A review by dearsayuri
The Movie Version by Emma Wunsch

3.0

"It doesn't get easier[...] You just get more used to it."

Find all my reviews on my blog
I would like to thank Amulet Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To be frank, I am not sure how to describe The Movie Version. I had quite a few problems with it right from the start. I expected it to be a light and quirky read as the description suggests. In fact, there is pretty much nothing close to what the blurb promises. I just wish I knew what I was getting myself into because there is so so so many things out of place in The Movie Version. However, despite being such strange and low-key disturbing novel, I liked it. I want to sleep on it a few more days to actually let it in. I guess, that is the beauty of it. The Movie Version takes time to process.

I do not want to throw big words around but I do have a first-hand experience with mental illness. I am no stranger to seeing how people react to it. The peculiarity is that they have different reactions. And they are not perfect. And you never know what to expect. However, despite having enough knowledge about whole mental illness business I was deeply annoyed with Amelia.

"He said mental illness could devastate a whole family. Am I devastated? Because mostly I'm speechless."

I honestly felt like I was counseling myself into accepting her behavior and her as a person. I struggled to see her as not just Amelia Anderson at that moment but as a girl who she used to be before. I think that's the reason (beside all of the obvious ones) why I was so hostile towards her. I did not get to know the before Amelia. Same applies to Toby. If only we got a decent introduction to those two before, the story could have been so much more heart-breakingly beautiful.

Despite finding Amelia very unlikable, I could see her as a human. You know, she did not exactly have it perfect but it was still great. Now, things were changing and considering that she was practically oblivious to her brother's mental illness, it hit her hard. However, I did not expect her coming out of it gracefully with no wounds and being stronger than ever. This is not the movie version, it's life. You are going to come out of this situation affected, one way or another. That's the truth and I was glad to see it in The Movie Version.

Praise heavens, Amelia's mental growth by the end of the book was incredible. I thought, hell yeah, she made it! The novel did not get instantly better because Amelia Anderson managed to "get her house straight". The novel got better because I saw the reality of what was happening. Finally.

"Toby used to say you should do things like it was the movie version of your life. Like, would people pay to watch it? But lately I think the movie version isn't right. Not everything has to be full of action. You can appreciate all the regular, nonexciting times, too."

I think almost entire first half of the book was forced. I can't put my finger on it but there was just something off. It felt like Emma Wunsch tried to glue a bunch of absolutely unrelated things together and they just did not add up. It did not feel real even a tiny bit. Now, I have a theory. Emma Wunsch did it on purpose to emphasize the transition from Amelia's movie version life to real life. I am not sure if I am counseling myself into it again or talking the real deal. Up to me, I guess.

All in all, I do admit Amelia's reaction was realistic. However, that's pretty much all I could like about The Movie Version. I was angry at Amelia most of the time. I did not feel bad for her. I could blame her for a lot of things. However, that is my personal opinion and in the end, I would want my friends to read The Movie Version. Just to learn from a bad example of Amelia Jane Anderson and for the sake of awareness.