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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
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Not the usual book I tend to read, I picked up Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall because I wanted to see if she did justice to the way mental health issues are portrayed in YA media, and I guess media in general. The depressed, brooding anti-hero always so swoon worthy and magically not depressed or broody because he's found someone. Or the really smart girl that suffers from social anxiety suddenly becoming a social butterfly after meeting her prince and all her worries just float away. I wanted to see someone like me in this book and happily, I did! Gornall does a tremendous job portraying the feelings of anxiety that come with agoraphobia and OCD, the struggle the characters in the book go through, and then tops it with an ending that doesn't seem contrived or belittling to the mental health community.
The first part of the book is hard to get into. Norah's anxiety jumps off the page and is physically palpable to those sensitive to it. I know it almost sent me into an anxiety attack and I had to put it down for a bit to breathe. That's how good Gornall's writing is. The picture she paints is such a great example of mental illness it's amazing and heartbreaking all at once. Norah doesn't understand why her brain is the way it is and she hates herself for it. She wants to be normal. She wants to go outside. She just can't and there's no reason for it. She just can't. That's what I loved about the book. Other stories that don't "get it" usually give a traumatic event as the reason. Oh, she experienced this, or someone close to her died, etc. That can happen, but with Norah, we get the other half. The voice of those that haven't had anything happen and whose brains just decided one day to start going into overdrive on the what ifs until it paralyzes you, literally.
The conflicts and resolution of the book are realistic and well presented. From a literary perspective, I love how everything comes together and nothing seems far-fetched. Things happen and it makes sense. From a mental health perspective, I love that regardless of anything that happens, things aren't magically solved. Nothing can just magically cure Norah of her OCD or agoraphobia. It's something she needs to work on every single day.
With great pacing and amazing characters, Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall does a superb job of creating a story that is fun and likeable, while still serious enough to handle the topic of mental illness and actually do it justice instead of sugar coating everything.
// I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title. //
Origial Blog post Of Review
Rating: 3.5/5 🌟
“Mental health is usually the last place people go when they think about someone being sick.”
I had been meaning to read this way before the publisher kindly agreed to send me a copy. The premise had me hooked from the start plus that cover is soo beautiful omg! Anyway fast forward a few months from my birthday where i couldn't add it to my buy pile( ahremm budget) i actually got accepted to review it and i was really excited.
I loved Norah from the first chapter. I even made a goodreads update on page 3 how i am already hooked to Norah. I really liked her personality. She suffers from agoraphobia, OCD AND anxiety.
The portrayals of mental illness is done so fantastically in this book. We get a pretty in depth view of Norah's mind and what ever demons she is battling. You could really feel the authenticity of everything even while this was a fictional story.
“See, anxiety doesn’t just stop. You can have nice moments, minutes where it shrinks, but it doesn’t leave. It lurks in the background like a shadow, like that important assignment you have to do but keep putting off or the dull ache that follows a three-day migraine. The best you can hope for is to contain it, make it as small as possible so it stops being intrusive. Am I coping? Yes, but it’s taking a monumental amount of effort to keep the dynamite inside my stomach from exploding. ”
The romance was not a plus for me. I just didn't feel much OOOO-ed by it. It felt very unrealistic to me. Though its such a plus that this book wasn't a oh romance saves the day one. It was more about Nora and how she battles it all.
“I just want to have proof that I can think straight, that I am more than the girl who believes that odd numbers will cause a catastrophe.”
The family issues in this book were handled so well. Norah's relationship with her mother was very warm and nice. Their banter is fun. And she and her therapist also have a really nice and positive relation. She receives comfort and solace from her therapist. And was actually understood and tired to be helped.
“Effect and outcome.'
'Exactly. We can assume the best, but we can't choose how people perceive us. We can, however, choose how those views affect us.”
Overall, this book is an amazing insight into mental health. The main character is so very true and raw. And i enjoyed it, its portrayal stays true till the end grabs your attention and envelops your mind. Its very realistic, thought provoking. And i love how it ends on still working on it . Its not gone, its till there.
“Sometimes things are going to happen and the only way out is through.”
Its a very short read and i'll highly recommend everyone to read it.
.
I received a copy of this book by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.All opinions are, of course, honest and completely my own.
Rating: 3.5/5 🌟
“Mental health is usually the last place people go when they think about someone being sick.”
I had been meaning to read this way before the publisher kindly agreed to send me a copy. The premise had me hooked from the start plus that cover is soo beautiful omg! Anyway fast forward a few months from my birthday where i couldn't add it to my buy pile( ahremm budget) i actually got accepted to review it and i was really excited.
I loved Norah from the first chapter. I even made a goodreads update on page 3 how i am already hooked to Norah. I really liked her personality. She suffers from agoraphobia, OCD AND anxiety.
The portrayals of mental illness is done so fantastically in this book. We get a pretty in depth view of Norah's mind and what ever demons she is battling. You could really feel the authenticity of everything even while this was a fictional story.
“See, anxiety doesn’t just stop. You can have nice moments, minutes where it shrinks, but it doesn’t leave. It lurks in the background like a shadow, like that important assignment you have to do but keep putting off or the dull ache that follows a three-day migraine. The best you can hope for is to contain it, make it as small as possible so it stops being intrusive. Am I coping? Yes, but it’s taking a monumental amount of effort to keep the dynamite inside my stomach from exploding. ”
The romance was not a plus for me. I just didn't feel much OOOO-ed by it. It felt very unrealistic to me. Though its such a plus that this book wasn't a oh romance saves the day one. It was more about Nora and how she battles it all.
“I just want to have proof that I can think straight, that I am more than the girl who believes that odd numbers will cause a catastrophe.”
The family issues in this book were handled so well. Norah's relationship with her mother was very warm and nice. Their banter is fun. And she and her therapist also have a really nice and positive relation. She receives comfort and solace from her therapist. And was actually understood and tired to be helped.
“Effect and outcome.'
'Exactly. We can assume the best, but we can't choose how people perceive us. We can, however, choose how those views affect us.”
Overall, this book is an amazing insight into mental health. The main character is so very true and raw. And i enjoyed it, its portrayal stays true till the end grabs your attention and envelops your mind. Its very realistic, thought provoking. And i love how it ends on still working on it . Its not gone, its till there.
“Sometimes things are going to happen and the only way out is through.”
Its a very short read and i'll highly recommend everyone to read it.
.
I received a copy of this book by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.All opinions are, of course, honest and completely my own.
For Norah, everyday life brings all manner of struggles. She rarely leaves her house, and describes her brain as conspiring against her, as she tries to make sense of life as an agoraphobe who also has OCD.
Norah was a quirky strong-willed character, and it was fascinating to see her honest and unflinching account of how this condition affected her life.
When Luke moves next door, he is intrigued by her. Perhaps surprisingly he remains interested even after he sees the extent to which her life is affected by her thoughts and fears.
I found the description of Norah's life exhausting, but it was clearly a topic the author knew about. The couple were cute together, and it was good to see Norah treated with understanding and compassion.
There was no quick-fix at the end, and it was good to see some shifts/development but to not be given the message that everything could be easily sorted.
Norah was a quirky strong-willed character, and it was fascinating to see her honest and unflinching account of how this condition affected her life.
When Luke moves next door, he is intrigued by her. Perhaps surprisingly he remains interested even after he sees the extent to which her life is affected by her thoughts and fears.
I found the description of Norah's life exhausting, but it was clearly a topic the author knew about. The couple were cute together, and it was good to see Norah treated with understanding and compassion.
There was no quick-fix at the end, and it was good to see some shifts/development but to not be given the message that everything could be easily sorted.
2.5/5 stars.
ah. i’m real disappointed by this. i’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while and now that i have, i just feel very let down and sad.
to be honest, i dont know if it’s because i’m lowkey over tropes like this. like, you know what i want in YA for characters with mental illnesses? i want friendships, i want soft moments between friends that make you feel warm and good about yourself. i want more to the narrative of people who deal with mental illnesses. i’m so tired of being handed love stories as if it is the only thing that can cause recovery or spark that interest with someone. i want something real. like, i want more real characters!!! idk what it was about norah that i couldnt relate to, (maybe everything) but a good character is one that people can relate to even if theyre going through something the reader has never experienced before. and i want that more in YA. i want characters to root for, to fall in love with, to laugh and cry with. i want books that make me feel like i’m a part of something bigger.
maybe that’s why this didn’t do it for me. the balance was just off, norah as a protagonist didn’t completely fill the space that a main character should. i understand this book’s main goal, but in my opinion, it just didn’t work. there wasn’t a lot that changed throughout the book, our main character experiences barely any development or obstacles. it was hard to connect with her just cause she didn’t feel real as a character and we as an audience aren’t really given any reason to like her.
any ways, idk why i went into a whole rant, but thanks for coming to my TED talk.
ah. i’m real disappointed by this. i’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while and now that i have, i just feel very let down and sad.
to be honest, i dont know if it’s because i’m lowkey over tropes like this. like, you know what i want in YA for characters with mental illnesses? i want friendships, i want soft moments between friends that make you feel warm and good about yourself. i want more to the narrative of people who deal with mental illnesses. i’m so tired of being handed love stories as if it is the only thing that can cause recovery or spark that interest with someone. i want something real. like, i want more real characters!!! idk what it was about norah that i couldnt relate to, (maybe everything) but a good character is one that people can relate to even if theyre going through something the reader has never experienced before. and i want that more in YA. i want characters to root for, to fall in love with, to laugh and cry with. i want books that make me feel like i’m a part of something bigger.
maybe that’s why this didn’t do it for me. the balance was just off, norah as a protagonist didn’t completely fill the space that a main character should. i understand this book’s main goal, but in my opinion, it just didn’t work. there wasn’t a lot that changed throughout the book, our main character experiences barely any development or obstacles. it was hard to connect with her just cause she didn’t feel real as a character and we as an audience aren’t really given any reason to like her.
any ways, idk why i went into a whole rant, but thanks for coming to my TED talk.
3.5 and engaging story with likeable characters, a good look at mental health issues. Lots of writers craft for use as a mentor text.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Look up trigger warnings before reading.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
This was an ok read. It portrayed the feelings of anxiety well.
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I know this book is a little older, but I enjoyed it. I don’t struggle with these mental health issues like our main character does, so I would be interested in seeing reviews from people who do. The plot is driven by the main characters thoughts and fears. And I thought the love story was cute. It moved a little slow for me, and I prefer books that are both plot and character driven, but this was mostly character driven.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm
Let's talk about the plot;
For me, this was all about character. Norah was one of the most brilliantly written characters ever, Gornall has captured mental health so perfectly, I was definitely awed.
Now, I know what you might think, the Goodreads Synopsis almost reads like a potential insta love story, but honestly it was so much more than that. I think rather than love at first sight, Norah had finally realised that in Luke, there is someone that accepts her for who she is, I mean, her friends, from the gist of it, didn't attempt to visit her at home, and it seems that they just didn't want to understand what she was going through. Enter Luke, and also enter a journey of grief, illness and love.
Let's talk about the characters:
Norah is definitely relatable with her thoughts. I was with her every step of the way, and their were so many times that my heart just broke for her. She was so brave, even when she felt most scared, I admired scenes when she tried to be rational, yet I couldn't help but ache for her when things became tough. I definitely feel like she's one of the most real characters in YA Lit, and this book is definitely one of the best ntemporaries I've read in some time. Actually since Turtles all the Way Down! I felt every emotion that Norah did, I wanted to hug her so much and tell her every thing would be okay.
Luke was so precious too! He waa utterly unique and not at all what I was expecting. His character definitely contrasted to Norah but at times they had slight similarities and I loved every minute of seeing their interactions develop! In a friend and confidante; and vice versa too, it was amazing seeing these characters open up so vastly and deeply.
I really loved how supportive Norah's mum was of her, I feel like that's semi rare sometimes. But I could feel how much love their was between Norah and her mum, it was just amazing, lovely and touching to see how much her mum had sacrificed for her daughter's wellbeing: and she wasn't one of the suffocating mum types, she just wanted Norah to be happy and well.
Let's talk about the writing:
The writing was so addictive, I couldn't stop once I started, and I wouldn't put it down. The writing was done so well, not only could I see everything played out in my mind, but I felt suspense when Norah was scared, uncertain when she was, and so much more, and when Luke admitted something to Norah, I honestly had to chuckle because of how the events of the book played out. Utter brilliance, and there was a scene at the near end that actually terrified me, I was so nervous and proud.
An utterly beautifully put together book, I know I'll definitely revisit it.
Happy reading :)
For me, this was all about character. Norah was one of the most brilliantly written characters ever, Gornall has captured mental health so perfectly, I was definitely awed.
Now, I know what you might think, the Goodreads Synopsis almost reads like a potential insta love story, but honestly it was so much more than that. I think rather than love at first sight, Norah had finally realised that in Luke, there is someone that accepts her for who she is, I mean, her friends, from the gist of it, didn't attempt to visit her at home, and it seems that they just didn't want to understand what she was going through. Enter Luke, and also enter a journey of grief, illness and love.
Let's talk about the characters:
Norah is definitely relatable with her thoughts. I was with her every step of the way, and their were so many times that my heart just broke for her. She was so brave, even when she felt most scared, I admired scenes when she tried to be rational, yet I couldn't help but ache for her when things became tough. I definitely feel like she's one of the most real characters in YA Lit, and this book is definitely one of the best ntemporaries I've read in some time. Actually since Turtles all the Way Down! I felt every emotion that Norah did, I wanted to hug her so much and tell her every thing would be okay.
Luke was so precious too! He waa utterly unique and not at all what I was expecting. His character definitely contrasted to Norah but at times they had slight similarities and I loved every minute of seeing their interactions develop! In a friend and confidante; and vice versa too, it was amazing seeing these characters open up so vastly and deeply.
I really loved how supportive Norah's mum was of her, I feel like that's semi rare sometimes. But I could feel how much love their was between Norah and her mum, it was just amazing, lovely and touching to see how much her mum had sacrificed for her daughter's wellbeing: and she wasn't one of the suffocating mum types, she just wanted Norah to be happy and well.
Let's talk about the writing:
The writing was so addictive, I couldn't stop once I started, and I wouldn't put it down. The writing was done so well, not only could I see everything played out in my mind, but I felt suspense when Norah was scared, uncertain when she was, and so much more, and when Luke admitted something to Norah, I honestly had to chuckle because of how the events of the book played out. Utter brilliance, and there was a scene at the near end that actually terrified me, I was so nervous and proud.
An utterly beautifully put together book, I know I'll definitely revisit it.
Happy reading :)