A review by wanderingcurls
Light Enough to Float by Lauren Seal

dark emotional funny sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

CWs: anorexia, eating disorder, anxiety, suicidal ideation, depression, fatphobia, inpatient therapy, diet culture, skin-picking, overdose

Thanks to @penguinteen and @netgalley for the eARC of Light Enough to Float. Seal’s debut novel-in-verse offers a compelling and heartfelt portrayal of her fictional character Evie’s time in inpatient therapy while getting support for her eating disorder, anxiety, and depression. Her powerful and descriptive imagery pulls a punch and can be hard to read at times, but this is a testament to the author's raw honesty and vulnerability and her lifelike characters. I found the development of Evie’s relationship with herself, her family, her therapist, Anna, and her fellow patient and friend, Marianne, over the course of the four months the novel takes place during heartwarming and healing.  

I appreciated Seal’s inclusion of content warnings at the beginning of the book, which shows her concern for the well-being of her readers. It’s important for anyone dealing with similar challenges to approach Light Enough to Float gently and with self-compassion, as it can be triggering. I think it’s essential to read this powerful narrative at your own pace and ensure you’re in a good place emotionally.
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