Wait With Me

by Emily Ava Gillespie, Emily Gillespie

Something isn’t right with Jade O’Reilly. She’s felt this way since that strange trip to an abandoned hospital where her Dad told her Mom had Stage-4 cancer. In the following days, and while drifting in and out of consciousness, Jade wonders if she hit her head, or if she’s slowly losing her mind. Desperate for answers she visits an urgent care clinic and two hospitals and is treated inhumanely as her crisis escalates. Her mismatched friends and a well-intentioned cousin try to help, yet frequent episodes of dissociation continue to pull Jade into a hellscape of her own. Will she find the answers she seeks? Will any of her friends wait it out with her? Or is Jade meant to navigate this desert alone?

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Ghofran Alyass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait with me is a book that drew me in not long after reading the first few lines! As someone who is disabled and has had to navigate the healthcare system in general and the mental health system to an extent, I felt for Jade's struggles. I also connected with conversations about having to deal with family issues amid everything. Emily did an amazing job world building as a writer and I highly recommend this book that I enjoyed thoroughly!

[Charlie-Rae RG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Emily sucks you into the story of Jade O'Reilly from the moment you step into her reality. She paints a true reflection of the current state of psychiatric care in Ontario, wrought with rejection and systemic trauma. They show the jarring reality of experiencing severe mental illness - one that no medical professional seems to care to understand. This novel gives the phrase "rock bottom" a whole new meaning for those who have never seen inside the mind of a traumatized person. I literally could not have stopped reading this even if I tried; the way Emily writes keeps you guessing, and needing to know what happens next. Though not for the faint of heart, Wait With Me is worth it to show you what it takes to come back from the harsh yellow line that delineates life and death, in a way that keeps you breathless. In the age of AI slop, fake news, and perfectly curated online personas, this novel is the perfect opposite in how raw and real it is. You need to read this book! I know I'll be reading it again.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Authentic storytelling combined with a thoughtful critique of the broken Canadian health care system makes this novel a significant contribution to the dialogue on mental health.”

Lisa Anita Wegner, Artistic Director at Haus of Dada

[Michèle Breton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait With Me is a fabulous, personal story about how the main character is mistreated by the mental health system. Her journey back, with the help of her friends, makes this story hard to put down. I loved Wait With Me!

[Rebecca Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a quick summer read that keeps you engaged, try "Wait with me". A mental health Odyssey that takes you on a wild journey through healthcare, recovery, and friendship. Worth the read!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly thought provoking! The author does a great job keeping you hooked on the protagonist’s journey.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly thought provoking! The author does a great job keeping you hooked on the protagonist’s journey.