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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
Okay so the only thing I disliked about this was the romance. She was so focused on working on her own issues during the whole book that the romance felt forced and unnecessary, at least in my opinion. Her battle with her mental illness felt very realistic and urgent, which I loved because it shows accurately how intense and dire mental illnesses can feel. I feel that this is a very important read, and I’m happy that the friendships were regarded as more important than the romantic relationship, as that is also often the case in life; you tend (at least I do) to sometimes rely on friends more heavily than on a romantic partner.
I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. I love the cover and the summary on the book's jacket was more than enough to hook me in. But this seriously was the most unsatisfying, painful book that I've read in a while.
Being a bipolar teen in high school, I thought that I could sympathize greatly with Catherine and her struggles. I really liked the idea of having a character that knows what it's like to suffer from mania and depression. I loved that I might actually have a shot at good representation in YA Lit.
However, Catherine proves to be just another WebMD representation of all of the tropes bipolar people cannot seem to escape in the media. Her mania - although only described - could be chocked up to excessive spending and energetic cleaning. Her depression was being a zombie and attempting suicide. There was no character beneath the symptoms she so desperately was trying to embody.
To make matters worse, Catherine plays the victim so often that it's actually physically nauseating, and while I understand that that's part of her character "growth," it was Seriously embarrassing to witness again and again.
I really appreciate the effort of normalizing bipolar disorder and helping mentally ill teens see that they aren't alone, but this is instead a solid example of how to make them feel even worse about their illnesses (especially if they don't have pure love to ~cure them~).
Being a bipolar teen in high school, I thought that I could sympathize greatly with Catherine and her struggles. I really liked the idea of having a character that knows what it's like to suffer from mania and depression. I loved that I might actually have a shot at good representation in YA Lit.
However, Catherine proves to be just another WebMD representation of all of the tropes bipolar people cannot seem to escape in the media. Her mania - although only described - could be chocked up to excessive spending and energetic cleaning. Her depression was being a zombie and attempting suicide. There was no character beneath the symptoms she so desperately was trying to embody.
To make matters worse, Catherine plays the victim so often that it's actually physically nauseating, and while I understand that that's part of her character "growth," it was Seriously embarrassing to witness again and again.
I really appreciate the effort of normalizing bipolar disorder and helping mentally ill teens see that they aren't alone, but this is instead a solid example of how to make them feel even worse about their illnesses (especially if they don't have pure love to ~cure them~).
I'm not an expert on teen depression, or even adult depression, so I'll take the author's word for her expertise and depiction of Cath's illness. It certainly felt real and was easy to relate to what was going on in Cath's life, including her fears not only of being ill (and the return of the Zero part of being bipolar) but also of what her former friends thought about her now.
My quibble is with her relationship with Michael. It did feel that her starting to come out of her shell with Kristal and the others in her group helped, but at times it was Michael and that relationship that - to me! only to me! YMMV! - read as though it was some magical device that would help "cure" her. While I did buy that those friendships and ties could help her reach some sort of peace with the reality of being bipolar and recognizing that Zero might return but perhaps was survivable, it kinda felt to me as though with Michael in her life, Zero would never return. Which did not feel real or plausible.
ARC provided by publisher.
My quibble is with her relationship with Michael. It did feel that her starting to come out of her shell with Kristal and the others in her group helped, but at times it was Michael and that relationship that - to me! only to me! YMMV! - read as though it was some magical device that would help "cure" her. While I did buy that those friendships and ties could help her reach some sort of peace with the reality of being bipolar and recognizing that Zero might return but perhaps was survivable, it kinda felt to me as though with Michael in her life, Zero would never return. Which did not feel real or plausible.
ARC provided by publisher.
5/5 stars again ⭐️
I have never read a more authentic and honest portrayal of mental health. I’m so overwhelmed that I can’t even articulate everything I feel about this book except this: EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT.
if you struggle with mental health disorders, this book is so extremely helpful and relevant. if you don’t, 1) you should read this because you very well could and just not know and 2) it can help you to be more empathetic, understanding, and compassionate towards those in your life who do.
it’s the story of a high school girl who gets diagnosed with bipolar disorder. the diagnosis feels like a death sentence, so she plots her suicide to “save” those around her from herself. the story is her coping through and dealing with this diagnosis, while also complimenting as a wonderful coming of age novel for nearly any teen. it’s relevant, authentic, and so relatable.
the terrors of high school are so accurately portrayed- the bullying, the snide remarks, the exclusion. it also highlights the inner thoughts of overthinkers and anxiety. the characterization for everyone in the novel is so intentional and meaningful. the plot also creates a wonderful story for the author to teach lessons through the characters.
as a reader and someone who struggles with my own mental health, i felt seen in this story. i felt validated and portrayed. it’s wonderful! i cannot say enough good things about this! please read it!
I have never read a more authentic and honest portrayal of mental health. I’m so overwhelmed that I can’t even articulate everything I feel about this book except this: EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT.
if you struggle with mental health disorders, this book is so extremely helpful and relevant. if you don’t, 1) you should read this because you very well could and just not know and 2) it can help you to be more empathetic, understanding, and compassionate towards those in your life who do.
it’s the story of a high school girl who gets diagnosed with bipolar disorder. the diagnosis feels like a death sentence, so she plots her suicide to “save” those around her from herself. the story is her coping through and dealing with this diagnosis, while also complimenting as a wonderful coming of age novel for nearly any teen. it’s relevant, authentic, and so relatable.
the terrors of high school are so accurately portrayed- the bullying, the snide remarks, the exclusion. it also highlights the inner thoughts of overthinkers and anxiety. the characterization for everyone in the novel is so intentional and meaningful. the plot also creates a wonderful story for the author to teach lessons through the characters.
as a reader and someone who struggles with my own mental health, i felt seen in this story. i felt validated and portrayed. it’s wonderful! i cannot say enough good things about this! please read it!
I loved this book so so much. It was great to read about a teen girl going through bipolar disorder, and kind of just seeing how it ran through her mind and took affect of her life. I think the depiction was very human and true, and I appreciate this representation. A must-read for people looking for beautiful stories about young girls managing mental illness.
In the author's note Fortunati said, "I wrote this book because I wanted to talk about handling pain: We need to acknowledge it out loud. We need to tell someone. We need to stay honest and say honest."
I chose to read this book because I have two family members who have mental health disorders, one with long-term major depression and one with bipolar disorder. Even though the book is fiction I hoped to find some insight into their suffering -- and indeed, I did.
I don't have a review of the book, but I do highly recommend it to people who are helplessly watching loved ones struggle through depression and/or mania.
I chose to read this book because I have two family members who have mental health disorders, one with long-term major depression and one with bipolar disorder. Even though the book is fiction I hoped to find some insight into their suffering -- and indeed, I did.
I don't have a review of the book, but I do highly recommend it to people who are helplessly watching loved ones struggle through depression and/or mania.
I first read this when I was about 17 and now reading it again I have so much more appreaction for the book. Throughout the book you see all these sterotpes of different mental illnesses debunked.
Parts of the story I loved:
-Cath had That Moment and she saw maybe things could be better
-Cath admitting thinking Tommy's OCD is cute and then realizing that this is something he's gonna have to live with for the rest of his life just like her
- The honest conversations about mental health that sometimes get over looked
- Talked about the effects it has on your loved ones, ie. Cath's mother going to her own therapy for the anxiety and stress
- The ending. It gave you little glimpses that she's managing
Parts of the story I loved:
-Cath had That Moment and she saw maybe things could be better
-Cath admitting thinking Tommy's OCD is cute and then realizing that this is something he's gonna have to live with for the rest of his life just like her
- The honest conversations about mental health that sometimes get over looked
- Talked about the effects it has on your loved ones, ie. Cath's mother going to her own therapy for the anxiety and stress
- The ending. It gave you little glimpses that she's managing