Short Synopsis
The Boy Who Loved Too Much is the poignant story of a boy's coming-of-age complicated by Williams syndrome, a genetic disorder that makes people biologically incapable of distrust.

Full Synopsis
What would it be like to see everyone as a friend? Twelve-year-old Eli D'Angelo has a genetic disorder that obliterates social inhibitions, making him irrepressibly friendly, indiscriminately trusting, and unconditionally loving toward everyone he meets. It also makes him enormously vulnerable. Eli lacks the innate skepticism that will help his peers navigate adolescence more safely—and vastly more successfully.

Journalist Jennifer Latson follows Eli over three critical years of his life as his mother, Gayle, must decide whether to shield Eli entirely from the world and its dangers or give him the freedom to find his own way and become his own person.

By intertwining Eli and Gayle's story with the science and history of Williams syndrome, the book explores the genetic basis of behavior and the quirks of human nature. More than a case study of a rare disorder, however, The Boy Who Loved Too Much is a universal tale about the joys and struggles of raising a child, of growing up, and of being different.

"[Latson’s] book provides a thorough overview of Williams syndrome, and its thought-provoking paradox." ---New York Times

"Always empathetic and consistently insightful, Jennifer Latson’s deep dive into Eli’s life not only illuminates an under-known condition, but made me rethink the very nature of human connection. I cannot recommend this book highly enough." ---Kate Bolick, author of Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own

"Humane and fascinating . . . This is a book about a very unusual child, but it’s also a thoughtful and moving exploration into the very nature of affection and love.” ---Paul Bloom, author of Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion

“Latson's haunting book is an intimate look at the relationship between a boy with a rare and fascinating genetic disability and his mother, as she learns over time to stop overprotecting him and allow him to take his own path toward independence. There are valuable lessons for all parents here.” ---Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity

“Jennifer Latson has written a book of uncommon empathy, a powerful narrative that speaks not only to the love of a mother for her son, but to a genetic disorder that poses questions about the nature and limits of love itself.” ---Mimi Swartz, author of Power Failure: The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron

"The narrative that takes up most of the book’s pages is a sensitively drawn portrait of the boy referred to in the title, who is given the pseudonym Eli and whose daily reality Ms. Latson appears to have made an extraordinary effort to get to know." ---Wall Street Journal

"[A] terrific debut . . . The author skillfully interweaves the science—what we do and don’t know about genetic disorders such as Williams—with a powerful story line." ---Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"A well-researched, perceptive exploration of a rare genetic disorder seen through the eyes of a mother and son." ---Kirkus

"Latson blends life concerns and hard medical facts in this widely appealing chronicle of a fascinating disorder." ---Booklist

Publishers Weekly Review