Scan barcode
turnthepages_nl's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A beautiful story about depression, finding what makes you happy, choosing yourself and going after what makes you a better and more fulfilled version of yourself! Entwined with a lovely friends to lovers storyline.
Set on a small remote island in the stunning Lake of the Woods.
In some books love gets thrown around like a cure for depression. And I hate that. Luckily this book does not take that route!
Whilest it is good for her selfesteem to be treated with kindness, her depression doesn't get cured because of it. She puts in the work. (And a cure is not the goal!!) She wants to feel more like herself again. So she goes to therapy, listens to her body, slows down and recharges. She goes on a search to see what she wants to do in life, what makes her happy. What is true to herself.
There were beautiful conversations about selfworth, relationships, health and family. About pressure and people pleasing. That really elevated the story.
But most of all this was a super cosy read and I really recommend it!
Thank you Netgalley and the author for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Set on a small remote island in the stunning Lake of the Woods.
In some books love gets thrown around like a cure for depression. And I hate that. Luckily this book does not take that route!
Whilest it is good for her selfesteem to be treated with kindness, her depression doesn't get cured because of it. She puts in the work. (And a cure is not the goal!!) She wants to feel more like herself again. So she goes to therapy, listens to her body, slows down and recharges. She goes on a search to see what she wants to do in life, what makes her happy. What is true to herself.
There were beautiful conversations about selfworth, relationships, health and family. About pressure and people pleasing. That really elevated the story.
But most of all this was a super cosy read and I really recommend it!
Thank you Netgalley and the author for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Mental illness
Moderate: Dementia
teeclecticreads's review
adventurous
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Thank you to Megan Reinking for sending me an ARC of this book. All these opinions expressed are my own.
I think this book was pretty good and I really appreciated how depression was portrayed, because most people believe that to be depressed you have to be stuck in bed all day and unable to do anything. While this is true for a lot of people, others experience high functioning depression where on the outside they may seem like they are okay and active, but on the inside they really are wrestling with negative thoughts and emotions.
The romance between Blair and Graham developed beautifully and I think it was really important that Graham emphasised how much of the work Blair did herself and that he was not the reason why Blair was able to fight through her depression. It’s important that people remember that as much as someone on the side may be able to help, a lot of the work comes from within.
My only critique is that there didn’t seem to be as much of a buildup in relation to the climax of the story. The conflict didn’t really feel like much of a conflict because of how easily things were resolved, and it felt like there were subplots that got thrown away at the end like Sydney not wanting to visit their mom and Graham and his dad dealing with her Alzheimer’s . Regardless, it’s still a good read.
I think this book was pretty good and I really appreciated how depression was portrayed, because most people believe that to be depressed you have to be stuck in bed all day and unable to do anything. While this is true for a lot of people, others experience high functioning depression where on the outside they may seem like they are okay and active, but on the inside they really are wrestling with negative thoughts and emotions.
The romance between Blair and Graham developed beautifully and I think it was really important that Graham emphasised how much of the work Blair did herself and that he was not the reason why Blair was able to fight through her depression. It’s important that people remember that as much as someone on the side may be able to help, a lot of the work comes from within.
My only critique is that there didn’t seem to be as much of a buildup in relation to the climax of the story. The conflict didn’t really feel like much of a conflict because of how easily things were resolved, and it felt like there were subplots that got thrown away at the end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
More...