"Emo Reality" by Jerold Daniels offers a unique exploration of emotions and reality and how mental health can affect life & relationships. Daniels' creativity shines th, posing a challenge for some readers to fully connect with the material. The book's ambition and thought-provoking themes earns a solid 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook. I'm currently listening to the audiobook. The author has revised his author's note and this changes my review so I will hold off on reviewing until I'm done. It's a good listen so far - a well-told story. I temporarily put a star review but this may be edited upon completion.

UPDATE: I've completed listening to this audiobook. I would prefer it if it was described as fictionalized more so than as a memoir. I'm sticking with the 3 stars as there was a lot I liked about it and I found it very listenable but some things about it frustrated me.

Navigating Mental Illnesses is havoc on the entire family. Speaking from personal experience, I often felt the lack of family support and acknowledgement of any health concern just makes it worse for everyone involved. There needs to be more incorporation of the entire family and not just the person who is afflicted. There has been some improvement within the mental health arena, but there is certainly a lot more that could and should be done especially for these teens. #NetGallery

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange of a review!

I am a mental heath junkie! I find it so interesting, especially Borderline Personality Disorder. I was instantly intrigued by the title and cover of this audiobook.

I don’t know how to properly write a review since this is a fictional story that is almost like a memoir and based off a real person. There was a lot going on and at times it was hard to follow, but I believe that was intent since the main character has BPD. There was some really tough stuff to listen to at times so it took me a little bit longer to make it through this audiobook.

Overall it wasn’t a bad read and was definitely interesting. It isn’t one that I feel like I will continue to remember moving forward though.

I don't know if this is, like, an ethical book? It's written from the perspective of a daughter who is going through some serious metal health conditions. Like serious. But the book is actually written according to a memoir by her dad. I felt at times the mc's voice is kinda blaming herself from a "I know I was in the wrong but I had mental health problems and now I can see that I can say all my behaviour was justified because of that and if I'd just have had help everything would be fine". But mental health is way more complicated than that and although it seems like it was the root cause of a great deal of the mc's problems there were also a lot of external factors that caused the issues including terrible parenting. The mc's voice seemed consistently immature and they seemed to just magically become fixed as an adult with some therapy, which is also not how life works.
I just felt like maybe this book was written by the wrong person who couldn't do the voice of the daughter justice unfortunately. Three stars because it was still entertaining as a book, just not sure it is done right from a mental health perspective.

Heartbreaking, triggering, raw. This was a hard book to get through. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

This book is not what I expected and that may have tainted my enjoyment of the book. I chose it because it appeared to be a memoir of a teenager with borderline personality disorder, a condition that is not often discussed. However, the book is written as if it is sporadic diary entries which felt very disjointed. Memoirs usually have a person's view of their life after certain events have been experienced but it took a long time for the MC to come to an understanding of her situation and life. When we finally get to that point, it felt rushed and tacked on to end the book. I later realized that this was actually written by the teenager's father but in her first person "view" which felt disingenuous to me. I don't think that was the author's intent but it would have been better if he had just written it from his perspective with annotations from his daughter to include her personal experience. It does give a lot of information about BPD but in such a disorganized way that it can be confusing and overlooked. This book had potential but was a miss for me. Thank you to Netgalley and Singapress for an ARC of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This is an unusual book that tells the story of an extremely wealthy and worldly family who experience a full range of mental health and unhealthy family dynamics despite their outward advantages. It is written in exposition-heavy prose that feels slightly awkward but is strangely compelling like peeking into a diary. Some readers will bounce off the language, emo fashion details, or unrelatable wealth of the protagonists, but those who connect with it will be given insight into how struggles with mental health can affect a family in ripples and in crashing waves. This will be particularly powerful for readers who relate to aspects of it and have not seem themselves reflected so bluntly in a book before

"Emo Reality" serves as a powerful illumination of the dark corners of adolescent mental illness, dispelling misconceptions and highlighting the profound impact it can have on both the individual and their loved ones. Lina's struggles reverberate beyond her own psyche, affecting her family and those around her. The narrative underscores that mental disorders are not simply phases or passing struggles, but genuine challenges that demand empathy, understanding, and proper treatment.

Lina's complex relationship with her sister serves as a poignant illustration of the dichotomy between external success and internal turmoil. Despite possessing material possessions, experiences, and opportunities, the sisters grapple with the weight of their emotional burdens, showcasing how mental illness can infiltrate every aspect of one's life.

This story poignantly captures the journey of self-discovery, healing, and recovery. Lina's path towards understanding her condition, seeking therapy, and confronting her past provides a glimmer of hope amid the darkness. Jerold Daniels masterfully weaves a narrative that fosters empathy, educates, and sheds light on the profound impact of mental illness, making it an essential read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the human psyche and the enduring power of resilience.

I received an ARC of this book; all thoughts are my own. Many thanks #NetGalley

This book reads as someone's direct experience of living with BPD. Except, it's not. It's written by their father, and in all honesty it's deeply concerning. There's stigma, clichés, and part of the book discusses her experience of sexual assault by the father... but as this is written by him, its written as "a flase memory".

For context, I am a specialist therapist in a BPD service, and I would not recommend this book to anyone.

A Tricky Attempt at Awareness

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

I want to share my thoughts on the audiobook 'Emo Reality: The Biography of Teenage Borderline Personality Disorder' by Jerold Daniels, narrated by Alex Swan. This book is a bit confusing for me to talk about because my feelings are pretty strong, and they might not match what others think. The author seems to want to tell people about borderline personality disorder (BPD), but the way it's done feels oversimplified. It focuses on a case study that's hard to sympathize with.

At the start, I was a bit lost because I thought this would be a memoir from the author's view. But it's actually written as if it's from the author's daughter's point of view, using records and diary entries. This makes it hard to tell how true the writing is. I also wonder if the father's opinions are influencing the story. It's tough to connect with Lina because I don't know if her voice is genuine.

One issue is that the person narrating the audiobook doesn't come across as believable. She talks about her tough life, but she grew up with lots of privileges like music lessons, trips, and fancy schools. It's hard to take her seriously when she complains about her life compared to real struggles. Also, she does fake accents, which felt inappropriate and stereotypical.

Another problem is the use of insensitive words like "retard." There's a passage that could've been phrased differently to avoid this. Lina, the main character, had many chances given to her by her dad and teachers, but she didn't appreciate them. This made it hard to feel sorry for her.

There's a bit of redemption at the end when Lina seeks help and talks about false memories. But there isn't enough explanation about these false memories and how they relate to BPD. This could've been explored more.

Overall, I don't think Lina's story is the best way to understand BPD. Her complaining, self-centeredness, and wasted opportunities make it tough to empathize with her, even if they're symptoms of the disorder. The only part that worked for me was when she talked to the psychiatrist at the end.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the author for providing me with the opportunity to read this early. Please note that these are solely my own thoughts and opinions.

This was a binge-worthy deep-dive into what it is like for a young lady and her family to deal with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). As a mental health therapist, I found the mental health representation to be very accurate and insightful. Readers might find that the narrative/plot gets a bit repetitive in the middle, but that is genuinely what it is like living with someone who has BPD. The author did a great job of crafting an interesting narrative based on a real family's lived experience, and ended with valuable information on how this lady got diagnosed and treated for BPD. The ending offers hope for those living with emotional instability. I know my review sounds very clinical, but I assure you, the story is very digestible and entertaining!!!

This audiobook was interesting to listen to. The characters often reminded me of how I was as a teenager when she talked about some of her bratty behavior. I thought most characters were largely insufferable, but I believe that was the point. The recovery section seemed a bit hastily written, but I understand it is a biography and not the ending for this author.

This book is written by Lina's father but in the first person of Lina, the conceit is that this is autobiographical but takes a lot of liberties, I assume for privacy, etc. The novel is written from the perspective of Lina, her father turning her thoughts and words into a story. This allows for an intimate glimpse into Lina's inner workings and emotions that were previously only available through private diaries and emails. The reader gets to experience the full range of feelings as well as gain insight into what it is like to live with BPD and all its associated difficulties. This was a difficult read, and the POV felt off, but that may be due to her Daniels trying to access the mind of Lina. Overall, this book definitely a perspective we have not had a lot of in contemporary literature, so it's important to read in that respect.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC audiobook of Emo Reality in exchange of an honest review.

Let's be honest, this was not a pleasant read (well, it's not meant to be).
I'm really not comfortable writing a review about a memoir and I'm feeling like "who am I to criticized the life experience of someone else", but here we are...

I'm just gonna say that I wished it would have been written differently ; not in the first person, not through Lina's POV. To me it was a terrible mistake.
It felt very awkward, sometimes borderline cringey, to know it was the father speaking through his daughter, maybe putting words into her mouth for all I knew.
I couldn't stop thinking I was reading a young girl's testimony but it was actually her father's point of view, a little too convenient, too prompt to blame everyone (the ex-wife, the school system etc.) but himself.
(I'm not saying the author IS to blame for anything, I'm just saying his choice of narration was really not adapted to what he was trying to convey and unfortunately it gave the wrong impression).

I read the afterword too, a few days after finishing the book. I went into it with the hope it would change my perception of the whole thing, and give a reasonable explanation for this choice of narration, but it actually didn't. (It just detailed the endorsement by a therapist who encouraged the author to publish his memoir).

I really wish the author would rewrite his work, and make it a real memoir, where he would be speaking for himself, giving his experience. It would not diminished the impact of his daughter's story in my opinion.

I would also like to know where his daughters stand on the matter of their father writing about them (I know I would have been furious, and I would have felt violated).
Did they have the opportunity to give their own POVs? Did they participate at all in the process? It feels important that they would have a say in this, and it feels important to inform the reader about that issue.

Now that I have said that, I also have to mention this was a poignant read, an important testimony about mental health issues in children and teenagers. A reminder that wealth doesn't always mean happiness and a good support system.

So by all means, read this book if you want to know more about borderline disorder and mental health in general, because it was informative.
But be warned, it's difficult, and in my opinion clumsily written.

This is a very difficult book to hear but one many may need to read. The story of a child growing up with mental illness is too real for many and at times was too hard to keep going in the story. I would have liked more of the story about how she came to her present adult ability to handle her illness and a bit less of the teenage parts of the story.

Thank you to Jerold Daniels. #NetGalley for the advance audio copy of #emoreality

This is a story about Lina, a daughter to a British engineer and fillopeno mother, who, due to work requirements, travel across the world and live in many different locations over her youth. As a young child Lina is charismatic and intelligent, with her moods being mainly bothersome to herself (not noticeable to her parents and sister). But as she grows up and enters her teenage years, her mood swing and personality begin to change, until finally in her twenties she seeks out help, and is diagnosed with border-line personality disorder.

The book is written by Lina's father, but in the first person of Lina. This makes for an interesting read because the emotions and feeling described by Lina are being taken from diaries and emails and not directly from Lina herself. In contrast, there is no emotion or feeling expressed by Lina's father outside of those written in emails being read. So although, the emotions seem plausible, I do not believe the reader has a true understanding of what was going on with Lina herself.

I did appreciate this book though, because there is little information, or attention given to borderline personality disorder, and from someone that has interest in the different diagnoses in mental health, I found the differentiation between the common diagnoses interesting.

The audiobook was narrated by a girl that sounded to be young, which made it fitting for the majority of the book. The narrator was clear and easy to read and did a good job on the different accents/voices, as needed.

I think this is an interesting read for the right audience, and it is a good start to getting more knowledge about mental health and borderline personality disorder out there. So I would recommend to those that are interested in these topics.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

The narration on this book for the character perfectly! I also enjoyed the voices and accents she had for her parents! The story reads a lot like a teenage girls diary, that has quite a lot of emotional distress. It was pretty obvious to me right away that it was trauma she was experiencing, not exactly what was going on around her. It was a very interesting story and I like how she found the answers for how she was feeling later on in life. I’m definitely going to have my daughter check out this book!

As a therapist, I jumped at the opportunity to read this biography. I was interested in the complexity of a BPD diagnosis and how that would be explained. I think the author did a wonderful job of explaining the complexities related to mental health and I especially enjoyed the timeframe from childhood to adulthood in terms of how the disorder progressed. I did struggled at time to go back to this book because there is pretty heavy subject matter throughout and the narrator was not my favorite.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in mental health and the world of psychology. But, please check the trigger warnings first!

Thank you to NetGallery and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this audiobook

Tricky one to review! I really liked the way this book was written. Straight to the point, short sharp sentences, the songs and diary entries and conversations, but I do feel that there was a lot of detail in things that didn’t really need it, and other things I’d have loved to know more about were skimmed over.
I also found my mind constantly thinking about how it was written by her dad but from her point of view, which did make me question the accuracy/authenticity of some of it.
It had me hooked from the start though, and was a really interesting read - something completely different to anything I’ve read before.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.