how often are Evie and Sam having seizures?
- what kind of epilepsy do they have
- why is no one taking medication???? Do you know how many alarms I have on my phone so I don't forget a dose?
- no one is talking about avoiding triggers or, if they don't have triggers, trying to discover them
- when someone is coming out of their post-ictal phase, don't immediately move them. Jake comes charging in, checks in with...CHARLIE(?)...and then picks up Evie from the floor. For someone who has an epileptic daughter, this man is oblivious. You need to check them for consciousness and make sure they are responsive. Since he came in to see her convulsing, he needs to make sure she hasn't hurt herself anywhere and comes out of the seizure enough to speak with him before just picking her up and moving her.
CHARACTERS:
- Everyone needed more character development but can we all just side eye Jake and the closet of tampons? Wtf
- Was Evie really going to fire her caterer bc they were working with her mother? How old are you.
- Also - Twilight? Gilmore Girls? Why? Is this supposed to be cute?
- Jake, it's not cute body shaming and name calling your ex-wife.
- Dogs don't roll their eyes, Evie.