Frozen Oranges

by Violet Paley, Adrienne Sacks (Illustrator), Olenna Hardie (Editor)

“Frozen Oranges” is the look inside of the mind of a young woman with borderline personality disorder. Paley describes heartbreak, depression, sex, and some funny anecdotes through a stream of consciousness storytelling with prose & illustrations.

133 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2018

About the author

Violet Paley is a millennial recovering alcoholic with a personality disorder. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and now lives in London.
She has four black cats.

"Frozen Oranges" is her first book.

Reviews

[Rhys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful and sad; it is an uncomfortably honest account of the author’s mental health struggles, vulnerability and abuse at a particular time in her young life. It is at times as funny as it is upsetting.

The prose is unpolished and direct but Paley shows a wit, a wisdom and a capacity for compassion that encourages connection - as well as an interest in what she will publish next.

This book is not written in a studied, academic style. It is not a Hollywood hero’s journey, nor a satisfying story arc. It reads like a real diary, or a cathartic confessional. But it is a work of literature in an authentic, un-constructed voice.

Paley does not hide her privilege, her immaturity or her shame. She does not try to solve the world’s problems, but rather shares a self-awareness that is uncommon in someone so young. In doing so, she has helped many young women with troubled minds feel understood - and others understand them.

[Shania Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The oerfevt stream of consciousness

Paley kills the stream of consciousness style. I can only assume this book was written the exact way it came to mind. Which makes it that much more raw and effortless. I laughed and sighed and winced while reading and by the final pages I was crying. What a rollercoaster ride I feel truly thankful to have been apart of.

[Sunshine · Rating 1 out of 5]

My mother sent me this book when she thought I had BPD. It is the account of some random 20-something white girl’s experience with the disorder. You can practically smell the entitlement coming off the pages.
Paley offers little insight to others with the disorder, but rather it is just her diary with many dreadful entries about manipulation, and her sexual experiences with various men. It is a meager read, clocking in at a whopping 133 pages. I can’t relate to anything the author wrote, and I cannot believe this is a published book. Skip it, I am sure there are far more interesting books regarding BPD that are better written than this one.

[Cee Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharp and truthful read

There were parts of this book that were so true it hurt. BPD, sexual assault, trauma, depression are all collected into bite sizes stream of consciousness paragraphs that deliver.

I very much empathized with many of the passages and found myself reliving my own traumas and secret desires through a new lens. I felt in a weird way that my own childhood and teen years were validated and seen.

This is most certainly a book about navigating the maze that is Borderline Personality Disorder and there are passages of pure joy, and wit, to balance out the heartache and trauma.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The insight provided was helpful and reassuring. I appreciated the advice she gives to others with BPD, and her bravery to share these experiences.

[Isabel P · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just awful. Don’t waste your time. It’s all over the place and doesn’t make sense. My sister is BPD and I bought this thinking I’d gain insight, but no. Total waste.

Isabel ;)

[Alisha Biemler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and interesting read. Worth the purchase.

[Lara Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book struck a chord that many other books couldn’t. Funny, heartwarming, sad but most of all; relatable. I couldn’t recommend Frozen Oranges enough.

[Z. R. C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know people wrote books like this, and now I want more. Each paragraph was a new topic, following in the stream of consciousness style. I never lost interest! But if you were raised female in the USA, you're probably going to relate on some level, so get ready to cry.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

So real. I felt like I was in her diary. So much realness it felt like a friend opening up to me. I am struggling with bpd symptoms and reading this made me feel less insane lol.

[Morgan Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book I’ve ever read in my live. I cried, I laughed, I couldn’t put it down. Violets thoughts, all her beautiful words, still echo in my head to this day.

[John Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend with BPD lent me their copy of this book. It’s a quick read. Heartfelt. Painful. I ordered a copy for myself.

[Silvie Baker · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was like Rupi Kaur for borderlines

[Sabrina Valencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you know what Frozen Oranges is referring to as a DBT skill, you'll love this book. I felt so seen

[Olivia Lund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Love origin story <3