A review by charvi_not_just_fiction
Underwater by Marisa Reichardt

5.0

This story is about Morgan who has PTSD and agoraphobia from a tragic accident which means she never leaves her house. She used to love swimming but now it feels like she's drowning in her life. But maybe the new neighbour can help her remember her old life and move on?

Despite what the blurb suggests, this book doesn't actually invest in the whole plot of love cures mental illness. Eww. I hate that trope so much, it's misleading and heartbreaking for those of us who live in the real world. I just loved how authentic the agoraphobia felt. I liked how therapy was shown in a positive life for a change and how the book seemed to emphasize that therapists, like anyone else, can only try and push you in the right direction. Ultimately you have to make the effort to recover and heal. I just really enjoyed the sort of messages this book put across and it was a wonderful read overall.