The Existence of Amy

The review

Most of the time, I have issues with books surrounding mental illnesses. Not because I don’t like reading about mental heath, that couldn’t be further from the truth. But the fact that time and time again, the main characters ‘mental illness’ is a quirky personality trait that is somehow fixed once they fall in love. It’s very upsetting and downright demoralizing to read books like that, because then you wonder if what you’re going through is even real or if you’re overdramatic? Because hey, if love can save the day then clearly I’m doing something wrong. The existence of Amy was NOT like that at all.This was a raw and unfiltered reality of what living with mental illnesses is like.  The over analyzing, the planning, the constant anxieties, the soul crushing sadness that fills you when you want to go out; want to be ‘normal’ for once, but you can’t because your brain tells you otherwise. Amy is a relatable character, especially if you struggle with mental illnesses. Of course mental conditions are not homogeneous, but there were still some moments I could see myself through Amy. And for that, I felt seen and understood for the first time while reading a book with this topic. 

Who should read this book: If you’re looking for a book that depicts mental illnesses in a real way with ‘love’ not being the prescription, this is for you!

Overall, I highly recommend you all give this important book a read, especially if you’re looking to learn more about mental health !!