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Under My Skin
Bookish Brit Adam Gibson is one wonky heartbeat away from a fatal arrhythmia. But staying alive requires Adam to become keenly focused on both his pulse and the many different daily medications he must take in exactly the right dosages. Adam's torn between wanting to live and knowing that someone else must die in order for him to do so. He needs a new heart.
The pressure is getting to him. Adam stops talking to his friends back home, refuses to meet kids at his new school, and shuts his parents out entirely. His days are spent wondering if can cope with having a dead man's heart beating inside his chest, or if he should surrender to the thoughts of suicide swirling around in his head.
And then a donor is found…
Outspoken artist Darby Fox rarely lets anything stand in her way of achieving her goals . Whether it’s painting, ignoring her homework (dyslexia makes a mess out of words anyway), kissing a hot boy she doesn't even know, or taking the head cheerleader down a peg , no one has ever accused Darby of being a shy. She also happens to be the twin sister to a perfect brother with good looks, good grades, manners, and the approval of their parents - something Darby has never had.
Darby's always had bad timing . She picks the worst time to argue with her brother Daniel. In a car with bald tires, on an icy road in the freezing cold, the unthinkable happens. In a split-second, everything changes forever.
The pressure is getting to him. Adam stops talking to his friends back home, refuses to meet kids at his new school, and shuts his parents out entirely. His days are spent wondering if can cope with having a dead man's heart beating inside his chest, or if he should surrender to the thoughts of suicide swirling around in his head.
And then a donor is found…
Outspoken artist Darby Fox rarely lets anything stand in her way of achieving her goals . Whether it’s painting, ignoring her homework (dyslexia makes a mess out of words anyway), kissing a hot boy she doesn't even know, or taking the head cheerleader down a peg , no one has ever accused Darby of being a shy. She also happens to be the twin sister to a perfect brother with good looks, good grades, manners, and the approval of their parents - something Darby has never had.
Darby's always had bad timing . She picks the worst time to argue with her brother Daniel. In a car with bald tires, on an icy road in the freezing cold, the unthinkable happens. In a split-second, everything changes forever.
First published April 12, 2016
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About the author
Laura Diamond
15 books155 followersLaura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist currently specializing in emergency psychiatry. She is also an author of all things young adult—both contemporary and paranormal. An avid fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and anything magical, she thrives on quirk, her lucid dreams, and coffee. When she’s not working or writing, she can be found sniffing books and drinking a latte at the bookstore or at home pondering renovations on her 225 year old fixer upper, all while obeying her feline overlords, of course.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 7, 2016
DNF
I am so tired of posting full DNF reviews. So I've decided to type a mini review.
This was a case of 'It's not you but me.' I didn't finish this because I felt no connection to it. I felt nothing while reading the beginning.
I recommend this to contemporary fans.
I am so tired of posting full DNF reviews. So I've decided to type a mini review.
This was a case of 'It's not you but me.' I didn't finish this because I felt no connection to it. I felt nothing while reading the beginning.
I recommend this to contemporary fans.
March 8, 2018
“Under My Skin” is not only the title of the book by Laura Diamond I just read. No – it is also the place where that story went. I have to admit that so far I never read a book that let me go so deep into the mind of a guy like Adam.
From the first page on the reader is at his side and sees everything around him like he sees it and also joins him on his confusing journey between guilt and the will to survive. Ms. Diamond managed it perfectly to draw the story in a way that the reader was never sure if Adam was right or if those surrounding him were right.
I was always right on the edge of considering someone was out there to get him and hoping his parents would finally give him some peace and alone time. But in the next moment I was considering if it could be true and he really was in the position the others were placing him.
The whole way the story was told brought me to an edge myself. I got angry about anybody disturbing me while reading and found myself using earplugs blocking the outside with music so I could focus.
The confusion felt so real to me that it was scary – so if this is really the way a depression unfolds – I think I am starting to understand how someone really can see no way to get out of it.
It was scary as hell because it all made sense. I am still shaking my head – because it ALL MADE SENSE ….
There are several storylines in this book from where a reviewer could focus on writing a review.
I am sure if I would focus on this book being a love story I might end up with 3 stars because I do not really see the story developing fully in that direction.
Judging the whole plotline I guess I would be with 4 stars because the end somehow came short in its development when I take into account how long the story worked itself into that direction. Also I felt that there was too much going on in the lives of both of the leading characters so the lines were not always clear what the story was about.
BUT … from its psychological view this is a 5 star book.
I tried to focus on Adam because the book starts with him and following him through this journey really got under my skin.
So even if it is unusual for me I am rating this book with 5 stars even though there are things that I did not fully agree with. The 5th star is always my emotional star – usually given because I cried or laughed a lot during reading.
This time it was a first for me I guess, because this 5th star is a scary one, scary because I got a good look into the mind of Adam and it was really hard to separate those different “truth’s”
July 29, 2016
3 Stars for this contemporary YA romance.
Adam is a 16 y/o Londoner living in New York. His family had relocated to the US because Adam has an unspecified heart condition that is worsening to the point that he's too sick in general, but not sick enough to be prioritized on the heart transplant list. He lives in some upstate NY town that has a really great heart transplant team...wherever that is. Adam is severely conflicted about his condition. He sees the struggles his parents are enduring, and hates witnessing their suffering on his behalf. As his heart function precipitously declines and he's hospitalized, he has no faith that he'll receive a donor heart in time, and wonders if he even deserves to get one. He's just a kid, and has no outstanding qualities. His manipulative counselor, Dr. Shaw, believes Adam is depressed, and strongly hints that he's suicidal. It's borderline abusive, and I had serious problems with Dr. Shaw's ethics and actions throughout the book.
Daniel and Darby Fox are fraternal twins. While Darby is a talented artist, she struggles with school due to severe dyslexia. She's also an impulse free spirit. Daniel is a stellar student and champion athlete. Darby feels their parents favor Daniel in everything, though she dearly loves Daniel. He's a great guy. The blurb already tells readers that Daniel dies and Adam gets his heart. It's really sad. I agree.
Adam and Darby meet in the hospital and hit it off. Darby was severely injured in the car wreck that killed Daniel. Adam is currently recovering from his transplant. Neither really wants to discuss their medical issues--Adam is still conflicted, and not sure how to handle the physical issues he's now experiencing. A racing heart was a sign of trouble--now he's being tested with all sorts of exercise, and he's getting panic attacks. Dr. Shaw's manipulating him, and her new medications for his depression and anxiety are freaking him out. He can't discuss his fears with his parents, as they think he's as suicidal and Dr. Shaw says. Darby is a breath of fresh air, but Dr. Shaw does some completely unethical things that keep them apart.
I think I'd have liked this story a whole lot more without Dr. Shaw. As a person who has worked in the medical field a long time, I understand that the machinations in this book would be enough to get a physician severely reprimanded, if not have her license disciplined or revoked. It created a whole lot of unnecessary drama, in a story that was already rife with conflict and complications.
Both Darby and Adam are riddled with survivor's guilt. They have long-term medical issues. They have parental issues. They have survived serious illness and injury. That's a lot. Then, they meet a person who might make all their suffering fade, just a bit. And--instead of fostering connection and openness--the psychiatrist breaks anonymity, reveals her own inner traumas to teens, and prescribes medications that the patient has trouble taking. Oh, and she's really, really antagonistic. I've been in therapy sessions. Never has the psychiatrist acted so rashly, brashly and foolishly as this caricature. I understand the author is a psychiatrist; if she was presented a case file of Dr. Shaw I wonder if she'd recommend her be sanctioned. I sure would, if she treated my son like Adam was treated.
The end is tied up too neatly. The only upside I found was Adam got a new therapist, and his parents were made to understand some small degree of the fallacies they'd been fed by Dr. Shaw. It seems like Darby and Adam will be getting along, perhaps having some romance. I wished I had had more of that story, and less of the freaky shrink completely messing Adam around.
Adam is a 16 y/o Londoner living in New York. His family had relocated to the US because Adam has an unspecified heart condition that is worsening to the point that he's too sick in general, but not sick enough to be prioritized on the heart transplant list. He lives in some upstate NY town that has a really great heart transplant team...wherever that is. Adam is severely conflicted about his condition. He sees the struggles his parents are enduring, and hates witnessing their suffering on his behalf. As his heart function precipitously declines and he's hospitalized, he has no faith that he'll receive a donor heart in time, and wonders if he even deserves to get one. He's just a kid, and has no outstanding qualities. His manipulative counselor, Dr. Shaw, believes Adam is depressed, and strongly hints that he's suicidal. It's borderline abusive, and I had serious problems with Dr. Shaw's ethics and actions throughout the book.
Daniel and Darby Fox are fraternal twins. While Darby is a talented artist, she struggles with school due to severe dyslexia. She's also an impulse free spirit. Daniel is a stellar student and champion athlete. Darby feels their parents favor Daniel in everything, though she dearly loves Daniel. He's a great guy. The blurb already tells readers that Daniel dies and Adam gets his heart. It's really sad. I agree.
Adam and Darby meet in the hospital and hit it off. Darby was severely injured in the car wreck that killed Daniel. Adam is currently recovering from his transplant. Neither really wants to discuss their medical issues--Adam is still conflicted, and not sure how to handle the physical issues he's now experiencing. A racing heart was a sign of trouble--now he's being tested with all sorts of exercise, and he's getting panic attacks. Dr. Shaw's manipulating him, and her new medications for his depression and anxiety are freaking him out. He can't discuss his fears with his parents, as they think he's as suicidal and Dr. Shaw says. Darby is a breath of fresh air, but Dr. Shaw does some completely unethical things that keep them apart.
I think I'd have liked this story a whole lot more without Dr. Shaw. As a person who has worked in the medical field a long time, I understand that the machinations in this book would be enough to get a physician severely reprimanded, if not have her license disciplined or revoked. It created a whole lot of unnecessary drama, in a story that was already rife with conflict and complications.
Both Darby and Adam are riddled with survivor's guilt. They have long-term medical issues. They have parental issues. They have survived serious illness and injury. That's a lot. Then, they meet a person who might make all their suffering fade, just a bit. And--instead of fostering connection and openness--the psychiatrist breaks anonymity, reveals her own inner traumas to teens, and prescribes medications that the patient has trouble taking. Oh, and she's really, really antagonistic. I've been in therapy sessions. Never has the psychiatrist acted so rashly, brashly and foolishly as this caricature. I understand the author is a psychiatrist; if she was presented a case file of Dr. Shaw I wonder if she'd recommend her be sanctioned. I sure would, if she treated my son like Adam was treated.
The end is tied up too neatly. The only upside I found was Adam got a new therapist, and his parents were made to understand some small degree of the fallacies they'd been fed by Dr. Shaw. It seems like Darby and Adam will be getting along, perhaps having some romance. I wished I had had more of that story, and less of the freaky shrink completely messing Adam around.
May 8, 2016
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Under My Skin is my first book by Laura Diamond, and it most likely won’t be my last. It features Adam, whose heart is failing. He can’t help but think about death all the time, since there’s a healthy chance that if he doesn’t get a donor soon, he’s going to die. The fact that someone has to die for him to live doesn’t help matters much. On the other hand, there’s Darby. Dyslexic, rebellious, and misunderstood, she’s the black sheep of her family; especially next to her perfect twin brother (Daniel). Tragic circumstances find Darby and Adam in the same hospital, forming a friendship and later trying to move past all the hurt they’ve experienced.
I must say, this is one deep read; and it’s well written too! There’s little I don’t like about this book, and its fresh plot kept me turning the pages right until the end. The main characters are two very misunderstood people, and though they are the complete opposites of each other, they form a connection as soon as they meet. I like the realness of the family aspect of the story, and the author managed to portray the parents as frustrating in a way only parents can be.
There is a neat character development in the story, and the psychological problems the characters face was really well handled by the author. The psychiatrist, Dr Shaw, plays a really major part in the story, even though I feel she is fond of taking things to an unwanted extreme in order to suit her beliefs.
To cut things short, Under My Skin is a memorable read with a beautifully unfolding plot and intense, real characters (apart from Dr. Shaw).
Under My Skin is my first book by Laura Diamond, and it most likely won’t be my last. It features Adam, whose heart is failing. He can’t help but think about death all the time, since there’s a healthy chance that if he doesn’t get a donor soon, he’s going to die. The fact that someone has to die for him to live doesn’t help matters much. On the other hand, there’s Darby. Dyslexic, rebellious, and misunderstood, she’s the black sheep of her family; especially next to her perfect twin brother (Daniel). Tragic circumstances find Darby and Adam in the same hospital, forming a friendship and later trying to move past all the hurt they’ve experienced.
I must say, this is one deep read; and it’s well written too! There’s little I don’t like about this book, and its fresh plot kept me turning the pages right until the end. The main characters are two very misunderstood people, and though they are the complete opposites of each other, they form a connection as soon as they meet. I like the realness of the family aspect of the story, and the author managed to portray the parents as frustrating in a way only parents can be.
There is a neat character development in the story, and the psychological problems the characters face was really well handled by the author. The psychiatrist, Dr Shaw, plays a really major part in the story, even though I feel she is fond of taking things to an unwanted extreme in order to suit her beliefs.
To cut things short, Under My Skin is a memorable read with a beautifully unfolding plot and intense, real characters (apart from Dr. Shaw).
May 4, 2016
4 STARS!
This is my first read from Laura Diamond and let's say it will not be the last. This is a beautifully written story about two teenagers who are stuck in the worst circumstances. Both characters who feel misunderstood by the people who surround them daily. With his heart condition, Adam Gibson worries about death each day. Is he scared of death? Will he suffer less? Will he be less of a burden to his parents? With the worst track record at school, Darby Fox feels like the black sheep at school and at home right next to his perfect brother. Will people see her for who she really is? Will they continue to doubt her abilities? When one event unfolds, these two people are thrown together...with the unexpected outcome of friendship, love and possibly happiness.
Thoughts:
PLOT LINE - The story takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Broken up into three parts, you get a full range of emotions from each main character. The smooth transitions between different events creates a great flow. It really helps you get into the story and you forget about the time that flew by. Since it does include dual POV, you get to experience emotions from both characters.
CHEMISTRY - Although they are both in very unfortunate situations...the moment Darby interrupts Adam's therapy session is the moment Adam's life turns around for the better. It only takes one person or thing to change your mindset on life. Every glance and contact between Darby and Adam builds an unspoken connection. A connection which helps them realize the importance of living even though they may feel dead inside.
PSYCHO ANALYSIS - I love how the author incorporates the psychological aspects of both characters. Any traumatic events or dramatic changes in one's life can affect one's mindset. Although there is always two sides to every story...which one is more believable? Can you take one person's word over the other? What happens if you analyze something differently than expected? The book makes you question what is truly unfolding. There will be some moments when you say: wait, what just happened? It can be surprising at times.
*ARC kindly provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
This is my first read from Laura Diamond and let's say it will not be the last. This is a beautifully written story about two teenagers who are stuck in the worst circumstances. Both characters who feel misunderstood by the people who surround them daily. With his heart condition, Adam Gibson worries about death each day. Is he scared of death? Will he suffer less? Will he be less of a burden to his parents? With the worst track record at school, Darby Fox feels like the black sheep at school and at home right next to his perfect brother. Will people see her for who she really is? Will they continue to doubt her abilities? When one event unfolds, these two people are thrown together...with the unexpected outcome of friendship, love and possibly happiness.
Thoughts:
PLOT LINE - The story takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Broken up into three parts, you get a full range of emotions from each main character. The smooth transitions between different events creates a great flow. It really helps you get into the story and you forget about the time that flew by. Since it does include dual POV, you get to experience emotions from both characters.
CHEMISTRY - Although they are both in very unfortunate situations...the moment Darby interrupts Adam's therapy session is the moment Adam's life turns around for the better. It only takes one person or thing to change your mindset on life. Every glance and contact between Darby and Adam builds an unspoken connection. A connection which helps them realize the importance of living even though they may feel dead inside.
PSYCHO ANALYSIS - I love how the author incorporates the psychological aspects of both characters. Any traumatic events or dramatic changes in one's life can affect one's mindset. Although there is always two sides to every story...which one is more believable? Can you take one person's word over the other? What happens if you analyze something differently than expected? The book makes you question what is truly unfolding. There will be some moments when you say: wait, what just happened? It can be surprising at times.
*ARC kindly provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
August 1, 2016
Sooo... this story was not at all what I was expecting. I thought this would be a story about a boy getting a heart transplant and learning how to cope with it, as well as maybe a sweet romance added in. Yeah, so that was not really this book at all. I don't want to give too much away, but there was a villain in this mix, as well as a supernatural element that I did not anticipate. I honestly expected a typical fiction novel about health and real life, with the drama of teen life, more in the style of like A Fault in Our Stars kinda way. This review will be fairly short because the twist/direction the story takes I don't want to spoil.
The book alternated chapters between Darby and Adam narrating. Adam had to deal with the grief of slowly dying while trying to keep a happy face for his parents and deal with the demands of his odd psychiatrist. On the flip side, he had to face the guilt associated with his life depended on someone else having to die. He was a very sick and conflicted boy who struggled with what he really wanted from his remaining life. Darby was hard for me to like when the story started. She was antagonistic, but not in a good way, more like an impulsive knee jerk kind of way that made me want to shake her and her poor decisions. She struggled with dyslexia and school in general, while her twin brother was a star at school as well as at home, making her resent pretty much everything. She lashed out at most people and did stupid things to try and get even with those who "wronged" her.
Honestly, I was a little let down by the story, but that may just be because I wanted something else when I started reading the book. I love myself a good angsty medical romance, and this was not that. I am sure that somebody else will love this book, but it was not my favorite. I would like to read more from this author because it seems like she has some unique idea.
I received this title from the author in return for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
The book alternated chapters between Darby and Adam narrating. Adam had to deal with the grief of slowly dying while trying to keep a happy face for his parents and deal with the demands of his odd psychiatrist. On the flip side, he had to face the guilt associated with his life depended on someone else having to die. He was a very sick and conflicted boy who struggled with what he really wanted from his remaining life. Darby was hard for me to like when the story started. She was antagonistic, but not in a good way, more like an impulsive knee jerk kind of way that made me want to shake her and her poor decisions. She struggled with dyslexia and school in general, while her twin brother was a star at school as well as at home, making her resent pretty much everything. She lashed out at most people and did stupid things to try and get even with those who "wronged" her.
Honestly, I was a little let down by the story, but that may just be because I wanted something else when I started reading the book. I love myself a good angsty medical romance, and this was not that. I am sure that somebody else will love this book, but it was not my favorite. I would like to read more from this author because it seems like she has some unique idea.
I received this title from the author in return for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
June 15, 2016
I wanted to read Under my Skin from the moment I saw the blurb – what a concept, and what a source of conflict!
Adam was gorgeous from the start. My (fully functioning) heart ached for him. His being a big fan of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (one of my all-time favourites) didn’t hurt, either.
Darby was full of attitude, with a bit of a chip on her shoulder (it’s a twin thing), but I liked her. Her relationship with Stephanie was also great. I really felt Darby’s frustration, and the changes that came about after Darby’s accident were excellent.
The first half of the book kept me gripped – there was a lot about the emotional side of an organ transplant which I’d never considered before, and I loved getting to know Adam and Darby.
I’m sorry to say my absorption waned in the second half. Both the narrators seemed a little over the top in places. I wanted to tell them to get over themselves, while at the same time knowing how unfair that was since I’ve never been through anything like the trauma they were experiencing.
I also found the relationship with both sets of parents a little ‘off’. Surely they couldn’t both really have such catastrophically unsympathetic parents? I know it’s a classic belief of the teen years that your parents don’t understand you, but I felt it tipped too far into stereotypical territory.
And Dr Shaw. Well, I didn’t know what to think about her. I couldn’t buy her attitude to transplant confidentiality because it was just plain wrong – was she wanting to be dismissed/struck off? I wasn’t sure whether she was intriguing or simply unconvincing. In the end, I’m afraid, I came down on the side of unconvincing. I just couldn’t believe in her actions as being genuinely those of a qualified, experienced medical practitioner.
Under my Skin has a great premise and there are utterly beautiful moments, but I wasn’t convinced by the characterisation of the adults who appeared in it.
Adam was gorgeous from the start. My (fully functioning) heart ached for him. His being a big fan of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (one of my all-time favourites) didn’t hurt, either.
Darby was full of attitude, with a bit of a chip on her shoulder (it’s a twin thing), but I liked her. Her relationship with Stephanie was also great. I really felt Darby’s frustration, and the changes that came about after Darby’s accident were excellent.
The first half of the book kept me gripped – there was a lot about the emotional side of an organ transplant which I’d never considered before, and I loved getting to know Adam and Darby.
I’m sorry to say my absorption waned in the second half. Both the narrators seemed a little over the top in places. I wanted to tell them to get over themselves, while at the same time knowing how unfair that was since I’ve never been through anything like the trauma they were experiencing.
I also found the relationship with both sets of parents a little ‘off’. Surely they couldn’t both really have such catastrophically unsympathetic parents? I know it’s a classic belief of the teen years that your parents don’t understand you, but I felt it tipped too far into stereotypical territory.
And Dr Shaw. Well, I didn’t know what to think about her. I couldn’t buy her attitude to transplant confidentiality because it was just plain wrong – was she wanting to be dismissed/struck off? I wasn’t sure whether she was intriguing or simply unconvincing. In the end, I’m afraid, I came down on the side of unconvincing. I just couldn’t believe in her actions as being genuinely those of a qualified, experienced medical practitioner.
Under my Skin has a great premise and there are utterly beautiful moments, but I wasn’t convinced by the characterisation of the adults who appeared in it.
September 14, 2016
A story like its name - it gets under your skin. So many emotions!
July 16, 2016
I received a copy of this book for free through YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars
This book is beautifully crafted and Laura Diamond takes you on an emotionally psychological roller coaster ride. There are a lot of themes running through this book and the author has created a scenario in which they can all run free with equal measure. However in saying that, I did think that at times there was a little too much going on and it pushed me out of my reading bubble for a few pages.
I really liked Darby and Adam and found their relationship to be incredibly refreshing. Their chemistry is undeniable and you can’t help but be pulled into their journey together. It is obvious from the outset that these two understand each other on a level that their families do not.
As with all good books, there is some heartbreak and some family tensions that give this story the kind of depth that makes contemporary novels captivating.
Pick it up if you love contemporaries.
3.5 stars
This book is beautifully crafted and Laura Diamond takes you on an emotionally psychological roller coaster ride. There are a lot of themes running through this book and the author has created a scenario in which they can all run free with equal measure. However in saying that, I did think that at times there was a little too much going on and it pushed me out of my reading bubble for a few pages.
I really liked Darby and Adam and found their relationship to be incredibly refreshing. Their chemistry is undeniable and you can’t help but be pulled into their journey together. It is obvious from the outset that these two understand each other on a level that their families do not.
As with all good books, there is some heartbreak and some family tensions that give this story the kind of depth that makes contemporary novels captivating.
Pick it up if you love contemporaries.
June 5, 2017
Nothing fancy, really.
May 14, 2017
Adam has heart failure and needs a transplant, a British boy in America, he has travelled a long way for a second chance at life.
He hides his pains and comes across as depressed to his parents.
Darby and Daniel are twins until an argument sees Daniel pass away and his organs harvested and given to donor of which I'm sure you can guess.
Through their shared therapist, slowly Darby and Adam come to realise that as they grow closer, Dr Shaw has made each of them realise just who's heart has saved Daniel despite his apparent suicide wish after an accident occurs.
Daniel's medication also starts to fault and his heart reacts meanwhile Darby's home life is tense and emotionally draining for her to cope with, so maybe Adam is worth dreaming of still?
It was such a good read about two people who meet partially by chance in the hospital and find they're impacted by events which evolved there and through sharing doctors, therapist etc.
I do think the apparent psychosis that Adam suffers at a time in the book could've been better explained as I felt it suddenly shifted away from his believing Dr Shaw was deliberately trying to harm him too fast.
He hides his pains and comes across as depressed to his parents.
Darby and Daniel are twins until an argument sees Daniel pass away and his organs harvested and given to donor of which I'm sure you can guess.
Through their shared therapist, slowly Darby and Adam come to realise that as they grow closer, Dr Shaw has made each of them realise just who's heart has saved Daniel despite his apparent suicide wish after an accident occurs.
Daniel's medication also starts to fault and his heart reacts meanwhile Darby's home life is tense and emotionally draining for her to cope with, so maybe Adam is worth dreaming of still?
It was such a good read about two people who meet partially by chance in the hospital and find they're impacted by events which evolved there and through sharing doctors, therapist etc.
I do think the apparent psychosis that Adam suffers at a time in the book could've been better explained as I felt it suddenly shifted away from his believing Dr Shaw was deliberately trying to harm him too fast.
June 11, 2016
Bookish Brit Adam Gibson is one wonky heartbeat away from a fatal arrhythmia. But staying alive requires Adam to become keenly focused on both his pulse and the many different daily medications he must take in exactly the right dosages. Adam's torn between wanting to live and knowing that someone else must die in order for him to do so. He needs a new heart.
The pressure is getting to him. Adam stops talking to his friends back home, refuses to meet kids at his new school, and shuts his parents out entirely. His days are spent wondering if can cope with having a dead man's heart beating inside his chest, or if he should surrender to the thoughts of suicide swirling around in his head.
And then a donor is found…
Outspoken artist Darby Fox rarely lets anything stand in her way of achieving her goals . Whether it’s painting, ignoring her homework (dyslexia makes a mess out of words anyway), kissing a hot boy she doesn't even know, or taking the head cheerleader down a peg , no one has ever accused Darby of being a shy. She also happens to be the twin sister to a perfect brother with good looks, good grades, manners, and the approval of their parents - something Darby has never had.
Darby's always had bad timing . She picks the worst time to argue with her brother Daniel. In a car with bald tires, on an icy road in the freezing cold, the unthinkable happens. In a split-second, everything changes forever.
Rating: 3/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: I had some issues with the story, the characters, and the plot; the focus on mental illness (depression, psychosis) was well-written and sensitively handled; the first and second halves of this read like two different books; some of the character interactions/reactions came off as weird or contrived to me
Huge thanks to Laura Diamond, Swoon Romance, and YA Bound Book Tours for sending me a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
“I hate this.” I tip my head back to stare at the cloudy sky.
“Oh, honey, I know. I hate it too. You're so brave, how you're handling this, you know that right?”
I snort. Standing up to a bully is brave. Bungee jumping is brave. Eating fried cockroaches is brave.
Wondering if today will be my last day is not.
When I first stumbled across this book, I got REALLY excited about it. The blurb sounded just exactly like the type of thought-provoking, challenging read I've been so into recently. The cover also helped to sway me toward this book—it's absolutely gorgeous, and I fell in love with it immediately. So when I found out the author was seeking more reviewers, I jumped on board enthusiastically.
And the first half of this book? Absolutely awesome. I really enjoyed the different struggles and obstacles our main duo, Darby and Adam, face. Between the both of them, I think they could light the world on fire using only the snark that falls out of their mouths. Their reactions and interactions, particularly to each other, were endearing, adorable, and tugged me along like a freight train. I loved them both instantly, and even more when they finally met. Perhaps it has a bit to do with the “opposites attract” thing, but I feel it's more to do with the sass they threw about like so much pillow fluff.
But then things shifted, and I'm not sure how I feel about the shift now, having finished the read. I'm not sure when the change occurred, exactly. The duo were discharged from the hospital at roughly the 60% mark, and from there...things got a bit weird for me. For one, while I know NOW that the book was written by a psychiatrist, I felt like certain things said or done by Doctor Shaw in this read were a bit... over the line? Nonsensical. And the reasons for it are explained, at the end, but reading through it at the time, I was both confused and thoroughly pissed off.
Mostly, though, I felt as if any connection I had to the characters—Darby and Adam both—flew out the window once they were discharged. They both immediately became, like...totally different characters. The spark I'd seen in each of them, the will to be strong and to fight, seemed to seep out of them. Somehow, I went from totally adoring them to being almost annoyed (or, in Adam's case, exceptionally confused) within about ten pages. I couldn't, and still don't know that I can, understand what shifted so drastically. It's almost like the second half of this read was written at an entirely different point in the author's life. They just don't quite match up for me as a whole, I suppose, and that was disappointing.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He laces his fingertips with mine. “Living life.”
The emptiness inside shrinks a bit. “I don't understand.”
“I said I'm supposed to wear a mask and carry my pillow. I didn't say I wanted to. I'd rather be with you.”
His proper accent tickles me. I try to steady my breathing and fail. “It could be dangerous.”
“That's exactly why I'm doing it.”
My heart jitters, high on his touch, his warmth, and his bright gaze. I hurt him, but he didn't lecture me on how I should think before I speak. He didn't yell. He didn't break.
He stayed.
Overall, this was a cute read. The focus on mental illness after trauma was well-written and sensitively handled, if perhaps a bit jumpy in some instances. While I understand what Laura Diamond was trying to do with Doctor Shaw— “this is why doctors shouldn't get personally invested in their patients' outside of their field” springs to mind –I'm not sure it was done as effectively or smoothly as it could have been. I do recommend this to those who like diverse reads, thought-provoking and challenging subjects, and contemporary “opposites attract” romances. This was cute, but I had some issues with the execution in the end. Oh well—on to the next one!
July 29, 2022
At first, I was not sure where this book was headed but kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I love the medical drama aspect and real-life relationships with parents. The therapist bugged me as she completely violated HIPAA and had no consequences for her actions but it isn't real. Love a good romance novel!
July 16, 2016
this review is also posted at: the Blacksheep Project. I received this book from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
* * *
Predictable but completely heartbreaking.
{ 5 Reasons Why You MUST Read Under My Skin }
Dual POV.
There's Adam and there's Darby. There's the bookworm and there's the artist. I really LOVE the difference in their voice and in their worries. First there's Adam who suffers from fatal arrhythmia. Every single day he wonders if he'll just collapse and die. He's highly conflicted about receiving a heart donor because it means someone has to die to save him. Then there's Darby who's the twin sister of Daniel, the perfect kid - with good grades, good looks, pleasing personality, and popularity. Every single day she takes the scolding of her teachers and parents. She's the black sheep of the family.
I LOVE the difference of their voices. I think that Diamond was able to channel both Adam's and Darby's problm without exaggerating it or making them sound annoying. Reading their stories and their feelings basically make me go 'awwww'. They felt so natural. Thumbs up to Diamond's writing.
Relatable characters.
Right from the beginning, I found both Adam and Darby relatable. They relate to me in entirely different ways and relating to both made me tear up on almost every chapter!! This is true, friends! I kind of hate reading this in public (or with friends/family) because I end up holding back tears WHICH IS SUPER SUPER DIFFICULT!!! I may just be your annoying emo kid but I had the same thoughts as them waaaaay back then.I'm an adult now. Had enough life realizations.
I cried. You'll cry. We'll all cry!
It's not just about relating to both of them. The nature of the story is so heartbreaking. Read the blurb and you'll know that it's going to make you cry. or sad. or make you tear up. While the story gave that predictable feel, it never crossed my mind to bring it down simply because: (1) I like heartbreaking stories, (2) I immediately connected to Adam and Darby, (3) the writing basically held me until the end - it had that amazing pull that stops me from putting it down, and (4) they both make me want to hug them so tight and tell them that there's nothing to worry about, people love them, people care about them, And I want to help them embrace life and its unfairness (I AM BEING TOO ATTACHED TO THEM!! OHMYGOSH!).
The struggle is real!
I checked and Laura Diamond is a 'board certified psychiatrist.' So I'll tell you this: she knows what she's saying. Adam's delusions (the voices in his head) basically scared me - they felt powerful, I felt his pain and his struggle.
The ending made me smile.
As simple as that. I liked it. It felt realistic and I like realistic! (but what really is realistic? you judge.)
OVERALL, Under My Skin is a heartbreaking contemporary novel about embracing life despite its unfairness and learning that opening up to people is the first step to helping yourself. I was able to relate to both Adam and Darby and I really felt so much for them! Under My Skin is a highly recommended YA contemporary novel especially those who likes heartbreaking stories and those that involves mental illness (a bit of depression here!!).
* * *
Predictable but completely heartbreaking.
{ 5 Reasons Why You MUST Read Under My Skin }
Dual POV.
There's Adam and there's Darby. There's the bookworm and there's the artist. I really LOVE the difference in their voice and in their worries. First there's Adam who suffers from fatal arrhythmia. Every single day he wonders if he'll just collapse and die. He's highly conflicted about receiving a heart donor because it means someone has to die to save him. Then there's Darby who's the twin sister of Daniel, the perfect kid - with good grades, good looks, pleasing personality, and popularity. Every single day she takes the scolding of her teachers and parents. She's the black sheep of the family.
I LOVE the difference of their voices. I think that Diamond was able to channel both Adam's and Darby's problm without exaggerating it or making them sound annoying. Reading their stories and their feelings basically make me go 'awwww'. They felt so natural. Thumbs up to Diamond's writing.
Relatable characters.
Right from the beginning, I found both Adam and Darby relatable. They relate to me in entirely different ways and relating to both made me tear up on almost every chapter!! This is true, friends! I kind of hate reading this in public (or with friends/family) because I end up holding back tears WHICH IS SUPER SUPER DIFFICULT!!! I may just be your annoying emo kid but I had the same thoughts as them waaaaay back then.
I cried. You'll cry. We'll all cry!
It's not just about relating to both of them. The nature of the story is so heartbreaking. Read the blurb and you'll know that it's going to make you cry. or sad. or make you tear up. While the story gave that predictable feel, it never crossed my mind to bring it down simply because: (1) I like heartbreaking stories, (2) I immediately connected to Adam and Darby, (3) the writing basically held me until the end - it had that amazing pull that stops me from putting it down, and (4) they both make me want to hug them so tight and tell them that there's nothing to worry about, people love them, people care about them, And I want to help them embrace life and its unfairness (
The struggle is real!
I checked and Laura Diamond is a 'board certified psychiatrist.' So I'll tell you this: she knows what she's saying. Adam's delusions (the voices in his head) basically scared me - they felt powerful, I felt his pain and his struggle.
The ending made me smile.
As simple as that. I liked it. It felt realistic and I like realistic! (but what really is realistic? you judge.)
OVERALL, Under My Skin is a heartbreaking contemporary novel about embracing life despite its unfairness and learning that opening up to people is the first step to helping yourself. I was able to relate to both Adam and Darby and I really felt so much for them! Under My Skin is a highly recommended YA contemporary novel especially those who likes heartbreaking stories and those that involves mental illness (a bit of depression here!!).
April 17, 2016
Sixteen-year-old Adam is waiting for someone to die so that he can live. He needs a heart transplant, and odds are he'll die before graduating from high school. He recently moved from London to New York with his mother and father in order to have access to the best cardio-thoracic surgeons, and he now attends the same school as Darby and Daniel Fox, two people he has never met but who will have a massive impact on his life.
Darby is a party girl. Her dyslexia leads her to be uninterested in school work, and she constantly acts out and gets in trouble with the school and her parents. The only thing that interests her is her art. Her twin brother Daniel is the perfect son, a good student and on the basketball team and the debate team. Her parents are constantly asking why she can't be more like him. Then, one day Darby and Daniel get into a fight while driving home from school, and the car skids on my the icy road, with disastrous consequences.
*Spoiler alert* Adam feels guilty for getting to live at the expense of someone else dying, and of course Darby blames herself for the accident and thinks she should have died instead of Daniel. She even loses interest in her art. Dr Shaw helps Adam and Darby deal with their conflicts, but is she really friend of foe? What happens when Adam and Darby finally meet? Will these two teenagers - both struggling to deal with their parents, survivor guilt, and depression - be able to heal each other?
I was so looking forward to reading this book. The premise got me really excited for the possibilities, and I was expecting a big, old cry-fest. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. While the plot was predictable, I did get involved enough with the characters and the story to want to find out how things resolved themselves. However, I didn't find Dr Shaw to be a believable character - strange, considering how the author is a psychiatrist herself. And for some reason Adam and Darby never discover they've been going to the same school the whole time; I mean, what was the point of having them go to the same school in the first place? On the plus side, the book does contain some beautiful descriptive passages, both of images and inner turmoil. The author also deals with a difficult subject matter and handles it with great sensitivity. Probably the most poignant moment for me was Adam's sad analogy of comparing himself with Frankenstein's monster. Nevertheless, I didn't feel enough of an emotional connection to the characters to rate this book any higher.
I received an ARC with quite a few editing errors, which are hopefully corrected in the final version.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (20 April): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
Darby is a party girl. Her dyslexia leads her to be uninterested in school work, and she constantly acts out and gets in trouble with the school and her parents. The only thing that interests her is her art. Her twin brother Daniel is the perfect son, a good student and on the basketball team and the debate team. Her parents are constantly asking why she can't be more like him. Then, one day Darby and Daniel get into a fight while driving home from school, and the car skids on my the icy road, with disastrous consequences.
*Spoiler alert* Adam feels guilty for getting to live at the expense of someone else dying, and of course Darby blames herself for the accident and thinks she should have died instead of Daniel. She even loses interest in her art. Dr Shaw helps Adam and Darby deal with their conflicts, but is she really friend of foe? What happens when Adam and Darby finally meet? Will these two teenagers - both struggling to deal with their parents, survivor guilt, and depression - be able to heal each other?
I was so looking forward to reading this book. The premise got me really excited for the possibilities, and I was expecting a big, old cry-fest. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. While the plot was predictable, I did get involved enough with the characters and the story to want to find out how things resolved themselves. However, I didn't find Dr Shaw to be a believable character - strange, considering how the author is a psychiatrist herself. And for some reason Adam and Darby never discover they've been going to the same school the whole time; I mean, what was the point of having them go to the same school in the first place? On the plus side, the book does contain some beautiful descriptive passages, both of images and inner turmoil. The author also deals with a difficult subject matter and handles it with great sensitivity. Probably the most poignant moment for me was Adam's sad analogy of comparing himself with Frankenstein's monster. Nevertheless, I didn't feel enough of an emotional connection to the characters to rate this book any higher.
I received an ARC with quite a few editing errors, which are hopefully corrected in the final version.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (20 April): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
April 21, 2016
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher for in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was intense. I mean, it had a lot of elements. It's about guilt, self blame, accepting reality and finally moving on- all of these facts were executed neatly and pretty well.
Adam has an acute condition of fatal arrhythmia. He needs a new heart otherwise he won't survive. But according to him, in order to get a new heart, someone has to die. He doesn’t know how to deal with this fact. Darby is a headstrong girl who is always compared with his all rounder brother. As much as she hates these comparisons, she loves her brother very much but one accident changes everything. Now the blurb gives away the story a bit, her brother's heart is donated to Adam. How will they deal with this fact when they both come to know the truth?
I really liked how the plot was executed. I haven't read anything like this before, so it was fresh and intriguing. Adam, as a character is pretty deep. He feels guilty for having received a new heart, he feels he stole somebody else's life. He has kind of lived a pretended life till now because his heart could have stopped at any moment but after he gets a new heart, he doesn't understand how to deal with everything. I could, to some extent, understand his dilemma. On the other hand, Darby is the exact opposite. Though she blames herself for her brother's death but she's ready for the much needed help to move on. But the very fact of her brother's heart donated to someone else agitates her.
Adam and Darby form a connection when they meet each other in the hospital without knowing the actual truth. I liked the relationship between these two, it seemed they clearly got each other. It definitely took some time when the truth came out, but I'm glad how Darby handled the fact. I liked the family aspect of this book, though I would have loved to see if things actually got resolved between Darby and her family. The psychiatrist, Dr. Shaw played an important part. Though her technique sort of backfired for Adam, I'm glad how everything was resolved at the end.
Overall, Under My Skin was definitely a different read. I enjoyed the plot and the characters were pretty intense. The psychological dilemma of the characters were really handled well. The writing was smooth and the pace was even throughout the book.
Recommend it?
Yes.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher for in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was intense. I mean, it had a lot of elements. It's about guilt, self blame, accepting reality and finally moving on- all of these facts were executed neatly and pretty well.
Adam has an acute condition of fatal arrhythmia. He needs a new heart otherwise he won't survive. But according to him, in order to get a new heart, someone has to die. He doesn’t know how to deal with this fact. Darby is a headstrong girl who is always compared with his all rounder brother. As much as she hates these comparisons, she loves her brother very much but one accident changes everything. Now the blurb gives away the story a bit, her brother's heart is donated to Adam. How will they deal with this fact when they both come to know the truth?
I really liked how the plot was executed. I haven't read anything like this before, so it was fresh and intriguing. Adam, as a character is pretty deep. He feels guilty for having received a new heart, he feels he stole somebody else's life. He has kind of lived a pretended life till now because his heart could have stopped at any moment but after he gets a new heart, he doesn't understand how to deal with everything. I could, to some extent, understand his dilemma. On the other hand, Darby is the exact opposite. Though she blames herself for her brother's death but she's ready for the much needed help to move on. But the very fact of her brother's heart donated to someone else agitates her.
Adam and Darby form a connection when they meet each other in the hospital without knowing the actual truth. I liked the relationship between these two, it seemed they clearly got each other. It definitely took some time when the truth came out, but I'm glad how Darby handled the fact. I liked the family aspect of this book, though I would have loved to see if things actually got resolved between Darby and her family. The psychiatrist, Dr. Shaw played an important part. Though her technique sort of backfired for Adam, I'm glad how everything was resolved at the end.
Overall, Under My Skin was definitely a different read. I enjoyed the plot and the characters were pretty intense. The psychological dilemma of the characters were really handled well. The writing was smooth and the pace was even throughout the book.
Recommend it?
Yes.
June 18, 2016
Under My Skin
By: Laura Diamond
Bookish Brit Adam Gibson is one wonky heartbeat away from a fatal arrhythmia. He's torn between wanting to live and knowing that someone else must die in order for him to do so. He needs a new heart.
Adam stops talking to his friends, refuses to meet kids at his new school, and shuts his parents out entirely. His days are spent wondering if can cope with having a dead man's heart beating inside his chest, or if he should surrender to the thoughts of suicide swirling around in his head.
And then a donor is found.
Outspoken artist Darby Fox rarely lets anything stand in her way of achieving her goals. She also happens to be the twin sister to a perfect brother with good looks, good grades, manners, and the approval of their parents - something Darby has never had.
Darby's always had bad timing. She picks the worst time to argue with her brother Daniel. In a car with bald tires, on an icy road in the freezing cold, the unthinkable happens. In a split-second, everything changes forever.
When life forces Adam and Darby together, undeniable sparks fly, and a deep connection is made. But the secret inside of Adam may be the thing that pushes them apart forever.
From the very first page I was sucked into this world of Adam Gibson; a teenage boy who is anything but normal. He can’t walk up the stairs without risking his life. He is constantly on the cliff, hanging by a branch that just keeps breaking.
Darby. She is definitely a rambunctious character with a knack for speaking her mind. She plays by her own rules and doesn’t think before she acts. Though she puts off a tough front she is deep down a caring, and smart person, despite the crap she gets from her parents.
What I really liked about this book is the fast paced action; I was never bored on a single page. Something was always happening. The changing perspectives between Adam and Darby make the story deeper and give it more odds and ends. Not to mention the sarcastic humor from Adam and the defiant nature of Darby gives the reader that comedic relief when some parts of the story just get too deep.
I almost wish the story was a little longer to help further explore the relationship between Adam and Darby because I feel like it ended too soon, before the reader and the characters could explore their feelings. But at the same time the story ended at the perfect time because it left you thinking.
I definitely recommend this book to fans of The Fault in Our Stars, Me Before You, and Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl.
Rating: 4/5
(Disclaimer: received the book in exchange for an honest review)
By: Laura Diamond
Bookish Brit Adam Gibson is one wonky heartbeat away from a fatal arrhythmia. He's torn between wanting to live and knowing that someone else must die in order for him to do so. He needs a new heart.
Adam stops talking to his friends, refuses to meet kids at his new school, and shuts his parents out entirely. His days are spent wondering if can cope with having a dead man's heart beating inside his chest, or if he should surrender to the thoughts of suicide swirling around in his head.
And then a donor is found.
Outspoken artist Darby Fox rarely lets anything stand in her way of achieving her goals. She also happens to be the twin sister to a perfect brother with good looks, good grades, manners, and the approval of their parents - something Darby has never had.
Darby's always had bad timing. She picks the worst time to argue with her brother Daniel. In a car with bald tires, on an icy road in the freezing cold, the unthinkable happens. In a split-second, everything changes forever.
When life forces Adam and Darby together, undeniable sparks fly, and a deep connection is made. But the secret inside of Adam may be the thing that pushes them apart forever.
From the very first page I was sucked into this world of Adam Gibson; a teenage boy who is anything but normal. He can’t walk up the stairs without risking his life. He is constantly on the cliff, hanging by a branch that just keeps breaking.
Darby. She is definitely a rambunctious character with a knack for speaking her mind. She plays by her own rules and doesn’t think before she acts. Though she puts off a tough front she is deep down a caring, and smart person, despite the crap she gets from her parents.
What I really liked about this book is the fast paced action; I was never bored on a single page. Something was always happening. The changing perspectives between Adam and Darby make the story deeper and give it more odds and ends. Not to mention the sarcastic humor from Adam and the defiant nature of Darby gives the reader that comedic relief when some parts of the story just get too deep.
I almost wish the story was a little longer to help further explore the relationship between Adam and Darby because I feel like it ended too soon, before the reader and the characters could explore their feelings. But at the same time the story ended at the perfect time because it left you thinking.
I definitely recommend this book to fans of The Fault in Our Stars, Me Before You, and Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl.
Rating: 4/5
(Disclaimer: received the book in exchange for an honest review)
July 28, 2016
Truth be told, I had an extremely difficult time reading Under My Skin. And no, it isn’t because it’s not nice or what-so-ever, but rather, it’s actually the entire opposite of it.
Everything is just so raw and captivating, and Under My Skin is just all about emotions, emotions and emotions. It was overwhelming, but every feeling was captured realistically.
I love how the entire plotline was a journey from facing the guilt, the confusion, the self-blame to a person who is able to accept the reality and finally be able to move on. To me, it was such a heartwarming journey to both Adam and Darby, and I found myself repeatedly cheering for them to finally be able to see the light and have a happy ending of their own. While Adam and Darby both face different problems and have different personalities as well, I love how both of them are able to find strength to see the harshness of life from each other. They help each other grow, which I really love.
Under My Skin has hit me hard in the face, as I found myself being able to easily connect with Adam and Darby. With both of them feeling how naggy and stifling their parents are, and having a tough time dealing with it, the way this was portrayed was very realistic. All the time, I just kept on hoping that their parents would give them space and alone time.
Dealing with depression and the confusion of what’s happening around, combined with the way the people behave and treat oneself, all of these were captured and have given an emotional roller coaster. By the end of the book, it was an uplifting moment not only to Darby and Adam, but to me, as well.
Everything is just so raw and captivating, and Under My Skin is just all about emotions, emotions and emotions. It was overwhelming, but every feeling was captured realistically.
I love how the entire plotline was a journey from facing the guilt, the confusion, the self-blame to a person who is able to accept the reality and finally be able to move on. To me, it was such a heartwarming journey to both Adam and Darby, and I found myself repeatedly cheering for them to finally be able to see the light and have a happy ending of their own. While Adam and Darby both face different problems and have different personalities as well, I love how both of them are able to find strength to see the harshness of life from each other. They help each other grow, which I really love.
Under My Skin has hit me hard in the face, as I found myself being able to easily connect with Adam and Darby. With both of them feeling how naggy and stifling their parents are, and having a tough time dealing with it, the way this was portrayed was very realistic. All the time, I just kept on hoping that their parents would give them space and alone time.
Love shouldn’t have conditions, but it does for me.I guess, it really hit me hard in the face as I can see myself in their situation. I stopped reading this one for quite a couple of days because it scared me that I could see myself in them, that whatever Darby and Adam are experiencing, was my reality. Although, not to that quite of an extent, but yes, the emotions were just so honest and real.
Dealing with depression and the confusion of what’s happening around, combined with the way the people behave and treat oneself, all of these were captured and have given an emotional roller coaster. By the end of the book, it was an uplifting moment not only to Darby and Adam, but to me, as well.
You got over it?Truly a raw, honest and captivating book that deals with family and psychological issues with a whirlwind of emotions, Under My Skin was definitely a different and intense read. I love how Under My Skin gives hope that someday, everything will be okay. This one is definitely added to one of my all-time favorite books!
No, not entirely, I don't think you ever do, but I've found a way to cope, I've worked through it. I've survived, and so can you.
December 27, 2016
Adam and his parents moved from the United Kingdom to America so he could get better healthcare. Adam has heart problems and his arrhythmia is severe. Even regular daily life with all his special adjustments is becoming too strenuous. He needs a new heart and he needs it quickly. Will he get the chance to survive this and to be able to live?
Darby is good at getting in trouble. Her twin brother is looking out for her. He's a model son, student and athlete and it's difficult for Darby to keep up. She loves painting, she's great at it and it's her whole world, but she isn't her brother and people keep comparing them. One awful night changes the course of her life forever. That is when she meets Adam and he makes her think about everything she's always believed in. Only is he safe to hang out with?
Under My Skin is a beautiful romantic story. Adam has a tough time and can hardly do anything because of his heart problems. Laura Diamond describes his condition with accuracy and compassion. She's perfectly captured what it feels like to be gravely ill. She knows feelings through and through and it shows. Her book is all about emotions and what happens when things suddenly become too much. I love the way she tells her story and think it's amazing.
Under My Skin is a moving book about a difficult topic. The writing has a nice flow which makes it easy to read and that gives the reader more time to process what the story is all about. I think Laura Diamond found the exact right tone of voice for her story. It's sensitive, honest and real. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns as well. The ending is surprising and gripping and it made my head spin. I think Under My Skin is a fantastic book with impressive main characters.
Darby is good at getting in trouble. Her twin brother is looking out for her. He's a model son, student and athlete and it's difficult for Darby to keep up. She loves painting, she's great at it and it's her whole world, but she isn't her brother and people keep comparing them. One awful night changes the course of her life forever. That is when she meets Adam and he makes her think about everything she's always believed in. Only is he safe to hang out with?
Under My Skin is a beautiful romantic story. Adam has a tough time and can hardly do anything because of his heart problems. Laura Diamond describes his condition with accuracy and compassion. She's perfectly captured what it feels like to be gravely ill. She knows feelings through and through and it shows. Her book is all about emotions and what happens when things suddenly become too much. I love the way she tells her story and think it's amazing.
Under My Skin is a moving book about a difficult topic. The writing has a nice flow which makes it easy to read and that gives the reader more time to process what the story is all about. I think Laura Diamond found the exact right tone of voice for her story. It's sensitive, honest and real. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns as well. The ending is surprising and gripping and it made my head spin. I think Under My Skin is a fantastic book with impressive main characters.
July 23, 2016
3.5 stars. I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think that the characters were very nice. Adam was a very deep character and understood that someone would have to die in order for him to have a second chance at living and wasn't living in a fantasy that everything would be sunshine and rainbows. He was fully aware life didn't work that way and he understood the risks and dangers of having a heart transplant.
Darby was a character who was a troubled teen and struggled with living in her brother's shadow who only ever looked out for her. She felt guilty about her brother's death because of the wild way she behaved and struggled to grow up and become her own person in a positive way.
The storyline was fleshed out and it kept a steady pace throughout the book. The only problem I had with the book was the insta-love and too rushed ending. I felt like it could've used a couple of more chapters to wrap things up. I would recommend this to someone who wants a quick but touching contemporary story about self-blame, learning to move forward in life and also learning how to live again.
I think that the characters were very nice. Adam was a very deep character and understood that someone would have to die in order for him to have a second chance at living and wasn't living in a fantasy that everything would be sunshine and rainbows. He was fully aware life didn't work that way and he understood the risks and dangers of having a heart transplant.
Darby was a character who was a troubled teen and struggled with living in her brother's shadow who only ever looked out for her. She felt guilty about her brother's death because of the wild way she behaved and struggled to grow up and become her own person in a positive way.
The storyline was fleshed out and it kept a steady pace throughout the book. The only problem I had with the book was the insta-love and too rushed ending. I felt like it could've used a couple of more chapters to wrap things up. I would recommend this to someone who wants a quick but touching contemporary story about self-blame, learning to move forward in life and also learning how to live again.
June 16, 2016
**SPOILER FREE**
I'm not even sure what to say about this book! Or if there are any words to describe the emotions and feeling that you feel as you read each page.... All I can really do to sum it all up is this is a book that will grab you from page one! This is a book that will keep you! A book that you will have a hard time walking away from even after you have finished reading it! An amazing book!
*Received for an honest review*
I'm not even sure what to say about this book! Or if there are any words to describe the emotions and feeling that you feel as you read each page.... All I can really do to sum it all up is this is a book that will grab you from page one! This is a book that will keep you! A book that you will have a hard time walking away from even after you have finished reading it! An amazing book!
*Received for an honest review*
October 15, 2016
I really liked Adam, and even Darby, as characters in this book. However, as sweet as the general concept was, I felt the book was lacking in quite a few aspects. It was a touching and captivating enough read, don't get me wrong. Simply put. I felt that it was missing something I can't quite pinpoint. I felt like I was waiting for something that set the story apart from all others just like it and never got it,that's all.
August 5, 2016
Actually this is a 3.5/5 stars or even a 4. I would have given it a four if both sets of parents and friends didn't make Darby and Adam so difficult. And Dr. Shaw was difficult up until the last 2 chapters.
UPDATE: Read my full review of UNDER MY SKIN on my blog, PoetryBooksYA: http://poemsbyayoungartist.blogspot.c...
UPDATE: Read my full review of UNDER MY SKIN on my blog, PoetryBooksYA: http://poemsbyayoungartist.blogspot.c...
April 19, 2016
This one was amazing. Review to come.
March 29, 2016
Review coming soon.
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April 12, 2016GIVEAWAY! Win the e-arc copy of Under My Skin + A 5$ AMAZON GIFT CARD! FILE YOUR ENTRY TODAY AT: https://novelersblog.wordpress.com/20...
April 5, 2017
Great premise, OK execution. Darby is a 16 year old misfit with dyslexia with an idolized twin brother who gets killed in a car accident. His organs are harvested for transplant.
Adam is a kid with an unspecified heart condition whose family moves from England to New York for the best possible care, and to get prioritized for a transplant.
He receives Adam's heart.
Adam and Darby fall in love.
Boom. I just saved you 200-or-so pages of psychobabble.
Adam is kind, sensitive, and horribly guilt-ridden about someone having to die in order for him to live. He is the Hufflepuff that I was never really very interested in reading about. He is quite ungrateful for receiving a second chance at life, and I found it very difficult to want to connect with him. He develops panic attacks and essentially a depressive psychosis as things progressively spiral out of control. I feel for the kid, and I can see where those struggling with depression may be able to relate. So sit back and enjoy the angst at your leisure.
Dr. Shaw, on the other hand, turned it into an escapist fantasy, because I AM a practicing physician, and for most of the book I found myself scratching my head going: "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?" From her frankly terrible choice of antipsychotics (ziprasidone in someone with a heart condition?? Why the hell are we treating depression with a stimulant first in someone with a TRANSPLANT??), to venturing out with patients to buy lunches and lattes, to my personal favorite: picking up an actively psychotic patient in the woods and taking him to her house instead of the hospital, I never knew what to expect from her next! In a way, I found this entertaining and she was certainly the least predictable character in the book, but there was still a level of depth to her that I just couldn't find. I would have preferred that she were a little more insane in order to justify her actions. But I did like her, and she's a character that I would have loved to run into in reality one day to further interrogate her twisted mind.
I don't know. It's definitely good, and a very quick read. But not one that I'll be ruminating about for months after I've closed the covers.
Adam is a kid with an unspecified heart condition whose family moves from England to New York for the best possible care, and to get prioritized for a transplant.
He receives Adam's heart.
Adam and Darby fall in love.
Boom. I just saved you 200-or-so pages of psychobabble.
Adam is kind, sensitive, and horribly guilt-ridden about someone having to die in order for him to live. He is the Hufflepuff that I was never really very interested in reading about. He is quite ungrateful for receiving a second chance at life, and I found it very difficult to want to connect with him. He develops panic attacks and essentially a depressive psychosis as things progressively spiral out of control. I feel for the kid, and I can see where those struggling with depression may be able to relate. So sit back and enjoy the angst at your leisure.
Dr. Shaw, on the other hand, turned it into an escapist fantasy, because I AM a practicing physician, and for most of the book I found myself scratching my head going: "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?" From her frankly terrible choice of antipsychotics (ziprasidone in someone with a heart condition?? Why the hell are we treating depression with a stimulant first in someone with a TRANSPLANT??), to venturing out with patients to buy lunches and lattes, to my personal favorite: picking up an actively psychotic patient in the woods and taking him to her house instead of the hospital, I never knew what to expect from her next! In a way, I found this entertaining and she was certainly the least predictable character in the book, but there was still a level of depth to her that I just couldn't find. I would have preferred that she were a little more insane in order to justify her actions. But I did like her, and she's a character that I would have loved to run into in reality one day to further interrogate her twisted mind.
I don't know. It's definitely good, and a very quick read. But not one that I'll be ruminating about for months after I've closed the covers.
March 14, 2018
For me, I felt the author has written a very realistic psychological roller coaster of emotions individuals and loved ones go through when faced with chronic long term fatal illness, premature death, transplant recipients and organ donors. This was a raw and brutal read but beautifully written. Worth reading and worth five stars!
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