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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
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:
Yes
Insightful look into living with agrophobia, being brave and letting people into your life.
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
YA mental health fiction. Appreciated the depiction of mental ill health, and how debilitating it can be to live with heightened levels of anxiety, OCD and agoraphobia.
Wasn't such a fan of how the romance plays into it: the main character is 'saved' from her conditions by a hot (and implausibly emotionally mature) guy moving in next door. Not sure this is a useful - or a realistic - message.
Wasn't such a fan of how the romance plays into it: the main character is 'saved' from her conditions by a hot (and implausibly emotionally mature) guy moving in next door. Not sure this is a useful - or a realistic - message.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm
Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment
What a cute, insightful and important read. There's so much to learn and understand about agoraphobia and mental illness. Highly recommend! I was rooting for Norah the whole time and often related to her battles with her mind/thoughts. Luke was also adorable and so sweet wow. he's so patient and kind we need more people like him
I am not diagnosed with OCD or agoraphobia so I cannot comment on the representation but I enjoyed this a lot. :)
The prose is very easy to read (if you want a book to wizz straight through this is it), though some of the subject matter is quite uncomfortable.
I just found it a bit unbelievable and fairly frustrating. The plot in particular was rather thin and predictable following the usual lines
Yes, I know she isn't perfectly fine by the end but I don't like this recurrent idea in YA books on illness that the character just needs to get to a sufficiently catastrophic nadir in order to trigger a speedy and straightforward recovery.
One follows the same kind of plot, but ends in a much more realistic, believable position.
Maybe I'm just a miserable shit though and don't like books with hugely optimistic conclusions.
I just found it a bit unbelievable and fairly frustrating. The plot in particular was rather thin and predictable following the usual lines
Spoiler
of building up to a major event which serves as a trigger for a seemingly quick and easy recovery.Yes, I know she isn't perfectly fine by the end but I don't like this recurrent idea in YA books on illness that the character just needs to get to a sufficiently catastrophic nadir in order to trigger a speedy and straightforward recovery
One follows the same kind of plot, but ends in a much more realistic, believable position.
Maybe I'm just a miserable shit though and don't like books with hugely optimistic conclusions.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved getting into Norah's head and I LOVED the mental health representation. I love her, she's a fighter! Such a great book. The only reason it's not a 5 star is because the ending had potential to be AMAZING but finished in a quick 5 pages and left me wanting more of a resolution... other than that this book made me super happy. Must read!
This book blew my mind. It felt so raw and real, and it's obvious that Gornall really got into Norah's mind. I can't speak to OCD or agoraphobia, so I can't review her portrayal, but I will say that Norah's journey is so powerful, and I'm glad she got a fulfilling story instead of a weak plot arc. I liked her relationship with her mom, and how supportive she was. It was refreshing to read a YA focused on mental health where a parent was portrayed as actively helping instead of sending a negative message.