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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Why can’t I be happy to be alive instead of afraid of living.
Sadly, this is the world that we live in. Morgan lives in fear each day. Trapped in the prison of both her mind and her apartment, she can't even muscle up the courage to step outside. All because of that one faithful day. That one day at school where everything changed. A student came in with a gun.
We've all seen the stories on the news and one of the first things that rums through my mind is 'those poor people'. Well here, Reichardt gives us a glimpse of what happens after. How do people rebuild after their world is shattered? Can they rebuild? Can they survive?
This book was hard to read in some ways because there were a lot of times where I just wanted to shake Morgan. To wake her up from this stupor that she's been living in for months. But then I would pause and remember what she went through or the author would throw in another memory of that day that had me reassessing my opinion of her. Everyone deals in their own way. Morgan constantly saw how other people who were also there that day were able to move on and continue living, but she just couldn't. All because of one secret that she was holding onto. You know that old saying secrets kill? Well, this one was slowly killing her.
It turned out I wasn't dying on the outside. I was only dying on the inside, where nobody could see.
Luckily she had people in her corner who wanted to help. Her mother, brother, therapist, and the new boy next door. Her brother was the cutest thing in the world and all he wanted was for his sister to come see him in his school play. A little request that most would think nothing of, but to Morgan it gave her purpose but also crippling fear. I had little issues with the love interest, Evan. He was extremely pushy knowing her situation and would ignore her when things didn't go his way with her which I thought was extremely childish but he was a teenage boy so maybe that's normal?
The reason for the three stars was that this book moves extremely slow. At times it was a little boring and the only thing that kept me reading was to find out her secret. But aside from that, I think the mental state was well represented here. I went to an author signing with Reichardt and she talked a little about the research she did and how she spoke with therapists about the aftermath of this kind of trauma and that shows. So while it was a slow read, it wasn't a bad read.
okay, so I really liked this book. I finished it in one day and it was such an amazing read. The way that it described the beach and swimming was incredibly descriptive and it put forward the emotions of the character really well.
I personally liked the build-up to the reason why the main character couldn't go outside. It was a comforting read and I can't wait to read this book for a second time.
I personally liked the build-up to the reason why the main character couldn't go outside. It was a comforting read and I can't wait to read this book for a second time.
Oh this book. This beautiful, beautiful book. Underwater has secured itself a snug little space up there with my favourite books of all time. This book broke me and built me back up again. How on earth is this a debut? It's absolutely stunning and such a perfect and sensitive portrayal of what it is to suffer with panic attacks and agoraphobia. I don't even know where to start with this review except to say that the first thing I did after finishing this book was to hug it to myself. Underwater is absolutely jam packed with emotion, intrigue and love and I just loved it so very much.
Underwater follows the life of Morgan as she suffers through her panic attacks, agoraphobia and anxiety following a traumatic event at her school several months earlier. We gradually learn about what happened at her school and at the guilt that she harbors. The reveal is slow and torturous, which only added to the book. I felt Morgan's pain so very clearly and the drawing out of the reveal felt like she was finally letting us in and trusting us, just as she is her councilor. As someone who has personally suffered with a panic and anxiety disorder and was agoraphobic, I related to this book so much. Events are different but all of the emotions that Morgan experiences were so very real, from the beginning to the path to recovery. It invoked all of the emotions and I really wanted to wrap her up and hug her.
An aspect which I didn't expect to love as much as I did was the introduction of Evan. When I first read this on the synopsis, I'll admit that I did have a little eye roll moment, but I take that eye roll back x100000! Evan was everything that he needed to be in this book. He was there for Morgan when she needed him the most. He was a rock and, I don't want to say to much and spoil anything, but he is such a solid, present figure and we all know how important it is to have someone that cares about you when you're having a tough time. I finished this book wanting more from these characters. I didn't want to let them go. I wanted to know more, I wanted to follow them further. I wasn't ready to let go of this beautiful story.
Underwater brought out so much emotion in me. Reading this on the tube was such a bad idea - the constant tearing up was a tough one to hide. I couldn't recommend this book and I'm so happy that more and more YA novels are tackling tough topics such as mental health. This is a stunning debut; please do pick it up!
Underwater follows the life of Morgan as she suffers through her panic attacks, agoraphobia and anxiety following a traumatic event at her school several months earlier. We gradually learn about what happened at her school and at the guilt that she harbors. The reveal is slow and torturous, which only added to the book. I felt Morgan's pain so very clearly and the drawing out of the reveal felt like she was finally letting us in and trusting us, just as she is her councilor. As someone who has personally suffered with a panic and anxiety disorder and was agoraphobic, I related to this book so much. Events are different but all of the emotions that Morgan experiences were so very real, from the beginning to the path to recovery. It invoked all of the emotions and I really wanted to wrap her up and hug her.
An aspect which I didn't expect to love as much as I did was the introduction of Evan. When I first read this on the synopsis, I'll admit that I did have a little eye roll moment, but I take that eye roll back x100000! Evan was everything that he needed to be in this book. He was there for Morgan when she needed him the most. He was a rock and, I don't want to say to much and spoil anything, but he is such a solid, present figure and we all know how important it is to have someone that cares about you when you're having a tough time. I finished this book wanting more from these characters. I didn't want to let them go. I wanted to know more, I wanted to follow them further. I wasn't ready to let go of this beautiful story.
Underwater brought out so much emotion in me. Reading this on the tube was such a bad idea - the constant tearing up was a tough one to hide. I couldn't recommend this book and I'm so happy that more and more YA novels are tackling tough topics such as mental health. This is a stunning debut; please do pick it up!
I thought that the progression of the book was good. The main character's journey seemed realistic to me albeit optimistic in the time frame. I liked how the author displayed different characters briefly that were present for the shooting. It provided differences in how each of them coped with the trauma.
I thought that Evan was a good character. He didn't act like everything was okay when Morgan had set backs. He tried to help her in his own way but was not a crutch. He also provided a different perpective on the school shooting.
https://fictionedtodeath.blogspot.com/
I thought that Evan was a good character. He didn't act like everything was okay when Morgan had set backs. He tried to help her in his own way but was not a crutch. He also provided a different perpective on the school shooting.
https://fictionedtodeath.blogspot.com/
I first heard about Underwater late last year and knew it was something that I wanted to read. I’m glad that I finally got around to reading it.
Underwater is a story about Morgan who is battling to overcome her fears. Morgan can’t leave home and at first, we don’t find out the reason why. This doesn’t affect your enjoyment of the story as the reader gets to follow Morgan as she learns to overcome her fears. Morgan no longer goes to school (so she has to do her learning online) and she no longer socialises. Morgan has accepted this as her future, but then a boy named Evan moves next door and Morgan’s outlook on life begins to change.
I thought this was a fantastic debut novel. Marisa Reichardt’s writing makes it easy to turn the pages and devour the story. I have to admit that I was slightly worried when Evan came in. I didn’t want this to become a story where the introduction of a boy made all the difference and made the character conquer their mental health issues. That’s not real. Underwater takes the reader along the pathway to Morgan’s recovery. It wasn’t easy for her which I appreciated. It makes the story much more believable.
Underwater is a story about Morgan who is battling to overcome her fears. Morgan can’t leave home and at first, we don’t find out the reason why. This doesn’t affect your enjoyment of the story as the reader gets to follow Morgan as she learns to overcome her fears. Morgan no longer goes to school (so she has to do her learning online) and she no longer socialises. Morgan has accepted this as her future, but then a boy named Evan moves next door and Morgan’s outlook on life begins to change.
I thought this was a fantastic debut novel. Marisa Reichardt’s writing makes it easy to turn the pages and devour the story. I have to admit that I was slightly worried when Evan came in. I didn’t want this to become a story where the introduction of a boy made all the difference and made the character conquer their mental health issues. That’s not real. Underwater takes the reader along the pathway to Morgan’s recovery. It wasn’t easy for her which I appreciated. It makes the story much more believable.
Never thought i would love this book the way I do. Ini debut Marisa Reichardt, dan buku ini jg blm terlalu populer.
Menceritakan Morgan pasca melalui sebuah peristiwa tragis, (spoiler dikit) high school shooting, sehingga dia tdk bisa mengatasi situsi berada diluar rmh. Dia merasa rumah itu tempat amannya. Sebelumnya Morgan adlh murid yg berprestasi & tergabung dlm tim renang yg juga berprestasi.
Quote :
Terkadang hal yg positif juga ada negatifnya. Org yg berprestasi berlebihan terkadang berakhir depresi stlh sesuatu yg tragis terjadi. Itu merupakan reaksi untuk menyadari bahwa kita tdk dpt mengendalikan segalanya.
Suka endingnya, krn dgn Morgan memaafkan pelaku, dia memafkan dirinya sdr. Morgan juga mencapai closure terhadap hubungan dengan ayahnya.
Menceritakan Morgan pasca melalui sebuah peristiwa tragis, (spoiler dikit) high school shooting, sehingga dia tdk bisa mengatasi situsi berada diluar rmh. Dia merasa rumah itu tempat amannya. Sebelumnya Morgan adlh murid yg berprestasi & tergabung dlm tim renang yg juga berprestasi.
Quote :
Terkadang hal yg positif juga ada negatifnya. Org yg berprestasi berlebihan terkadang berakhir depresi stlh sesuatu yg tragis terjadi. Itu merupakan reaksi untuk menyadari bahwa kita tdk dpt mengendalikan segalanya.
Suka endingnya, krn dgn Morgan memaafkan pelaku, dia memafkan dirinya sdr. Morgan juga mencapai closure terhadap hubungan dengan ayahnya.
I found this a very powerful and well told story, about a girl trying cope with some very traumatic events, and what she believes was her roll in them.
This story reminded me quite a bit of 'Everything, Everything' in the way it was told. The main character stuck in one place, unable to move beyond the walls of her house, her wish that she could be more and do better, but being unable to make the move. I found that I, the reader, really got a sense of Morgan's thoughts and feelings and who she was as a person, and how she's trying to deal with events.
A compelling read which I would recommend to any one who likes YA contemporary with a hint of romance and ALOT of depth.
This story reminded me quite a bit of 'Everything, Everything' in the way it was told. The main character stuck in one place, unable to move beyond the walls of her house, her wish that she could be more and do better, but being unable to make the move. I found that I, the reader, really got a sense of Morgan's thoughts and feelings and who she was as a person, and how she's trying to deal with events.
A compelling read which I would recommend to any one who likes YA contemporary with a hint of romance and ALOT of depth.
Underwater focuses on high school student Morgan who is dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting and holding secrets about her part in the tragedy. Morgan hasn't left the house in 5 months at the start of the book and hasn't spoken with anyone her age in the same amount of time other than her cohort of online high school students. Enter Evan. He moves in next door and upends Morgan's entire world. At first, I was kind of mad at the fact that Morgan seemed to be changing for a guy but I don't think that is the case. I think Evan was the first person to basically call Morgan out for her behavior and instead served as a catalyst for her desire to change.
I think this book was an accurate portrayal of anxiety and survivor's guilt and just trying to navigate a scary world filled with scary things. Will definitely be checking out more from this author. This is by no means an easy read so please check the content warnings before reading this book.
Content warnings under spoiler tag:
I think this book was an accurate portrayal of anxiety and survivor's guilt and just trying to navigate a scary world filled with scary things. Will definitely be checking out more from this author. This is by no means an easy read so please check the content warnings before reading this book.
Content warnings under spoiler tag:
Spoiler
on page suicide, talk of being shot, school shooting discussion, alcoholic absentee father with PTSD from multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan, on page panic attacks, attempted child abduction, discussion of homelessness, agoraphobia.
OMG. OMG.
This is a book that everyone needs to read.
Full review to come.
This is a book that everyone needs to read.
Full review to come.