A Tiny White Light: A Memoir of a Mind in Crisis

by Linda Bass

From an author with a psychology background, a candid memoir about the interior of her own psychotic episode and its origins in guilt, lost purpose, conflict between mothering and career, and the ambiguity in her relationship with her therapist.

Just after Linda, nineteen, and her brother Brian, eighteen, move from their tiny country town in Wisconsin to the tumult of Los Angeles in 1967, the Summer of Love, their parents decide to divorce—and for the first time, the two teenagers find themselves truly on their own. Forced to fend for himself, Brian’s life quickly spirals He hitchhikes around the country, lands in psychiatric hospitals and jails, and, finally, commits an irrevocable act. Plagued with guilt over her role in Brian’s deterioration, Linda loses her own sense of purpose, gives up a promising career in psychology, and finds herself in a life she never envisioned—poor, alcoholic, an accidental parent in an unhappy marriage, feeling invisible and alone.

When Linda’s husband, Jake, urges her to see Sam, a psychologist, for help in quitting smoking, Sam quickly becomes a touchstone for what she has her sense of self. Feeling truly seen, she falls in love with him, and she believes he might return her feelings. But he offers her only mixed messages, and the ambiguity triggers her descent into a psychotic episode—one that echoes her dreams, Brian’s experience, and Sam’s own phobia.

Will she follow her brother’s path—or will she find her way back to herself and create the life she longs to live?

312 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 20, 2026

Reviews

[Sara (sarasbooksandcoffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a raw, deeply honest memoir that gently pulls readers into the lived experience of mental illness, grief, and the fragile hope that keeps us going even in our darkest moments.

@linda_bass_author writes with vulnerability and courage, offering a personal account that feels both intimate and universal.
This memoir is especially powerful and Linda Basso’s ability to articulate thoughts and emotions that are often left unspoken. She doesn’t sanitize her struggles or rush toward easy resolutions. She allows the reader to sit with the discomfort, confusion, and exhaustion that can accompany mental health challenges, while still weaving in moments of clarity, love, and resilience.
The writing is reflective and compassionate, inviting empathy rather than judgment, sometimes painful, sometimes hopeful.

This memoir will resonate with those who have experienced mental health struggles themselves, as well as those who want a better understanding of what loved ones may be facing.

Thank you @booksparks and @linda_bass_author for this book to read and review.

[Dalyn Miller]

A Tiny White Light: A Memoir of a Mind in Crisis by Linda Bass is a profoundly candid and compelling exploration of mental health, personal struggle, and the search for self amidst turmoil. With remarkable vulnerability and insight, Bass invites readers into the interior of her psychotic episode, tracing its origins through complex family dynamics, personal guilt, and the conflict between motherhood and career. Her narrative is both raw and deeply human, offering a rare window into the lived experience of psychological crisis.

Bass’s memoir stands out for its honesty, emotional depth, and narrative clarity. By intertwining her personal journey with broader reflections on mental health, family, and identity, she creates a story that is not only deeply moving but also educational and illuminating. Readers are drawn into her experience with empathy and understanding, gaining insight into resilience, self discovery, and the intricate workings of the human mind.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an all consuming read for me. It is an amazing first hand look from the mind and eyes of Linda herself. I felt so many emotions as she navigated adulthood after a move across the country, her parents divorce, living on her own, and her brother’s metal health issues and a tragedy. Her feelings of guilt are so very relatable to me. As time goes on and she struggles in relationships, with substance abuse, motherhood, and marital issues I was just in awe. The honesty on every page gives a crucial look inside her own mind. This book was the ultimate case of trying to create the ideal life amid how closely we walk to the path’s of others around us who have struggled. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[CR · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
This was a quiet, emotional story that focuses on grief, faith, and healing. The writing felt gentle and thoughtful, and the emotions came across as very real without being overdone. I appreciated how the story encouraged slowing down and really sitting with the characters.
There were a few moments where the pacing dragged, which kept it from being a full five star read for me. Overall, this was an enjoyable, heartfelt book that will appeal to readers who like reflective, character driven stories.