Think this was just trying too had to be really of-the-time and try and depict people with mental health conditions accurately, but by having them all be in a group bonded just felt disingenuous.

Read Dec 18

Perfect character driven road trip story! The characters are so well-written and well-rounded and real and amazing! Everything is developed slowly, we know that Florence has depression and anxiety but not immediately why, the others are revealed as we go: Jasper has an eating disorder, Andrew has Autism Spectrum Disorder (why that automatically needs therapy is unclear to me) and Wilf has ADHD and anger issues, not to mention a serious fear of ending up like his family, he has his own dreams.

The group are united by their therapist, Howard, but when he goes missing, they are compelled to try and find him. I loved their conversations and how they interacted. Also, it was a small thing, but I loved Florence’s thing with words, collecting pretty ones etc.

There are a number of books of this style and subject out there, and there's something very appealing about them. Wanting the characters to persevere and find a way to live a good life, despite various issues, is one of the deepest draws for me. This was a good example of the sub-genre, an interesting and enjoyable adventure.

The cover of this book announces it is perfect for fans of John Green but it actually falls woefully short of emulating the on point teenage-centric feels that Mr Green can tap with such aplomb. Frankly the most apt word I could use to describe this novel is unconvincing. The premise is a little iffy and the execution is weirdly superficial and emotionally detached. The issues addressed, as such as they are, are certainly worthy but are presented in such a way as to appear as little more than plot devices. I just did not buy any of it. That said, the road trip element of the story was quite entertaining.

i love when i come across a book set in the UK written by a british author! it makes such a pleasant change from the flood of american books. this was a great exploration of mental health plus a road trip. I liked how positive it was about mental health.

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

I warmed to all of the four main characters in this novel, they were fleshed out well enough that they felt like real teenagers, with their variety of all too real issues (including ASD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, poor anger/impulse control and - be warned - suicide, in this case that of one of the main characters best friends).

It did seem somewhat unlikely, given their challenges and reliance on routine, that at least one of those characters would have managed to cope with the realities of their unplanned, overnight excursion/road trip/quest.

However the friendship and motivations, along with the information about their different challenges and backgrounds all worked well enough for me to enjoy the story and care about it's outcomes.

The writing is quite simple, yet does flow nicely, so I would think ideal for teens of the same age group as the characters (16/17) or younger.

I selected this book for two reasons It did seem like something that I'd want to read but also because I wanted to read more diversity which this book did deliver In.

A gorgeous and insightful look at mental health. I love seeing this topic explored in YA where perhaps it's most important.

I was really surprised by how much I liked this book. It's basically a road trip novel about four characters with mental health issues. I was worried that it would be another novel where mental health issues are used as cute quirks and "healed" by love by the end. So I was pleasantly surprised when the characters all had realistic issues that weren't glossed over but actually dealt with in a natural feeling fashion.

None of the issues are actually resolved by the end of the novel but all the characters finish in a better position than they started in. The development of the characters felt natural, I liked the different relationships and the plot was really fun as well.

Overall, this is one of the best novels that deals with mental health issues that I've read this year.

I thought that Sarah Harris wrote wonderful characters and I loved the focus on mental health.
It was well written and I really enjoyed the diary excerpts.

I enjoyed aspects of this book a lot. It's about a group of teenagers with a variety of mental health problems who take an impromptu road trip to Wales in search of their favourite therapist, who has abruptly left the centre where they met. Over the course of the journey, they get to know each other and themselves a bit better, and figure out what they want to do with their futures.

The characters are each distinct and well-developed, with their own problems and ways of responding to them. Because the book touches on each of their experiences, although focused most on Florence (the viewpoint character), it avoids focusing too heavily on any one problem, and the book as a whole is much lighter in tone than some books about mental illness that I've read.

There's also quite a big pop culture element, which is fun, though I feel it could quickly become dated -- already some of the references were a couple of years old, and that will begin to show more as time passes.

It's a character-driven book, but there is still plot, and even some drama -- though I have to admit, some of it felt a little haphazard, as though it had been thrown in there but never fully embedded in the storyline. I also questioned the realism of a few things, especially the ability of a group of teenagers to not get ID'd when alone in a pub together. It's a fairly fast paced book, though, so one doesn't get bogged down in those kinds of details.

I wasn't a big fan of the prose style, though, and that was a distraction throughout the book. It particularly bothered me when the characters were talking about what they'd learned about their mental health or whatever, because the phrasing made it feel a little ... didactic. And while I'm all about emphasising the value of therapy and structure to deal with anxiety and so on, it still felt occasionally preachy. The hints at Florence's backstory were effective in that I kept reading to find out what had happened, but I did feel kind of frustrated by how long it took to get answers to those questions since it felt like a lot of build up.

Overall, though, it was enjoyable enough, and I liked that it emphasised the importance of recovery not being focused around a single person (whether a therapist or a friend).

--

This review is on Goodreads and will be cross-posted to my blog in September (since August is already full up!).

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.

Trigger Warning: This book features discussion of suicide.

The Definition of Us by Sarah Harris sounded like it would be right up my street, but unfortunately, I found it very disappointing.

When the patients at Manor Lane Diagnostic & Therapy Centre are told that their psychotherapist Howard isn't going to be at their therapy sessions for the foreseeable, Florence, Wilf, Jasper and Andrew are left feeling lost. Howard is the only person they've really been able to talk to, the only person who has helped them. Worried that something might be wrong, the four decide to try and track him down to make sure he's ok. On their journey, the four form a friendship they never thought they would, as they are all are so different.

So, firstly, the story is unrealistic. These four teens, who don't really know each other, decide to take it on themselves to go and find Howard. Andrew, who has ASD and needs routine, and is having trouble dealing with Howard's disappearance the fact that he isn't going to have his therapy sessions when he's supposed to, manages to convince the other - though it doesn't take much - to go and find Howard on their own. There is very little conversation about it, very little thought about how it might not be a great idea. Very soon, they're off, on their way to search for him, with the belief that he'll be at his sister's in Cambridge, after overhearing a conversation between the staff.

Then there's the fact that, in the great scheme of things, not a huge amount happens. Yes, it's a road trip kind of story, but still, there are meant to be things that happen along the way, to keep you interested. I think maybe two things of any real note happen. Mostly, it's just conversation. And this is the major problem for me: the whole story felt forced and unnatural. The heart-to-hearts the characters have felt very patronising; those trying to comfort others saying cliché things that mean very little. They're meant to actually care, but it's just not believable. It's all surface concern, but doesn't feel genuine.

Then there are the characters themselves, who, for the most part, do not feel like real people. They're aged between 16 and 18, but they all felt so much younger - the whole story felt like it was aimed more at 13-year-olds, and written for 13-year-olds whose intelligence the author had made assumptions about, and dumbed the writing down for them. We learn very little about the characters as people. There is no chemistry of any kind between them, not even for friendship, let alone the romance that is supposedly blossoming between Florence and Jasper. I did not believe in any of the relationships, that any of them genuinely cared about the others.

There doesn't seem to be much depth to the characters, or to the story, and I felt like even their mental illnesses and other conditions are really explored properly - accept for maybe Andrew, but part of me thinks that's only because he has ASD, and so he has to be seen to be acting/reacting/thinking/behaving differently from what we're used to. He seemed like the most fully-formed character, and yet, beside having ASD, all we really know about him is he's interested in maths and science. That's it. The only other character that felt somewhat real is Wilf, because he had some personality. He can be inappropriate and bold, he gets wound up fairly easily and is honest with it, and he makes some amusing comments. But it's the fact that he has anger issues that makes him seem more real than the others, because he's reacting all the time - even though, to me, he just seemed to get annoyed a lot. I wouldn't have said he had anger issues. So again, it's where their conditions are not explored enough. If I didn't know already that Wilf had ADHD, there's nothing in the story that would make me think there was something about himself he was dealing with.

But onto the mental illnesses covered, and the discussion of mental illness. Florence has depression, Jasper has anorexia, and Andrew is possibly OCD. For the most part, unless they were particularly talking about or focusing on mental illness, none of them really seemed like they had a mental illness. Of course, there is no "right" way to act when you have a mental illness, but having read a number of books on mental illness now, most of these characters don't show many of the symptoms you'd expect. They seem fine, until they're talking about it, or Florence is thinking back, or thinking about someone else's mental illness. When they are, though, there are some interesting things said or thought about, but it still doesn't go into that much depth overall. Here is Florence thinking about her depression.

'In her twelve weeks at Manor Lane she'd come a long way. Fortunately Jasper hadn't seen her when she first arrived. When she was switched off and just wanted to be left alone. At that point she didn't communicate, she rarely washed her hair or changed her clothes, she didn't taste the food that was put in front of her. What was the point?
Over the following weeks at Manor Lane things began to change. CBT, hours of conversations with Howard, enforced routine, yoga and meditation, meeting other people like herself, who didn't fit in and probably never would. They started to have an effect. She started feeling things again, remembering herself, wanting to join in more. She'd find herself talking, asking questions, wanting to know things. She sometimes even caught a glimpse of a feeling, an intense feeling like excitement, passion or joy, and it was like the sudden burst of a firework. A brief and unexpected flash of colour and life would quickly vanish and leave her wondering where it had come from and hoping it would come back. She was remembering who she was and the things she liked. She was slowly becoming a person again, but she wasn't fully formed and solid yet. She was an apparition, and sometimes she worried if she looked too hard she might vanish again.' (45%)

In an of itself, this is really insightful, and I guess also shows how treatment and therapy can help. But other than being worried about an anniversary that's coming up, there's no other real discussion of her mental illness. The Definition of Us may not be specifically about mental illness, but it's about finding their psychotherapist because they have issues they need his help with. But on the whole, they're only touched on, once or twice maybe. I just expected more. Here's Florence thinking about Jasper's anorexia.

'On Jasper's second day at Manor Lane, Wilf had made a typically inappropriate comment about the calories in the chocolate bar Jasper was eating. Jasper countered it by pointing out that he wasn't actually anorexic. Instead he described himself as "a bit fussy" and said with what sounded like false bravado that he "functioned better on an empty stomach".
Florence soon figured out that Jasper's real problem was anxiety. He was running high on adrenaline, like a care being revved in neutral. Avoiding food was one of his ways of managing it. He'd got used to eating less and a habit had set in. Now eating would cause him to react as thought he was being confronted with a phobia.' (44%)

Again, there are a few interesting conversations about mental illness in general, but again, they're just touched on.

'"It's like, as soon as people know you've got problems it's all they see. They don't take the time to find out what you're really about."
"Yeah, I get that," Florence said. "People are either scared of talking to me or they're asking if I'm okay all the time, like I might just crack up in front of them. Even my own parents. No one treats me like a normal person any more. I can see it in their faces when they talk to me. They're thinking, you're that depressed girl. It's all they see."
"It's true. People have taken the piss out of me for years," Jasper said. "Guys aren't allowed to get anxious about stuff, are they? They're supposed to be tough. Man up and all that. Guys with eating disorders can't be taken seriously. They see an anxious guy with an eating disorder who takes drama and they either laugh at me or assume I'm gay."' (39-40%)

'"...What of he's ill, or depressed, or something?"
"Poor Howard," Jasper said.
"Hmm," Wilf screwed up his face. "I dunno. Howard's not the sort to be depressed or anything like that. He's sorted. He's got an answer for everything. He'd just psych himself back on the straight and narrow."
"I'm not so sure," Jasper said. "He told me once that he had depression and anxiety before he went to university. That's why he wanted to be a therapist."
"He told me the same," Florence said. "I always thought it was hard to imagine but no one's immune to it. You can't go by how people come across on the outside."' (12-13%)

'"And I'm coming to the conclusion that we're all surprisingly normal."
"You're right, you know. I never felt normal till I came to Manor Lane."
"Me too, but what about when we're not in Manor Lane?"
He shrugged. "I feel normal right now."
"Then maybe normal is just a state of mind?"
"Or maybe normal is everything and everything is normal?"
"You've totally just expanded on the definition of normal."
"I always thought it should be more inclusive."' (33%)

There is an interesting look at ASD, and how Andrew feels most of the time...

'"[Wilf] is your friend," Jasper said firmly. "We all are."
Andrew sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Why don't you take me seriously then?"Wilf was pacing. "Oh, believe me, I take you very seriously, Andrew.""Not how I feel about things. You think that I'm autistic so that means I don't care about stuff but I do. All I've ever wanted is to have friends like everyone else. Friends I can trust not to laugh at me or treat me like I'm nothing."
Wilf looked like he was going to argue but Andrew continued.
"At school the only kind of friends I made were the sort who'd talk about a party and invite me but then give me the wrong address on purpose. Friends who'd do things to wind me up so they could watch me get in trouble. Friends who'd write swear words in my notes and change my name to Android in the school paper just before it got send to the printers."
Wilf made a noise like a snort then quickly cleared his throat.
Andrew stared at him angrily. "It's not funny. You think I'm just one big joke but it's not funny to me. You call me names and put me down but I'm not a robot. I do care. I spend a lot of time trying to understand people because I want them to like me. I don't want to annoy people or say the wrong thing. I really am trying, but I feel like I'm always failing or disappointing people. Why does no one ever try to understand me?"' (38-39%)

...but at the same time, there isn't a huge amount more to Andrew. He is his ASD. And it kind of felt to me that he was used on occasion to create humour. Not that we were laughing at him, but that he would say things he probably shouldn't and create awkward, humorous situations - like when he mentions he didn't think Jasper was gay because of how he acts around Florence. And although we're not laughing at him, it did feel like he and his ASD were used to create awkward, funny situations. Like the author thought, "Ok, we need something funny to happen now. Let's have Andrew say something no-one else would." Which is really unfair. Sure these things may happen in real life, but don't use the autistic character to create humour.

There are a few other elements to the story that were good to see. Though she doesn't find out until later on in the book, Florence has synaesthesia, and it's a kind of synaesthesia I've not come across before, in relation to words:

'A few years later she stared to realise she experienced [words] differently to other people. Sometimes they just made her feel something: pleasure, disgust, calm, intrigued. Sometimes they formed shapes, patterns, colours. Sometimes they were clear enough to form objects or scenes. Nouns were the most confusing because the words in her head didn't fit their definition. Brick was a fist. Flower looked like cotton wool. Paper was shiny. When you said things like that out loud you tended to get looked at strangely. There were sniggers in the classroom. People thought you were making it up. After a while Florence learned to keep her words to herself.' (34%)

And, although it's not said on page, it looks like Andrew may be aromantic and asexual:

'Andrew looked impatiently at Wilf. "Megan's not my girlfriend. She's gay."
Wilf's eyes widened. "Seriously? Wow, what a waste. Bad luck, mate."
"I'm sure her girlfriend doesn't think it's a waste and anyway, I don't see how it's bad luck. I don't want a girlfriend."
Wilf's eyes grew even wider. "You want a boyfriend?"
"No! I've told you before, I don't want that sort of relationship with anyone. I just want a friend."' (80%)

It's always good to see asexual rep, so this was pretty awesome.

However, overall, The Definition of Us was a huge let down. To me, the whole story felt like it was written with a teenage audience in mind, and wrote in what they thought would be their level. It was pretty embarrassing, really, and so difficult to read without feeling so frustrated. This could have been such an incredible book if it wasn't so patronising, and if it explored the characters, their conditions, and their home lives in more depth. It was just really not for me. However, a lot of people seem to have loved it, so do read some other reviews before deciding whether you'll read it or not.

Thank you to Piatkus via NetGalley for the eProof.

Whilst this novel is billed as YA fiction it will also appeal to adults with an interest in mental health and autistic spectrum disorders.

Following the lives of a group of youngsters, brought together by their mental health issues, we get an insight into the interactions between them, their parents and their supporters and the struggles that each faces.

The storyline is strong enough for YA fiction, a little implausible at times, but this is made up for through strong characterisation and a depth to the individuals that leaves you yearning for more.

My 12 year old child, not dissimilar to one of the characters this was a book, also enjoyed the book and it was used as a talking point and door opener to some conversations that might otherwise be quite difficult to start. Fiction like this can be priceless in that regard. If there was one negative, however, it is that the language used is quite strong in places (there are also some scenes involving drugs and sex) and so whilst this is a good story and easily comprehensible by the younger "YA" reader, parents may wish to satisfy themselves that it is appropriate.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would love to read more from the author.

With thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I was very keen to try this book since it features a group of characters dealing with mental health issues. That's a topic close to my heart and I'm always after good representation of it! However, despite loving the group of four and their dynamics, I ended up quite disheartened by some of the messages in the book. And the ending left me feeling a bit confused as to what the point even was?

The story features a spontaneous road-trip when the four teens who stay part-time at a mental health facility discover their therapist has left with no explanation as to why. At first I liked this premise, but then it lead me to so so many questions...like:

(a) how on earth did the parents not care where their kids are? If they have them checked into a mental health facility most days of the week (I'm assuming it's not always, or how did they even GO on this trip?), then wouldn't they be actively worried about where they were? Andrew's parents don't even question his road trip at all because they're "just glad he has friends"!?
(b) if you run a facility with a ton of highly anxious and mentally ill kids and then snatch a building block from their lives (aka, a therapist they all have connected to) it's just unreasonable that they wouldn't be told that he left to deal with some family issues. The teens should've been comforted not told "oh well, you get free time!" This facility is awful.
(c) no one actually even seemed to MIND that these 4 kids stalked a guy across Britain which is...um, not ok.

I also felt all four of the kids could turn their issues on and off. Florence's depression didn't affect her on the journey (despite it being a very stressful time considering it was the anniversary of the reason she is depressed). Jasper's eating disorder didn't affect his energy levels/health and he didn't eat for the 2 days but it was all "ok" apparently. Wilf's ADHD virtually disappeared by the end. Andrew's autistic traits only manifested in him running away when things got tough or people didn't follow the plan. At the beginning he's introduced as stressed and highly anxious, freaking out when a schedule is disrupted...by the end? He's totally fine and chill with anything. He just needed someone to say "hey I'm your friend"! and all his ASD symptoms smoothed out. I also felt that they indicated he was "faking" OCD in order to be in the facility because it was a safe place for him, which would lead a LOT of readers to totally confuse OCD vs ASD traits. This is problematic misinformation.

Plus the author's note at the end puts a cherry on a disheartening cake by referring to neurological disorders (aka autism and ADHD) as "masks" over your true personality. There is no "real person" hiding behind an autistic person's traits. Please never never say this. It's ableist and cruel and as a person on the spectrum myself, I was very disappointed to see this in a book.

Things I did like about the book however were the great pacing! I usually get bored during roadtrip books, but not so here. I really did love the four's dynamics, and how they did dismantle some stereotypes. The boys were all super endearing and I love how there was never a question how they were there for each other! More strong friendships like this please.

Overall? I have a lot of issues with underlying themes in this book and I think it dealt with mental health too lightly.

I was sent an ARC of this from Netgalley for an honest review.

I am very much drawn to books about mental health lately, I feel like they are so important, and maybe if there had been even half as many out when I was a teenager then maybe I would have dealt with a lot of my problems in a better way than I did.
(Granted yes I should have taken the help when I was told to, but I was a stubborn teenager who thought I knew best- evidently that was not the case.)

When I saw the description for this my interest was piqued

"Normal:
(adj.) Conforming to a standard; regular, typical or expected

(Urban) A world inapplicable to human beings

(Florence) Round, smooth and bumpy like a cobbled street

Florence doesn't always see things the way other people do. She feels different.

When Florence meets Jasper, Andrew and Wilf she can't imagine they'd have much in common - with at least five mental health conditions between them, they all have very different reasons for being referred to Manor Lane Therapy Centre.

It's only when their therapist, Howard, goes missing that they find a common purpose. Worried by this disappearance and wanting answers, the four of them decide to track him down.

As they cross the country in a 'borrowed' van, asking each other Ultimate Questions and facing a series of challenges along the way, they start to reveal their true selves - and Florence realises there's more to all of them than just a diagnosis...

Maybe they're not so different after all?"


This is definitely the kind of book you can read in one sitting, it is less than 300 pages and the characters are all interesting in their own ways, they all have their own stories and problems in life, although the m.c is Florence- one detail I loved was the excerpts of her notebook.

I found it interesting that Synaesthesia is mentioned throughout this- although it is only at the end when the character finds out WHAT it actually is, I have been made aware of it on tumblr, but I have never seen it mentioned in anything I have read before.

Yes there is a blossoming romance throughout as well- because would it be a YA novel without one? In some ways you could say that the relationship developed quite quickly- but the story does start off with them finding out that Howard has disappeared and it is mentioned throughout that they have been at Manor Lane for a while so they all knew each other on some level prior to the "road trip" to find him.

But I have to say I was more drawn in by the friendships developed and formed along the way and each character becoming more at ease with who they are and opening up to people other than Howard.
I won't lie, there was a point where I sort of forgot they were trying to find him and I was just concentrating on the group finding themselves along the way.

I wouldn't say this was as heavy as other books that focus on mental health, but it really does just remind you that
1. even if you do have mental health conditions you aren't abnormal.
2. therapists are people too and they have their own problems outside of work as well.
3. "There is always a moment in the future you'll be glad you stuck around for"

In general I liked this book- ok so I may have already purchased a physical copy from Waterstones because I felt like it was one that I would like to have in my collection.

The Definition of Us is about four interesting characters who are going on a road-trip to find their therapist, who suddenly has disappeared. During this trip, they really get to know each other and I really liked this concept! Each character had their own issues, and I really liked how they sort of dealt with it during this trip.

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.

I received an ARC of The Definition of Us from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion of the book.

Florence, Jasper, Wilf and Andrew all have their issues. Florence struggles with her depression, while Jasper is happy nearly all the time – only, not at mealtimes. Andrew’s ASD means he operates on plans and known entities, while Wilf has anger issues, ADHD, and a tongue in cheek attitude. When the psychotherapist they all rely on, Howard, disappears without a trace, they take matters into their own hands, embarking on a journey across the country to find him and make sure he’s okay.

I tend to shy away from books that have mental health as the main plot. I’ve struggled with a few things for over four years, and I still find myself unable to face it all. I read to distract myself from them, so I try not to bleed the lines together. I think mental health is something that people should write, read and talk about more, but my avoidant personality makes it difficult to really let it in, and I don’t have many good memories or experiences with hospitals and therapy, either. I don’t like to think back on them at all, but this story was so different. So beautiful and refreshing. It made me feel hopeful. Like I can try again and not have a shit time. I’m lucky that the past few contemporaries about mental health have had nothing but positive, hopeful influences on me. And this book is definitely one of them!

In The Definition of Us, I met characters that struggled with mental health issues, but were not their illnesses. There was so much depth to them, so much more. For example, Florence wasn’t her depression. She was a curious girl who loved words; the sound and feel of them. She was headstrong and brave, thoughtful to the point of my breaking my heart, and considerate. Her voice was so distinct and interesting, I often felt myself echoed in her. You could really empathize with her and her way of thinking and seeing things made it so easy to love her. She was so…real. I understood her perfectly. Some chapters really made my chest ache because so many of it was real for me as well. Depression takes a lot out of someone. It has taken more of me than I want it to, but with Florence, she took back from it. I was so proud. I teared up because she was crazy amazing towards the end. Brave and incredible. GOD, I LOVED HER.

Then we have Jasper, who was – is – one of my favourite characters in contemporary YA. There was so much to like about him – he was quirky, funny, sweet. He liked to say he was 90% happy most of the time but the other 10% would sometimes take hold. This is how I feel all the time. One of my favourite things about his character was that he was a boy with an eating disorder. Harris was able to raise the fact that boys and men suffer from eating disorders just as much as girls and women – this is something I wish there was more of. And it wasn’t that he lived off salad and wouldn’t eat unhealthy things – no, he loved chocolate, an unhealthy food. He simply struggled to eat other things and sometimes experienced anxiety from the thought of them. Harris did a brilliant job of raising the fact that eating disorders are beyond a certain confined criteria – there is more to our relationship with food than others see. As someone who has an eating disorder, Jasper was – is – a well-loved character who allowed me to face a few of my fears without letting them take over. And though this story is told in Florence’s perspective, Jasper existed between the lines and the way she saw him made him so vibrant and alive on the page.

Andrew had ASD and often spiraled quickly into anxiety when things didn’t go to plan. But, boy, he was amazing, I tell you. He was a highly intelligent boy filled to the brim with random, interesting facts, who was always honest even though his truths were brutal, and all he wanted was to be liked by the people around him. He didn’t understand many social situations the way the others did, but that’s not to say he didn’t try. He did, and I was so proud of him in the latter half. He was the brain of the adventure and it was just so fun to read him experience new things – it really made you root for him, really made you appreciate him. He was honestly the nicest, sweetest boy. I wished and wished that the people who bullied him in the past had just taken the time to see him, talk to him. Get to know him. He was bright and brilliant, and I just really wanted him to be happy.

And then we have Wilf, who had ADHD and a fiery temper. But beneath all his false bravado was a vulnerable, scared boy who was terrified of ending up alone and stuck in a job that wasn’t him. He was so…real and raw. I really felt for him. He was more considerate and thoughtful than people gave him credit for. He was funny and honest, and the banter between him and Andrew made way for a bright friendship that really lifted my spirits. It was also great to see him through Florence’s eyes. He was difficult at first, but along the way he began to shed his armor and really lay himself bare with them, which goes to show how much he came to trust them and consider them as friends. He was truly wholesome and heartfelt. Even now, my chest aches for him.

The characters…are so incredibly wonderful. They were mentally ill characters who actually wanted to get better, and I found that so, so inspiring. Hopeful. It was easy to read this book, unlike others I’ve read in the past, because it didn’t feel like I was reading about mental health and the spiral into darkness – it was them finding the light and each other. It read like a roadtrip, a really fun one full of crazy blunders and a thrilling chase.

The writing was beautiful! I especially enjoyed the snippets of Florence’s notebook in between the chapters. It allowed another look into her life and their awesome conversations – the ultimate question thing was brilliant. I also found the focus and representation of therapy and the hospital, their positive effects on these characters, refreshing. Hospitals and therapy are often portrayed tragically and darkly, but it’s more supportive than what I’ve read. Though my experiences weren’t as positive as theirs, it made me happy for the characters.

The whole point of it wasn’t how their mental illnesses broke them, but how they’re trying to be beyond them. Their definition of normal, which is happy, content, satisfied. I could go on about it forever, but it just made me feel grateful for many things. The characters, the story, the writing – all of it was endearing and wonderful, and now I hold this book so close to my heart.