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A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas | 2016 | Young Adult (YA)
10
9.3 (54 Ratings)
Book Rating
Small details MATTER (0 more)
Its a tie between this book and the third in the series for my favorite book. The character development in this book is phenomenal. I fell in love with each of the characters making the emotions this book drags you through even more intense. I was on the edge of my seat experiencing fear, laughter, heartbreak and anxiety with each of the characters. I will forever recommend this series.
  
A Quiet Kind of Thunder
A Quiet Kind of Thunder
Sara Barnard | 2017 | Children
6
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked this but it didn't hit all the right notes for me. It seemed a little too deep for what I wanted and it took me a while to get through this. Don't get me wrong, I liked the gentle romance between our two characters but all the inner turmoil and anxiety related things just made it too heavy for me. And then the ending was a little abrupt to me.
  
The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater
The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"The second piece in this heartfelt and raw book of essays is titled “Not Just for Grandmas.” Okun means it facetiously, but the title really hit home for me. Knitting wasn’t something the cool kids were doing in high-school. Knitting was an activity reserved for Grandmothers and the like, but suddenly here was a book of essays that spoke to the anxiety prone — myself included — looking to exert a little control over the crazy world around us."

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Reasons to Stay Alive
Reasons to Stay Alive
Matt Haig | 2016 | Essays
8
8.3 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is a memoir from when Matt Haig was 24 and suffered severe depression and anxiety. Matt discusses everything relating to depression and anxiety including medicines, his childhood, his symptoms, warning signs and things that make you worse. This book is so relatable, Matt doesn’t sugar coat it, he tells it how it is. It’s refreshing to read from someone’s perspective who has suffered from the black dog and actually gives a realistic account rather than a psychologist who has never experienced it first hand. Matt really speaks to the reader telling them that they’re not alone that many people have suffered from this and pulled through but also some of the people who haven’t. As a fellow sufferer of anxiety and depression I was ready for the anti – pills argument, but this didn’t happen, Matt realises that some people will need medicine to help, for me personally I sighed with relief, I take medicine to stop the panic attacks and I still take them for the fear of them re-occurring. I would rather be on medicine than suffer. Another thing I could relate to Matt was the fear of death and becoming a bit of a hypochondriac, I know my fear of death is irrational and my biggest fear is choking but with medicine and mindfulness techniques my brain no longer goes into overdrive and I can fully function. Matt Haig has become a writer due to his depression as it was a coping mechanism for him, sometimes people need to find something to occupy them and express themselves, again totally relatable.If you as someone who has suffered from depression reads this book I can guarantee that you will be nodding in agreement the whole way through. The chapters are short and discuss a certain topics, it’s very easy to read and flows well with some humour added. This book is not just helpful for the sufferer but really useful for people around them to realise what we have to deal with on a day-to-day basis.

I recommend this book to anyone that wants a real account of depression and anxiety.

Overall I rated this 4.5 stars out of 5
  
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A Quiet Kind of Thunder
A Quiet Kind of Thunder
Sara Barnard | 2017 | Children
8
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion*

I have been anticipating this book for months and couldn’t wait to read it. I read Beautiful Broken Things last year and really enjoyed Sara Barnard’s style of writing and how she captures teenage relationships/friendship perfectly. This book is exceptional and has blown Beautiful Broken Things out of the water.

Steffi has a condition called selective mutism, crippling shyness and anxiety, this has been her life since she can remember. Unable to find the words to communicate to people at school or in public has left her somewhat lonely especially as her best friend has left to attend a different college.

Rhys is the new guy starting at Windham sixth form, Rhys is deaf, as Steffi knows British Sign Language (BSL) they are introduced and Steffi is to be his guide for the time being until he gets to know his way around.

Being thrusted into Rhys’ world, Steffi finds another way of communicating and starts to embrace her problems head on and starts to realise she has so many possibilities out there….one of them being LOVE!

There was just so many aspects of this book that I loved for example; this is the best interpretation of anxiety I have read about in YA fiction. There is a part in the book where you get to witness Steffi’s thought process when she is anxious and it was spot on and I could really empathise with her. I also appreciated the fact that Sara Barnard didn’t use the popular trope of ‘anxiety being cured because of a boy’.

    ‘I don’t want a boy to be the reason I get better, what would that say about me if it is?’

I was so glad that this young girl despite her anxiety and mutism was really level-headed and wanted the change to be her doing. The topic of medication comes up several times and not once was it put in a negative light. I think anyone that suffers with anxiety will find this book relatable and show non sufferers just how much anxiety takes over your life.

The relationships in this book are freaking awesome, the family relationship was great,I loved the dynamics of the family and the different roles in which they played. The friendship between Steffi and Tem was really relatable, with them sharing gossip and worries about boys. There were so many emotional moments in this book, that had me turning the pages wanting more. The relationship between Steffi and Rhys was brilliant and cute and all things fluffy and the development is fantastic.

This book is so diverse, what with mental health, POC and disability, it was so beautifully written and had a perfect blend of them all that nothing was overshadowed.

This book is really easy read and uses different formats such as IM’s and text messages between Steffi, Rhys and Tem. There are also some lists which makes it much more fun to read.

This is a wonderful coming of age story with tons of diversity and a realistic portrayal of mental health and relationships.

I rated this 4.5/5 stars
  
Ex Machina (2015)
Ex Machina (2015)
2015 | Sci-Fi, Thriller
The claustrophobic feel (2 more)
The CGI of the female robot
Mixing technology with a back drop of utter paradise
Better cast and screen writing required (4 more)
Quicker pace required
Feels a little cheap in places
Female characters were there to aid the male
A bit trashy
Seen it all before, or since
It didn't have me flying by the seat of my pants. There were some moments of anxiety felt for the main protagonist but nothing really memorable. It was neither here nor there.
  
Turtles All The Way Down
Turtles All The Way Down
John Green | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.4 (60 Ratings)
Book Rating
I’m a big fan of John Green so his latest release was highly anticipated. As someone with an anxiety disorder I found his portrayal of mental illness almost upsettingly exceptional. Some of the scenes were so relatable that I could see myself in Aza’s place. That being said, the overarching plot was somewhat lacking; I felt like the book wrapped up too quickly and the balance of the two plots, finding a lost rich man and living with mental illness, was lost.
  
Queens of Geek
Queens of Geek
Jen Wilde | 2017 | Young Adult (YA)
10
8.6 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved this so much - being a huge nerd I totaly related to the content (though not the youtube/actor thing) but I'd totaly go see my fav youtubers in person (not a stalker or anything) and the anxiety rep was great in this - for me anyway - it was totaly relatable and I need more - immediately need more - I think it's a definite must read - the two opposite love story angles in one book - so well done, I loved every second!