Emma Smith-Barton

CW: Mental health - psychosis, anxiety, depression, dealing the the loss of a loved one, drugs/alcohol, possible suicide discussed in the book.

A very good book about a girl dealing with mental illness. As a reader it becomes quite intense as Neena increasingly experiences psychotic episodes. You become unsure about what is real or imagined along with her. The tension was built up slowly enough that initially you felt she was an unreasonable and egocentric teenager, but as she becomes more paranoid and irrational you realise her mental health is spiralling downwards. I found myself quite drawn to her as a character as her voice felt very authentic. It was also interesting to read about how her Pakistani culture impacted how her illness was dealt with, and also the cultural pressures she perceived to exist from her parents. There was also some beautiful writing in the book. A very moving book about dealing with loss, anxiety and mental illness.
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