Reviews

How to Walk Away is about Margaret and her recovery after a spinal cord injury. In the first half of the book Margaret must face her own body and what it brings out in the people around her. I am reviewing the book as an ambulatory wheelchair user and disability advocate so I will focus mostly on that.

I was really nervous coming into this book. From my research it appears to be written by an able-bodied author who has never written about disabling events before. Given the history of people coopting stories disabilities I didn't have a lot of faith the author would have done a good job. However, I will say i was pleasantly surprised. Before the book even begins Center acknowledges the doctors, therapists, and individuals with SCIs that helped her with her research. This helped ease my anxiety a little bit and definitely showed itself in the book overall. Center absolutely puts a good foot forward in not entirely embracing the stereotypes frequently bogging down stories like this one. However, in focusing so much in the injury, Center leaves a lot of the true difficulties about being disabled open to interpretation. She sends her character to inaccessible locations and romanticizes the dangerous assistance she frequently receives without her permission. Also, details about the wheelchair do not match up with the lifestyle of the character or the process one goes through to get a mobility device like that. When the book does address ableism it's still stained by ignorance and ultimately reenforces some of the stereotypes such as our character "being the exception to the rule." Another problem I had with the book was that Margaret never interacted with another SCI patient or disabled person in the entire book. Not only does this not quite match some of the characters personal goals, it also requires the reader to understand wheelchair users and SCI patients through a monolithic lens. Center also never uses the word "disabled" in any form, but does utilize "able-bodied." The disability identity is one that almost all wheelchair users have to contend with regardless if they choose to adopt or reject it.

Finally, I would like to note that the premise of the romance itself is incredibly problematic.

Spoiler

Maggie falls for her physical therapist. Her initial feelings for her therapist are not entirely problematic and may happen when you develop a relationship with people who help you. Crushes, as long as they don't lead to harassment, can be harmless. However, for a practiced physical therapist to lead a patient on and establish a relationship with her is incredibly harmful. Ian, the PT, dismisses Maggie's feelings as not "real" while completely disregarding the true reason PT's are supposed to remain professional. (CW Sexual Assault) Disabled women are one of the most at risk groups for sexual assault frequently coming from therapists, doctors, and caretakers who abuse their power. The book completely dismisses how incredibly manipulative it is for a therapist to create that type of relationship with their patient. When Ian does reject Maggie (which he turns around and kisses her later) he does so in a way that doesn't accept his responsibility as a medical professional and takes away some of Maggie's agency.

All this to say, I did enjoy this book more than I thought I would when I suspended some disbelief. My main suggestion is that you read it with a critical eye and think about the ideas that you accept or reject in this book.

Content Warnings

bookmarks_are_for_quitters's review

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medium-paced

3.0

emdop's review

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challenging emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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