A review by forg3y
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It’s hard. A hard but really really good read. The mythology in the main characters head that protects and destroys her is so well built up. The mystery of WHY and the breaks in the hard work of self self discovery where she hides in herself or in the ward are really nicely paced. The resolution(s) are great, although a few times it’s a bit “ah I remember a memory! Oh wait I was remembering it weird :o”.The small breaking of walls throughout is never made to seem easy, though, and it’s very well done.
Her therapist never promised her a rose garden
It’s brutal that if she decides that she wants to live, she’s forced to work harder than anyone to just to barely be surviving. It’s not fair, and that’s one of the hardest thing the book gives you.
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