sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
I got this as an eARC through NetGalley.
Jessa must deal with brain damage in addition to her anxiety disorder after being in a car wreck. She moves away from her previous life and people from her previous life, to live with her dad and heal. Many of the coping mechanisms Jessa typically uses are no longer working, especially because she has started seeing things on people's faces that aren't really there. Jessa begins her road to recovery, build connections with fraternal twins Hannah and Marshall. Hannah is a stressed out over achiever, who Jessa enjoys hanging out with (I still have no idea why) and Jessa is starting to develop romantic feelings for Marshall. However, as stress mounts and Marshall's health becomes uncertain, Jessa is soon pushed even further beyond her limits.
I enjoy the way Miller interweaves the seemingly unreal with the real. I found Jessa's mental images of others compelling, though I can't believe that it took her so long to figure out what was going on. The relationship between Jessa and Marshall was sweet, but I feel like I didn't know Marshall well enough to really connect with him. In fact, I felt like I didn't know enough about any of the characters. They all seemed to be only developed on the surface, except for her father and potentially Dr. I. I did have trouble with the mixture of analogies, stick with bruises or stick with dragons, but both together make the narrative clunky. I enjoyed the framework of the story and the characters had potential. I don't know if I really liked the way the author addressed the teens with Aspbergers in this novel, but I may be off. It seemed that characters got over their problems quickly when it was convenient. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.
Jessa must deal with brain damage in addition to her anxiety disorder after being in a car wreck. She moves away from her previous life and people from her previous life, to live with her dad and heal. Many of the coping mechanisms Jessa typically uses are no longer working, especially because she has started seeing things on people's faces that aren't really there. Jessa begins her road to recovery, build connections with fraternal twins Hannah and Marshall. Hannah is a stressed out over achiever, who Jessa enjoys hanging out with (I still have no idea why) and Jessa is starting to develop romantic feelings for Marshall. However, as stress mounts and Marshall's health becomes uncertain, Jessa is soon pushed even further beyond her limits.
I enjoy the way Miller interweaves the seemingly unreal with the real. I found Jessa's mental images of others compelling, though I can't believe that it took her so long to figure out what was going on. The relationship between Jessa and Marshall was sweet, but I feel like I didn't know Marshall well enough to really connect with him. In fact, I felt like I didn't know enough about any of the characters. They all seemed to be only developed on the surface, except for her father and potentially Dr. I. I did have trouble with the mixture of analogies, stick with bruises or stick with dragons, but both together make the narrative clunky. I enjoyed the framework of the story and the characters had potential. I don't know if I really liked the way the author addressed the teens with Aspbergers in this novel, but I may be off. It seemed that characters got over their problems quickly when it was convenient. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did.
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
4.0
Heart-felt. Humorous. Hopeful. And Marshall was my favorite!
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
this book was a something a bit different for me and i devoured it. as somebody who suffers with anxiety and depression i could relate to the characters in this story. i could feel their pain and understand what they were going through. thank you to net galley, the publishers and the author for the chance to read and review this book
kle105's review against another edition
3.0
I am not sure how to feel about this book. I think the story of Jessa learning how to adapt after a car accident leaves her struggling to deal with her anxiety, and new symptoms of hallucinations and losing her "mind's eye". It was interesting to see how her world fell apart and getting a fresh start living with her Dad and starting a new school.
Once having no friends and her world revolving around her boyfriend (now ex-boyfriend), she is having to make new friends. She meets Hannah on her first day and instantly connects with her. Marshall has to be my favorite character of the bunch. This goes through Jessa coming to grips with her new reality including going to a support group. It was a pretty interesting concept.
The parts I really struggled with was the hallucinations, including possibly the man who helped saved her the night of the accident. The philosophy that was sprinkled throughout which tried too hard or the religious part that came out at the end. It all seemed so disheveled and not thought out, like it couldn't decide what kind of book it wanted to be so it was everything.
I did like how it ended and the journey that Jessa took and how see survived.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Once having no friends and her world revolving around her boyfriend (now ex-boyfriend), she is having to make new friends. She meets Hannah on her first day and instantly connects with her. Marshall has to be my favorite character of the bunch. This goes through Jessa coming to grips with her new reality including going to a support group. It was a pretty interesting concept.
The parts I really struggled with was the hallucinations, including possibly the man who helped saved her the night of the accident. The philosophy that was sprinkled throughout which tried too hard or the religious part that came out at the end. It all seemed so disheveled and not thought out, like it couldn't decide what kind of book it wanted to be so it was everything.
I did like how it ended and the journey that Jessa took and how see survived.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
carleneinspired's review against another edition
5.0
ARC provided via Netgalley.
Jessa has managed to cover-up her panic and anxiety disorder with her beauty, fake smiles, and a handsome, popular boyfriend. When that all comes crashing down around her, changing Jessa's life for the worse and for the better. When a nearly-fatal car accident leaves Jessa's face scarred and her brain damaged her anxiety and panic become impossible to hide. Relocated to Colorado with her dad, Jessa finds that though she cannot stand the idea of seeing her face, others welcome her with open arms. There she discovers that no one's life is as easy or as good as they claim it is, that sometimes the outside isn't always reflective of the truth people hold inside.
"'I told you,' Wren says. 'It's complicated.'
'I know, I know. Barbie's unstable.'
The fire creeps down my neck, explodes inside my stomach, a furnace of humiliation that will swallow me whole."
Initially I was attracted to the cover of All Things New, because who doesn't love a good cover? Inside the book though, is a true-to-life novel with challenging situations and tough concepts that main character, Jessa, learns to embrace, accept, and face head on. I cannot tell you how many times I looked up from the pages to exclaim out loud, "this book is so good!" or how often I had to stop to grab tissue as tears streamed down my face. Lauren Miller's writing is excellent, it's emotive and descriptive, and made me so empathetic to Jessa's plight.
"Watching him I'm swept up in sadness. Why do we rip ourselves apart? My throat tightens, and again I feel myself disengaging from this moment, from its sharpness, its sting."
I loved the character development in this novel; Jessa is such a typical teen, but her experience and her natural aging made this novel really stand out for me. Her anger is believable and the way Lauren Miller writes about the anxiety, the scars, and the Aphantasia made me feel like I was experiencing it too. Additionally, there are some really stunning secondary characters in All Things New, with the award for most interesting and complex going to twins, Hannah and Marshall. Though their stories are secondary, their experiences with health issues help the progression of Jessa's story. Plus, both are interesting and bring a level of humanity to this story that wouldn't have been there had Jessa stayed the simple, "Barbie" girlfriend that she had been previously.
"I stare at the space and it seems to materialize. A wall, made of brick and mortar and fear. A wall I'm not ready to get rid of yet."
As far a young adult novels go, All Things New is going to be a love-it or hate-it type of book for readers. It is a character driven novel, but readers only read from the perspective of Jessa, a teen with an anxiety and panic disorder, which is very apparent in her thoughts and interactions. She's like many teens; she's angry at her family, she's angry about her situation, and on top of that she's dealing with a disorder that she's embarrassed of. I felt that the entire novel was very accurate, Lauren Miller makes you feel everything Jessa feels, but also includes true facts that allow us to understand her situation even more. Some readers will find that Jessa's thoughts regarding mental illnesses, modern medicine, angels, and God are something that should've been left out, but I think that many will also connect to those thoughts and the book shouldn't be rated negatively if one does not agree with her beliefs.
"But what if we could see them? How might a soul look if we could stare it in the face?"
All Things New is an original novel with thought-provoking writing, a hint of philosophy, and a very authentic story line. Young adult readers of any age will connect with Jessa, regardless of their own personal experiences with anxiety, because of Lauren Miller's story telling abilities. The novel is focused on Jessa's growth, with family, friendship, religion, and romance helping her to face her struggles, but not ruling the story. Jessa's healing makes for an addicting read that readers will find complex and realistic. It's humorous, but hopeful, with a strong message about acceptance.
"We play along, we act like we're all okay. But we're not okay. All the junk we're hiding is right there, right in front of us, right within us."
Jessa has managed to cover-up her panic and anxiety disorder with her beauty, fake smiles, and a handsome, popular boyfriend. When that all comes crashing down around her, changing Jessa's life for the worse and for the better. When a nearly-fatal car accident leaves Jessa's face scarred and her brain damaged her anxiety and panic become impossible to hide. Relocated to Colorado with her dad, Jessa finds that though she cannot stand the idea of seeing her face, others welcome her with open arms. There she discovers that no one's life is as easy or as good as they claim it is, that sometimes the outside isn't always reflective of the truth people hold inside.
"'I told you,' Wren says. 'It's complicated.'
'I know, I know. Barbie's unstable.'
The fire creeps down my neck, explodes inside my stomach, a furnace of humiliation that will swallow me whole."
Initially I was attracted to the cover of All Things New, because who doesn't love a good cover? Inside the book though, is a true-to-life novel with challenging situations and tough concepts that main character, Jessa, learns to embrace, accept, and face head on. I cannot tell you how many times I looked up from the pages to exclaim out loud, "this book is so good!" or how often I had to stop to grab tissue as tears streamed down my face. Lauren Miller's writing is excellent, it's emotive and descriptive, and made me so empathetic to Jessa's plight.
"Watching him I'm swept up in sadness. Why do we rip ourselves apart? My throat tightens, and again I feel myself disengaging from this moment, from its sharpness, its sting."
I loved the character development in this novel; Jessa is such a typical teen, but her experience and her natural aging made this novel really stand out for me. Her anger is believable and the way Lauren Miller writes about the anxiety, the scars, and the Aphantasia made me feel like I was experiencing it too. Additionally, there are some really stunning secondary characters in All Things New, with the award for most interesting and complex going to twins, Hannah and Marshall. Though their stories are secondary, their experiences with health issues help the progression of Jessa's story. Plus, both are interesting and bring a level of humanity to this story that wouldn't have been there had Jessa stayed the simple, "Barbie" girlfriend that she had been previously.
"I stare at the space and it seems to materialize. A wall, made of brick and mortar and fear. A wall I'm not ready to get rid of yet."
As far a young adult novels go, All Things New is going to be a love-it or hate-it type of book for readers. It is a character driven novel, but readers only read from the perspective of Jessa, a teen with an anxiety and panic disorder, which is very apparent in her thoughts and interactions. She's like many teens; she's angry at her family, she's angry about her situation, and on top of that she's dealing with a disorder that she's embarrassed of. I felt that the entire novel was very accurate, Lauren Miller makes you feel everything Jessa feels, but also includes true facts that allow us to understand her situation even more. Some readers will find that Jessa's thoughts regarding mental illnesses, modern medicine, angels, and God are something that should've been left out, but I think that many will also connect to those thoughts and the book shouldn't be rated negatively if one does not agree with her beliefs.
"But what if we could see them? How might a soul look if we could stare it in the face?"
All Things New is an original novel with thought-provoking writing, a hint of philosophy, and a very authentic story line. Young adult readers of any age will connect with Jessa, regardless of their own personal experiences with anxiety, because of Lauren Miller's story telling abilities. The novel is focused on Jessa's growth, with family, friendship, religion, and romance helping her to face her struggles, but not ruling the story. Jessa's healing makes for an addicting read that readers will find complex and realistic. It's humorous, but hopeful, with a strong message about acceptance.
"We play along, we act like we're all okay. But we're not okay. All the junk we're hiding is right there, right in front of us, right within us."
courtneyy41's review against another edition
3.0
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5*
Where to begin....First of all, this cover is beautiful. Now that we got that out of the way, onto the actual book itself. I have VERY mixed feelings about this one. Starting with the positive, I LOVE MARSHALL. He is so funny and unapologetically himself. I need a friend like Marshall! I also really loved how Lauren was able to so vividly and accurately portray a character with an anxiety disorder. The writing was beautiful and really helped to put the reader in the mind of someone suffering from anxiety. I loved all of the relationships in this book including, friendships, family relationships, and romantic relationships. Overall I had a pleasant time reading this book!
On the other hand I found the plot line to be a bit lacking. I found myself wanting a bit more while reading this one. While there were some interesting and unique aspects to the book, I found them to be EXTREMELY predictable, which was a bit disappointing.
Like I said, overall I really enjoyed my experience reading this book, and I definitely thing that the pro's outweigh the con's.
Where to begin....First of all, this cover is beautiful. Now that we got that out of the way, onto the actual book itself. I have VERY mixed feelings about this one. Starting with the positive, I LOVE MARSHALL. He is so funny and unapologetically himself. I need a friend like Marshall! I also really loved how Lauren was able to so vividly and accurately portray a character with an anxiety disorder. The writing was beautiful and really helped to put the reader in the mind of someone suffering from anxiety. I loved all of the relationships in this book including, friendships, family relationships, and romantic relationships. Overall I had a pleasant time reading this book!
On the other hand I found the plot line to be a bit lacking. I found myself wanting a bit more while reading this one. While there were some interesting and unique aspects to the book, I found them to be EXTREMELY predictable, which was a bit disappointing.
Like I said, overall I really enjoyed my experience reading this book, and I definitely thing that the pro's outweigh the con's.
lucyp747d4's review against another edition
3.0
This story provides its readers with love, drama and an insight into mental illness. We follow Jessa as she struggles with her panic attacks and adjusting to a new life. She meets many different characters along the way; there’s kind hearted Marshall, obsessed Hannah, intriguing Dr I and many more. This teens and YA book, published in August 2017, offers the younger generation a glimpse at what it is like to live with a mental illness.
However this book was not my cup of tea, in fact I found it a struggle to read. For me a sign of a good book is when I find myself completely disconnected from the world, I am glued to the book and spend any spare minutes I have reading, sadly this was not the case with this one. I did persevere to the end and felt that all the loose ends were all tied up but I didn’t feel like I enjoyed the book. I can’t put my finger on it as I’ve read so many Teens and YA books before and really enjoyed them, I’m also a sucker for a good love story. I guess that sometimes you don’t gel with a book.
I’ve read a lot of reviews from people who have a lot of love for this book so please don’t let my review put you off. There are moments that I enjoyed reading so I’m not saying that I hate it, hate is a strong word but I wouldn’t read it again. That is why I’m giving it 3*’s.
This is the first of Lauren Miller’s books that I have read and no it hasn’t put me off. I don’t think one book can sum up an author so I would definitely read another of her books.
However this book was not my cup of tea, in fact I found it a struggle to read. For me a sign of a good book is when I find myself completely disconnected from the world, I am glued to the book and spend any spare minutes I have reading, sadly this was not the case with this one. I did persevere to the end and felt that all the loose ends were all tied up but I didn’t feel like I enjoyed the book. I can’t put my finger on it as I’ve read so many Teens and YA books before and really enjoyed them, I’m also a sucker for a good love story. I guess that sometimes you don’t gel with a book.
I’ve read a lot of reviews from people who have a lot of love for this book so please don’t let my review put you off. There are moments that I enjoyed reading so I’m not saying that I hate it, hate is a strong word but I wouldn’t read it again. That is why I’m giving it 3*’s.
This is the first of Lauren Miller’s books that I have read and no it hasn’t put me off. I don’t think one book can sum up an author so I would definitely read another of her books.
andiabcs's review against another edition
5.0
This review was originally posted on Andi's ABCs
I have been waiting 3 years for this book. I mean not this book in particularly, but just another book by Lauren Miller. I’m a Lauren Miller fangirl. I know it, she knows it, people that follow my reading know it. Ever since I read Parallel for the first time 4 years ago I have been a champion of all books Lauren Miller. I will tell anyone and everyone to read her books. With that in mind imagine how happy I was when I learned about All Things New. I was warned that it was very different from Miller’s other two books and I may not love it as much. Well guess what? That warning was wrong. All Things New was AMAZING! It was a book I needed without knowing I needed it.
All Things New is about Jessa, a quiet 17 year-old that has been plagued by anxiety for many years. She has done everything in her power to hide the panic attacks and fears she has and she does so successfully everything changes. Jessa gets in a terrible accident and all of a sudden she sees scars and wounds on people. The thing about these scars and wounds? They don’t exist. They are projections in Jessa mind. When Jessa moves in with her dad and starts a new life, meeting adorable Marshall in the process, she must find answers to why she is seeing things and figure out how to heal herself in the process.
This book! I seriously loved this book. What I loved most about All Things New, Marshall aside (we will get to him and Jessa later), is the message I found in it through Jessa and the scars she was seeing. The thing is, we all hide scars. We all have things that hurt us or weigh on us that people just don’t know about in everyday life. Jessa was rare and she was able to see those struggles through the manifestation she developed. She may have been seeing wounds on the outside, but really she was seeing what was happening on the inside, the hurt people were feeling in everyday life. That right there is what made All Things New so amazing and important. Jessa was hurt and angry buy what happened and how her life was and this “power” showed her she was not alone.
But she really wasn’t alone. There was Marshall. Oh adorable, lovable, genuine Marshall. He is probably one of the best characters I have read in a long time. He was insanely perfect in his flawed way and he was exactly what Jessa needed. He brought a humor out that was timed perfectly and he was just a great guy. He didn’t make Jessa feel anything she wasn’t ready to feel. He was just there for her. He listened to her and they formed a bond. It was all 100% swoon-worthy.
All I can tell you about All Things New, well that I didn’t say above, is you need to read it. There is something magical about Miller’s storytelling and Jessa’s story. It isn’t your typical mental health story, but it’s important all the same. It’s about healing and how we make ourselves heal and that is something everyone should know is possible. Well done Lauren, well done. Now write me another book. ;-)
I have been waiting 3 years for this book. I mean not this book in particularly, but just another book by Lauren Miller. I’m a Lauren Miller fangirl. I know it, she knows it, people that follow my reading know it. Ever since I read Parallel for the first time 4 years ago I have been a champion of all books Lauren Miller. I will tell anyone and everyone to read her books. With that in mind imagine how happy I was when I learned about All Things New. I was warned that it was very different from Miller’s other two books and I may not love it as much. Well guess what? That warning was wrong. All Things New was AMAZING! It was a book I needed without knowing I needed it.
All Things New is about Jessa, a quiet 17 year-old that has been plagued by anxiety for many years. She has done everything in her power to hide the panic attacks and fears she has and she does so successfully everything changes. Jessa gets in a terrible accident and all of a sudden she sees scars and wounds on people. The thing about these scars and wounds? They don’t exist. They are projections in Jessa mind. When Jessa moves in with her dad and starts a new life, meeting adorable Marshall in the process, she must find answers to why she is seeing things and figure out how to heal herself in the process.
This book! I seriously loved this book. What I loved most about All Things New, Marshall aside (we will get to him and Jessa later), is the message I found in it through Jessa and the scars she was seeing. The thing is, we all hide scars. We all have things that hurt us or weigh on us that people just don’t know about in everyday life. Jessa was rare and she was able to see those struggles through the manifestation she developed. She may have been seeing wounds on the outside, but really she was seeing what was happening on the inside, the hurt people were feeling in everyday life. That right there is what made All Things New so amazing and important. Jessa was hurt and angry buy what happened and how her life was and this “power” showed her she was not alone.
But she really wasn’t alone. There was Marshall. Oh adorable, lovable, genuine Marshall. He is probably one of the best characters I have read in a long time. He was insanely perfect in his flawed way and he was exactly what Jessa needed. He brought a humor out that was timed perfectly and he was just a great guy. He didn’t make Jessa feel anything she wasn’t ready to feel. He was just there for her. He listened to her and they formed a bond. It was all 100% swoon-worthy.
All I can tell you about All Things New, well that I didn’t say above, is you need to read it. There is something magical about Miller’s storytelling and Jessa’s story. It isn’t your typical mental health story, but it’s important all the same. It’s about healing and how we make ourselves heal and that is something everyone should know is possible. Well done Lauren, well done. Now write me another book. ;-)
ylva_chasingbutterflies's review against another edition
4.0
All Things New was a nice young adult novel with a supernatural twist.
Jessa was a relatable protagonist and I really liked her friends. The writing was good and it was really interesting to watch Jessa's recovery. Neither her, nor her friends were perfect characters, but they each had their little flaws and that made them very amiable. I also very much appreciated the fact that there wasn't a love triangle.
The only thing that I didn't like was the supernatural/religious aspect because it was not consistent enough. I think that it should have either been left out completely or the author should have elaborated on that. These things felt a little out of place when they suddenly appeared throughout the story.
I would recommend this book to everyone that loves YA fiction, the topic of mental health and sweet love stories. Even though the supernatural aspect didn't really fit in, I don't think anyone should hold themselves back from reading the book because of it.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
Jessa was a relatable protagonist and I really liked her friends. The writing was good and it was really interesting to watch Jessa's recovery. Neither her, nor her friends were perfect characters, but they each had their little flaws and that made them very amiable. I also very much appreciated the fact that there wasn't a love triangle.
The only thing that I didn't like was the supernatural/religious aspect because it was not consistent enough. I think that it should have either been left out completely or the author should have elaborated on that. These things felt a little out of place when they suddenly appeared throughout the story.
I would recommend this book to everyone that loves YA fiction, the topic of mental health and sweet love stories. Even though the supernatural aspect didn't really fit in, I don't think anyone should hold themselves back from reading the book because of it.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
mackenzierm's review against another edition
5.0
First line: "It catches my eye as it goes dark, lights blinking out all at once, upstairs, downstairs, front porch, snap, like someone hit a master switch.
The mind is really quite an intricate and complex thing. It is beauty, intelligence, tragedy, and ultimately, it is it's own being. Anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder are somewhat common in today's society, but just like many other mental health issues - it is still quite stigmatized. This book is really an eye-opener and rings true to those who have experienced a panic attack...but also gives you somewhat of a vague idea of what it feels like to have one. Everyone is different, of course, but this novel may just help others get a slight grasp on how challenging anxiety and panic disorders are to deal with on a daily basis.
"...there were so many other things I couldn't see. The beauty in brokenness. The power of honesty. The way hope lights up the dark."
Jessa is a phenomenal character. At the beginning of the novel, I felt that she was definitely not a character to write home about - she was so broken and lost. However, you see her grow and transition into a beautiful girl with increasing confidence in herself, despite all she has been through and has yet to go through. And at the end of it all, I felt that she was the heroine; the heroine of her own story...which is really what life is all about.
I felt so many emotions while reading this book; heartbreak, despair, happiness...and somewhere under all of that I felt hope. Hope for what was to come and hope that Jessa could overcome her "dragon".
"That's the thing about the invisible world ... Where souls get battered and minds get muddled and heart get broken again and again. It's a war zone, a disaster area, but no one wants to talk about how messed up things are, so we let each other pretend."
I really enjoyed that Lauren Miller let Jessa's thoughts and feelings be known throughout the entire novel (which I suppose is required in this type of novel, but Jessa was so concrete to me and so believable that these inner thoughts and feelings really added another layer of connection), no matter what was going on you were right there with her. Often, it was sarcastic comments or thoughts that before even reading them I had thought in my head. I felt like I was so close to Jessa.
This novel really affected me in a way that I did not expect. I am quite thankful for the opportunity I got in reading this e-arc from Netgalley. It was a gem that I will not soon forget.
I'm not usually one to quote sections of novels in reviews or in other places, but there were a few that really stuck with me - so I thought I would share, which I have done throughout this review. Here's one last one...
"None of us knows what'll happen next ... on one level [that's] terrifying, because it means there will be lots of moments like this, moments when it feels like darkness is all there is. But just because we can't see the light doesn't mean it isn't there, that it isn't right around the corner. And just because we feel alone doesn't mean we are."
The mind is really quite an intricate and complex thing. It is beauty, intelligence, tragedy, and ultimately, it is it's own being. Anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder are somewhat common in today's society, but just like many other mental health issues - it is still quite stigmatized. This book is really an eye-opener and rings true to those who have experienced a panic attack...but also gives you somewhat of a vague idea of what it feels like to have one. Everyone is different, of course, but this novel may just help others get a slight grasp on how challenging anxiety and panic disorders are to deal with on a daily basis.
"...there were so many other things I couldn't see. The beauty in brokenness. The power of honesty. The way hope lights up the dark."
Jessa is a phenomenal character. At the beginning of the novel, I felt that she was definitely not a character to write home about - she was so broken and lost. However, you see her grow and transition into a beautiful girl with increasing confidence in herself, despite all she has been through and has yet to go through. And at the end of it all, I felt that she was the heroine; the heroine of her own story...which is really what life is all about.
I felt so many emotions while reading this book; heartbreak, despair, happiness...and somewhere under all of that I felt hope. Hope for what was to come and hope that Jessa could overcome her "dragon".
"That's the thing about the invisible world ... Where souls get battered and minds get muddled and heart get broken again and again. It's a war zone, a disaster area, but no one wants to talk about how messed up things are, so we let each other pretend."
I really enjoyed that Lauren Miller let Jessa's thoughts and feelings be known throughout the entire novel (which I suppose is required in this type of novel, but Jessa was so concrete to me and so believable that these inner thoughts and feelings really added another layer of connection), no matter what was going on you were right there with her. Often, it was sarcastic comments or thoughts that before even reading them I had thought in my head. I felt like I was so close to Jessa.
This novel really affected me in a way that I did not expect. I am quite thankful for the opportunity I got in reading this e-arc from Netgalley. It was a gem that I will not soon forget.
I'm not usually one to quote sections of novels in reviews or in other places, but there were a few that really stuck with me - so I thought I would share, which I have done throughout this review. Here's one last one...
"None of us knows what'll happen next ... on one level [that's] terrifying, because it means there will be lots of moments like this, moments when it feels like darkness is all there is. But just because we can't see the light doesn't mean it isn't there, that it isn't right around the corner. And just because we feel alone doesn't mean we are."