Emotional, heart wrench!ng, sad, ultimately hopeful. The author did a fantastic job of sharing what it is like to be inside the head of someone with mental health challenges. The internal dialogue and outward actions of the main character were spot on and helped capture the dysfunctional side of living with bipolar. I really related to this story as a survivor of a suicide attempt and as a parent of two children with bipolar diagnoses. Overall wonderful and good read for someone trying to understand what it’s like to live with mental health issues.

POSSIBLE SPOILER COMING UP re: my concern with the novel

At one point in the novel, the MC decides to stop taking their medication. The MC does not tell anyone they are stopping their meds, and does not consult their doctor or parents about their decision. 

I am very upset that the author failed show the realistic fallout (both emotional and cognitive) of being unmedicated. The novel showed the MC managed their internal thoughts and emotions better when she took her meds, but did not show the reverse when she stopped taking her meds. There are real-life consequences when someone stops taking their mental health meds without proper medical guidance. Since mental health meds balance your brain chemistry, your behavior and thinking patterns can revert back to their un-medicated ways within a couple days (or less). 

It was irresponsible of the author to fail to show the mental health consequences of being unmedicated without the guidance of a medical professional. That is NOT the way it works in real life. Folks with bipolar are notorious for feeling better while on their meds and then decided to stop taking their meds because they start to feel better. However, it is a catch 22. They feel better because they are medicated, so because they feel better, they want to stop taking meds. However, as soon as they stop taking the meds, they become dysregulated again. Sometimes they fail to realize the entire reason they feel better is because of the meds. There can be very serious side effects and awful episodes of depression and mania without stabilizing meds.