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coloradobookworms's review against another edition
2.0
This book (audiobook) was ok. There were definitely some funny parts especially if you're doing the audible version vs the text version.
It did feel like the book revolved more around Frank's video game addiction and his mother's obsession with his addiction more than Audrey herself. I would have wanted to know more about what happened to Audrey to cause her mental breakdown and what happened in the days leading up to where the book started. I wasn't a fan of having a boy essentially "solve" her anxiety either. I mean in reality, what would happen if the boy who pulled her out of her darkness ended up not being a permanent part of her life in the long run.
All in all this one won't be a book I would really recommend.
It did feel like the book revolved more around Frank's video game addiction and his mother's obsession with his addiction more than Audrey herself. I would have wanted to know more about what happened to Audrey to cause her mental breakdown and what happened in the days leading up to where the book started. I wasn't a fan of having a boy essentially "solve" her anxiety either. I mean in reality, what would happen if the boy who pulled her out of her darkness ended up not being a permanent part of her life in the long run.
All in all this one won't be a book I would really recommend.
sofimoniz's review against another edition
4.0
It was SO SO GOOD!!! I loved all the details, the way Audrey explains us how she really feels is awesome and she can make the readers understand what it is to have mental illness.
I'm not giving five stars because the book made have too much expectations for the end and it wasn't really what I expected.
Anyways, you should go and read this book!!!
I'm not giving five stars because the book made have too much expectations for the end and it wasn't really what I expected.
Anyways, you should go and read this book!!!
brightside_83's review against another edition
4.0
Very Cute book and even though it deals with the heavy subject matter of mental illness, it's done with class- it was a very interesting heartfelt read.
blueisthenewpink's review against another edition
5.0
First sentence. “OMG, Mum’s gone insane.”
I haven’t read a young adult book since becoming a ‘proper’ adult, and it was refreshing to hear (read) the voice of a teenager (in which Finding Audrey is brilliantly written). Moreover, it is not the usual young adult novel. There isn’t a single scene set in a high school but it raises awareness of a very important, yet rarely discussed aspect of school life: bullying. It does so by focusing on the devastating effects bullying had on the victim. The complex psychological problems caused by the cruelty of a group of teenagers demonstrates that it is not only some common inconvenience of high school life, it is a serious problem.
This book has so many strong and important messages, it should be compulsory reading for adults dealing with teenagers (and they would enjoy it immensely, I guarantee that). It tells teachers and parents that bullying is a serious threat, and should be treated as such. It shouldn’t be downplayed saying ‘kids will be kids’. All the teenagers are shown that it is not ‘how life is’, it is not normal and should not be tolerated. The victims are ensured that they are not alone and there is a way out even of the darkest places. Their suffering will end, they can be healed. These messages can be life-saving.
All this in a novel brilliantly written, as always. There is just no putting it down. Great, loveable characters from the very first moment. Interesting, engaging storyline, a bit of romance, a cosy retreat of a family home, a great deal of humour.
It is so easy to identify with Audrey that the reader can better understand what it is like inside the mind of someone suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. Understanding then brings compassion, and compassion brings acceptance.
This book presents difficult and important topics in a light, entertaining read. I very much hope that it will become a huge success everywhere because it does a great job for raising awareness of the very real threat of bullying and for a better understanding of mental illnesses. Sophie Kinsella achieved everything I was missing from the one-hundred-year-old man’s story, and more. Her novel is a true page-turner. It is easy to identify with the protagonist, and I missed all the main characters after finishing the book. I cannot emphasize enough how extraordinary this book is in teaching the reader about important yet rarely discussed topics in a profoundly entartaining way. Amazing, loved it!
I haven’t read a young adult book since becoming a ‘proper’ adult, and it was refreshing to hear (read) the voice of a teenager (in which Finding Audrey is brilliantly written). Moreover, it is not the usual young adult novel. There isn’t a single scene set in a high school but it raises awareness of a very important, yet rarely discussed aspect of school life: bullying. It does so by focusing on the devastating effects bullying had on the victim. The complex psychological problems caused by the cruelty of a group of teenagers demonstrates that it is not only some common inconvenience of high school life, it is a serious problem.
This book has so many strong and important messages, it should be compulsory reading for adults dealing with teenagers (and they would enjoy it immensely, I guarantee that). It tells teachers and parents that bullying is a serious threat, and should be treated as such. It shouldn’t be downplayed saying ‘kids will be kids’. All the teenagers are shown that it is not ‘how life is’, it is not normal and should not be tolerated. The victims are ensured that they are not alone and there is a way out even of the darkest places. Their suffering will end, they can be healed. These messages can be life-saving.
All this in a novel brilliantly written, as always. There is just no putting it down. Great, loveable characters from the very first moment. Interesting, engaging storyline, a bit of romance, a cosy retreat of a family home, a great deal of humour.
It is so easy to identify with Audrey that the reader can better understand what it is like inside the mind of someone suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. Understanding then brings compassion, and compassion brings acceptance.
This book presents difficult and important topics in a light, entertaining read. I very much hope that it will become a huge success everywhere because it does a great job for raising awareness of the very real threat of bullying and for a better understanding of mental illnesses. Sophie Kinsella achieved everything I was missing from the one-hundred-year-old man’s story, and more. Her novel is a true page-turner. It is easy to identify with the protagonist, and I missed all the main characters after finishing the book. I cannot emphasize enough how extraordinary this book is in teaching the reader about important yet rarely discussed topics in a profoundly entartaining way. Amazing, loved it!
frey1154's review against another edition
4.0
This book was hands down surprisingly good. I liked the concept of a book about a 14 yr old girl with social anxiety and her process through her journey out of her anxiety.
I just have a problem with the fact that she suddenly “just loses her glasses” at the end of the book without seeing her trying to process the fact that she has to take them off some day.
I LOVEEEEEED AUDREYS THERAPIST. Like please be my therapist and let me make a documentary about my life
I just have a problem with the fact that she suddenly “just loses her glasses” at the end of the book without seeing her trying to process the fact that she has to take them off some day.
I LOVEEEEEED AUDREYS THERAPIST. Like please be my therapist and let me make a documentary about my life
ellenmulholland's review against another edition
I adored this book! Audrey springs to life on the page, and the entire dysfunctional family is a hoot! This book handles a serious teen issue with silliness. You forget how serious it is until one minute, you're just quiet. Love!
litafterdark's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. It’s an easy read and while it deals with some heavier issues surrounding mental illness and bullying, it has a warmth and lightness to it as well as some very humorous moments that made it a rather delightful read. This book has a beautiful sense of hopefulness to it.
thesuraya's review against another edition
4.0
3.9 STARS
I was first introduced to Sophie Kinsella with her Can You Keep A Secret? book back in 2010 and ever since then she has been my auto-read/auto-buy author. Can You Keep A Secret? and I’ve Got Your Number are the two books I have and will always recommend to everyone. They’re just THAT good. (So if you haven’t read any of those books, YOU ARE MISSING OUT A LOT ! GO BUY AND READ IT NOW !!!)
When Finding Audrey was first exposed to the world, I was ecstatic ! The cover is insanely genius ! The greenish turquoise colour is so beautiful ! If this hasn’t been Kinsella’s book, I would still buy it and make it one of my cover-buy-books.
Finding Audrey is about a 14yo girl named Audrey who suffers from an anxiety disorder caused by a tragic experience in her school. Anxiety disorder or any disorder at all in YA books are often being portrayed as a dark topic. Like the one who suffers from it will be an emotional, depressed and a brooding character with all their dark and deep thoughts but not Audrey. And that is very very refreshing. By the time the book started, Audrey is already in a recovery state and she has had a few sessions with her therapist. She still has her episodes but she faces and controls them with maturity. And she knows how to have a good laugh !
And then comes her family. Audrey’s family is insanely chaotic ! I don’t think chaotic even covers it. Her mom is crazy and obsessed and loud and from a growing teenager’s view aka ME, she is VERY VERY irritating. I’m so thankful that shes not my mom. Honest to God, I cant stand her !
“The thing about Mum is, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s just, no adults do. They’re totally ignorant, but they’re in control. It’s nuts.”
But I really really like her older brother, Frank. Hes my favourite character here. Often in YA and NA books where there is siblings relation involved, the older brother is either too annoying and doesn’t care about his other siblings or too protective, too funny, too dreamy etc etc which make it seems unreal. Frank and Audrey’s relationship is very normal. He seems very teenagerish (considering hes only 15) but he gives enough of the older brother vibe. He supports Audrey and he is very very witty and funny !
"You teenagers need sleep. You should be sleeping 14 hours a night"
"Fourteen hours?" we both stare at her.
"Mum, even comatose people don't sleep 14 hours a night," says Frank.
Only thing though, the whole family matters is given too much spotlight on that the real problem, which is Audrey, is sometimes pushed back to make way for Frank and their mother. Its fun and entertaining to read at first but too much of it is not good. It gets on my skin, really.
Within the pages, Audrey comes to know a guy named Linus who soon becomes her boyfriend. They are not Lara Jean and Peter K kinda ‘cute and sweet ‘ but its good enough to make me smile. *Cute Alert* The Coconut Ice Cream scene is SUPER cute !!! And here comes another problem; lets get real here, everyone. Having a boyfriend isnt going to solve any of your illness. Full stop. You cant just go on a lot of cute dates and have a few advise or help given by your boyfriend then BOOM ! No more panic attacks ! No. It bugs me a lot actually when Audrey recovers way too fast. It doesnt seem real.
The thing about Audrey’s panic attack is, the cause for why its happened is never revealed. We are a given a few clue but not the whole story. It’s a major plot hole seriously. As a reader, I am not satisfied. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED SERIOUSLY ? I keep on telling myself to wait but here I am, already on the last page yet Im still clueless.
"We don’t have to reveal everything to each other. That’s another thing Ive learned in therapy : Its okay to be private. Its okay to say NO. Its okay to say, ‘Im not going to share that.’ So if you don’t mind, lets just leave it there”
Problem is; I DO MIND.
I understand that Kinsella is giving Audrey the upper hand. Like its Audrey’s story so she has the right to not let people know what has happened to her until shes ready (which she never is, considering its never revealed in the book). Yes, some things are better left kept a secret and let it stay in the past, but im afraid this doesn’t fall into that category. And that’s a real bummer.
Knowing Kinsella, her books has always been light, hilarious, bright and that’s exactly what Finding Audrey is. Its easy and fast-paced too. I like it, but I dont really love it like i expected I would. But its not wrong to give it a try. Except for a few parts, its highly enjoyable ! You would find yourself laughing and cackling at Kinsella's humour, trust me ! If anything, I would say that this is one refreshing YA mental illness themed read
"I think what I've realised is, life is all about climbing up, slipping down and picking yourself up again, And it doesn't matter if you slip down. As long as you're kind of heading more or less upwards" - Audrey, Finding Audrey
I was first introduced to Sophie Kinsella with her Can You Keep A Secret? book back in 2010 and ever since then she has been my auto-read/auto-buy author. Can You Keep A Secret? and I’ve Got Your Number are the two books I have and will always recommend to everyone. They’re just THAT good. (So if you haven’t read any of those books, YOU ARE MISSING OUT A LOT ! GO BUY AND READ IT NOW !!!)
When Finding Audrey was first exposed to the world, I was ecstatic ! The cover is insanely genius ! The greenish turquoise colour is so beautiful ! If this hasn’t been Kinsella’s book, I would still buy it and make it one of my cover-buy-books.
Finding Audrey is about a 14yo girl named Audrey who suffers from an anxiety disorder caused by a tragic experience in her school. Anxiety disorder or any disorder at all in YA books are often being portrayed as a dark topic. Like the one who suffers from it will be an emotional, depressed and a brooding character with all their dark and deep thoughts but not Audrey. And that is very very refreshing. By the time the book started, Audrey is already in a recovery state and she has had a few sessions with her therapist. She still has her episodes but she faces and controls them with maturity. And she knows how to have a good laugh !
And then comes her family. Audrey’s family is insanely chaotic ! I don’t think chaotic even covers it. Her mom is crazy and obsessed and loud and from a growing teenager’s view aka ME, she is VERY VERY irritating. I’m so thankful that shes not my mom. Honest to God, I cant stand her !
“The thing about Mum is, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s just, no adults do. They’re totally ignorant, but they’re in control. It’s nuts.”
But I really really like her older brother, Frank. Hes my favourite character here. Often in YA and NA books where there is siblings relation involved, the older brother is either too annoying and doesn’t care about his other siblings or too protective, too funny, too dreamy etc etc which make it seems unreal. Frank and Audrey’s relationship is very normal. He seems very teenagerish (considering hes only 15) but he gives enough of the older brother vibe. He supports Audrey and he is very very witty and funny !
"You teenagers need sleep. You should be sleeping 14 hours a night"
"Fourteen hours?" we both stare at her.
"Mum, even comatose people don't sleep 14 hours a night," says Frank.
Only thing though, the whole family matters is given too much spotlight on that the real problem, which is Audrey, is sometimes pushed back to make way for Frank and their mother. Its fun and entertaining to read at first but too much of it is not good. It gets on my skin, really.
Within the pages, Audrey comes to know a guy named Linus who soon becomes her boyfriend. They are not Lara Jean and Peter K kinda ‘cute and sweet ‘ but its good enough to make me smile. *Cute Alert* The Coconut Ice Cream scene is SUPER cute !!! And here comes another problem; lets get real here, everyone. Having a boyfriend isnt going to solve any of your illness. Full stop. You cant just go on a lot of cute dates and have a few advise or help given by your boyfriend then BOOM ! No more panic attacks ! No. It bugs me a lot actually when Audrey recovers way too fast. It doesnt seem real.
The thing about Audrey’s panic attack is, the cause for why its happened is never revealed. We are a given a few clue but not the whole story. It’s a major plot hole seriously. As a reader, I am not satisfied. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED SERIOUSLY ? I keep on telling myself to wait but here I am, already on the last page yet Im still clueless.
"We don’t have to reveal everything to each other. That’s another thing Ive learned in therapy : Its okay to be private. Its okay to say NO. Its okay to say, ‘Im not going to share that.’ So if you don’t mind, lets just leave it there”
Problem is; I DO MIND.
I understand that Kinsella is giving Audrey the upper hand. Like its Audrey’s story so she has the right to not let people know what has happened to her until shes ready (which she never is, considering its never revealed in the book). Yes, some things are better left kept a secret and let it stay in the past, but im afraid this doesn’t fall into that category. And that’s a real bummer.
Knowing Kinsella, her books has always been light, hilarious, bright and that’s exactly what Finding Audrey is. Its easy and fast-paced too. I like it, but I dont really love it like i expected I would. But its not wrong to give it a try. Except for a few parts, its highly enjoyable ! You would find yourself laughing and cackling at Kinsella's humour, trust me ! If anything, I would say that this is one refreshing YA mental illness themed read
"I think what I've realised is, life is all about climbing up, slipping down and picking yourself up again, And it doesn't matter if you slip down. As long as you're kind of heading more or less upwards" - Audrey, Finding Audrey