I read this book in two sittings. I was moved by the story and the vulnerability of the main character Dr Joe Bosco as he navigates his life as a son, a medical student, a star doctor and then a recovering high-flyer. Going through all the stages of his life, including the death of his parents, makes him very relatable and we get to witness how we are all so similar even though we have different sets of successes and failures.

The book is easy reading, as we watch Dr Bosco take on the very challenging work of organ transplants. He makes the description of this world exciting as the medical team races to get organs and transplant them into sick patients, who, if they survive, gain a new longer life. Joe is so good at what he does that he gets offered a plum job at a hospital in the Bay Area. There are many enticements including money and power and at first, he seems to navigate them beautifully, until he doesn’t. He even uncovers the dark side of the transplant world which coincides with his personal demise.

Dr Bosco is not a quitter, and he takes necessary steps to right his life and even reconnects with his love from medical school days in Africa. The book does end on a high note and it is encouraging to know that people who make changes can right their life if they do the very hard work to do it.

Not a literary masterpiece, but a good read none the less.

3.5 Stars, Rounded up to 4

The author is a renowned transplant surgeon, which lends depth and credibility to this fictionalized account of the rise and fall of Dr. Joe Bosco. Having worked in major medical centers for over twenty years, I can attest to the authenticity of the portrayal of the institutions and the personalities involved. The author’s candor and insight are appreciated, even as some of the events may be overly dramatized for the purposes of good storytelling.

Dr. Joe Bosco is driven. His ambition to be a top transplant surgeon at the expense of relationships and even his own integrity, is rooted in a dysfunctional relationship with his father, a Nobel laureate, and a towering role model for any son. The story unfolds from Joe’s teenage years, through college, medical school, residency and finally as a practicing surgeon. As Joe reaches the pinnacle of success – acclaim, respect, wealth – he begins to lose perspective and a scandal threatens not only his career, but his life as alcohol and drugs become his coping mechanisms. In addition to the primary focus of Joe’s struggle, the underbelly of the transplant system is exposed as the inequities in the process are revealed.

At best, this is an intriguing exploration of a man caught up in the quest for success – one who loses all the trappings of success and chooses to begin anew based on his own heart-felt values. However, I found something lacking in the writing. It had all the hallmarks of good character development, and it kept me engaged, but did not deliver an emotional quality that would have engendered more connection with Dr. Joe’s plight.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

An humbling, frustrating, uplifting story! All That Really Matters is a coming of age story albeit of an adult man who spectacularly derails his seemingly perfect life. The tortuous road to recovery is the frustrating, yet fulfilling, part of this drama. I really enjoyed the pace of the writing and the brilliant character development. I may not have always liked or respected the doctor but pulled for him in the end to find happiness.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rare Bird Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.