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katreadssometimes's review against another edition
5.0
i tried to hold it in, but i cried my eyes out.
j_harris_7's review
4.0
I was surprised at how much this book made me laugh out loud. It's a weird book, and some parts are a little boring and unnecessary, but overall it was pretty good.
lara_bookish_turtle's review
4.0
WOW! This book was so good! I honestly had no real expectations going into this, and I had no idea what it was about, but I loved Eliza and Her Monsters so much, that I had to give this one a go as well, and I was not disappointed!
The storytelling was just so good! I never knew what was real and what wasn't, it was so well done. When I was reading, I thought I knew everything. I thought I could always guess what was delusion and what was real, but then, PLOT TWIST and I actually had no idea the entire time.
Also, every single character in this book is so well done!
Miles is my ultimate fave. He's just so perfect but also such a sad lil bean and I just wanted to reach through the page and give him a hug because he SO BADLY NEEDS ONE!
Tucker was not my favourite I will admit, but I did like the way his character was written and that there was
Alex is such a good character. She felt so REAL and SHE DID NOT BECOME HER ILLNESS!!! YAAAAAAASSSSSSS!!! I'm a bit sad that this is something I have to celebrate so much, because it should always be the case, but this book did it so perfectly. Alex was Alex and that was great.
Also, this book helped me to understand a lot about Schizophrenia. I know it's different in all people, but now I feel like I have a broader and better understanding of what it actually is, and a bit of an idea of what it's like for people who live with it.
I highly recommend this book, I think it is a great read for everyone!
The storytelling was just so good! I never knew what was real and what wasn't, it was so well done. When I was reading, I thought I knew everything. I thought I could always guess what was delusion and what was real, but then, PLOT TWIST and I actually had no idea the entire time.
Spoiler
I'm not scared of snakes, but that snake scene gave me the heebie jeebies. How terrifying to think it's a delusion, but turns out there is an ACTUAL SNAKE coming down your arm. Whew!Also, every single character in this book is so well done!
Miles is my ultimate fave. He's just so perfect but also such a sad lil bean and I just wanted to reach through the page and give him a hug because he SO BADLY NEEDS ONE!
Tucker was not my favourite I will admit, but I did like the way his character was written and that there was
Spoiler
NO LOVE TRIANGLE!!! I hate them so much and I am so grateful to this book for many things, and this is a big part of that!Alex is such a good character. She felt so REAL and SHE DID NOT BECOME HER ILLNESS!!! YAAAAAAASSSSSSS!!! I'm a bit sad that this is something I have to celebrate so much, because it should always be the case, but this book did it so perfectly. Alex was Alex and that was great.
Also, this book helped me to understand a lot about Schizophrenia. I know it's different in all people, but now I feel like I have a broader and better understanding of what it actually is, and a bit of an idea of what it's like for people who live with it.
I highly recommend this book, I think it is a great read for everyone!
sharonsm_28's review
5.0
This was an incredible read. I think this is the first story that dealt with the mental illness called Schizophrenia. The story was beautiful and different from other reads about mental illness, which I thought was really refreshing because we still get insight about the issues that the illness causes the character, but also see how they think about the illness.
One of the reasons I love this book is because of the well-written and fabulous heroine of the story, Alex. She is sassy and sarcastic, but there is more to her that meets the eye. It is hard not to love her. She has a strong personality, which makes her unique and charming. Also, she has schizophrenia, and I love how she accepts that she has this illness and tries to live her life the way she wants to in the end. I admire her character and strength.
I really enjoyed the romance. I did not like Miles that much in the beginning because he was closed off to the world. However, he slowly starts to open up and be himself around Alex, thus he grew on me as well. I would describe Miles and Alex's relationship as slow burn romance, as we get to see how they fell in love right before our eyes. I loved it so much.
Another thing that I loved about this book was the family dynamic between Alex and her family. You had Alex's little sister, Charlie, who would be there for Alex through anything. I thought their relationship was sweet and caring. Also, Alex's parents provided an excellent example as to how to love your children unconditionally. They loved Alex, and were always trying to protect her.
This book was so emotional. The intense twists in this story were unexpected and made me love the book more. The ending was fantastic. I hope to read more books by Francesca Zappia. I am amazed that she was able to create such an incredible debut novel. I am now a fan. I recommend this to anyone who loves YA Contemporary stories with intense plot twists. Overall, an amazing read.
One of the reasons I love this book is because of the well-written and fabulous heroine of the story, Alex. She is sassy and sarcastic, but there is more to her that meets the eye. It is hard not to love her. She has a strong personality, which makes her unique and charming. Also, she has schizophrenia, and I love how she accepts that she has this illness and tries to live her life the way she wants to in the end. I admire her character and strength.
I really enjoyed the romance. I did not like Miles that much in the beginning because he was closed off to the world. However, he slowly starts to open up and be himself around Alex, thus he grew on me as well. I would describe Miles and Alex's relationship as slow burn romance, as we get to see how they fell in love right before our eyes. I loved it so much.
Another thing that I loved about this book was the family dynamic between Alex and her family. You had Alex's little sister, Charlie, who would be there for Alex through anything. I thought their relationship was sweet and caring. Also, Alex's parents provided an excellent example as to how to love your children unconditionally. They loved Alex, and were always trying to protect her.
This book was so emotional. The intense twists in this story were unexpected and made me love the book more. The ending was fantastic. I hope to read more books by Francesca Zappia. I am amazed that she was able to create such an incredible debut novel. I am now a fan. I recommend this to anyone who loves YA Contemporary stories with intense plot twists. Overall, an amazing read.
erni's review
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
kdtoverbooked's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I can see how this book would bother people who live with, work with, or love someone who lives with schizophrenia. It seems like it’s a pretty romanticized version of what living with this disease might be and there were parts that felt more like DID rather than schizophrenia. Outside of those big caveats, it was a fine story. Overall I was let down because I was hoping it would be as good as Eliza and Her Monsters.
darlingqod's review
5.0
I think I'm a little biased here because I've wanted this book so bad, there's just really no emotion else but love towards this novel.
Nonetheless, I'm pretty sure I'd love this novel even without the hype I've had in me even months before I actually purchased a copy.
Nonetheless, I'm pretty sure I'd love this novel even without the hype I've had in me even months before I actually purchased a copy.
ceha's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
4.25
emleemay's review
4.0
“Sometimes I think people take reality for granted.”
I stand by my earlier claim - YA contemporary is where it's at this year. I thought this book was excellent. Compelling, addictive, really weird and excellent. It was such an unusual novel; I can personally say I've never read anything quite like it and it's a great book for discussion. Such an unreliable narrator, constantly blurring the lines between reality and hallucination.
Alex suffers from paranoia and schizophrenia. Her world is full of colours, objects, people and noises that may or may not really be there. She cannot trust her own senses, so she takes pictures of the world around her, knowing that any hallucinations will eventually fade and the reality will be left behind in the image. And I just loved the way the story unfolded.
See, years ago, Alex was first diagnosed when she recounted an incident that no one else seemed to think happened that way. Despite being haunted by this strange false memory, she always told herself that it was part of her mental illness and she had to accept that her memory was lying. Only... then she meets Miles and she begins to wonder if everything about that day was in her head, or if maybe there's something more to the story.
It's fascinating. You don't know what's real and what isn't. The exploration of the line between reality and imagination kept me turning pages at a crazy pace to find out the truth. And it's such a charming little read with a cast of diverse and interesting characters. The dialogue is engaging and witty, without feeling strained like [a:John Green|1406384|John Green|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353452301p2/1406384.jpg]'s sometimes does.
I think I liked Alex and Miles because they're both kind of unlikable. Hehe. Alex is moody and antisocial; Miles is a total pain in the ass. But the weird relationship between them made me like them and made me care about them both. The story predictably takes the romantic route, but it happens very gradually and feels like a natural progression. Not the slightest whiff of insta-anything.
Very enjoyable and very unique (at least to me). Highly recommended to all fans of YA contemporary.
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I stand by my earlier claim - YA contemporary is where it's at this year. I thought this book was excellent. Compelling, addictive, really weird and excellent. It was such an unusual novel; I can personally say I've never read anything quite like it and it's a great book for discussion. Such an unreliable narrator, constantly blurring the lines between reality and hallucination.
Alex suffers from paranoia and schizophrenia. Her world is full of colours, objects, people and noises that may or may not really be there. She cannot trust her own senses, so she takes pictures of the world around her, knowing that any hallucinations will eventually fade and the reality will be left behind in the image. And I just loved the way the story unfolded.
See, years ago, Alex was first diagnosed when she recounted an incident that no one else seemed to think happened that way. Despite being haunted by this strange false memory, she always told herself that it was part of her mental illness and she had to accept that her memory was lying. Only... then she meets Miles and she begins to wonder if everything about that day was in her head, or if maybe there's something more to the story.
It's fascinating. You don't know what's real and what isn't. The exploration of the line between reality and imagination kept me turning pages at a crazy pace to find out the truth. And it's such a charming little read with a cast of diverse and interesting characters. The dialogue is engaging and witty, without feeling strained like [a:John Green|1406384|John Green|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353452301p2/1406384.jpg]'s sometimes does.
I think I liked Alex and Miles because they're both kind of unlikable. Hehe. Alex is moody and antisocial; Miles is a total pain in the ass. But the weird relationship between them made me like them and made me care about them both. The story predictably takes the romantic route, but it happens very gradually and feels like a natural progression. Not the slightest whiff of insta-anything.
Very enjoyable and very unique (at least to me). Highly recommended to all fans of YA contemporary.
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