kyra_reads16's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
5.0
book_lover707's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
i didn’t think i’d like this but i finally found ya contemporary that didn’t kill me from second hand embarrassment. really cute, good comfort read. there’s still some heavy topics tho.
fawngutz's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hannah_solly17's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.25
j_pink23's review
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.0
myendlessshelf's review
5.0
You can find this review and more on my blog at My Endless Shelf.
I really wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did!
I absolutely love the characters and their varying personalities. Each one is so distinct, diverse and compelling and I love how well the author portrays mental health in all its variations.
The book is set in the UK, which I really enjoyed. Since I'm British, I find I sometimes relate more to books with familiar settings etc, and it definitely felt that way with The Definition of Us.
Whilst reading this book it gave me a bit of a Breakfast Club vibe whilst also reminding me a little of Clean by Juno Dawson (which I highly recommend if you haven't read it!)
What I truly love the most about this book is how realistic the characters are, they were so relatable, and their journey both together and as individuals is really beautiful.
I can honestly say that this is the best book about mental health that I've read to date. The representation, understanding, acceptance and relatability of mental health portrayed in this book was, in my opinion, flawless.
It's juxtaposed with sweetness, humour, romance and friendship and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I was so caught up in these characters and their stories that it was only when I'd finish did I realise I saw so much of myself in them. Different insecurities, worries, and problems that I've struggled with throughout my life, reflected back at me in these characters, and I was left feeling better about myself.
This book is about hope, about strength and about how being human is complicated and that absolutely no one is perfect, everyone is facing some form of internal struggle, no matter how put together they seem on the outside.
I'm going to finish with a truly beautiful quote, and encourage you all to read this book!
"There is always a moment in the future you'll be glad you stuck around for."
I really wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did!
I absolutely love the characters and their varying personalities. Each one is so distinct, diverse and compelling and I love how well the author portrays mental health in all its variations.
The book is set in the UK, which I really enjoyed. Since I'm British, I find I sometimes relate more to books with familiar settings etc, and it definitely felt that way with The Definition of Us.
Whilst reading this book it gave me a bit of a Breakfast Club vibe whilst also reminding me a little of Clean by Juno Dawson (which I highly recommend if you haven't read it!)
What I truly love the most about this book is how realistic the characters are, they were so relatable, and their journey both together and as individuals is really beautiful.
I can honestly say that this is the best book about mental health that I've read to date. The representation, understanding, acceptance and relatability of mental health portrayed in this book was, in my opinion, flawless.
It's juxtaposed with sweetness, humour, romance and friendship and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I was so caught up in these characters and their stories that it was only when I'd finish did I realise I saw so much of myself in them. Different insecurities, worries, and problems that I've struggled with throughout my life, reflected back at me in these characters, and I was left feeling better about myself.
This book is about hope, about strength and about how being human is complicated and that absolutely no one is perfect, everyone is facing some form of internal struggle, no matter how put together they seem on the outside.
I'm going to finish with a truly beautiful quote, and encourage you all to read this book!
"There is always a moment in the future you'll be glad you stuck around for."
kba76's review
4.0
Mental health is high on the agenda of things to talk about...but living with the impact of mental health issues can be draining. Anything that gets teens talking about their interactions and mindset has to be a good thing.
Our ragtag bunch of characters are all part of a clinic for teens. When they learn their therapist has gone missing they decide to hunt for him. And so begins one of the oddest books I’ve read for a while.
A road trip with a difference. Along the way we learn a little more about Florence, Jasper, Wilf and Andrew. We discover a little more about their background, and start to look at how they forge friendships.
Great fun, but also a timely exploration of how we treat mental health. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my thoughts.
Our ragtag bunch of characters are all part of a clinic for teens. When they learn their therapist has gone missing they decide to hunt for him. And so begins one of the oddest books I’ve read for a while.
A road trip with a difference. Along the way we learn a little more about Florence, Jasper, Wilf and Andrew. We discover a little more about their background, and start to look at how they forge friendships.
Great fun, but also a timely exploration of how we treat mental health. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my thoughts.
kahling's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
It's quite refreshing to get to know more about mental illnesses and such, and also enjoy a happy ending. But I don't think there are many drastic emotional attacks on the reader, and hence it was a good and leisure read but not one that I would be deeply engaged in.
liesljrowe's review
4.0
Popsugar Challenge #16. A book about mental health
A group of teens with various mental illnesses go on a road trip to find their therapist. It does sound a little Breakfast Club at first glance, but it's much better than that. While the various difficulties that the teenagers face are clearly portrayed, it's shown how these differences which make them appear not normal in general society are also what makes them so special and engaging as people. I had a particular soft spot for Jasper, who has developed an eating disorder as a way of managing his anxiety, but honestly all of the four were fantastic characters and I felt sad upon finishing the book that I wasn't going to get to spend more time with them. Definitely will be recommending this one a lot in future.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
A group of teens with various mental illnesses go on a road trip to find their therapist. It does sound a little Breakfast Club at first glance, but it's much better than that. While the various difficulties that the teenagers face are clearly portrayed, it's shown how these differences which make them appear not normal in general society are also what makes them so special and engaging as people. I had a particular soft spot for Jasper, who has developed an eating disorder as a way of managing his anxiety, but honestly all of the four were fantastic characters and I felt sad upon finishing the book that I wasn't going to get to spend more time with them. Definitely will be recommending this one a lot in future.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
lucyjunee's review
2.0
WHAT I LIKED:
~Boy rep with an eating disorder
~Cute friendships
~Florence’s love of linguistics, such an fascinating interest for a character. Very unique.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
~Unrealistic as hell. Sure, a kid with severe autism and need for structure and routine is going to go on a spontaneous road~trip across country with people he barely knows.
~I feel as if I didn’t really get to know the characters at all?? They all seemed like cutouts that blended into each other
~Really quite boring. Where’s the drama? Tension? Intrigue? Nothing really happened.
~Mediocre writing style that doesn’t distinguish it from any other book.
~I just didn’t care. About where Howard was, how they were going to find him, their life stories. I just didn’t care.
~The characters are their mental illnesses. They don’t have a personality outside of it.
~For a book focusing mainly on mental illness, it’s not really talked about and when it is, that’s the only time the characters seem to show symptoms or reflecting back on their time at Manor Lane? Otherwise they seem okay?? Like, their mental illnesses just appear when it’s convenient for the storyline and disappear magically when the writer wants to shift the focus onto the road trip. That’s not how it works.
~Slow pacing, wasn’t engaging at all.
2/5 stars, wouldn’t recommend
~Boy rep with an eating disorder
~Cute friendships
~Florence’s love of linguistics, such an fascinating interest for a character. Very unique.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
~Unrealistic as hell. Sure, a kid with severe autism and need for structure and routine is going to go on a spontaneous road~trip across country with people he barely knows.
~I feel as if I didn’t really get to know the characters at all?? They all seemed like cutouts that blended into each other
~Really quite boring. Where’s the drama? Tension? Intrigue? Nothing really happened.
~Mediocre writing style that doesn’t distinguish it from any other book.
~I just didn’t care. About where Howard was, how they were going to find him, their life stories. I just didn’t care.
~The characters are their mental illnesses. They don’t have a personality outside of it.
~For a book focusing mainly on mental illness, it’s not really talked about and when it is, that’s the only time the characters seem to show symptoms or reflecting back on their time at Manor Lane? Otherwise they seem okay?? Like, their mental illnesses just appear when it’s convenient for the storyline and disappear magically when the writer wants to shift the focus onto the road trip. That’s not how it works.
~Slow pacing, wasn’t engaging at all.
2/5 stars, wouldn’t recommend