I went into this book as a rather reluctant fish with zero expectations.
Why the bleakness? LET ME LIST THEM FOR YOU. Firstly a) I’m not generally a contemporary lover (not enough dragons honestly), then b) the blurb is super vague and lastly c) the cover really just turned me off. This is because it’s very similar to the The Beginning of Everything cover which is a book I monstrously disliked…ergo the style makes me think it’s going to be a shallow tale about quirky characters and cotton candy and stupidity, etc. etc.
WELL GUESS WHAT, GOOD FIENDS? I WAS SO VERY WRONG. Whisper To Me is incredible. It gave me 9 emotion. NINE WHOLE EMOTIONS!! (I’m such a Vulcan, btw, so this is um huge.) And I think it’s one of the best mental illness books I’ve read in a looooooong time. *
* It’s not “perfect” but pfft, life is short and I’M GIVING IT 5-STARS BECAUSE IT’S DARK AND HOPEFUL AND UNDERRATED AND I WANT EVERYONE AND THEIR FISH AND THEIR AUNT’S FISH TO READ IT.
- A+ MENTAL ILLNESS REPRESENTATION
The exact diagnosis isn’t specified, but it’s either bipolar or schizophrenia. BUT OH SO EXCELLENTLY WRITTEN. It felt very real (which I assume is due to the author’s note talking about how he actually experienced hearing voices) and honest and brutally dark. Cassie is hearing a Voice and it’s so awful. It screams abuse at her all the time and MY HEART BLED FOR CASSIE.
- CASSIE IS JUST THE BEST
She’s quiet and she doesn’t talk much and I have a huge weakness for characters like that. (Okay so I never shut up online BUT IN REAL LIFE I’M VERY VERY QUIET. So I like characters like this. #relatable) Cassie thinks 98539 things and says 2 of them. Also she write the story in a very self-depreciating way which was wryly funny. And, I mean, she does frustrating things??? But she is hearing a Voice so I kind of think it’s realistic that she’s not always logical. Although the climax did make me want to HOWL WITH FRUSTRATION.
- FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS FTW
It’s very very character driven and HUZZAH for all the complex dynamics in the characters and Cassie’s relationships with them. We have:- CASSIE’S DAD: who is an ex-Navy Seal and has untreated PTSD so is kind of scary. Very controlling. Like he loves Cassie a lot and has the best intentions to keep her safe…but he’s kind of scary.
- PARIS: She’s in her early twenties and Cassie met her at the mental hospital. Paris has bipolar and is one of those BAZINGA characters, but she really really cared about Cassie. MY HEART = SO HAPPY. Paris would cuss your head off and then — BOOM — if Cassie needed her, she would be there with no questions, no hesitation. #friendshipgoals
- THE BOY: The romance was honestly adorable. And very very very awkward. But I totally shipped it?!? Because The Boy knew Cassie had been sick (not details) but he still liked her and he wasn’t pushy, he was just open and careful and afjdklsafd I loved him. EXCEPT HE HAS NO NAME AND I HAVE QUESTIONS. (This is because it’s written as a letter to him; ergo it’s all “you” and no name.)
- GLORIOUS UNIQUE FORMATTING
The whole book is an email to The Boy whose heart Cassie broke. She is explaining ALL THE THINGS — in transcripts of conversations, in letter style, and with the occasional interruption for a self-depreciating commentary on her terrible social skills. THIS IS KINDA A LONG EMAIL AT 500+ PAGES THOUGH. Anyway. The writing is 100000% excellent the whole way through. Cassie has such great voice! And it’s addictive.
- OPEN ENDINGS ARE MY FAVOURITE BY THE WAY
I give this book aaaall the points for being realistic. The ending is very open, be ye warned. I have a lot of questions, but I’m okay with that?!? The story isn’t over when the book is and that’s kind of like real life.
- HELP ME I’M HAVING AN EMOTION
I nearly cried. I definitely got goosebumps. It was just so so dark at times and honest and gritty and brutal. The characters were real and complex so when bad stuff went down I just — ajfdskladjsakdj. I WAS SO CAUGHT UP IN THE TALE. I LOVED IT.
- TOO LONG, WAAAAAY TOO LONG
I say this a lot but I don’t think a contemporary should be 500+ pages! For this one, there was a lot going on (mental illness, murders, friendship, slow-burn romance) and that was all glorious and I loved it…but it did drag. The plot felt unfocused. I NEED CONCISENESS.
- IT USES **** TO BLOCK OUT SWEARING
This is honestly just a pet peeve. I find it tedious?!? We know what the word is from the context of the sentence SO JUST SAY IT. I find books that use #&$@ or **** end up swearing more but pretending they’re not swearing at all. #frustrated
You might say I’m a “mild” fan of Whisper To Me.
HAHAHHA UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR. I FREAKING LOVED IT. I think what pleases me most is that I didn’t know it’d be so amazing. So it’s like someone giving me a snack and — BOOYAHHH — it is actually my favourite kind of cake of ever. This is a dark and brutal story. It’s sad but hopeful and my feels are in a smoosh. The character development was amazing and, sure I had a few quibbles, but between the epic and accurate representation of mental illness and the relatable characters — I AM SO PLEASED.
THIS BOOK BASICALLY
THANK YOU TO BLOOMSBURY AUSTRALIA FOR THE ARC. Whisper To Me by Nick Lake was published June, 2016.
Cassie is writing a letter to the boy whose heart she broke. She’s trying to explain why. Why she pushed him away. Why her father got so angry when he saw them together. Why she disappears some nights. Why she won’t let herself remember what happened that long-ago night on the boardwalk. Why she fell apart so completely.
Desperate for his forgiveness, she’s telling the whole story of the summer she nearly lost herself. She’s hoping he’ll understand as well as she now does how love—love for your family, love for that person who makes your heart beat faster, and love for yourself—can save you after all.
// click covers to read reviews //
I am adding this one. I shall read this one. If I end up crying my eye out – which I suspect I will because I iffin cried at star wars 3 when Anakin goes all dark and slays all the padawans – I am going back here and blame you for it.
And demand cake. Even if throat will be too sore from crying. Maybe cake AND ice-cream
DEFINITELY BLAME ME. I shall take the blame gallantly. *flails* Ahem. Maybe icecream cake??? That seems like it’d solve all the problems here amritie?!
I LOVE OPEN ENDINGS. IT MEANS EXCELLENT FANFIC OPPERTUNITIES. Honestly though, when a book wraps itself up and like everything’s so clear that you can’t even BEGIN to imagine what happens next with the characters… It tends to disappear out of me quicker. Because I know what’s happened and maybe even what WILL happen. I will always stand by my love for open endings. And, unfortunately, I am yet to read a book that I feel adequately sums up mental illness. It might be me being picky on my own part, but yeah. Got any recommendations? Awesome post by the way!
Trisha xx
OMG I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN AND I EMPHATICALLY AGREE!! The book sticks with me longer if I’m mulling over the “but what happens next” question. <3 I love it. :')
I recommend this one quite wildly, hahah, obviously.😂 Also Made You Up, Alice and the Fly, All the Bright Places, The Lost and Found and Forgive Me Leonard Peacock! (Sorry SO MANY. I HAVE MUCH LOVES OF THEM.)
Aaah, this sounds really good! I want to read it now. I do like open endings to a certain degree. LIke it annoys me when every single thing is perfectly tied up but I like a little bit of resolution as well. My favourite mental illness book would probably be Made You Up. Fabulous review! 🙂
AHHH MADE YOU UP IS SO SO FANTASTIC. One of my favourites too. :’) And Whisper To Me reminded me of it a little too which WAS NICE. Eeeep.
Ooohhh I am very intrigued. Recently I’ve started to read a bit more contemporary and unique formatting really appeals to me. This looks like a book I should absolutely check out. Love the cover, and thanks for letting me know about it! XD (Also, I am a fan of open endings too because it allows me to imagine what happens next without absolutely everybody dying).
Unique formatting is MY DARLING. It’ll basically sell me a book without any other knowledge on what it’s about.😂 And yayyyy, fellow fan of open endings! I always write them too, because reading them is so much fun. Just a little bit of torture and a little bit of realism with super open endings. :’)
I love MADE YOU UP with the power of a million suns so I really want to read this! I so agree with you about the cover though: IT IS SOOOO SIMILAR TO THE COVER OF THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING. (Which I didn’t like either, haha.)
I MEAN THE COVER OF WHISPER TO ME NOT MADE YOU UP! SORRY Dx
AHHH I’M SUPER GLAD I HAVE CONVINCED YOU. *shrieks*
*dashes around in mad happy circles*
But ahhhh, yay that you didn’t like The Beginning of Everything either.😂 *hi fives* That book was a dislikeable mess omg.
This sounds wonderful also look at that pretty pretty pretty cover oh it is so beautiful and run on sentences are the bomb. I thought The Corner of the Universe was very well written, although it is MG (also it has got a ferris wheel on the cover. Also it is quite old. Also I read it quite some time ago so I don’t know if I would still appreciate it. BUT STILL.) and OMG YES to All the Bright Places <3 <3 <3 . Actually It's Kind of A Funny Story also has a very realistic portrayal of depression. Anyway now I want to read this so your marketing succeeded #winning
Ahhh why are Ferris Wheels on covers so popular?!😂 Ahem. I need to get over my irrational dislike for them CLEARLY. hehe ohhh and I’ve read It’s Kind of a Funny Story and TOTALLY AGREE that the depression was represented really well *nods* Have you seen the movie? It’s not too bad an adaption. :’)
I am not a massive fan of open endings – some things can be left unsaid or for the reader to make up their minds, but when too much is left in the open I am always asking questions and want to know more.
However, Whisper to Me sounds beautiful and powerful. I find it really hard, but also so good reading books about mental illness, I feel as though they take the energy away from me, like I am being drained – but that is why they work. I also love when authors do mental illness justice and not the cliche version.
I love that Cassie is quite, like you I am very very quite when it comes to meeting new people. I have quite bad social anxiety and anxiety in general so when I meet new people or even the ones that I know – the first hour or so. I don’t really speak. Uni has helped this a little, but I hate going to parties or the feeling I get when I first meet people. It’s really nice having characters that I can connect with.
Thanks for the lovely review!
Ohhh I do understand about the being drained feeling. *nods* THEY ARE DRAINING. Especially when they’re darker and brutally honest *nods* And omg I so agree that it’s wonderful when it’s not portrayed in cliche ways. <3 This is probably one of my favourite schizophrenia books (after Made You Up!).
AND YAY FOR QUIET CHARACTERS. Actually just yay for us for surviving even with social anxiety *hi fives* I would happily not talk to anyone ever.😂 Which...can be a problem as you can imagine. So I kind of like reading about characters like this because I DON'T FEEL SO ALONE. *hugs books*
I love books about mental illnesses and I didn’t know about this one so it immediately goes on my 2016 TBR, yay! When I first saw the cover I was amazed, it’s so beautiful but I get why it reminds of The Beginning of Everything.
One of my favourite books about mental illness this year was The Way I Used to Be and it surprised me how good it was just you was with this book. And that’s the best kind of surprise. Also Paperweight is super amazing though it is about eating disorder… which can be partially clasified also as a mental illness, because it has lot to do with the mental health. But yeah, that was amazingly emotional and perfect and I loved that there wasn’t a big love interest who would help the main heroine recover, it was more about the friendship. 🙂
Ohh, I need to look up The Way I Used To Be then CLEARLY. I need more epically surprisingly wonderful books. <3 I did read Paperweight and definitely classify anorexia as a mental illness *nods* Although I didn't adore it? SADNESS. But I did still like it (and omg the cover is gorgeous right?!)
The cover is absolutely gorgeous but soooo expensive which make me sad 🙁
Open ending when done right are awesome *cough The Raven King cough* but when their done badly, it’s disastrous. I haven’t read Whisper To Me yet, but I just added it to my TBR. *sighs* I swear one of these days it’s going to fall over and crush me, and it’ll be nastier than getting shot in the head by some 13 year old in CoD.
All The Bright was the best book I ever read about mental health, BUT I just read The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong, and it’s a murder mystery/thriller thing, and one of the main characters as schizophrenia, and I love how it was portrayed so thoughtfully and sensitively and truthfully. I got to meet her at a book signing, and she told us about how much research she had to do so that she wouldn’t misrepresent schizophrenia. I loved The Masked Truth XD
I’ll dig you out! I AM A NICE PERSON LIKE THAT! (I mean, it’s not like I contribute to your TBR troubles now, is it? *blinks innocently*) But I shall be a loyal bookworm buddy and come by with a shovel to dig you free if you don’t surface for a few days. *nods*
AFJDLKASD I LOVED ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES. I WANT TO REREAD IT SO BADLY. And I want to read The Masked Truth!! Zomg I didn’t know it had schizophrenia too. That actually makes me want it 10000% more.
Thanks XD If it does crush me, at least I know I can count on you to come dig me out XD
YESSS YOU MUST READ THE MASKED TRUTH. IT’S DARK AND SAD AND JUST AMAZING.
I really want to read this book now. I am anticipating tears and snot. I’m ready to get my feels on. My partner has schizophrenia so this book might offer some insight into her illness.
Eeeep, I hope you end up liking it Pamela! IT REALLY JUST GOT ME IN THE FEELS SO MANY TIMES. <3
WELL THEN. I’ll just go ahead and hunt down a copy of this one because obviously it’s better than the cover, title & blurb made me think it’d be. I’m hesitant about mental illness books, but then again, I loved All The Bright Places and Made You Up (which I read because of you, so thanks!), so I should give this one a shot too. Now to find a copy…
YES. It is definitely better. The cover/blurb/title is so totally underwhelming for this magnificent papery creature. <3
*natters and robotically goes around in circles* THIS SOUNDS LIKE A YES FROM ME. Okay so maybe I just really love the cover (*challenges you to a duel wielding a banana*) but I’m kinda really really REALLY intrigued to read the book because of what it is. I think I’m just in the mood for both long books and contemporaries. IN FACT I’m so in the mood for long books right now maybe I should fling everything in the air and tackle some Brandon Sandersons whilst this mood lasts *runs to bookshelf*
*challenges your banana with a cake*
*wins because cake always wins*
*cackles evilly*
aHEM WHAT WAS I SAYING? OH YES. YOU NEED THIS BOOK, KIRSTIE, I’M LIKE 999% SURE OF IT. And I’m glad you like long contemporaries…😂 I’m really picky when it comes to contemporaries which is probably why I keep complaining about the length. And this is from someone who reads Sanderson AND George RR Martin😂
I have not read Whisper to Me, but clearly I have to add it to the list.
I would like to say that whenever I see your posts on my Blogger dashboard, I always get excited to read them. They’re just always so entertaining! So congrats. XD
Yes yes clearly you do. *nods*
Omgggg, really?! *blushes*
*cries happy tears* THAT IS THE SWEETEST THING TO HEAR LAURA. <3333 THANK YOU FOR THAT ENCOURAGEMENT.
What’s sad is that I wrote a Top 10 list of best YA mental illness representation books at the end of last year. You’d think that by now I’d have some sort of an improved version to post, but… I really don’t.
Which isn’t to say that YA isn’t doing its utmost, really. It might just mean that I’m picky. (Which I am.) Or that I read fantasy too much. (Which I do.) But that just begs the question: DUDE, Y U NO MORE MENTAL ILLNESS REPRESENTATION IN FANTASY? I mean, people hallucinate dragons in real life. IMAGINE HOW COMPELLING THAT COULD BE IN A LAND WITH ACTUAL DRAGONS. All I’m sayin’.
Uhm. Anyway. I LOVE UNIQUE FORMATTING AND I LOVE OPEN ENDINGS… um, to a point. Like, an “I didn’t think this through and I have no flipping idea how to end this now, so I’m letting the reader end it in their minds” = total cop-out, massive nope, you now owe me a lifetime supply of Nutella. But an open-ending which acknowledges, y’know, that life doesn’t wrap up on that final page, and that many of the arcs in our own lives remain open for a long, long time = YAAAAAS.
So, basically, I NEED THIS BOOK IN MY LIFE. IT GAVE THE VULCAN FEELS!
Lists of top books always need updating and changing right?!?😂 hehe. IT IS THE BOOKWORM CURSE. Ah, but I seriously need to do my top MI picks at some point. There are just 34930 posts I need to write and I only have one of me, dangit. Anyway. I AM PICKY TOO, TRUST ME. But this one really did just hit all the A+ levels. :’) And I also agree taht it sucks that mental illness is LIKE RARELY IN FANTASY OMG. I mean, except PTSD.😂 I can’t even think of a single fantasy that a character isn’t suffering from that a little. (Actually that’s probably a reason I do like Game of Thrones because it actually has disabilities and mental illness SO YAY FOR THAT.)
(Oh and the Scorpio Races is kiiiind of fantasy and Finn has OCD I’m like 99% sure of it.)
ANYWAY WHAT WERE WE SAYING? OH YES NUTELLA IS GOOD. No wait. Books. Open endings! YES. I think I mostly love them.😂 Sometimes they make me angry but usually I warm up to them over time. Like omg I want ANSWERS for this book…but I also like not knowing. :’)
Ahhh, that cover is gorgeous!!
Ugh, ***** seems a bit immature.
Made You Up by Francesca Zappia is AMAZING. Plus that cover is my favorite book cover of all time. *flails*
OPEN ENDINGS NOOOOO. Oh my God they KILL ME inside. I MUST KNOW HOW THINGS WORK OUT FOR MY LITTLE MUFFIN BEANS.
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
The **** for swearing almost seems condescending right?!? I mean, what teenager DOESN’T swear these days basically? And even if they don’t swear, you still know what the words are! Hmmm. ANYWAY. IT IS STILL SUCH A GOOD BOOK THAT I CAN OVERLOOK THAT.😂 And ahhh Made You Up was one of my TOP reads of last year. :’)
I don’t know if I’ve ever read a novel where the swearing was replaced by characters or asterisks. I think I would find that super annoying. I swear all the time in real life, so it doesn’t really bother me to see those words on a page.
I don’t like open endings because they’re like real life. In reality, so many things are unresolved and unfinished and messy. I want the fiction I read to tie up those loose ends!
A mental illness book that I thought was good… I’m trying to think of some, but I’m not sure I’ve read that many. Sonya Hartnett’s Surrender was good, as was Stolen by Lucy Christopher (although that’s more about Stockholm Syndrome than mental illness… in the main character, anyway). I know I read Susanna Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted years ago, but I don’t remember if it was particularly well written or not; what I do remember is being scared out of my mind that a person could get thrown into a mental hospital against their will and get stuck there. So… not a book I’d particularly recommend to anyone with mental illness; it’s just a little too scary (especially since it’s a memoir, not a novel).
I don’t even swear in real life but it STILL bothers me to see it like that in books.😂 It almost feels condescending?! And it was especially annoying when at the end of the book the narrator was blocking out other characters’ swearing, but leaving her own in?!? I am confused. Hmmm. ANYWAY.
I’ve read Stolen out of your list, but not Surrender! I should look it up. 😀 I had trouble with Stolen because I didn’t think it was a very realistic portrayal of the middle of Australia. 0_0 Which I have been to. And nearly died because of the heat and I went in freaking winter. AND I’m Australian. So omg yeah, the way the heat levels were handled (especially from a British character’s perspective) was not very realistic sadly. ANYWAY. I shall look up Girl, Interrupted too…even though that does sound kind of freaky and I might be too nervous to read something like that. 0_0 Plus it being real life? Eeeek.
ISN’T IT THE BEST WHEN YOU GO INTO A BOOK WITH LOW EXPECTATIONS AND YOU END UP LOVING IT?! YAS. I was actually asked if I wanted to review this but I said no as I generally don’t like reading books with mental illness (unless it’s about anxiety) as they’re generally quite dark and I like my books happier! 🙂 A great book about mental health though is Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne. It’s about a girl recovering from OCD and although I don’t have anxiety in that form, I related to the main character so much as she echoed so many of my thoughts. Such an amazing book you MUST READ IT! It’s also got lots of feminism in – bonus!
YESSS OMG HAPPY TEARS. I LOVE THIS FEELING. <3 I think it makes the book even BETTER somehow?!? Because I just expected to read something I could burn through quick and not really care about and now ajfdaksfld it's definitely on my "favourites" list. :')
I'm opposite though! hehe. I like mental illness books EXCEPT the ones about anxiety (because they make my anxiety more anxiety-y...which is a word, shh don't deny it) Ohhh, I do want to read Am I Normal Yet though! Goodreads keeps telling me to read it for some reason. I think goodreads doubts my normality. -_-
Ummm I’d love to chat but I have to go find this book bye.
THIS IS THE PERFECT RESPONSE. ALL THE CAKE FOR YOU.
Ok so now I need to read this book too! I love mental illness stories but I haven’t really read any because I can hardly find any that actually good. So thanks a bunch for this review Cait! I’m not even upset that you grew my TBR this time. XD As a matter of fact, I’m headed out to go look for it now. *gives you cake as thanks*
AHHH YAY!! I hope you think this one is good!😂 I find they’re pretty hit or miss at the moment for me?! Like I know there are tons of different experiences out there and there’s not “one” way to represent mental illness…but some books just seem to ring truer?! This one does SUCH A GOOD JOB.
*eats all the cake*
I love open endings, unless it is with Sarah J. Maas books. I like getting to see all the possibilities of what could/did happen. The reason I won’t allow a Sarah J. Maas open ending is because she is my favorite author, and I need to see how it will work out. I don’t think I will read this one my contemporary season is over( I don’t like long contemporary either). I really want to read fantasy lately. I’m about to start The Last Star by Rick Yancey and am still reading Dream Thieves. I am with you on The Beginning of Everything, I didn’t like it either( I didn’t even finish it). I also don’t like it when books use **** for swear words. Swear words make me laugh more usually when they are in books. Do you have a preferred mental illness you like reading about. I usually like to read PTSD stories, I like to find out the backstories. Now I have to recommend The Problem with Forever by Kelly Armstrong. I really loved that book.
I think Sarah J Maas usually does cliffhangers instead of open endings, right?!😂 I feel like epic fantasies usually conclude a bit more solidly than contemporaries. *nods* OMG BUT I’M SUPER GLAD YOU DIDN’T LIKE THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING EITHER! *hi fives*😂 I just felt so alone in my dislike of that because basically all my GR friends adore it. #blacksheepmoment hehe
I’m super interested in reading about schizophrenia actually, so this was perfect for me! I don’t like reading anxiety books because it spikes my own anxiety.😂 And YES PTSD is super interesting too!! And omg I just reserved the Problem with Forever from the library. <3
This sounds absolutely amazing Cait! I’m always on the lookout for books that portray mental illness realistically and honestly, and this seems like it does just that. And I absolutely adore books with unique formatting, and it sounds like that is done wonderfully here. And you know how much I love open endings (Flipped & The Giver ❤) – they make books so much more thought-provoking and makes it so that they stay with you longer. Definitely going to have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3
Omg yes I totally agree that open-endings make things more realistic. :’) And it makes me think! AND THE BOOK STAYS WITH ME FOR LONGER SO HONESTLY THERE IS NO DOWNSIDE. :’) Well, there’s a little suffering but pfft, we bookworms are used to that.😂
Whisper to Me DEFINITELY piques my interest! I don’t know what interests me more– the subject matter or the formatting of the story. I haven’t read too many books about mental illness, but the first thing that comes to mind is It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini.
Ooh, It’s Kind of a Funny Story is super good! That’s one of the most accurate portrayals of depression I’ve ever read! I hope you like Whisper To Me if you do get a chance to devour it!!
Sounds like a lovely book, another one for the list.
The endless list, amirite?! 😂
FIRST OFF: SDFGHJKJHGFDFGHJ THE LIST OF FEELS AMAZING GRACE GIF LIKE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT CAN I HUG IT FOREVER AND LAUGH AND CRY?? OKAY AWESOME. *breathes* dude. this book actually does pique my interest bECAUSE IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD, YO. Unique formatting is WHERE IT’S AT and I love the idea of it being written like an email through the whole thing?!!? LIKE THAT IS VERY COOL WHY DID I NOT THINK OF THAT HAHA LOWKEY JEALOUS OVER HERE HOLD ON.
Also yes yes yes to everything you said in the first paragraph — IT NEEDS A DIFFERENT COVER, MAYBE?? IDK BUT WHEN I SAW THIS THUMBNAIL I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT PROCESS about cotton candy and quirky characters and everything just happy-go-lucky but WHOA IT SOUNDS HEAVY. honestly i’m probably overthinking this but yo that cover is deceiving. AS IS THE BLURB. LIKE…IT COULD STILL BE A BUBBLEGUMMY HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCE?? BUT TRYING TO SOUND DARK LIKE HOW SOME MOVIE TRAILERS MAKE THE MOVIE LOOK LIKE SOMETHING IT ACTUALLY ISN’T??? idk i’m just happy you reviewed this book because EEEEEEEEEEEEEP. <3 eeep.
HAHAHAH YAY FOR AMAZING GRACE! Omg it’s been years since I watched that movie but I love it. :’) And I’m glad someone put their epic gifing skills to it hahah. Ahem. BUT YES I THINK UNIQUE FORMATTING IS AWESOMe. I kind of want to do that someday?! But I also think it’d drive me nuts trying to get it to look like I want. #perfectionist
I definitely think it needs a different cover. 0_0 It toootally put me off, omg. I’ve had this book for simply MONTHS and I was kind of forcing myself to read it and then — BOYAYHHHHHH — it’s now a favourite of the year.😂
Sounds really good, Cait. Maybe like something I would pick up.
OH GLORIOUSNESS THIS IS GOOD NEWS!! 😀
I AM SO GLAD YOU LOVED THIS ONE TOO!!! Like you, I had zero expectations. I had NO CLUE that it would be about mental illness until I started reading it. I loved the portrayal of her dad’s PTSD too. He wasn’t perfect and he had his own issues, but man I could tell he loved Cassie so much. I love that. And the relationship was so well done. I love that it wasn’t instal-love and there also wasn’t this whole “he made me better” type vibes (I do hate when they do that in mental health books). I do think she mentioned his name ONCE. I don’t even remember what it was, but I think she was writing a conversation in which someone called his name. But it was so fast, it was easy to miss. I loved this book and swear that it is one of the most underrated books this year. More people need to read this one!
YESS!! AHH I should’ve mentioned how good the dad’s PTSD portryal was. I mean not “good” but really accurate. *nods* I love how Cassie KNEW he loved her but she was also scared of him…I think that was super realistic too and just like really caught the essence of how complex family and mental illness can be.
Oh she did mention The Boy’s name?!?!? Because I can’t remember😂 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. And yesss, so criminally underrated omg I am throwing it at everyone now.
OH EM GEE I HAVE TO READ THIS NOW. CAIT LIKED A CONTEMPORARY???? I better not hate it. Ha. Nahhhh I’m sure I’ll love it. I do love unique formatting and A++ mental illness representation 🙂
YES THE WORLD IS LIKE EXPLODING WITH THIS UNUSUAL EVENT OF ME LIKING A CONTEMPORARY. *gasps* 😂 Although, tbh, I do like mental illness books usually! (If they’re well done…which isn’t always…) and yes I do hope you like it.😂
Hello you!!! As soon as I saw you tweeting about this review I just couldn’t resist! Now I do really want to read this book, like RIGHT NOW! Btw, time for your questions! Yes, I do like open endings because it feels real, you know? Also, it makes you believe that the story continues even though you’re not there with the characters, the do continue their lives anyway, and it’s both great and annoying because I mean, you’ve been there, suffering with them, laughing with them, struggling with them, you basically lived with them and now JUST GIVE ME MY FREAKING ENDING! But, it’s kinda cool at the same time, because you can imagine how it could end, like, I don’t know if you’ve read the DELIRIUM trilogy, but in the third book, there’s an open ending and I both loved it and hated it! I mean, I’ve been there, with those characters and grow feeling for them, let me just know what the heck happens to them, for god sake! But I liked it anyway!
Quite recently I’ve read THE SHOCK OF THE FALL by Nathan Filer. Honestly, I bought it for the extraordinary gorgeous cover (I do love me a really pretty cover but this one was stunning!). It’s about mental illness and the main character also hear a Voice and sees the person who’s voice belongs to and man if it was good. At the beginning I was very confused but as you keep reading you just want to hug him and tell him it’s okay. It was amazing and the way it was written was so delicate yet powerful and strong and oh, the feels.
So, I will definitely read WHISPER TO ME because dah!
Also, this is basically the longest comment I’ve ever written! So, shout out to that! Hahaha!
HELLO MARYLOU! *waves* And I totally agree about the reality of open endings. Meeee toooooo. I think they’re much closer to real life and kind of more relatable in that respect. :’) I haven’t read the Delirium trilogy yet BUT I WILL SOMEDAY I PROMISE.😂
AJFDLKASD I JUST BOUGHT SHOCK OF THE FALL ACTUALLY!!! It’s next on my TBR and I’m so so excited to try it. :’)
Ooh. this is such good information. I also had a bad reaction to the cover which also reminded me of that headless roller coaster book. And honestly, this author’s last book (I think it was the last; the one with all the Native American stuff) just didn’t resonate with me. But this sounds like an amazing book, even if I agree with you that contemporaries do NOT need to be 500 pages. I’m going to try it!
Jen @ YA Romantics
Yayyyy!! I hope you like it! I was a bit confused with There Will Be Lies but in the end I did enjoy it. *nods* But I think this one is less disjointed? Maybe? Tbh, I don’t remember enough of TWBL hahah. Omg my memory is getting WORSE. (But yes the cover is entirely underwhelming and nope.)
I love books about mental illness and the dark way that this is represented makes me really curious! I’m ao glad you enjoyed this one Cait!
*flails happily* It’s always SO NICE to have a surprise 5-star read. :’)
I am so excited to read this! I got sent it a few weeks ago, and I’m kind of finally able to read it, because I finished a book! But, to be honest, I put a book down to read the one I just finished, so I should get back to that one, really. Pfft. But this book sounds SO good! And I have no idea what it’s about but the whole mental illness side of things really intrigues me! I am so looking forward to it! 😀 Brilliant review, as always, Cait!
AHH I’M GLAD YOU’RE GOING TO READ IT TOO! I’m actually super curious to hear some other people’s thoughts because honestly no one is reading this?? I have no idea whyyyyyy. It’s so underrated!
I might actually steal your whole gif collection if that’s alright with you?? hoW DO YOU FIND YOUR PERFECT SELECTION I. CAN’T. DEAL.
but this review totally swayed me! i was possibly gonna buy it- i have no pastel books and this adds to my collection was the primary reason #sorrynotsorry- butt now i probably will! MY BANK ACCOUNT BLAMES YO
I just find them on google!😂
I’M REALLY GLAD THE REVIEW GOT YOU THOUGHT BECAUSE THE BOOK IS GLORIOUS AND ENTIRELY UNDERRATED. *nods* Your bank account and its suffering are most welcome. :’)
I think what really makes me want to read this is that it is written as a letter. I haven’t read a book like that before. I’ve really read any books to do with mental illnesses yet but I have added a few to my goodreads list lately and this one will probably be added too. I’m sure (well not totally) I will get to them some time this year or next.
OH OH YAYYYYY!! *tosses confetti in the air* I hope you get to it sometime this year or next too…I mean, there are only a gazillion books that want our attention right?!😂
Yep, a gazillion books. I don’t know how I will get through them all. BUT I am determined to. Just realised I hadn’t added this too my goodreads TBR list. It has been amended. 🙂
I actually don’t know how I feel about open endings but this sounds like a really good book and my interest has been heightened! I actually hadn’t heard of it until now so I’ll just mooch on over and check it out on Goodreads. I also really loved Made You up and All the Bright Places which you recommended this book for so… that had me pretty sold. I love when any book handles mental illness and relationships right so this is pretty much another one to add to my never ending TBR!
My latest post: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2016/06/planner-junkie-chantilly-co.html
Yessss, I hope you like it! I’m honestly super picky about mental illness books and good representation and I think this one just aced it. :’)
How have I never heard of this?! It sounds fantastic – Great review!
It’s ENTIRELY underrated!! *shrieks about it to the universe so everyone will read it*
Ooh, this sounds superb Smushy! I didn’t have much luck with his other read because of the native depiction and the all round confusion. But a book that gives you the feels? I’m sold. The swearing is a bit of a let down, I think if an author is going to include cursing and what teen doesn’t swear, even internally? You have to commit to it unapologetically.
But regardless this sounds incredible and can’t wait to grab a copy! Brilliant review Smushster, really enjoyed it <3
HAHHAH, omg I know right?! If I, the cold-hearted vulcan, am getting feels it must be good.😂 AND YES! It’s almost insulting, I find, to think that teens need things censored? Because like I’m pretty sure 90% of teens swear. -_-
I had no idea that this book was any of the things you described. I have to confess that this was one of those cases of severely misjudging a book by it’s cover – I need to go check this out more thoroughly now!
SAME. So don’t feel bad.😂 I actually nearly didnt’ read it because it was unsolicited and I’m absolutely drowning in books, but I was like “Nope, you must at least try it” and OMG SO GLAD I DID. It’s easily one of the best books of 2016 for me. :’)
This sounds really good! The delivery and format and the character’s voice! Everything. I think I’ll have to try it. And I love open endings. Like you said, it’s so much like real life. Also, I enjoy the luxury of imagining how it turned out on my own. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for this one!
Also, love, love your photos! All the colors and the stars!
Saaaaaame! I LOVE books that leave one with questions. :’) It’s kind of infuriating and exciting all at once? And then I think about the book a LOT more so #winning for the author.
AHHH THANKYOU! <3
The only reason why I’m adding this to my TBR is because you said it’s good. YOU SAID SO. And also because you don’t usually read contemporary.
YES AND WHEN AM I EVER WRONG? NEVER. #humble And I know right?!? I’m SUCH a contemporary snob, so when I find a good one I will shriek about it forever probably.😂
Ugh, I hate books that blot out swear words, too. I find that it draws MORE attention to the swearing because your brain wants to fill in the blank and, honestly, I don’t really want those words to be in my head!
This sounds like a good book, though. I haven’t read many books about mental illness, but mental illness really interests me. I feel like it’s one of those “genres” that I’d rather read personal accounts from, rather than fiction. But, then, at the same time, this book has a great cover… and I love books with unique formatting like letters or emails or mission files or diary entries or lists.
I NEED to read this book. A good book should stick with you even after you finish reading it, and this sounds like one of those books. I have it on my shelf and I can’t wait to start it! I love open endings, and I love when parts of the story are hidden. It gives you the opportunity to wonder and dream about the characters that you fell in love with while reading the book. I read Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone, and while I loved the book, I feel like the main character’s OCD was used as more of a plot twist rather than providing insight into the complicated illness. Whisper To Me sounds like it hit it spot on. Thanks for the review! Happy reading!
YES YES THIS ONE IS A STICKY BOOK!! *flails* I can’t stop thinking about it, honestly, and it’s definitley on my “favourite of the year” shelf now. <3
Oh I do want to read Every Last Word, although the idea of mental illness being a "plot twist" is a bit of a concern. 🙁 EH WELL. I'll still read it eventually.😂
I really want to read this! I’ve read one other review and it was pretty positive (I think they didn’t like the romance, though) and I’ve been keeping my eye for other reviews! I WANT TO READ THIS SO BAD. I adored All the Bright Places and if this book is anything like that, then I’m sure I’ll love it too. Great review, and once again, I love your voice and humor! 🙂
Amazing review, I can’t think of ANY name that will fit him, nothing is feeling right… what is it???