Scan barcode
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
“There is someone out there rooting for you. You are not alone, in any Forest. You there, … we are rooting, cheering for you to live & thrive.”
With this novel in verse, McBride has created a beautiful modern fairytale depicting the struggles of a life lived with grief and depression, and how powerful stories and friendship are in weathering/overcoming those struggles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
xangemtheelibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adore Whimsy and Faerry. I adore the author's narration in the audiobook. I loved the music between chapters.
I think McBride does an excellent job of Illustrating grief, guilt, depression, suicidal thoughts, through the lens of a fairytale written in verse. It's absolutely beautiful. I also really loved the message that you are still a person if you're struggling with mental health. A brain is still a brain, even without the serotonin.
I think McBride does an excellent job of Illustrating grief, guilt, depression, suicidal thoughts, through the lens of a fairytale written in verse. It's absolutely beautiful. I also really loved the message that you are still a person if you're struggling with mental health. A brain is still a brain, even without the serotonin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
theespressoedition's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Forced institutionalization
multimindz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is enchanting, whimsical and captivating in its verses. I really loved this book and how it captures depression and guilt in a intricate, artful way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
makeminemonsters's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I'm a huge fan of Amber McBride's writing, but this one slightly missed the mark for me. I wish that the Fairy Tale element of the story hadn't been incorporated quite so literally, I think that part alienated me slightly from the emotional arc of the charcters. Still a really powerful rumination on depression and family trauma, but not one that spoke to my soul.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Self harm
seyfert's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a wonderful novel, but was hard to read for two reasons: the prose and the subject matter.
First, it is written in verse. While perfect for this situation, if you don't read verse often, it might take a bit for your brain to adjust to reading it. This is something that can be overcome.
But for the second? So many trigger warnings. Many of us need to be in the right headspace to read this novel. Those of you who haven't ever experienced depression and dark thoughts, you'll be fine, but this touches so close to some very sensitive, hard subjects. It'd be hard to read when in the depression pit, and yet, it's exactly who the novel is written for - but once you're in a better mental state.
More than anything, it's very quotable. There's so many small tidbits to save to later. It's unique, and different, and understanding - and we need more of that.
(But it did introduce me to the poetry of Lucille Clifton, and I am excited for that).
First, it is written in verse. While perfect for this situation, if you don't read verse often, it might take a bit for your brain to adjust to reading it. This is something that can be overcome.
But for the second? So many trigger warnings. Many of us need to be in the right headspace to read this novel. Those of you who haven't ever experienced depression and dark thoughts, you'll be fine, but this touches so close to some very sensitive, hard subjects. It'd be hard to read when in the depression pit, and yet, it's exactly who the novel is written for - but once you're in a better mental state.
More than anything, it's very quotable. There's so many small tidbits to save to later. It's unique, and different, and understanding - and we need more of that.
(But it did introduce me to the poetry of Lucille Clifton, and I am excited for that).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Child death and Panic attacks/disorders
lettuce_read's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Self harm
hubes's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
One of the few audiobooks where I finished it and thought to myself, " Hey. I'd start rereading it right now with a physical copy if I had one"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Racial slurs, and Self harm
amobrien's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
We Are All So Good at Smiling is a beautiful, magical novel-in-verse about depression and trauma. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook!
We Are All So Good at Smiling is a beautiful, magical novel-in-verse about depression and trauma. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Self harm
Minor: Bullying and Child death
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"Remember you don't have to be brave, you live, you are (both) already bravery itself."
"There is someone out there rooting for you. You are not alone, in any Forest. You there, hello, bonjour, hola-we are rooting, cheering for you to live and thrive."
Written through metaphorical prose, this story follows Faerry and Whimsy through their struggles with depression and what appears to be PTSD following a traumatic event. It is so hard to find the right words for this review. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful. I loved the message of the only way out is through. One thing that I've learned in therapy is to not try to avoid the negative feelings, but to rather allow myself to feel them, use my coping skills to work through them, and then work to move on from them. The more I would try to avoid negative feelings and thoughts, the worse things got and I could appreciate how that was addressed throughout this book.
As someone who has suffered from depression, PPD, and PPA, it was like someone took exactly what I went through while in the thick of it and put it in poem form. Just like the author, it took me a while to get the help and therapy I needed. For some, myself included, you get so far into that dark pit that it's almost impossible to see how anything or anyone can help to get you out of it. Whimsy says that 11 minutes in the Garden (depression) could feel like 11 years and man, that is so true. I don't think this could have been any more perfect.
I love that more and more authors are writing novels normalizing therapy, especially for the Black community. It warms my heart to think that so many lives will likely be saved due to the decreasing stigma around seeking help.
I cannot recommend this enough!
CW: depression, self harm, suicidal thoughts, death, child death, ptsd
"There is someone out there rooting for you. You are not alone, in any Forest. You there, hello, bonjour, hola-we are rooting, cheering for you to live and thrive."
Written through metaphorical prose, this story follows Faerry and Whimsy through their struggles with depression and what appears to be PTSD following a traumatic event. It is so hard to find the right words for this review. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful. I loved the message of the only way out is through. One thing that I've learned in therapy is to not try to avoid the negative feelings, but to rather allow myself to feel them, use my coping skills to work through them, and then work to move on from them. The more I would try to avoid negative feelings and thoughts, the worse things got and I could appreciate how that was addressed throughout this book.
As someone who has suffered from depression, PPD, and PPA, it was like someone took exactly what I went through while in the thick of it and put it in poem form. Just like the author, it took me a while to get the help and therapy I needed. For some, myself included, you get so far into that dark pit that it's almost impossible to see how anything or anyone can help to get you out of it. Whimsy says that 11 minutes in the Garden (depression) could feel like 11 years and man, that is so true. I don't think this could have been any more perfect.
I love that more and more authors are writing novels normalizing therapy, especially for the Black community. It warms my heart to think that so many lives will likely be saved due to the decreasing stigma around seeking help.
I cannot recommend this enough!
CW: depression, self harm, suicidal thoughts, death, child death, ptsd
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Death, and Racial slurs