Books like Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

Joe O’Brien is a third‑generation Irish patrol officer in Charlestown, Massachusetts, who loves his wife and four adult children. After a series of disorganized thoughts, temper outbursts, and involuntary movements, he is diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder with no cure. As his symptoms worsen, Joe loses his badge and struggles to keep hope and purpose amid the devastating reality of a fatal illness. Each of his four children faces a 50‑percent chance of inheriting the disease, and a simple blood test can reveal their genetic destiny. His eldest daughter, Katie, at 21, wrestles with whether to learn her status and how that knowledge will shape her life. The novel follows the family’s emotional journey as they decide whether to accept the risk of living with uncertainty or to confront the possibility of a terminal illness. Lisa Genova’s compassionate narrative explores the resilience of human spirit amid a relentless disease, and the strength of family bonds under the most difficult circumstances.

First publish date: 2015