Everything you do, you do just right: THE FINE PRINT.

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the #bookstagram community; thanks to them, I stumbled across this book. This was such a fun read.

Is it cheesy? Sure. But it's an adorable and moving story, too.

Also I had no idea that "Dreamland" references a theme park and conglomerate similar to Disney. Being a huge Disney fan, I loved all the inside jokes and fun allusions to the park.

Rowan's grandfather started Dreamland. With his death, his will dictates that Rowan and his two brothers must complete certain tasks to earn their shares of the billion-dollar company. For Rowan, he must serve as Dreamland director for six months and come up with plans to rejuvenate and improve the park.

Enter Zahra, who works at a boutique in Dreamland, but dreams of becoming a Creator. When Rowan learns of her ideas to revitalize rides and park lands, he recruits her, but he's quickly interested in more than her brain.

The story plays up the vulnerable, grumpy guy trope, while Zahra is the quintessential tough girl hiding a hurt heart. Zahra and Rowan absolutely ooze tension (and about a million HR violations!). But there's a tenderness to their story that makes it irresistible. I really enjoyed their fairy tale romance.

View all my reviews

As defiant as well as defender: PERSEPHONE'S CURSE.

Persephone's Curse by Katrina Leno
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story was not at all what I expected, but it was excellent!

Not that I'm surprised, because anything Katrina Leno writes is amazing.

The four Farthing sisters--Winnie, Bernie, Evelyn, and Clara--have always been told they are descended from Persephone. And who knows, it could be true, because there's a ghost that lives in their house, a young man named Henry, that only they can see.

It all works out until Evelyn and Henry fall in love and Winnie attempts to solve the problem. It seems each sister has a bit of magical powers, and Winnie sets off a series of catastrophic events involving closed portals and the Underworld.

It might sound over the top, but it all works really well. So much of this beautiful, magical ghost story is simply four sisters attempting to navigate growing up in the world. Bernadette, the eldest, is trying to figure out if she belongs at college. Evelyn is grappling with her love for Henry. Winnie, our main narrator, has big feelings and an ability to see the ghosts of Farthings past (and perhaps a crush on the cute girl at the magic store), and feisty Clara is the artistic wise youngest sister who despite her wisdom, still requires the love and guidance of her older sisters.

This well-written, lyrical story is an ode to New York City and sisterhood. It's utterly fascinating, with equal dashes of magic and Little Women mixed together, along with some lesbians! What more could we ask for, really? I loved it.


View all my reviews

When I woke the dream was gone: THESE SUMMER STORMS.

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love a good soapy family drama as much as the next person, but there was something about this one that I couldn't fully get into! I attribute a lot of it to the writing style. It was written with these weird choppy short sentences thrown in, which put the rhythm of the story off balance and kept me from fully getting in the flow.

The premise is there. Alice is exiled from her wealthy family, forced to make her own way without her family's preposterous wealth. The only reason she returns to the fold is the death of her egocentric father. On her family's private island, she learns that the terms of inheritance dictate that she and her three siblings will only inherit her father's vast fortune if they all stay on the island for an entire week and complete an inheritance game: a series of tasks laid out by her father and overseen by his righthand man, Jack Dean. For Alice, it feels like a death sentence.

Using the word "games" seems like an outright exaggeration. It's a few stipulations, mostly punctuated by bickering and dealing with their drunken, overwrought mother. Alice forms an odd relationship with Jack. The island setting is dramatic and stark, with many wealthy friends and family headed there for a "celebration of life" for Alice's late father. Alice's three siblings are mostly hateful. Very little happens until a rush of secrets are revealed, most of which seem predictable.

Some of the drama here is enjoyable (rich people problems have their moments, after all), and I didn't mind Alice or Jack, or the island locale, but after all the hype, this one left me a little lacking.

View all my reviews

I've kicked myself at times because I've lied: DISCONTENT.

Discontent by Beatriz Serrano
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. Working in a corporate job myself, I was hoping to find a book that resonates with that aspect of my life. And there are definitely amazing flashes of brilliance here, with some hilarious lines that truly spoke to me.

But wow, pieces of this story are so depressing. Marisa works for an ad agency in Spain. She's fallen into the job, sticking with it since an internship. She now manages employees, but performs her job mainly by delegation and stealing work from others. When she can, she spends her workdays watching YouTube videos and escaping to museums.

Marisa has a particularly bleak outlook on life and honestly, she's an unlikable character. There's little to find redeemable about her. I get it, the book is satire and so is she, but sometimes her choices and personality made me cringe.

I enjoyed the pieces that truly related to corporate work, but some parts just felt too much and awfully depressing. 2.5 stars.

View all my reviews

Lured to the ends of overwhelm: SUNSHINE GIRL.

Sunshine Girl: An Unexpected Life by Julianna Margulies
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My wife and I have been re-watching ER from the beginning, so when I saw this book on my shelves, I picked it up!

This is an interesting memoir, told mainly in a linear fashion. It picks and chooses life moments to highlight, centering around the childhood idea that Margulies was told she's a "sunshine girl," always trying to keep the peace and make everyone happy.

Margulies spends a lot of time on her unstable childhood, discussing her divorced parents, including her flighty mom and reserved father, whom she rarely saw. She and sisters were always moving, often living overseas and away from their father, and she craved stability and normalcy. She had a fascinating childhood and her desire to keep the peace continued into her adult relationships, keeping her in a toxic partnership far too long.

Margulies is very introspective and feelings-based, going into great deal about these important events and moments in her life, often small things that stood out. There's not necessarily a lot of detail about her acting or the shows she was on, which was a little disappointing since I'm in the middle of my ER binge and wanted details.

If you like memoirs driven by character and emotion, versus celebrity status and name-dropping, you'll enjoy this one.

View all my reviews

One day I'll return to dust: TOO OLD FOR THIS.

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elderly Lottie James lives alone, far away from her son and grandchildren. No one knows that years ago she changed her name, moving away from those who knew her, to distance herself from a life of crime. Now the highlights of her week are Thursday bingo nights at church.

But when journalist Plum Jones shows up at Lottie's door, she threatens to upend Lottie's quiet life. It's hard enough to commit murder when you're young, but when you're old... still Lottie sure doesn't want anything--or anyone--getting in the way of her new life.

This book is everywhere right now, but seems justifiably so. It's dark but wryly humorous. Lottie is a nuanced, flawed (!), but oddly endearing character, and the skill of this book is how easily it makes its reader empathize and root for a murderer. This is a suspenseful page-turner and fascinating character study.

View all my reviews

The emptiness that lays deep within your bones: THE SUMMER WE RAN.

The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Books like this are why I love my BOTM subscription. I doubt I would have come across this book elsewhere, and it's an enjoyable summer saga about the power of class and money and how deeply both can corrupt.

As teens, Grant Alexander and Tess Murphy spend one amazing summer together, falling deeply in love. This despite the fact that Grant is the son of wealthy parents who put inordinate pressure on their only son, while Tess is staying near Grant's summer home only because her mother is working as a chef and assistant at a neighbor's property. But their summer romance ends abruptly, and the pair do not cross paths again for around two decades--when they are both running for Governor of Virginia.

The story is told from both Grant and Tess' points of view, and covers both present-day and that fateful summer. We get their story of young love (building up to their big break-up) and then two jaded adults, ha. This is like a political soap opera--it's impossible to put down--and it covers important topics like class, wealth, spousal abuse, and abortion while doing so.

I especially loved the Virginia setting, with pieces of the story even set in my hometown of Charlottesville.

This is a great cross between political drama and romance, topped off with secrets and lies.

View all my reviews

Still lying by your side even in the great divide: TELL ME LIES.

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Because I live under a rock, I had no idea that this book was made into a TV show. I also thought this was supposed to be more of a thriller, based on other books of Lovering's that I've read. Still, I found this to be a captivating story about unlikable people in toxic relationships.

Lucy meets Stephen at Baird College, where they begin a toxic on-and-off relationship that spans years. The book alternates between Lucy and Stephen's POVs, so you can see how easily Lucy falls for Stephen's charms and how Stephen is a sociopathic, awful person. Lucy's obsession with Stephen is rooted in trauma and we see her struggles with an eating disorder (please note that trigger).

The hardest part of this story was how awful the characters are. Lucy grows on you, but she and Stephen spend so much of the book drinking and doing drugs--that part is too much at times. But the nuanced look into how someone can stay, or return, to a terrible relationship is honestly quite well-done, and I found the book incredibly difficult to put down. It was honest and raw and different.

View all my reviews

With a pain that ever grows: WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE.

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great start to a new Karin Slaughter series!

On the night of the town's 4th of July celebration, Emmy Clifton turns away her friend's teenage daughter, Madison, when she asks for help. That decision haunts her forever, as Madison and her best friend, Cheyenne disappear that night, destroying Emmy's friendship and leaving a lasting legacy on the town.

Now another girl is missing and Emmy and her father, the local Sheriff to Emmy's deputy Sheriff, must try not to repeat past mistakes.

This is a typical Karin Slaughter mystery--gritty, dark, and not afraid to delve into uncomfortable topics. Emmy is a nuanced and flawed character, making her fascinating to read about, especially when the story explores her relationship with her father and her son, both in the force.

GUILTY is both an excellent thriller, slowly spooling together disparate threads and unraveling secrets about a town, while also being a character-driven tale, delving into Emmy's family, friendships, and feelings. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

View all my reviews

A heart that burns so true: UNCOMMON FAVOR.

Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three by Dawn Staley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dawn Staley is a legend in my house. I’m a University of Virginia girl since birth, and I remember being in awe of Dawn since I was a kid.

Reading her autobiography only enforced that tenfold. This is such a great book. Dawn writes in such an engaging, conversational style—I flew through this. Each chapter in UNCOMMON FAVOR centers around a lesson she’s learned in her life. She's led such a remarkable life, coming from the Philly projects to high school stardom to UVA and the Final Four to the pros to Olympics championships and then to her famous coaching gigs. I also had no idea about some of the twists and turns her life took; her story is incredibly motivational. Yet she remains true to her roots and a steadfast supporter of the women she coaches and what she believes in.

While you’ll love this if you like basketball or sports, the book is applicable to all areas of life, and I highlighted so many quotes. I think this one should be mandatory reading for leaders, or those aspiring to leadership positions.

View all my reviews

I feel like I'm being paid to lose my mind: NIGHTSHADE.

Nightshade: A Novel by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is strange to read a Connelly book that doesn't star Bosch, Haller, or Ballard, I won't lie.

It takes a few minutes to get used to our new character, Sgt. Stilwell, a law enforcement officer who has been exiled to Catalina Island based on his past behavior. Stilwell has oversight of the island, but that's about it. When a body is found dead in the water, tied down by an anchor, he's forced to call in his old rivals from the mainland to help investigate the case. They show about the same dedication and enthusiasm as when Stilwell worked with them, however, and he finds himself investigating on the side. Who is this woman found in the water with a streak of purple dye in her hair?

As with most Connelly books, he deftly weaves together intersecting mysteries and threads, including issues with a gangster on the island. Stilwell also has a girlfriend on island, who helps oversee boats arriving at the docks.

So far, Stilwell isn't as personable to me as Bosch or Haller, but he certainly grows on you as the story picks up momentum. He has a Connelly character's usual desire for justice--no matter the cost--and is easy to root for. I will say this story is very nautical--lots of water, lots of boats, lots of sailing references, so be prepared for that.

View all my reviews

With a head full of dreams: I LOVE YOU SO MOCHI.

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very cute YA story.

Kimi is still figuring out what she wants to be. (Totally normal for a teen, by the way!) The one thing she's starting to realize: she doesn't want to be a painter like her mom is--and wants her to be. After a particularly brutal argument with her mom, she heads to Japan to spend the summer with her maternal grandparents, whom she has never met. In Kyoto, Kimi gets to know her grandparents better (probably my favorite part). She meets a cute boy, Akira. Through these new experiences, she learns about her self and explores her love of fashion.

This story is a little basic, but very sweet. It might be a little unrealistic -- everything gets fixed via a two-week spring trip? Sign me up for a trip to Japan. But Kimi's grandpa is adorable and the story works through the idea of finding yourself and the difficult teen years, when you feel torn between what you want and what your parents wish for you.

This book is well-suited for its YA audience, as long as they have the understanding that all problems may not be fixed so quickly (or by meeting a cute guy). 3.5 stars.

View all my reviews

Now none of that matters when the flame licks the spoon: KING OF ASHES.

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very S.A. Cosby book. It's incredibly well-written, but wow, it's brutal and sometimes almost too hard to read. I had to read it in small chunks, with lots of breaks for the light and fluffy romance I was also reading.

Roman returns home to Virginia from Atlanta, where he's a high-flying financial advisor. In Virginia, Roman's father is in a coma, leaving Roman's sister Neveah and brother Dante to run the family crematory business. Soon he learns Dante has gotten on the wrong side of a gang and is in horrible debt to a set of cruel and ruthless brothers.

Roman must enact a plan to save Dante, the family business, and ultimately, everyone's lives. Doing so will mean examining what exactly he's willing to do for his family. The resulting story is brutal and violent but also a masterful exploration of familial ties and the lengths people will go for power. Roman confronts a lot of dark truths--is he doing this for his family, his own power, or something else. Being home also reminds him constantly of his mother, who went missing when he was a teen. To this day, locals still think Roman's father killed her (and used the crematory).

Cosby does an amazing job of showing how secrets and grief can build up and consume a person--even a family. I can't say that I totally enjoyed this book, but I certainly appreciated it. He remains a master of this genre.

View all my reviews

Someone is finding the place where they belong: THE ART OF RUNNING AWAY.

The Art of Running Away by Sabrina Kleckner
My rating: 4/5 of 5 stars

This middle grade YA story is a lovely read that praises allyship -- making it the perfect sixth book to read for Pride Month.

This is definitely a middle grade story, filled with plenty of tween dramatics and a lot of lying, but if you remember the intended audience when it all feels a bit over the top, it makes total sense. After all, the world feels pretty crazy and out of control sometimes at this age.

Maisie, age 12, has spent her life devoted to art and her parents' art shop, Glenna's. So when her parents tell her to focus on outside interests and send her away to her aunt's in Edinburgh for the summer, she's not thrilled. She's even less pleased when her brother, Calum, now 22, tracks her down there; Calum disappeared when Maisie was six.

Maisie learns that Glenna's is in financial trouble and hopes that Calum is the key to saving it, so she reluctantly spends the summer with him. But she soon learns that Calum's reason for leaving her behind without a second glance isn't as clear cut as her parents made it out to be.

Overall, this is a lovely story about identity and finding your way. It makes excellent points about accepting your children, especially when they come out, but even just accepting them as they are. There's a wonderful and serious discussion about being an ally that is excellent for this age group. Maisie is a sweet character who is muddling her way through life, as any 12-year-old is, finding her way as an artist, sister, daughter, and friend.

The journey of watching Maisie and Calum reunite is tender, and while this is a serious story in many ways, it's also sweet and funny. The two have their humorous moments as siblings, and Calum has a great group of friends in London. Highly recommend this touching read. 4.5 stars.

View all my reviews

This dirty place don't want you here: DEATH AT MORNING HOUSE.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This YA mystery was a pleasant surprise for my 4th read of Pride Month!

While on a first date, Marlowe actually burns down a house (not hers! while house-sitting!). Humiliated, she leaves town to work at Morning House, a famous mansion on an island best known for housing the wealthy Ralston family. The family lived there happily in the 1930s until two of their children died tragically.

This book is just really fun -- told in Johnson's witty style via Marlowe's self-deprecating humor. We get the present day tale from Marlowe interspersed with snippets from members of the Ralston family leading up to the fateful day of loss. It's a very effective technique for building suspense, as I kept flipping the pages, wanting to know what was going to happen to Marlowe and what exactly struck the Ralstons.

Marlowe is just a lovable, awkward protagonist--dealing with leaving a potential girlfriend behind and now navigating a new friend group. All the other teens working at Morning House know one another and have a history, including the fairly recent loss of their friend, Chris.

Then the professor who was overseeing the teens--and doing research at Morning House--disappears and the tension ratchets up even more. Was it an accident, or something more sinister?

There's nothing wild or innovative here, but this is a really fun and suspenseful book with an awesome queer vibe. The switch between time periods really adds to the story. I loved this as a grown adult, but it would be great for its intended YA audience as well.


View all my reviews

I hope I live on a road in the town in your heart: A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY.

A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh this was such a lovely book (and my second read of Pride Month)!

It combined two things I love dearly: country music and adorable gay boys.

Aspiring musician Emmett travels to Jackson Hollow, TN from Chicago to perform at the amusement park Wanda World. There he meets local boy Luke who is working in a restaurant at the park while trying to help his family. Luke has always hated country music while Emmett wants to be the first gay country music star. Luke's disdain for country music is due to his grandmother, Verna Rose, who was the best friend of Wanda Jean of "Wanda World"; the two had a huge fight that led to Verna basically being banned from the industry.

Kennedy's book deftly explores the lack of diversity in country music and the homophobia that can run rampant. It also discusses the idea of coming out on your own terms, as while Emmett is out, Luke struggles to reveal to his religious family and conservative friends that he's gay. The two fall fast for each other, but have to navigate the fact that Luke is still closeted. It's a wonderful story about self-acceptance while also still highlighting how hard it can be when teens do not have the acceptance or openness that they crave and need about their sexuality.

The book also has a strong side plot involving Wanda Jean and Verna Rose, explored through Emmett's love of music and Luke's family history. The story includes song lyrics--both Emmett's and Verna's--and has such excellent Dolly Parton vibes. However, even if you don't like country music, you'll still enjoy this book, as it's full of angsty teen romance, fun theme park moments, and a serious exploration of sexuality and identity.

COUNTRY covers so many important issues with grace and sweetness, while still providing humor and romance. This is a well written and heart warming read, filled with cute boys and tender moments. Loved this important read!

View all my reviews

But I'm not being radical when I kiss you: DREAM ON, RAMONA RILEY.

Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was my first read of Pride Month. I love Ashley Herring Blake, but this wasn't my favorite book of hers.

Ramona finds herself stuck in her hometown of Clover Lake after her mom leaves, forcing her to care for her little sister, Olive. Most of her childhood is filled with grown up responsibilities, but she savors one magical teenage kiss with a girl by the lake. Flash forward to the present, where she now knows that girl was Dylan Monroe, famous actress of rock star parents. Dylan is coming to Clover Lake to film a queer romance.

We quickly learn that Dylan is a train wreck who refuses to be held accountable for her own behavior, blaming everything on her tumultuous childhood. Of course, her people decide for her to fake date Ramona to rehab her image. As for Ramona, she knows proximity to Dylan means a potential introduction to her favorite film customer designer-- which has always been her dream job.

I know this will come as a shock to you all, but neither tells the other about their secret.

Also shockingly, fake dating quickly becomes a situation where they have real feelings.

Alas, much of this story is punctuated by sooo much miscommunication or a major lack of communication. Dylan is like a grown child who is unable to deal with real life. Ramona is quite mature, but too afraid to speak up for herself after losing herself to her family for years. I get that miscommunication is a common romance trope, but it felt too much here. The book was less enjoyable and more stressful.

This is also a very spicy story. No problem with that, but sex seems to be used as a substitute for actual connection between the characters. Sex is awesome, but it doesn't equal a healthy relationship, especially here. (Also, those scenes are LONG. I listened to the audiobook for part of this book, and traveled between two towns during one. I think they are about 30 minutes apart!)

It feels like a huge chunk of the book is just sex scenes and various episodes of Dylan "crashing out," as my teens would say. This comes at the expense of character development and a more in-depth explanation of their relationship. One of my favorite scenes in the book is Herring Blake's description of Ramona and Dylan meeting as teens. It reminded me of so many of her wonderful YA novels, where she goes so in-depth into her teen characters. I often wished for more teen Ramona and Dylan, or just more of that old characterization.

The book improves in the last third, as it's a romance, and I'm a sucker for happy endings. There's a bit of character growth (and some much needed communication and growing up). Some points still felt a bit unresolved, though. I was very glad to see some glimpses of Iris from Bright Falls! (Dylan is starring in the movie version of Iris' book.)


View all my reviews

There was a lonely girl from nowhere: I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL.

I Hope This Finds You Well: A Novel by Natalie Sue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was really excited to read this, as I spend every day in a "charming" corporate environment, but it wasn't really the funny office comedy advertised.

Jolene has spent years toiling at Supershops, where she feels both misunderstood and left out by her coworkers. She copes by hiding angry messages in white text at the bottom of her sent emails. But when one such message is discovered by her office nemesis, Jolene is sent to mandatory HR training led by the new HR guy, Cliff. As part of the monitoring changes he makes to her computer, she realizes she suddenly has access to all her colleagues' emails and chats. At first she's just appalled at what her coworkers are saying about her, but soon realizes she can use this information as a weapon while upcoming layoffs loom.

Soon, though, Jolene finds herself becoming friendly with Cliff--and even a few of her other coworkers. She starts to realize maybe she has played a part in her ostracism at work. Jolene is a tough nut to crack: and like. And this comes from me, a rather unsociable and shy officer worker at times! She makes a lot of questionable decisions and doesn't always treat people the best.

There's less humor in this story and more bitterness and sometimes, full on, sadness. No one at Supershops likes one another, and there's less office banter and more office showmanship. The plot plods for a while, and you want to shake Jolene for not just coming clean about her discovery. There are several other side stories involving secrecy, which are just stressful, honestly. So is the one involving a young girl who lives in Jolene's apartment building. Positives include some strong Iranian/Persian representation and an attempt to highlight the depths people will go to hide their loneliness and real truths from their coworkers.

This book just felt uneven; it's a story with promise, but be prepared for a rocky journey. The ending helps a lot.


View all my reviews

I was young what did I know: PASSION PROJECT.

Passion Project by London Sperry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is not the happy-go-lucky romance that the cover and title seem to indicate.

Bennet loses her college boyfriend to a car accident; shes wracked by guilt and sinks deeply into grief and depression. She leaves college and moves to New York City because it was her boyfriend Sam's dream. But she finds herself just as sad in New York and even more removed from her friends and family. Her roommate pushes her on a date with Henry Adams, but Bennet panics, stands him up, and gets drunk at a restaurant across the street. Of course, she literally runs into Henry later that night, while drunk and crying, and the two start talking. Bennet confesses how reluctant she is to date, and Henry comes up with a plan: the passion project--as just friends, they'll explore New York together, learning about new things and places.

It's a cute concept, especially when they are out exploring and hanging out. Henry and Bennet have cute and witty banter. But a lot of this book is a little gloomy and not so much a romance as a story of finding yourself and recovering from grief. The romance is such a slow burn, especially because so many contrived instances keep pushing Henry and Bennet apart, and they spend most of their time arguing and apart. Bennet is also depressed, yes, but not the best person to her friends, making her harder to like at times.

This is a sweet story but also a serious one at times. It's slow moving with a thoughtful look at grief and moving on.

View all my reviews

I'm here again, but I'm all alone: MORE OR LESS MADDY.

More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Oh this book is so well-done, but so hard to read. College student Maddy has always felt different from her posh Connecticut family. The college clinic puts Maddy on an anti-depressant, which unknowingly triggers her, spinning her into mania. Maddy soon learns that she has bipolar disorder, which will require strict management for the rest of her life.

This book is incredibly stressful, but very accurate, making you feel as if you're a part of Maddy's brain. It's an outstanding portrait of bipolar disorder and the depression associated with it. You can feel Maddy's moods as she cycles through the highs and lows and how difficult her bipolar makes her life. Genova captures Maddy's despair and how it affects both her and her family, as well as the stigma, embarrassment, and illness that comes with the illness.

We follow Maddy through several manic and depressive episodes and hospitalizations. It is of note that while they place high expectations on her, her monied family also means Maddy has access to care and treatment that others might not. Maddy's story is painful and sad, but also hopeful. This is an insightful and realistic look into mental illness. Please note a major trigger warning for multiple things such as cutting, depression, mania, and suicidal thoughts. It can also be very hard to read if you, or someone you love, has suffered from mental illness.


View all my reviews