Consumed

by Abbie Todd

Myla used to love spending long, hot days on the beach with her sister, Asha. Until the day Asha was taken from her and the sun went out. Forever.That was two years ago. Myla hasn't been down to the beach - or even left the house - since. Crippling agoraphobia and panic attacks keep her locked inside a nightmare of the day she can never forget. Her main contact with the outside world is online - until she meets Jamie.Jamie is new in town and also struggles with things most people find easy. Nobody gets why it's so hard for him to eat. But, like Myla, Jamie is trapped by his fears and feels anxious, awkward and alone.Gradually the pair begin to trust each other. Are they willing to reveal their secrets - and risk discovering the truth? Or will they let their pasts consume them for good...

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mental Health, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Romance

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2016

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a finished paperback copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks Little Brown Book Group UK.)

“Myla hasn’t left the house for the last two years.”

This was a contemporary mystery story about a girl whose sister had been murdered.

Myla was really stuck in this story, trapped in her house with no idea where her life was headed, and constantly worried that her sister’s murderer was still at large. I didn’t blame her for being afraid, or for succumbing to panic attacks. Jamie on the other hand was also stuck but for a different reason. It seemed like he had an eating disorder, as he felt like how much he ate was one of the few things in his life that he had control over.

The storyline in this was about Myla being convinced that her sister’s killer was still out there, and wanting to try and find a way to find him. Jamie tried to help Myla with her fear of leaving the house, and we got a bit of a mystery story in that they had no idea who the real killer was. The pace in this was quite slow though, and the story seemed to drag a bit for me.

The ending to this was okay, and I didn’t guess who the killer was, but overall I would have appreciated a bit of a faster pace, rather than the killer being suddenly revealed at the end.



6 out of 10

[allyson link · Rating 1 out of 5]

love doesn’t cure mental illness let’s stop writing books like this in 2018 please and thank you

[XXK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. Really!
Wow.
I did not enjoy this book.

First of all, the characters had as much personality as paper plates. They were really horrible. I'm cringing at the thought of them oh god. When you look at the blurb you think, wow! That's a pretty original and not really discussed idea in YA novels! A boy with an eating disorder! BUT GOD IT WAS WRITTEN so UGH. Can I please get some Laurie Halse Anderson Wintergirls up in here to give it SOME LIFE?! It's just continually, 'oh here i accidentally ate something boy oh boy I hope i don't vomit!' And DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE GIRL WHO BARELY NOTICES THIS. She's just like HM, THIS BOY IS BASICALLY STICK THIN, HM, HE WON'T EAT MY DELICIOUS COOKIES I BETTER HATE HIM BECAUSE HE'S OBVIOUSLY JUST A DICK IF HE DOESN'T EAT MY DELICIOUS COOKIES AND NOT ALL NOTICE THE FACT THAT HE BARELY EATS OTHER STUFF AND WHEN HE DOES HE MYSTERIOUSLY GOES RUNNING OUT THE DOOR TO DO WHAT I WONDER HM WELL BACK TO BLOGGING. Like UGH SHE HAD EVEN LESS PERSONALITY THAN HIM. IT'S JUST AH FEAR, AH SADNESS, AH LONGING, etc.

And then.
They tried inserting a bit of romance.
Which just. Oh god.

HM LOOK THE BOY HOW SWEET HE'S DOING ALL THESE THINGS AND COMING OVER HM HOW SWEET WHAT IS THIS FEELING OH ACTUALLY HE'S KIND OF CUTE.
and
WOW I WONDER WHY I'M GOING TO THIS GIRLS HOUSE SO MUCH IT MUST JUST BE BC I WANT TO HELP HER BC I AM SUCH A LOVELY PERSON AND SHE IS GODS GIFT TO THIS EARTH AND WOW I WONDER WHY I WANT TO HELP HER
the end

And don't. Get. Me. Started. On. The... "Twist."
*somewhat spoilers ahead but who really cares because DON'T READ THE BOOK!*

Ok, granted, I did not finish (I only read half the book.) BUT COME ON. The poor victim's main character finally found a friend online! Wow isn't that adorbs a fellow friend who understands her and loves her and will neverrrrrr leaveeeeeeee herrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Actually.
It's kind of funny how she never wants to meet up isn't it?
And.
It's kind of funny actually how she never even sends a PICTURE of herself, isn't it?
And.
It's kind of funny how the protagonist MET HER STRAIGHT AFTER HER SISTER WAS KILLED, ISN'T IT?
And.
It's kind of funny how she KEEPS INSISTING THAT THE OBVIOUSLY NOT KILLER IS THE KILLER, ISN'T IT?
And.
It's kind of funny how she IS OVERPROTECTIVE WHEN JAMIE COMES INTO HER LIFE FOR NO GODDAMN REASON.

But obviously that's just funny stuff, haha, what a great online best friend!!! :)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[Asha Stark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very... Basic writing.

Also fuck any book that paints a mental illness as being curable if only you find a cute boy.

[Jen Appell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Random one-night binge read of a book my library was removing from the collection. Mental illness representation (panic attacks, agoraphobia, eating disorders) but also the unhealthy trope of "love cures mental illness." A fast-paced murder mystery that tried to be a teen love story - or the other way around?

[Chrissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately pulled into the synopsis of Consumed. It sounded like something that I’d really enjoy reading. I have to admit, I can be a little bit touchy when it comes to books centred around mental health. I have read far too many books which just don’t seem to ‘get’ mental illness. However, even though some parts of the book are a little unbelievable (I could get past it!) I think Abbie Rushton has written a fantastic book which kept me turning the pages!

This book centres around Myla and Jamie. Both have problems, but they don’t expect to be able to help each other as much as they do. Jamie is new to town and is introduced to Myla. Myla hasn’t left her house for years after experiencing the loss of her sister. A day that she keeps repeating in her head and wondering ‘What if?’ Jamie is running away from issues at home and living with his Aunt. Jamie finds it hard to eat, but can’t even begin to explain why. Myla and Jamie get closer and we learn more about their secrets.

I was intrigued by Myla’s friendship with her online friend, Eve. It was intriguing. I really enjoyed the online aspect of this book. It felt very real. I can imagine that many people with agoraphobia find solace online. It was pretty creepy at the same time and I doubted who Eve was at times.

I found it hard to put this book down. I was desperate to know who had killed Asha. I had my suspicions throughout but was never quite sure. There certainly are some unpredictable characters within this story. As I mentioned, it’s a real page turner. It didn’t take long to devour at all. I highly recommend it!

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)

The characters in this were okay, but I can't say I loved them.

This wasn't a bad read, but I found it predictable, which ruined it a bit for me.

Overall, Predictable, but an okay read.

[Angela Oatham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Two damaged teens, both with mental health issues are pushed together by circumstance (and a meddling Aunt) and discover they have more in common than they think. Oh and there's a murder to solve as well, what's not to like.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tbh this is more of a 3.5

Overall it was a good read (and I’ve been feeling homesick and nostalgic so bonus points that it’s set in Norfolk) buttt I don’t know if it’s me or the books but lately I’ve been guessing the endings to most books I’ve been reading that have meant to have twists at the end. Also it’s a pet peeve of mine when protagonists have issues (especially mental health problems) that seem to magically get better because of Insta love and this book wasn’t entirely like that but it was close to it.

[15raponegrahami · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way this book is written with the different chapters for the two characters really shows there emotions and how each feel about the situation and you see what they are thinking about each other but not saying. The twist was unexpected but was very well written and cleverly linked in the book really good storyline and how people overcome problems if they want to enough.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

the book was craftily made and the ending was very unexpected in my opinion, overall it was a really good book!!

[Teagan-jayde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a 3.5 review honestly. It was a good book with good speed on the narrative. Mixed suspense with romance and drama. Quite a simple and straightforward read

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. A lot. I’m working on a book about mental illness, and this was a great look into the minds of two very different people with very different problems. And it is a welcome surprise that the one with food issues is a boy instead of a girl.

Though the pace was a bit slow at first, the author really introduces us to Jamie and Myla. We get a great sense of their characters, their issues, and their personalities. This book has a good plot, but it was the characters that drew me in. I love character-driven books, and this was the perfect read for me.

We are drawn into the world of a small town in the UK, and also into the smaller world of Myla, who hasn’t left the house in two years. When the nephew of a friend comes into her life, Myla becomes discontent with being trapped inside her house and her mind. Jamie struggles with his own problems, and he is just as trapped in his own mind as she is. Can they help themselves by helping each other, or will they stay in their own little worlds and give up any hope of getting better?

Full of raw emotion, this is a realistic look at struggles that many people face. This is the kind of book that will help to show what people feel and think when in the throes of a phobia or eating disorder. If you’re interested in learning more about what goes through somebody’s mind when struggling with severe mental issues, this is the book for you. Pick it up and see that everybody’s different and that everybody struggles, and what can seem small to some people is enormous for others.

[Gretel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this through First Reads. Thank you to Atom and Goodreads.

Two years ago an accident robbed Myla of her sister, Asha. Since then Myla, gripped with crippling anxiety, has not left the family house and her only way of reaching to the outside world is via the internet. But then she meets a boy called Jamie...

You know the rest. You know what happens. But I wish it didn't happen like that. After going through an extremely traumatic event and becoming agoraphobic and crippled with panic attacks, why would the 'troo wuv' of a boy you've known for a few weeks make you leave the house when intensive therapy, medication and professional help wouldn't? Why wouldn't she leave the house for her family? And Jamie has his own problems, too. Jamie has an eating disorder, and Rushton writes about it pretty well and Jamie is quite a convincing male teen voice, but towards the end of the book his eating disorder is just kind of forgotten.

This book isn't badly written, and I'd actually say that Rushton's prose has improved since Unspeakable, and the killer of Myla's sister ended up being a total surprise to me, but instead of Myla and Jamie being helped through proper channels, they help each other and get better, and that isn't a message I can stand behind. I think this book would've been a lot better if it was just Myla's quest for the truth about her sister.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked several things about this book.

Firstly I enjoyed the mystery element. I found myself unable to put the book down because I wanted, no needed, to know what happened to the sister all those years before and that meant I just had to keep reading. I thought the way it turned out was both quite clever in that I didn't see it coming and it hung together well and made sense.

I enjoyed both the main characters. Myla is an interesting one. I was interested to see the impact the loss of her sister had had on her and the way in which this was dealt with across the course of the book in a sensitive way.

I loved Jamie as a character. I've not seen a YA book where the male character is affected by a eating disorder and it was interesting to see the toll it had on him pyschologically and the reasons why he had become the way he had. It was thoughtful and logical and I think it is really important for teens to see that it isn't just girls who can be affected by when people say cruel things linked to body image.

The story was gripping throughout. As a side note I got really geekily excited when I found out it was set on the North Norfolk coast.

[Josie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a terrible romance and an even worse thriller. It was so obvious who the killer was! I lost count of the number of times we see that person behaving suspiciously, and then -- just in case we'd missed it -- getting a narrative commentary along the lines of HMM THAT WAS SUSPICIOUS, WHY DID THEY REACT LIKE THAT... Gee, I wonder. Then again, Jamie and Myla didn't seem particularly bright. I lost all respect for Myla when she didn't tell her parents or the police that Finn had broken into her house and physically attacked her, and then went along with his crazy demands! As for Jamie, I want to give the author points for including a male character with an eating disorder, but I had to skim-read all those (endless) mentions of the ~leeches in his stomach~ because 1) so unimaginative to use the same metaphor A HUNDRED TIMES, and 2) um, gross.

Oh, and can we PLEASE stop with the whole ~love cures mental illness~ trope ffs?

[Joanna Laikin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh God I loved it. It's a tricky thing to portray mental illness in characters, especially teenagers, accurately, but as someone with lots of experience in eating disorders I thought that this was done perfectly. I fell in love with the two main characters and I thought it was just beautiful how they came together and built a cute friendship, helping each other with their respective problems as they grew closer. I can see this book turned into a film; I can just imagine the end scene with Jamie sitting on the train holding the cupcake up to his mouth and then after a second going in for a big bite... and then a dramatic cut to the credits!

[Isla · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could barely finish this book - it was so predictable and had such one-sided characters with issues so easily fixed. That's not realistic. One month-long relationship would never cure mental illness, and it's unfair to give that hope to readers. I found the book incredibly problematic, and when a 'tough' boy convinced a young girl not to call the police after he'd broken into her home and tackled her I had to put it down.

[ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This was good. SO GOOD.
The characters were quite a bit younger than me so I couldn't fully connect with them, hence why this isn't the full 5 stars but it gripped me from start to finish.
The writing style in Jamie's perspective was hard to read to begin with but after a few chapters, I can see exactly why the author chose to write him that way.

This was amazing. Completely unexpectedly amazing.

[:) · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the idea and theme of this book is very interesting and has a lot of potential, I feel it wasn’t executed as best as it could have been. I felt as though the writing style was a little beginner friendly, which is totally okay, it just could have used a little more depth, description, and unpredictability. One of the things that I was most disappointed about was how shallow the mental illnesses were portrayed. I wish the characters internal thoughts and stuggles were depicted on a deeper level. For Jamie, it was just “thin, guilt, leeches, power”… and then boom his mind changed subjects so quickly. It would have been more realistic for him to be dwelling on these thoughts throughout the book more and struggle more to escape them. As for Myla, she is always baking, working on her blog, or in her room, but she pretty much only speaks of feeling anxious when about to leave. I want to read more about their CONSUMING, endless, exhausting thoughts and fears as they lay in bed at night or go throughout their day. I want to hear them struggle to shut out the voices of worries and what ifs so they can enjoy their life.

I feel as though both Jamie and Myla seem to just “struggle on the side” when many times mental illness consumes much more time, energy, and thought than this. I want to see more of the ugly, tiring reality of mental disorders. I also was a little frustrated at how easily they just “healed.” I am glad the two were able to help one another, and thought the romance was cute, but most of the time, it’s just not that simple. It takes so much time and so much effort. I also was annoyed with how oblivious Myla was to Eve not being real. When I first predicted Eve was the killer, I thought it was brilliant of the author to include this twist, but the longer Myla was still trusting and oblivious to this reality, I got annoyed. It’s unrealistic for someone to be so trusting and open to someone who is clearly not a real person. Myla was also very oblivious to Jamie’s struggle, most people would have noticed much sooner. I would have liked to have seen Jamie push himself alongside Myla, rather than just at the end of the book.

That being said, I do appreciate how the author includes a male character who struggles with an eating disorder and I also like how it’s not just about his body but about having control, strength, and wanting to get at someone. However, the book was just all “happily ever after” and I wish it was more of “i’m learning to enjoy life amidst the pain and continue to push myself beyond my limits to fight against this. And even if it never completely goes away, I can still live a beautiful, full life and use my pain for good.”

While I have a lot of critiques, I didn’t hate reading the book, I did enjoy it, just not as much as I had anticipated.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myla battles with agoraphobia ever since her sister Asha was killed. Having been with her sister on the fateful day, Myla can't remember much about what happened on that day, but knows deep down in her heart, that the man jailed for her sisters death, was wrongfully convicted. Jamie, is a troubled young teenager with an eating disorder - brought on my the constant taunts and bullying tactics of his mothers new boyfriend. He leaves to go stay with his aunt Ness, who builds his self-esteem by introducing him to Myla, who together start building their lives up from scratch again. It's a real teen story - and maybe it's the flu talking, but I struggled in the beginning to get into the book.

[Jorien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yikes. The only reason I'm not giving it 1 star is because I read this book fairly quickly.

There's a few things that really bothered me.

First, I did not like the writing style at all, especially Jamie his part. It really felt like "let's write how kids talk" but it was unsuccessful in my eyes.

Also, let's stop pretending love fixes mental illness. I hate the way this was portrayed.

And then, it was all so obvious from the start. I literally predicted everything that happened at the end after just a few chapters.

Truly do not recommend this book, I'd say it's a waste of time.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an alright book. The writing was quite good and the novel was fast paced, however I’m not a huge fan of the ‘relationship cures mental illness’ cliche. Part of me thinks the way it was written was romantic, the other part thinks it was way too instalovey and slightly unrealistic. The plot twist was good, quite suspenseful, I personally did not predict it. Overall, a nice enough read but one I wouldn’t choose again.

Recommended for: ages 12+. Some swearing , violence and death.

[Talia Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought the paperback copy of this book, this caught me on instantly. Abbie Rushton, has this way of writing that transitions you into the world of the story that she is creating. During this book , I felt as if I needed to keep reading because I was genuinely felt as if I was the main character. NOT TO MENTION THE PLOT TWIST!!! It was soooooooooo unexpected I loved it.

[Rachael Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book about 3/4 times a year because I enjoy the suspense and thrill of it (especially if I’ve forgotten some parts which is becoming more difficult because I read it more often 🤭) I enjoy creating new scenarios of what could happen next! If you love a suspense-read or a who done it then this book is perfect! 🫶🏼

[Ruth Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was... ok.

I thought the writing about the issues the two main characters face was good, believable. Interesting.

But the characters themselves were boring.

And the plot was strange. It felt like two or three different books meshed together. I think I’ve been generous with 3 stars.

[Aaliyah banana boat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good :)

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of suspense I loved this book, and a really good plot twist at the end totally didn't see it coming!

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars!