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.