The Family Friend

Matt Lowe was born into a large, loving family who lived in a small holiday resort on the English coast. Yet, unknown to his parents and peers, his life was far from ordinary. For many years, he was abused by a young man who had been welcomed into Lowe family life...in the guise of the perfect family friend. Jeremy was intelligent, artistic and fantastic with children. A real-life Peter Pan, he was loved by the children and trusted by the adults. But he soon singled out Matt for his particular attention. As their relationship took a more sinister turn, Matt became increasingly dependent on this new mentor and isolated from his family. Beautifully written with heart-wrenching candour, Matt's story begins in adulthood when he falls into a deep depression and embarks on a period of therapy forcing him to confront the true nature of his relationship with Jeremy. What follows is an unusually insightful and moving account of one man's struggle to come to terms with the ramifications of years of sexual and psychological abuse.