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A review by readsforlove
Earth to Alis by Lex Carlow
4.5
AHHHH this BOOK. Wow. Okay, first off, PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS. This book has the potential to be /very/ triggering so please do know what you're getting yourself into.
I have so many thoughts that it's hard to know where to start. This book is so heavy and dark and /hard/ but it's also so filled with hope and life and light. It takes a really horrible and never-talked-about topic and it puts a brutal spotlight on it. It says, "This is what this looks like. This is how this feels. This is what it means to do this, and why it's not easy to simply stop." I have never seen that in literature before, and it's sorely needed. I've worked in public schools for several years, and for such a wildly common issue, it's discussed with alarming rarity. A huge thank you to Carlow for not hiding from that brutal truth and for baring this issue to the world in such an honest and accurate way. It never felt like Alis' mental illness was used for entertainment or plot, even though it did line up for plot beats. But it wasn't /used/, if that makes sense. It was shown in its full honesty, and that was so rewarding to read.
Also just ... all of Alis' relationships were so heartwarming. It took him so long to learn to let others love him--to realize that was even possible. And then once that started to become possible, watching him let them in, one by one, and slowly letting their love help him love himself ... it was just so real and beautiful.
This is the kind of book that sticks with you, and if you have the capacity to read it, it will change you for the better.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
I have so many thoughts that it's hard to know where to start. This book is so heavy and dark and /hard/ but it's also so filled with hope and life and light. It takes a really horrible and never-talked-about topic and it puts a brutal spotlight on it. It says, "This is what this looks like. This is how this feels. This is what it means to do this, and why it's not easy to simply stop." I have never seen that in literature before, and it's sorely needed. I've worked in public schools for several years, and for such a wildly common issue, it's discussed with alarming rarity. A huge thank you to Carlow for not hiding from that brutal truth and for baring this issue to the world in such an honest and accurate way. It never felt like Alis' mental illness was used for entertainment or plot, even though it did line up for plot beats. But it wasn't /used/, if that makes sense. It was shown in its full honesty, and that was so rewarding to read.
Also just ... all of Alis' relationships were so heartwarming. It took him so long to learn to let others love him--to realize that was even possible. And then once that started to become possible, watching him let them in, one by one, and slowly letting their love help him love himself ... it was just so real and beautiful.
This is the kind of book that sticks with you, and if you have the capacity to read it, it will change you for the better.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts