This is a collection of short stories told to various UK authors about mental health based on the lived experience of people who have faced this illness. The stories are written by the author but are told by the sufferer involved in the story.
The selection of stories are completely different but each one needs to be heard. Due to the subject of the book it is probably best to read in short bites with each story emotional, sad and thought provoking.

I was drawn to this book initially by the mention of one of my go to authors Joanna Cannon who edited the book. Better known to me for her excellent novels such as 'Three things about Elsie' and 'The trouble with goats and sheep'.

This is so different to my normal reading of thrillers but nevertheless a worthwhile thought provoking read.

I would like to thank Harper and Collins UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC. Having read this excerpt I cannot wait to read the whole book. The stories are heartbreaking and hopeful, written with such kindness and beauty. A must read for anyone wanting to better understand mental illness.

I was offered a sample (three of the twelve stories) of this book as an ARC via NetGalley. The premise of pairing people struggling with their mental health and an established author is a fantastic idea as it helps give a voice to those who may find it difficult to put into words how they are feeling. I found each story to be engaging and gave a good insight into how that person felt and coped with their experiences. The only downside was that it was only and sample and I didn't get the opportunity to read all twelve as in answer to the title: Yes, I will definitely read this.

This collection of essays and memoirs is an open and honest discussion about the serious impacts that mental health, and the subsequent lack of understanding can have on people. Each story is dictated by someone who has lived through a mental health crisis and then written by a UK author.

Each essay merits a discussion and raises timely, critical points about modern health; whether it's the expectation to 'bounce back' while fighting post-partum depression the pressure of unspoken assumptions of emotional labour, societal guilt about sexuality and identity, or the terrifying truth that there is not always a reason for a mental health issue - mental health does not need reasons or explanation to infect someone's life and it does so without apology.

As someone with OCD amongst other issues, I felt this book was immensely valuable as it shows the world of mental health outside of depression and anxiety - both of which are serious and dangerous, but also seem to be the only focus of most discourse on mental health. These essay show us the many different ways we can be affected, and that a mental health disorder is far more serious than 'being sad.'

In In the belly of the flask, they discuss not only sexuality and gender, but the overlooked link between our physical health and it's relationship to our mental safety - it's a difficult read, but it's a blinding statement that shows we need to treat the whole person, not just one symptom.

Another highlight for me was You Can Just Fuck Off, it was almost cathartic despite the horrifying content, because they were angry and allowed me to feel that same anger at people who have overlooked or mistreated people who are suffering, at people who have hurt me and caused trauma. It packs a punch, dealing with religious trauma, conversion therapy, family pressures and other ignorance and hatred that we haven't left in the past as much as we'd like to think.

The essays all have different, distinct voices; but they're personal, conversational and easily laid out in accessible sections. Some of them felt linear and structured, some strings of thoughts - but all of them invoked a deep sense of companionship and a shared understanding.

Now, whether you're looking for a deeper understanding of the effects of mental health for yourself, or to understand someone else better - will you read this, please?

This is just a sample but definitely has me wanting to read the full book! It's a series of short stories by writers about their own experience of mental health. It covers a wide range of issues from different perspectives and I thought it was really interesting and an important read.

Will You Read This, Please? edited by Joanna Cannon is a look into various mental health difficulties and how people have experienced and dealt with them.

I am so glad to receive a sampler of "Will You Read This, Please?". It contained the first three stories of twelve, each featuring a true life account of someone's struggle with mental health, told to and written up by a famous author.

I have to admit, I skipped the first story only as it triggered memories of my own struggle with post natal depression, at a point where I was already feeling low. I am so glad I continued though as the other two stories in the sampler were so powerful and moving.

Jeremy's story in particular, will stay with me for so long. In both the stories I read, I was infuriated with the treatment these people received and compelled to reach between the lines of their story and pull them into a hug. I was moved and inspired by the accounts.
I've preordered the book so that I can read the rest of the stories as soon as I can. I feel this book has a message for everyone who reads it and to society as a whole on how address the stigma and treatment of mental health.

This book was on my radar because I know one of the authors telling one of the histories (not included in this sampler) and I was very curious about the project.
I sobbed my way through the sample chapters here and can't wait to read the full book, the idea of getting established writers to tell the real stories is inspired. People have so much to share or say but yet go blank at the site of pen and paper that this is a fabulous way to share these stories without turning them into novels.

Here's hoping that more people read these stories and empathy in this country grows again.

Will You Read This Please by Joanna Cannon (editor) is a sample of a collection of short stories about someone’s mental health, written by an author and told by the person involved in the story.
I read three of the stories, all totally different but sad, poignant and very touching. I would like to read the other stories in the book, when it is published.
Recommended

Wow, if these three chapters are anything to go by this will be an incredible book. Joanna Cannon has done a brilliant job at bringing these writers together and shining a light on the reality of living with a mental health condition.