Scan barcode
the_empty_bookself's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I picked it up having no idea what it was about and I spent my days looking forward to picking up up again in the evening.
A fairly easy read, flows well and good story line.
Ellie is agoraphobic. She is a gardening influencer on Instagram and this is her contact with the outside world. She was adopted by her parents from an orphanage in Romania. She needs to face her demons to be able to live her life and allow herself to love.
Enjoyable characters who all help Ellie in their own ways manage the rollercoaster of her mental health challenges.
I would recommend.
A fairly easy read, flows well and good story line.
Ellie is agoraphobic. She is a gardening influencer on Instagram and this is her contact with the outside world. She was adopted by her parents from an orphanage in Romania. She needs to face her demons to be able to live her life and allow herself to love.
Enjoyable characters who all help Ellie in their own ways manage the rollercoaster of her mental health challenges.
I would recommend.
kellylacey's review against another edition
4.0
The World at My Feet
I was delighted to be asked to be a part of the book tour for Catherine Issac’s latest release. I adored Messy Wonderful Us. So I said yes without knowing what the book was about. I didn’t realise quite the journey I would go on with it. My post is late but my review will explain why and hopefully the lateness forgiven.
Ellie Heathcote is an Instagram influencer. Her account features stories and grid posts from her garden. A little haven of delight and tranquillity. In reality, it is a safe bubble for Ellie who has agoraphobia. Ellie lives in a little annexe of her parent’s house. Ellie’s agoraphobia stems from her childhood.
I was blown away as I started to read the book. I have never read one with a character that has my illness. I have traumatic agoraphobia and it has consumed my life. I have to try and separate my life experiences from Ellie’s. However, the book made me have a blip. Reading about Elle’s anxiety and panic attack experiences opened up old boxes of emotion in my head. It made me reflect on old noise and the parallel between my life and Ellie’s was intense.
So I stopped reading for a few days and pulled myself together and started it again. I too live in a bubble. I moved home to get better and I have been here for over 11 years. For an intense five years, my foot never went outside. So I feel I am in good shoes to be able to understand Ellie.
I loved Ellie so very much. It was nice to see she found a way to have a life without having an outside life through Instagram. I’ve read comments online about her being unrealistic and people saying she was hard to connect with. I 100% do not agree all I saw was a vulnerable loving soul. It makes me sad that different equals weird to some people.
I cried at a certain bit that included music, trying hard not to give too much away. That was my favourite bit. I was worried that love was going to swoop in and make everything better. I have to be honest and say I strongly disliked Colette. I have had many therapist’s who have said you have to come to the office. I never called them again and in my opinion, they did more harm than good. So fictitious Colette can go and boil her head. She made me so mad! I know that she was trying to help Ellie by pushing her to go but it does more harm than good. I know myself being made to go in such a way put me in bed for weeks.
I can’t help but look at the book through my life’s journey. There were some situations where I was like Ellie wouldn’t be able to do that and it really frustrated me. But I had to remind myself too that this was fiction.
The book is perfect for fans of Rachael Hore and Liz Trenow.
I was delighted to be asked to be a part of the book tour for Catherine Issac’s latest release. I adored Messy Wonderful Us. So I said yes without knowing what the book was about. I didn’t realise quite the journey I would go on with it. My post is late but my review will explain why and hopefully the lateness forgiven.
Ellie Heathcote is an Instagram influencer. Her account features stories and grid posts from her garden. A little haven of delight and tranquillity. In reality, it is a safe bubble for Ellie who has agoraphobia. Ellie lives in a little annexe of her parent’s house. Ellie’s agoraphobia stems from her childhood.
I was blown away as I started to read the book. I have never read one with a character that has my illness. I have traumatic agoraphobia and it has consumed my life. I have to try and separate my life experiences from Ellie’s. However, the book made me have a blip. Reading about Elle’s anxiety and panic attack experiences opened up old boxes of emotion in my head. It made me reflect on old noise and the parallel between my life and Ellie’s was intense.
So I stopped reading for a few days and pulled myself together and started it again. I too live in a bubble. I moved home to get better and I have been here for over 11 years. For an intense five years, my foot never went outside. So I feel I am in good shoes to be able to understand Ellie.
I loved Ellie so very much. It was nice to see she found a way to have a life without having an outside life through Instagram. I’ve read comments online about her being unrealistic and people saying she was hard to connect with. I 100% do not agree all I saw was a vulnerable loving soul. It makes me sad that different equals weird to some people.
I cried at a certain bit that included music, trying hard not to give too much away. That was my favourite bit. I was worried that love was going to swoop in and make everything better. I have to be honest and say I strongly disliked Colette. I have had many therapist’s who have said you have to come to the office. I never called them again and in my opinion, they did more harm than good. So fictitious Colette can go and boil her head. She made me so mad! I know that she was trying to help Ellie by pushing her to go but it does more harm than good. I know myself being made to go in such a way put me in bed for weeks.
I can’t help but look at the book through my life’s journey. There were some situations where I was like Ellie wouldn’t be able to do that and it really frustrated me. But I had to remind myself too that this was fiction.
The book is perfect for fans of Rachael Hore and Liz Trenow.
books_withcats's review against another edition
4.0
How can a painful story have such a beautiful sweet telling!
I am trying to write a review without spoiling anything as its very important to get into the story without knowing the truth of Elli's past. Its so nice to read a story that deals with the reality of anxiety and fears, and how our childhood haunts us, even if everyone tries to make things better!
This book deserves so much more love.
I am from Cyprus and our family was involved in humanitarian missions to Romanian orphanages. I still remember the girls that came to stay with us until they were adopted by other families or returned back to their own families. I was too young to remember the how they came, what had happened to them, but this book took me back to memory lane and opened a beautiful conversation with my mother who, despite the fact she was a single mother raising 2 daughters she became a Foster mom for 2 girls that needed this the most.
Ps. To be honest is one of the rare occasions that I feel that the title and the cover doesn't help this book to get the hype it deserves.
I am trying to write a review without spoiling anything as its very important to get into the story without knowing the truth of Elli's past. Its so nice to read a story that deals with the reality of anxiety and fears, and how our childhood haunts us, even if everyone tries to make things better!
This book deserves so much more love.
I am from Cyprus and our family was involved in humanitarian missions to Romanian orphanages. I still remember the girls that came to stay with us until they were adopted by other families or returned back to their own families. I was too young to remember the how they came, what had happened to them, but this book took me back to memory lane and opened a beautiful conversation with my mother who, despite the fact she was a single mother raising 2 daughters she became a Foster mom for 2 girls that needed this the most.
Ps. To be honest is one of the rare occasions that I feel that the title and the cover doesn't help this book to get the hype it deserves.
whatacarryonbookmoor's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
happy_thimble's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a recommendation on a website when I searched for novels about anxiety. It’s a great book, my first five star review if the year I think. The main character is completely believable in her struggles and the historical accuracy was a interesting backstory to the plot. I look forward to readying more from Catherine Isaac.
mannu's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cannyreads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
chloerycz's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Really really enjoyed this book.
I found myself really looking forward to opportunities to pick it up to read. Learnt more about the Romanian orphanages than I expected and enjoyed the character development throughout.
I found myself really looking forward to opportunities to pick it up to read. Learnt more about the Romanian orphanages than I expected and enjoyed the character development throughout.
hellosarahlou's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 ⭐️ I accidentally picked up this book as I thought it was from another author I liked and surprisingly loved it!