Review by bourbon_bookworm - Wellness

bourbon_bookworm 's review for:

Wellness by Nathan Hill

5.0

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"...between ourselves and the world are a million stories, and if we don’t know which among them are true, we might as well try out those that are most humane, most generous, most beautiful, most loving."

This may be my favorite read so far this year. From the very first page, I was completely captivated by the writing, which is rich, evocative, and remarkably detailed. The characters are some of the most well-rounded and fully realized I’ve encountered in a long time. Hill does an extraordinary job of bringing them to life, making their struggles and triumphs deeply relatable.

I was surprised at how quickly I finished this book—it pulled me in and kept me hooked from start to finish. At its heart, Wellness is an insightful exploration of how our family histories and childhood experiences shape us as adults. The author examines how past events, both big and small, and the coping mechanisms we develop in response, influence the relationships we form later in life. The book is a poignant reflection on how our pasts continuously influence who we become and the way we relate to others as we grow.

Hill's ability to balance deep emotional insight with a gripping narrative makes this a standout novel. It’s a story that feels both deeply personal and universally relevant. Highly recommended!

Content Warnings