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laurafabulousamazing's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
bookisheri98's review against another edition
3.0
This book gets maybe 2.75 stars. I liked it, it was ok but it did hit close to home for me for some certain situations and I related to the characters. The last 10 chapters is what made the book a bit uncomfortable and irritating. I love Zac Brewer and his books and even though I didn't love this book as much as I was expecting to, I didn't hate it either because it connected with me. It reminded me of my struggles and seeing that was really touching. It hurt a bit but was still touching.
Really wish the book didn't end like it did but that's just my 2 cents.
I encourage people to pick this book up and give it a try but there are some triggers for my fellow peeps who are suicide survivors and/or suffer from clinical depression.
Really wish the book didn't end like it did but that's just my 2 cents.
I encourage people to pick this book up and give it a try but there are some triggers for my fellow peeps who are suicide survivors and/or suffer from clinical depression.
lovelydaisy's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
emldavis01's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so good. So good in fact that I finished it in one day. I just couldn't put it down. It was a great read. I wasn't very pleased with the last 2 or 3 chapters, but other than that a great read. I could see every moment in my head witch is something that you want from a book. This is a book that I could see myself reading again and again. This was an easy 5 stars for me. I think everyone (ages 15+) should read this book. It's a good one!
graysshelves's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
lisaluvsliterature's review against another edition
5.0
What can I say except for that once again, Brewer has blown me away. This was a book that I could barely put down. I picked it up, and blew straight through it. Well, except for last Friday. I was having my own down day, just all kinds of things going wrong in my world, I'd ran out of my own medicine for my depression, and so I had to put the book down and take a break. That's not to say that it is a depressing book, it's just that the feelings of the main character, Brooke, and her thoughts, just were hitting too close to home at that moment in time. But once I got my meds taken on Saturday, and things started getting back to normal, I was able to pick it back up and get right back in. And Brooke's life also started looking up at the same time. That's not to say it was smooth sailing for her on the road to recovery, or that she was fully recovered by the end of the book, but you could see her healing and deciding that maybe she did want to live. That maybe there was something or more than one thing that was worth living for.
You can check out my full review at Lisa Loves Literature.
You can check out my full review at Lisa Loves Literature.
sarahaugust's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kelseyrm's review
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
first of all, i'm honestly a little disappointed. when i first started reading this book, i thought it was going to be at least a four star rating for me. first of all, the cover art is AMAZING. it's so beautiful to look at. and second of all, this book reminded me a lot of a book i read over quarantine my heart and other black holes by jasmine warga (maybe because it's also about two suicidal teens who are love interests) , but even though i don't remember much about that book i still think it was a more accurate portrayal of its subject line.
it's very obvious that this book was written by someone who has likely not ever been depressed/suicidal, i don't want to assume anything though ofc, maybe just hasn't been in a while? it didn't seem very accurate in derek's case, especially at the end of the bookwhere he literally tries to MURDER brooke so they can "be together"? now idk why they tried to explain that he did that bc he was depressed, because that literally makes no fucking sense did the author do any research? it also really stigmatizes mental illness and the author as a self proclaimed "mental health advocate"...yeah not a good look
now i liked brooke a lot, at times i thought her personality was exaggerated especially when <spoilers>she sleeps w/ derek for the first time and is all like "i know i'm a woman and supposed to not want this but i do..." like i can promise you NO teenage girl is thinking that during sex lol</spoilers> also she drinks straight milk...red flag
best character? this is extremely obvious. it's duckie i love him. also gay rep, this is like the only diverse character in the book. no poc characters at all, or if there are any i missed it bc there was only one line mentioning it.
i'd say the characters were mildly likeable, i definitely wanted brooke to get better. but at times i just felt like their personalities were a bit flat/cliche? like we have the bad boy love interest, the gay best friend, the abusive dad, the angsty teen girl. honestly halfway through the book i was like "is this written by a man". idk brooke just seemed like she was. the author is nonbinary though which i didn't even notice until i looked it up, unfortunately
idk ending was a little disppointing, kind of cringe at some parts. wouldn't recommend this book probably, it was fine though, i just liked the past two books i've read more. also A LOT of content warnings, so check those out before you read
it's very obvious that this book was written by someone who has likely not ever been depressed/suicidal, i don't want to assume anything though ofc, maybe just hasn't been in a while? it didn't seem very accurate in derek's case, especially at the end of the book
now i liked brooke a lot, at times i thought her personality was exaggerated especially when <spoilers>she sleeps w/ derek for the first time and is all like "i know i'm a woman and supposed to not want this but i do..." like i can promise you NO teenage girl is thinking that during sex lol</spoilers> also she drinks straight milk...red flag
best character? this is extremely obvious. it's duckie i love him. also gay rep, this is like the only diverse character in the book. no poc characters at all, or if there are any i missed it bc there was only one line mentioning it.
i'd say the characters were mildly likeable, i definitely wanted brooke to get better. but at times i just felt like their personalities were a bit flat/cliche? like we have the bad boy love interest, the gay best friend, the abusive dad, the angsty teen girl. honestly halfway through the book i was like "is this written by a man". idk brooke just seemed like she was. the author is nonbinary though which i didn't even notice until i looked it up, unfortunately
idk ending was a little disppointing, kind of cringe at some parts. wouldn't recommend this book probably, it was fine though, i just liked the past two books i've read more. also A LOT of content warnings, so check those out before you read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Blood, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death and Alcoholism
Minor: Physical abuse
emldavis0314's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so good. So good in fact that I finished it in one day. I just couldn't put it down. It was a great read. I wasn't very pleased with the last 2 or 3 chapters, but other than that a great read. I could see every moment in my head witch is something that you want from a book. This is a book that I could see myself reading again and again. This was an easy 5 stars for me. I think everyone (ages 15+) should read this book. It's a good one!
katdowney's review against another edition
3.0
This review will also appear on www.swoonyboyspodcast.com
This review contains SPOILERS!!!
Cover: 3
Characters: 4
Writing: 4
Plot: 3
Swoon: 3
Overall: 3.4
I’ve noticed lately that I read many books that deal with mental health and suicide. I do love seeing this more in YA because, so many readers are looking for escapism and hope and when done right this is really a beautiful thing.
I have some mixed feelings about Madness. The story was great. Seeing Brooke go from wanting to end her life to wanting to live was nicely done. But after all that, I feel like the ending of this book was really f’d up.
Brooke is faking being fine. She is smiling and nodding and acting like she is okay. But after so long of acting it starts to get easier. Then she meets Derek. A kindred spirit. And like Brooke, Derek is fighting suicidal urges as well.
The two fall for each other, clinging to the happiness they feel together. But as Brooke really starts to want her life to be hers and to live, Derek is becoming more and more needy and clingy. He starts seeing Brooke differently.
Here’s where you might want to check out if you want to avoid spoilers……you’ve been warned.
So, this is what pissed me off about this book. Brooke has overcome her the suicidal feelings she was struggling with. Derek on the other hand has decided he wants to end his life. So, he lures Brooke out and tries to freaking murder her…. This seemed so unfair. I feel like there is already enough of a stigma around suicide. So, adding a murder, suicide aspect… it just seemed wrong.
Don’t get me wrong, I did like this book. I was happy to have read it. But that part at the end just made me angry. I hated that Brooke overcame her struggle only to have Derek made into a bad guy.
I honestly don’t know if this is one that I would recommend to a friend. The subject matter isn’t for everyone but I am happy that I’ve read it.
This review contains SPOILERS!!!
Cover: 3
Characters: 4
Writing: 4
Plot: 3
Swoon: 3
Overall: 3.4
I’ve noticed lately that I read many books that deal with mental health and suicide. I do love seeing this more in YA because, so many readers are looking for escapism and hope and when done right this is really a beautiful thing.
I have some mixed feelings about Madness. The story was great. Seeing Brooke go from wanting to end her life to wanting to live was nicely done. But after all that, I feel like the ending of this book was really f’d up.
Brooke is faking being fine. She is smiling and nodding and acting like she is okay. But after so long of acting it starts to get easier. Then she meets Derek. A kindred spirit. And like Brooke, Derek is fighting suicidal urges as well.
The two fall for each other, clinging to the happiness they feel together. But as Brooke really starts to want her life to be hers and to live, Derek is becoming more and more needy and clingy. He starts seeing Brooke differently.
Here’s where you might want to check out if you want to avoid spoilers……you’ve been warned.
So, this is what pissed me off about this book. Brooke has overcome her the suicidal feelings she was struggling with. Derek on the other hand has decided he wants to end his life. So, he lures Brooke out and tries to freaking murder her…. This seemed so unfair. I feel like there is already enough of a stigma around suicide. So, adding a murder, suicide aspect… it just seemed wrong.
Don’t get me wrong, I did like this book. I was happy to have read it. But that part at the end just made me angry. I hated that Brooke overcame her struggle only to have Derek made into a bad guy.
I honestly don’t know if this is one that I would recommend to a friend. The subject matter isn’t for everyone but I am happy that I’ve read it.