The Rules of Half

Wow! Utterly brilliant and moving story about mental illness and its far reaching impact on family and the surrounding community. Patrick is insightful in her prose, making connections seem realistic and ordinary while challenging stereotypes and expectations.

4.5 stars

"When everyone else looks at you and sees crazy, I see complex. When they see someone who's not worth a second of their time, I finally see someone who is actually worth every bit of mine. When they see a man who's damned, I see one who's yet to be redeemed."

Every once in a while I come across a book outside the romance genre that piques my interest. When I read the blurb of The Rules of Half, I just knew it would be emotional, heartbreaking but also unique and real. There are many people who have Bipolar Disorder and I can't imagine it being easy for them and their family. This book gave a very well-rounded look into a man struggling with his disorder, but also with the heartbreaking events from his past. Will had so much on his plate and he couldn't let go of his inner demons or forgive himself.

This book is told from four POVs: Will, his sister Janey, his teenage daughter Regan and the the new school principal Lindsay. I thought it was very essential in this book to hear what all four of them were thinking, and they all had their own struggles and problems. There were multiple story lines intertwined into the main one, and the author did a phenomenal job in the way she told everyone's story. There were so many heartbreaking scenes that had me tearing up, especially the scenes with Will and Regan were sad. I loved how everything developed in this story, and I couldn't get enough. I loved that there was some romance, even though it wasn't the most important part. It was about the bond between brother and sister, father and daughter, and people who are attracted/in love with each other. Friendship played an important role as well. The Rules of Half is a very strong, complete, raw and beautiful debut novel of Jenna Patrick. I am very impressed by her writing and I'll definitely keep a close eye on her upcoming books.

One of the best books I have read so far this year. For a Debut Author, I must say this book has it all. 15 year old Regan Whitmer has just lost her mother and is now left in the care of her Pastor Step-father. She knows she has a Father in Half Moon Hollow, she just has to find him and hope that he will want her when she confronts him.

What Regan doesn't know is that her 35 year old Father, Will Fletcher has been living a nightmare for the past 5 years. He has lost not only his beautiful young daughter but his wife and marriage too. And living in a town like Half Moon Hollow, where nearly all of the community are bigoted because of Will's mental illness, Regan is going to find that her life hasn't really changed that much from where she came from.

It seems everyone is against the Fletchers until Lindsay Shepherd arrives in town as the new School Principal. She runs into Will at the animal shelter where Will helps out and even though Will is rude to her, she finds him attractive and interesting, and it seems Will finds an attraction in Lindsay too, unfortunately Will isn't the only person attracted to Linsday, it seems Will's lesbian sister Janey is smitten too.

Janey has looked after Will since his divorce and even though it is very tiresome to be constantly watching his every move, she wouldn't have it any other way but sometimes she would love a break and when she wins a coveted literary award she is persuaded to go to New York to accept it and leave Will in the hopefully capable hands of Regan and Lindsay for three days.

Of course Crazy Will has an episode and all hell breaks loose. The community finally has enough evidence to put him away in an institution and herein the fights really begins for all those who love Will to show him that life is worth living with him in it.

This is an emotional read, there are many humorous moments from Will and some sad moments that will bring you to tears. Jenna Patrick has done a brilliant job in writing this beautiful book and it will stay with me for quite a while.

Thanks to Netgalley and SparkPress for the opportunity to read and review this memorable book.

Congratulations to Jenna Patrick on an absolutely stunning debut novel! I loved it. This novel portrays with depth and feeling the trials of Will trying to cope with bipolar disorder and the effect on both himself and his family. I raced through the book with both tears and laughter as the various family dramas played out. The story is well delivered and the characters well developed. Keep writing Jenna Patrick - I will look forward to more!

Many thanks to Jenna Patrick and SparkPress through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so emotional! I cried more than once while reading and could not put it down. Jenna Patrick has written a superb debut novel. The Rules of Half tells the story of Will Fletcher, known as the “town crazy” to the citizens of Half Moon Hollow. Once a successful veterinarian and happily married father, the death of his infant daughter brings his bipolar disorder to the surface. His sister, Janey, becomes his caretaker, trying to prevent him from becoming institutionalized. Their father had suffered from schizophrenia and Janey is determined to prevent Will from following a similar path. Will’s life is upended when a teenage girl, Regan, arrives at the Fletcher home, announcing she is his daughter. Regan has overcome her own incredible loss and is on a search to find the unconditional love she has been denied her whole life.

The challenges the Fletcher family faces throughout the novel are handled with humour, honesty and raw emotion. Patrick’s characters are well rounded and their stories intertwine seamlessly. I easily became invested in the lives of the Fletcher family, rooting for them to find happiness by novel’s end.

This book’s biggest strength is the way it describes the intensity of living with mental illness, not only on the individual afflicted, but also on their family members. Janey sacrifices everything for Will, intent on keeping their family unit together at all costs. The Fletcher’s are the pariahs of Half Moon Hollow because of Will’s disorder. Throughout his story, we see the fear and anxiety his neighbors harbor towards him as a result of his erratic behavior. Few people ever offer him support; instead they would rather send him away and forget about him. Unfortunately, this mentality is reality for many in our world today, which makes this novel so timely. Mental illness is often ignored or downplayed by those who do not understand it, and instead of aiding those in need, society retreats into a mindset of fear and exclusion. Jenna Patrick does an excellent job bringing awareness to this issue through her story of Will Fletcher.

I highly recommend this novel. This is a story of love, sacrifice, loss and rebirth. Humorous at times and sad at others, The Rules of Half examines the unconditional love between family members. I cannot wait to see what Jenna Patrick writes next.