Recovery

In her novel, The Girls at 17 Swann Street, Zgheib thematically explores eating disorder recovery. Toward the beginning of the narrative, Matthias is frustrated and angry that Anna can meal plan with the help of Emm while he “used to beg [her] to eat” to no avail (162). The author enacts this conversation between the couple to upend the notion that loving relationships are enough to treat eating disorders and instigate recovery. Despite his well-meaning intentions, Matthias does not have the medical training or psychology background to facilitate Anna’s recovery; she needs a team of specialists, medical monitoring, and therapy to go through the refeeding process and learn healthy coping skills. While emotional support is helpful, it is not the sum of recovery.

In Chapter 62, the author furthers her examination of recovery when Anna cries over the supplement shake. When Direct Care tells her that she will...