Review: a great story that shows the development of love, friendship, and self-worth
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 6, 2013
This story is definitely one that will tug at a reader's heartstrings. With great characters--both ones that you love to love and others that you love to hate, A Portrait for Toni is a read that deals with a very serious issue, yet isn't heavy and depressing.Toni is very comparable to an onion--as the story progresses, more layers to her character are revealed, until the reader is left with a very raw and tender portion--that of course, left me in tears. I love how real the emotion is. I think almost everyone knows of someone who struggles with an eating disorder and it's always more than just an issue with food. In Toni's case, I kept wishing so much that she could have confronted the root of her issue years earlier, instead of just holding it all inside. In a way, I felt that this story had two very defined parts--the eating disorder and the long-time friendship with her best friend, Carter. Of course, these parts were very connected to one another.Carter--what girl wouldn't love to have him as a best friend?? He is a great example of a true friend, even when Toni sends him away for caring too much. I think Toni often takes him and his friendship for granted, which would be easy to do. He is always there for her and she just doesn't truly realize how important he is to her until he's gone.I love how the many relationships were resolved and how Toni finally realizes her worth. Another great novel by Annette Lyon!!Content: a handful of swearing; clean romance.