The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Bloom, Amy. In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss. New York: Penguin Random House, 2022.

The memoir begins with Amy and Brian settling into their business class flight to Zurich, Switzerland. They are going to a non-profit right-to-die organization called Dignitas after Brian was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and chose to end his life before the disease progressed completely. Amy has been supporting Brian since he was diagnosed and slowly began losing his memory and ability to live independently. When the Dignitas doctor certifies that Brian is of sound mind to make this decision, Amy begins to cry. A few days later, once all the paperwork has been processed and prepared, it is time for Brian to take the drugs. Amy sits with him the entire time, holding his hand and stroking his hair, listening to his breathing. She tries to memorize every last detail of Brian, down to the way he smells, as she lets him go.

After Amy returns from Switzerland, she plans a simple memorial service for Brian’s friends and family to gather and remember him. She is surprised by how many people show up to celebrate his life and she learns more about his early adult years from their speeches. She feels supported and held for the first time since Brian’s death and it is meaningful to share the burden of her grief.

Brian had first agreed to be evaluated for memory loss in 2019 after having hip surgery and noticing a difference in his ability to remember his daily schedule among other things. He hoped his memory loss would be attributed to a bad reaction to the anesthesia. The more Amy began to read and investigate, the more convinced she was that he had early onset Alzheimer’s.

Once Brian was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he, and Amy struggled to find a way to pursue assisted suicide while Brian tried to manage his symptoms with a meditation class and art projects. He began forgetting how to get to his classes and his favorite fishing spots. They struggled to find backup plans while waiting for Dignitas to respond to them. The drugs that would facilitate a painless death were not often filled by pharmacists, and it was difficult to find a psychiatrist who was willing to write a letter in support of Brian’s wishes.

Amy also struggled through Brian’s diagnosis and the stress and pressure of helping him end his life while desperately wishing to stay by his side forever. She saw a therapist to help her cope with her feelings and this therapist eventually wrote the letter of support for Dignitas.

The memoir ends with a scene from Brian and Amy’s wedding. Amy had planned an elaborate speech for her vows, but she was only able to hold on to Brian and promise to love him for the rest of their lives. He did the same and it was one of the happiest moments of her life.