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rachelwrites007's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was incredibly moving. As someone who began self harming by age 11, but only entered rehab at age 25 (and then again at 32), I really appreciated THE GLASS GIRL. I will say that my experiences were very different (I had anorexia and went to a "standard" center).
Bella is struggling. She uses alcohol to mask her grief, her anxiety and her sadness. She tries to be perfect. If she can just help out and take care of the people around her and get good grades, she'll be okay. But Bella's also tired of helping out. She's tired of being the go between from one parent to another, she's tired of seeing her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, and she is tired of grieving her grandmother, who was her person. When she ends up in a rehab center for 30 days, Bella has to examine why she's there, what she's done and how to untangle alcohol from herself. It is NOT easy.
What I appreciated so strongly/deeply about THE GLASS GIRL is that Bella still struggles in her recovery when she returns. Not many books show this aspect of recovering from self harm. Kathleen Glasgow goes there and it is so needed. Post-rehab is often explored as pretty solid, but really, being in the real world and outside of the safety of the rehab center cocoon is so so hard. Bravo, KG.
Bella is struggling. She uses alcohol to mask her grief, her anxiety and her sadness. She tries to be perfect. If she can just help out and take care of the people around her and get good grades, she'll be okay. But Bella's also tired of helping out. She's tired of being the go between from one parent to another, she's tired of seeing her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, and she is tired of grieving her grandmother, who was her person. When she ends up in a rehab center for 30 days, Bella has to examine why she's there, what she's done and how to untangle alcohol from herself. It is NOT easy.
What I appreciated so strongly/deeply about THE GLASS GIRL is that Bella still struggles in her recovery when she returns. Not many books show this aspect of recovering from self harm. Kathleen Glasgow goes there and it is so needed. Post-rehab is often explored as pretty solid, but really, being in the real world and outside of the safety of the rehab center cocoon is so so hard. Bravo, KG.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Grief and Mental illness
Minor: Death and Self harm
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