As a Debut author this was an amazing, heart wrenching novel that showed the difficulties of grief and how it effects every aspect of life.

The Mental health representation was what hit home most for me as it was emotional and sad, but also uplifting in showing that things aren't always as bad as they seem and theres always someone you can talk too.

I loved how the story developed especially the friendships between Neena , Raheela and Fi, Neena's relationship with Josh . As well as Neena's Journey of grief and acceptance within her religion, school and her family life.

This was a very emotional book - I enjoyed reading it and the characters were very well formed and described- I really felt for their situations and found myself really rooting for them. But saying that I’m wishing there was a bit more substance to their  journey and the mental health aspect (even though if was very well written and would help many who read it) kind of took over just a bit too much for me.

I couldn't get into this book and only finished it in order to give an honest review. The characters were well drawn but the story itself was based around a young girl who was clearly out of control. getting into dangerous situations with unrealistic outcomes. Sorry, not for me.

I chose to read ‘The Million Pieces of Neena Gill’ mainly because I am all about representation, especially when it comes to the content I’m reading. So having an Asian protagonist was right up my street. Also this coupled with mental health, which has a strong stigma attached to it in Asian communities, was a breakthrough that I wanted to get behind.

Before I start, it’s worth noting the trigger warnings in this book because it does delve deep into issues relating to mental health. This book was a ride of emotions and I have to admit more than a few times I was very confuse as to what was going on. As a reader, witnessing Neena go through all these waves of emotions was hauntingly sad because I could see her hopelessly spiraling out of control without seeking help. In some ways it did remind me of ‘The One Memory of Flora Banks’ in that it really gets you into the mind set of the protagonist. It didn’t work for me the first time nor this time but I see what the intention is and I get it. It’s a very real and raw book that reflects grief, the issues with cultural expectations and how these can have a huge impact on mental health. For that I applaud it.

Overall, I wasn’t overly amazed by this book. I think the meaning and awareness behind it is what prevails the most. It’s not an easy book to read and the issues it touches upon are moving. But having said that, I support what this book represents and stands for.

What a deeply moving and emotional book. Neena Gill's life crashed around her when her brother Akash disppeared 10 months before. We meet her as she's trying to be the person that he wants her to be, outgoing, carefree and most of all happy. Are the expectations of others enough for us to become who they want us to be?

This book deals with very serious issues and it deals with them really well. To this day mental health is still a taboo, despite the fact that we all probably know someone who has dealt with it, even if they've never openly said. It's about overcoming preconceptions of mental health, not only in others, but also in ourselves. It's abotu when to use a crutch, and when to fight to stand on our own two feet. It's about accepting loss and about accepting our own limitations.

This book was really lovely, and I think everyone should read it.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and the characters were well thought out.

Disclaimer: Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I am so grateful to NetGalley and the Publishers, Penguin Random House UK Children's, for providing me with a copy of The Million Pieces of Neena Gill by Emma Smith-Barton

"Our worst misfortunes never happen, and most miseries lie in anticipation."

This book was a roller coaster of emotions because oh my, I didn't see that twist coming! Neena has always been the good girl: good grades, parent-approved friends,  no drinking, and absolutely no boyfriends. Her brother Akash is the opposite, he drives their parents mad with worry going out late to parties, drinking and doing drugs. But he is Neena's rock during the bad times, so when he disappears it sends Neena into a tailspin.

However this allows her to discover a new version of herself, but this new version is the opposite of what her parents want and her behavior starts to spiral more and more out of control. With two life-changing bombshells over the course of the book, Neena reaches breaking point.

But oh my, this book really did take me through the ringer and I was completely taken in by some of the plot lines, they were told impeccably. At times I did forget that Neena is only fifteen during the time of this book and some of the plot lines are... concerning, in what the Neena has to go through and she does get taken advantage at one point in the book.

The author has experience with Mental Health issues after someone close to her suffered with the same illness that Neena goes through, you can feel this throughout the book because that part of the plot is told with sympathy and with knowledge.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely recommended it to YA's as long as you know you are going into a book that will possibly change your view on life.

I enjoyed this - a solid debut about a British Asian girl struggling to cope with her older brother's disappearance, with nuanced and thoughtful discussion of mental health issues and a strong narrative voice in Neena. It's an important addition to UKYA and a great choice for school libraries.

The Million Pieces of Neena Gill is an excellent first novel from Emma Smith-Barton. Fifteen-year-old Neena has always relied on her brother Akash, but now Akash isn’t around any more and Neena’s life has got a whole lot harder.

While it’s obvious from early on that all is not entirely right with Neena, it takes time, via her first-person narration, for the full extent of her disintegrating mental health to become apparent and this is portrayed with great sensitivity. It’s fairly unusual, and refreshing, to read a YA novel from the perspective of a British Pakistani character, as I’m not aware of many others (author Emma Smith-Barton, though it’s not necessarily apparent from her name, is of similar heritage).

A very good read which I would recommend to teenagers and adults.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this before its publication date!

Wow. This book has really filled a gap in the BAME market: mental health. I am so happy to finally see some representation of a South Asian person dealing with mental health issues. I think the characters are incredibly well-written and truly show how, especially, Asian parents respond to mental health. There is one section specifically (not a spoiler) where the parents think about "praying away the bad" that got to me. 

As someone who has suffered from depression for many years, this book made my heart warm and my struggles feel validated. 

I can't wait for people to finally get their hands on this book and get to know Neena who is so relatable and beautiful.

The title of this book immediately put it onto my radar when it was announced. Therefore, when it became available on Netgalley, I immediately requested it and read it as soon as I got approved. I'm so happy I read this book because I think that it's such an important read.

I love books that talk about mental health, especially in a UK setting and especially when they are focused on a South Asian. Neena Gill is a Pakistani Christan character and I love how this book discusses how her culture affects her mental health. It's such an important read that really deserves to have a spotlight shined on it.

I can't remember the last time I read a book like this. All The Things We Never Said by Yasmin Rahman also touches on mental health on the Asian community(and they are releasing on the same day which is crazy) but in a totally different way. Neena's character in this book struggles a lot and it even gets to the point where we, as the reader, are questionning her because of how much she is spiralling. I love reading from the point of view of unreliable narrators such as Neena.

I think this is honestly one of the best books of the year. My only complaint is the fact that I wanted more. I think it needed more development, especially in regards to the reveal about the brother towards the end. However, I highly recommend this book to everyone when it releases on the 11th July. You won't be able to put it down and it will stay with you for days like it has with me. Emma Smith-Barton has had an amazing debut novel and I cannot wait to see what she produces next.

Neena's brother is missing and she feels like everybody expects her to just get on with life. Raised in an Asian family, she's struggling to balance being a teenager with the expectations upon her and worry over her missing brother. I read this quite quickly and found it an easy but interesting read. It touches lightly on some cultural issues and has quite a strong focus on mental health. Definitely a worthy read!

Neena suffers from anxiety, but her big brother helps her. Until, that is, he disappears one evening. The whole family misses him, although Neena feels she is suffering most. About to take her GCSEs, Neena is experiencing typical parental pressure, combined with a desire to lead a life free of feeling guilty and being pulled in different directions. Emma Smith-Barton builds up the tension in Neena's life from this typical scenario, to one which becomes more extreme, but not wholly unusual. The reader can see how easy it is to slip into severe anxiety. Although not questioning events in the beginning, the reader begins to question Neena's viewpoint and I began screaming at someone to notice. They eventually do, but not before everything comes to a head. The best thing about this novel is that it is so typical of teenage life, yet it manages to deal with mental health issues in a sensitive way, with the reader seeing both Neena's side and able to see the objective view of her increasingly bizarre behaviour. All characters are totally authentic, and many young people will be able to see themselves in this book. This book will help many teens which is what is needed.