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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Self harm
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
-0.5 star for the bleh romance, and -0.5 star for the feminism. Again, I don't mind feminism, in the way of equality for woman in work/pay and the opportunity for girls to go to school. Other than that. No. Getting it pushed in my face a bit too much and it is only annoying instead of interesting.
It was really interesting being inside Evie's head, I liked the whole Bad Thoughts thing and you could definitely see her downward spiral. What I couldn't get my head around though is why she never wanted to tell Amber and Lottie about what happened to her when they gave no indication that they would take it badly?? I enjoyed it on a whole and enjoyed the friendship more than anything. Can't wait for Amber's book!
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia
Minor: Drug use
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is the best book at representing OCD that I’ve read.
It didn’t romanticize it and it brought up the fact that mental illnesses has become a thing people joke about or use without knowing the actual experience with it.
I so strongly relate to Evie. Trying so hard to be ”normal”, trying to get back to life, being ashamed and not wanting anyone to know out of fear of losing them.
Trying so hard to get through it but ending up falling apart anyway.
It didn’t romanticize it and it brought up the fact that mental illnesses has become a thing people joke about or use without knowing the actual experience with it.
I so strongly relate to Evie. Trying so hard to be ”normal”, trying to get back to life, being ashamed and not wanting anyone to know out of fear of losing them.
Trying so hard to get through it but ending up falling apart anyway.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My sister recommended it to me bc I was crashing out (not rlly) looking for smth to read but couldn’t get the book I wanted to (due to personal cheapskate reasons) and I devoured this book in just one day. Started it morning, finished in the afternoon. It’s not a favorite, but I really really liked it! A really good book if I do say so myself, I also really like the writing. Rating it 4 stars just felt right to me. The way ocd or just mental illnesses in general was presented in this book was also really good in my opinion. Like, it wasn’t condescending or patronizing, not telling you in your face that THIS is how it is and you need to understand it, it was more like brining you along to get to that level of comprehension of such a complex topic. The frienships/interactions of the characters was also really interesting and written quite well which I enjoyed. What a banger, I knew my sister had taste 🔥
Edit: added a .25 just… bc it objectively is rlly good and I just felt like adding it idk this isn’t a formal review so it doesn’t rlly matter all that much
Edit: added a .25 just… bc it objectively is rlly good and I just felt like adding it idk this isn’t a formal review so it doesn’t rlly matter all that much
Another cracker of a book from Holly Bourne. OCD is often misunderstood and this book tackles it through the life of a teenager who just wants to be normal, and do normal teenage things. It's hard to explain just how Bourne does it, but all I know is that it works.
I thought this was a really good depiction of OCD. I also really liked the friendships between the three female characters.