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A review by adoptabookaus
Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall
5.0
Under Rose-Tainted Skies quickly went to my fave list
Norah has Agoraphobia and OCD. Only leaving her house to go to therapist appointments and not being able to leave a book crooked in fear that if she does something horrible will happen.
When her mum goes out of town and the new boy next door sees her trying to drag the groceries in from the porch with a broom (and failing) he passes them to her and they meet. Norah and Luke's friendship is awkward and weird, its strange and stunted, it's perfectly them. Not all books have to have a completely swoon worthy and charming guy to save the day, guys can be just as awkward and strange as girls. This story isn't about some whirlwind of love and fun that ends with Norah being able to go to the prom and just "face her fears" and in all honesty I would have thrown the book (although not really because I had an ebook and I'm not throwing my ipad) if this had been the case.
Under Rose Tainted Skies is now my favourite book written on this subject, Norah's journey felt real and the ending stayed true. So many books romanticise mental illness in YA with the protagonist either being overly quirky and cool or being magically cured by getting a boyfriend and some "confidence" not Rose Tainted Skies. Norah is uniquely herself, her struggles, her wants, her actions they all felt so real there is no way I wasn't able to instantly connect with her.
“But something doesn't feel right. My mind is attempting sabotage, refusing to find the beauty, the fun, the exciting in watching what are essentially pretty explosives.”
The ending is perfect
This story features Agoraphobia, OCD, Anxiety, Self Harm, and Depression. If you'd like to read how any of these come into the story but not be spoiled for the plot it's self I have included them in spoiler sections in case anyone would like a warning before going into a book that deals with heavy subjects.
Agoraphobia
OCD
Selfharm:
Depression
Norah has Agoraphobia and OCD. Only leaving her house to go to therapist appointments and not being able to leave a book crooked in fear that if she does something horrible will happen.
When her mum goes out of town and the new boy next door sees her trying to drag the groceries in from the porch with a broom (and failing) he passes them to her and they meet. Norah and Luke's friendship is awkward and weird, its strange and stunted, it's perfectly them. Not all books have to have a completely swoon worthy and charming guy to save the day, guys can be just as awkward and strange as girls. This story isn't about some whirlwind of love and fun that ends with Norah being able to go to the prom and just "face her fears" and in all honesty I would have thrown the book (although not really because I had an ebook and I'm not throwing my ipad) if this had been the case.
Under Rose Tainted Skies is now my favourite book written on this subject, Norah's journey felt real and the ending stayed true. So many books romanticise mental illness in YA with the protagonist either being overly quirky and cool or being magically cured by getting a boyfriend and some "confidence" not Rose Tainted Skies. Norah is uniquely herself, her struggles, her wants, her actions they all felt so real there is no way I wasn't able to instantly connect with her.
“But something doesn't feel right. My mind is attempting sabotage, refusing to find the beauty, the fun, the exciting in watching what are essentially pretty explosives.”
The ending is perfect
Spoiler
there is no big look I can go to the Mall or the Movies, but there is Norah and Luke going together to her therapist's appointment and it was so heartwarming to see Norah let another person in I was all smilesThis story features Agoraphobia, OCD, Anxiety, Self Harm, and Depression. If you'd like to read how any of these come into the story but not be spoiled for the plot it's self I have included them in spoiler sections in case anyone would like a warning before going into a book that deals with heavy subjects.
Agoraphobia
Spoiler
Norah's agoraphobia started when she was 14 and she is now 17 it causes her to think dangerous things will happen and that she is only really safe in the house.OCD
Spoiler
Norah has OCD and likes even numbers, clean and organised spaces, and dislikes being touched or making any physical contact with people she didn't see wash their hands and isn't comfortable with. She also has tics when she's trying to control herself and not fix something.Selfharm:
Spoiler
Norah self harms to get in control of herself during anxiety/panic attacks. Norah doesn't try to kill herself but she does pick at her fingers until they bleed, scratch her skin in small places until they bleed and scab, and also during one of her bad days cuts her thigh with nail scissors in 4 small cuts.Depression