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Waiting for Fitz
Addies loves nothing more than curling up on the couch with her dog, Duck, and watching The Great British Baking Show with her mom. It's one of the few things that can help her relax when her OCD kicks into overdrive. She counts everything. All the time. She can't stop. Rituals and rhythms. It's exhausting.
When Fitz was diagnosed with schizophrenia, he named the voices in his head after famous country singers. The adolescent psychiatric ward at Seattle Regional Hospital isn't exactly the ideal place to meet your soul mate, but when Addie meets Fitz, they immediately connect over their shared love of words, appreciate each other's quick wit, and wish they could both make more sense of their lives.
Fitz is haunted by the voices in his head and often doesn't know what is real. But he feels if he can convince Addie to help him escape the psych ward and get to San Juan Island, everything will be okay. If not, he risks falling into a downward spiral that may keep him in the hospital indefinitely.
Waiting for Fitz is a story about life and love, forgiveness and courage, and learning what is truly worth waiting for.
When Fitz was diagnosed with schizophrenia, he named the voices in his head after famous country singers. The adolescent psychiatric ward at Seattle Regional Hospital isn't exactly the ideal place to meet your soul mate, but when Addie meets Fitz, they immediately connect over their shared love of words, appreciate each other's quick wit, and wish they could both make more sense of their lives.
Fitz is haunted by the voices in his head and often doesn't know what is real. But he feels if he can convince Addie to help him escape the psych ward and get to San Juan Island, everything will be okay. If not, he risks falling into a downward spiral that may keep him in the hospital indefinitely.
Waiting for Fitz is a story about life and love, forgiveness and courage, and learning what is truly worth waiting for.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2019
29 people are currently reading
1812 people want to read
About the author
Spencer Hyde
2 books105 followersSpencer Hyde spent three years of his high school experience visiting Johns Hopkins for severe OCD. He feels particularly suited to write Waiting for Fitz because he’s lived through his protagonists’ obsessions.
Spencer worked at a therapeutic boarding school before earning his MFA in Utah and his PhD in Texas, specializing in fiction. He wrote Waiting for Fitz while working as a Teaching Fellow in Denton, Texas. He is currently an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University.
Stories have a way of changing lives—Spencer learned that the first time he picked up a Tom Stoppard play and realized that words can nudge the world and build bridges to hope.
Spencer and his wife, Brittany, are the parents of four children. They love to hike, read, watch movies, fly-fish, and bake.
Spencer worked at a therapeutic boarding school before earning his MFA in Utah and his PhD in Texas, specializing in fiction. He wrote Waiting for Fitz while working as a Teaching Fellow in Denton, Texas. He is currently an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University.
Stories have a way of changing lives—Spencer learned that the first time he picked up a Tom Stoppard play and realized that words can nudge the world and build bridges to hope.
Spencer and his wife, Brittany, are the parents of four children. They love to hike, read, watch movies, fly-fish, and bake.
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August 18, 2018
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of WAITING FOR FITZ by Spencer Hyde in exchange for my honest review.***
Addie, who has severe OCD, meets Fitz, a schizophrenic, on the psych ward of a hospital. After bonding, they plan to escape.
I’m a psychologist and I interned in a psych hospital, so I was excited to receive the ARC of WAITING FOR FITZ. Debut author Spencer Hyde’s above average world building was the best part of the story. In the preface, Hyde is said to have spent three of his teen years at Johns Hopkins for severe OCD, so I assumed he was either born in the 1950s or 1960s, before deinstitutionalization or extremely wealthy. Insurance barely pays for a week to stabilize patients before kicking them to outpatient or a day program. Maybe the preface meant three weeks.
Hyde got so much of the hospitalization details wrong, I became frustrated. I don’t mind a little creative license, but the hospital was unrecognizable to any reality.
-Fitz had been in the hospital ward two years. If he was that impaired he would have been in a state hospital, not a ward in a general hospital.
-a 12 yo girl would never be on a ward with 17 yo boys due to legal statutes.
-staff would never encourage romance between patients.
-private rooms, a ward with only 5 patients, coed wards (these are little things, but they add up to an unrealistic setting)
Addie’s OCD symptoms seemed plot driven, and not part of her character because they turned on and off in an unrealistic manner. OCD is an anxiety disorder, which was never mentioned. Fitz’s schizophrenia wasn’t well depicted. His thought processes were much too organized for the severity of the voices he heard and spoke to. He also didn’t show any of the ticks or visible side effects of the meds. Another patient who was a pathological liar was egged on by one of the aides.
I tried to give concrete examples and not pile on every inaccuracy. I’m picky because literature may be teen reader’s introduction to mental illness. They will assume accuracy, even in fiction books.
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend WAITING FOR FITZ.
Addie, who has severe OCD, meets Fitz, a schizophrenic, on the psych ward of a hospital. After bonding, they plan to escape.
I’m a psychologist and I interned in a psych hospital, so I was excited to receive the ARC of WAITING FOR FITZ. Debut author Spencer Hyde’s above average world building was the best part of the story. In the preface, Hyde is said to have spent three of his teen years at Johns Hopkins for severe OCD, so I assumed he was either born in the 1950s or 1960s, before deinstitutionalization or extremely wealthy. Insurance barely pays for a week to stabilize patients before kicking them to outpatient or a day program. Maybe the preface meant three weeks.
Hyde got so much of the hospitalization details wrong, I became frustrated. I don’t mind a little creative license, but the hospital was unrecognizable to any reality.
-Fitz had been in the hospital ward two years. If he was that impaired he would have been in a state hospital, not a ward in a general hospital.
-a 12 yo girl would never be on a ward with 17 yo boys due to legal statutes.
-staff would never encourage romance between patients.
-private rooms, a ward with only 5 patients, coed wards (these are little things, but they add up to an unrealistic setting)
Addie’s OCD symptoms seemed plot driven, and not part of her character because they turned on and off in an unrealistic manner. OCD is an anxiety disorder, which was never mentioned. Fitz’s schizophrenia wasn’t well depicted. His thought processes were much too organized for the severity of the voices he heard and spoke to. He also didn’t show any of the ticks or visible side effects of the meds. Another patient who was a pathological liar was egged on by one of the aides.
I tried to give concrete examples and not pile on every inaccuracy. I’m picky because literature may be teen reader’s introduction to mental illness. They will assume accuracy, even in fiction books.
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend WAITING FOR FITZ.
May 8, 2019
Zero stars on the blog.
I don't want to waste any more of my time on this book going over specific details about what made it horrific, so I'll give it to you short and sweet. The writing itself is atrocious; it jumps all over the place, there are no transitions, it's full of awkward sentences like, "We stepped into the car and wiped off the water from our sweaters or jackets or whatever." People's mouths "sweat", and somehow they can rest their heads on their knees from a standing position. The entire story had three modes: puns and word play that was, I guess, supposed to be hip but was elementary school corny, sentences with wordy similes and metaphors (trying to be deep quotable quotes) that strung together into pages of gibberish, and Tom and Jerry cartoon action scenes. All of this combined with the over the top characterizations of the patients' conditions for drama's sake, made it feel like the subject matter was a gimmick to sell books.
The psychiatric ward in the hospital was pulled from a 1960's prison for the criminally insane, complete with jail cell rooms, and either no windows, or windows with bars on them. All that security, yet, the teenage patients were left unsupervised a lot of the time and they also took their meds on their own terms. Plus, the MC was in the hospital of her own accord, in a deal with her supportive mother, so the whole breakout escape element was pointless. The story basically made no sense at all.
Again, another book with a schizophrenic character who has every single symptom ever recorded, and to the most severe degree, written by someone who has no experience or solid knowledge of the condition; and you guessed it... that character is violent, and violent towards other people. Less than one half of one percent of people diagnosed with schizophrenia are violent, and of those it is rare that they are violent towards others; they usually hurt themselves. All this book accomplished was to stigmatize the illness even more.
Also, read my updates below for more insight into the problems with this book.
I was approved for an eARC, via Edelweiss, in return for an honest review.
I don't want to waste any more of my time on this book going over specific details about what made it horrific, so I'll give it to you short and sweet. The writing itself is atrocious; it jumps all over the place, there are no transitions, it's full of awkward sentences like, "We stepped into the car and wiped off the water from our sweaters or jackets or whatever." People's mouths "sweat", and somehow they can rest their heads on their knees from a standing position. The entire story had three modes: puns and word play that was, I guess, supposed to be hip but was elementary school corny, sentences with wordy similes and metaphors (trying to be deep quotable quotes) that strung together into pages of gibberish, and Tom and Jerry cartoon action scenes. All of this combined with the over the top characterizations of the patients' conditions for drama's sake, made it feel like the subject matter was a gimmick to sell books.
The psychiatric ward in the hospital was pulled from a 1960's prison for the criminally insane, complete with jail cell rooms, and either no windows, or windows with bars on them. All that security, yet, the teenage patients were left unsupervised a lot of the time and they also took their meds on their own terms. Plus, the MC was in the hospital of her own accord, in a deal with her supportive mother, so the whole breakout escape element was pointless. The story basically made no sense at all.
Again, another book with a schizophrenic character who has every single symptom ever recorded, and to the most severe degree, written by someone who has no experience or solid knowledge of the condition; and you guessed it... that character is violent, and violent towards other people. Less than one half of one percent of people diagnosed with schizophrenia are violent, and of those it is rare that they are violent towards others; they usually hurt themselves. All this book accomplished was to stigmatize the illness even more.
Also, read my updates below for more insight into the problems with this book.
I was approved for an eARC, via Edelweiss, in return for an honest review.
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August 26, 2018I was so excited by this book! We need more books about mental health, to help bring awareness and also to normalise it. In this book we have a girl with severe OCD who finds and teams up with a boy suffering from schizophrenia.
The summary looked good, but the book failed to engage me. I mean, the OCd at the beginning is described as very severe, and the girl wants to heal, but then she is just obnoxious. The same can be said about the rest of the characters: want to heal but don't seem to take therapy seriously. And yes, I get deffective joking, but still.
Also, there was way too much dialogue, a lot of talking that seemed superfluos and that wanted to convey a lot but fell short. Sometimes I thought it would have been better to let the characters show instead of tell.
And the characters... they were similarly constructed, most of them seemed created around the illnesses, instead of being individuals with an illness, if you understand what I mean.
I just stopped reading.
The summary looked good, but the book failed to engage me. I mean, the OCd at the beginning is described as very severe, and the girl wants to heal, but then she is just obnoxious. The same can be said about the rest of the characters: want to heal but don't seem to take therapy seriously. And yes, I get deffective joking, but still.
Also, there was way too much dialogue, a lot of talking that seemed superfluos and that wanted to convey a lot but fell short. Sometimes I thought it would have been better to let the characters show instead of tell.
And the characters... they were similarly constructed, most of them seemed created around the illnesses, instead of being individuals with an illness, if you understand what I mean.
I just stopped reading.
March 5, 2019
I don’t read much (any?) contemporary fiction. This was also a hard book for me to rate since it’s so different from what I typically read.
I loved the author’s use of wit and allusions to great literary works as he developed the relationship between Addie, a young woman with OCD, and the schizophrenic Fritz. My sense is that writing about mental illness is polarizing, particularly when you write with the level of specificity in this book. Readers who have experienced mental illness personally or through someone they love will judge the book through their individual experience. Books like this are an important part of the ongoing conversation about and acceptance of mental illness.
To be clear, mental illness is just one thread of the engaging tapestry the author has created. It was a great read and I finished it in one night.
I loved the author’s use of wit and allusions to great literary works as he developed the relationship between Addie, a young woman with OCD, and the schizophrenic Fritz. My sense is that writing about mental illness is polarizing, particularly when you write with the level of specificity in this book. Readers who have experienced mental illness personally or through someone they love will judge the book through their individual experience. Books like this are an important part of the ongoing conversation about and acceptance of mental illness.
To be clear, mental illness is just one thread of the engaging tapestry the author has created. It was a great read and I finished it in one night.
February 28, 2019
*I received an ARC of this novel from Shadow Mountain Publishing at Yallfest 2018.*
I enjoyed this story a lot. Addie was an interesting main character. In the beginning I thought I was going to find her very annoying, but she grew on me throughout the story. That is in part because she grew herself and became less grating on my nerves.
This has a lot of important points about mental health. It touches on medication and how some people need it. Addie also learns to recognize that everyone is going through something, no matter what you see or think you know about them. That is something that is easy to overlook and is sometimes ignored in books.
There were a few things that didn't quite fit for me. Ages of some of the characters didn't seem to mesh with past events that were described. Perhaps I missed something or it might be corrected in the final version, since this was an ARC, but it cropped up a few times and kind of pushed me out of the story for a minute.
Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and think that it is a very strong debut. I hope that Spencer Hyde is able to write many more books in the future and I look forward to reading them.
"It's weird how phrases can have meaning in specific moments."
I enjoyed this story a lot. Addie was an interesting main character. In the beginning I thought I was going to find her very annoying, but she grew on me throughout the story. That is in part because she grew herself and became less grating on my nerves.
This has a lot of important points about mental health. It touches on medication and how some people need it. Addie also learns to recognize that everyone is going through something, no matter what you see or think you know about them. That is something that is easy to overlook and is sometimes ignored in books.
There were a few things that didn't quite fit for me. Ages of some of the characters didn't seem to mesh with past events that were described. Perhaps I missed something or it might be corrected in the final version, since this was an ARC, but it cropped up a few times and kind of pushed me out of the story for a minute.
Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and think that it is a very strong debut. I hope that Spencer Hyde is able to write many more books in the future and I look forward to reading them.
November 29, 2018
I wanted to like this book so much. The idea is so interesting and one of my favorite books of all time is "It's Kind of a Funny Story" and that takes place in the same kind of setting so I was excited to give this one a read.
Unfortunately, this book fell completely flat for me. I found myself dragging through it and at one point I almost didn't even finish it. The main character in this book was awful. Just flat out awful. I wish I had the patience to go through and count how many times she said "whatever" or "get over it" because every time she did I wanted to smack her in the head with her own book.
Another thing was that I felt like this book-- especially Addie-- was trying so hard to be profound and meaningful. It had all of the pretentious, annoying writing of a John Green Book without all the warm fuzzy good stuff to back it up.
This book had the potential to portray serious mental health issues in a realistic light while also maintaining reader interest but it just did not do that at all. I would be embarrassed to recommend this book to a friend because of this one fact alone. The main character's OCD seemed like more of a convenient plot device than a realistic portrayal of the disease and I'm sorry but a psychiatric hospital ward would NEVER be like this. EVER. At least not in modern times. It was truly asking me to suspend belief at times which normally is not a problem for me with books and it wouldn't have been a problem with this one if it wasn't for the fact that this book wanted to be taken seriously. Also, mental health is such a hot button issue and such a serious one for so many people. I wouldn't want someone to read this book and get incorrect and glamorized information.
The one thing I enjoyed about this book was the mother-daughter relationship. Addie has such a realistic relationship with her mother and it was done so well. It reminded me of the type of relationship I have with my own mom and even though Addie was really annoying, her mom at least was likable and believable as a character.
Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this book.
Unfortunately, this book fell completely flat for me. I found myself dragging through it and at one point I almost didn't even finish it. The main character in this book was awful. Just flat out awful. I wish I had the patience to go through and count how many times she said "whatever" or "get over it" because every time she did I wanted to smack her in the head with her own book.
Another thing was that I felt like this book-- especially Addie-- was trying so hard to be profound and meaningful. It had all of the pretentious, annoying writing of a John Green Book without all the warm fuzzy good stuff to back it up.
This book had the potential to portray serious mental health issues in a realistic light while also maintaining reader interest but it just did not do that at all. I would be embarrassed to recommend this book to a friend because of this one fact alone. The main character's OCD seemed like more of a convenient plot device than a realistic portrayal of the disease and I'm sorry but a psychiatric hospital ward would NEVER be like this. EVER. At least not in modern times. It was truly asking me to suspend belief at times which normally is not a problem for me with books and it wouldn't have been a problem with this one if it wasn't for the fact that this book wanted to be taken seriously. Also, mental health is such a hot button issue and such a serious one for so many people. I wouldn't want someone to read this book and get incorrect and glamorized information.
The one thing I enjoyed about this book was the mother-daughter relationship. Addie has such a realistic relationship with her mother and it was done so well. It reminded me of the type of relationship I have with my own mom and even though Addie was really annoying, her mom at least was likable and believable as a character.
Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this book.
February 18, 2019
Hyde’s debut novel shows his literary background, his fine writing skill, and his sense of humor. The plot is reminiscent of Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, but in this story the two star-crossed lovers are patients at a mental hospital. Fitz is dealing with schizophrenia; Addie, the smart, pun-loving narrator, has OCD. This story gives real insight into the complexities of mental illness and its effects on its victims and their families. Addie and Fitz are the stars of this tragi-comedy, but they share the stage with a number of other characters, each suffering in their own way. The conclusion is satisfying, honest, and warmly drawn. Readers won’t soon forget these two kids and their story.
January 19, 2019
Waiting for Fitz is the story of a teen with OCD and a teen with schizophrenia. I was hoping for an accurate portrayal of the inner workings of the minds of these characters. Mental illness is hell in that person's mind. Unfortunately, I found the plot ridiculous and the characters shallow. Mental illness was downplayed here, and I don't agree with that. I can't in good conscience recommend this one. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2019
Addie suffers with OCD while Fitz suffers with schizophrenia.
Meeting as they now live on the psych ward, the pair become close after both become involved in group therapy where they have to open up, obviously about their separate issues they deal with.
After Fitz tells Addie his plan to escape she become wrapped up in it too and the pair hatch their plan along with fellow ward stayers and as the pair plan ahead neither of them is prepared for just what happens and how much they rely on each other and can't always control their conditions especially without their medication...
This book started slowly but as soon as the action came it was full force we see the characters at their worst and best as they try to help and rely on each other to be free in the world again however when things didn't go to plan i didn't expect the drama that ensues at all. It was a great young adult mental health read and one that raises awareness of a lesser written about condition too.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
Meeting as they now live on the psych ward, the pair become close after both become involved in group therapy where they have to open up, obviously about their separate issues they deal with.
After Fitz tells Addie his plan to escape she become wrapped up in it too and the pair hatch their plan along with fellow ward stayers and as the pair plan ahead neither of them is prepared for just what happens and how much they rely on each other and can't always control their conditions especially without their medication...
This book started slowly but as soon as the action came it was full force we see the characters at their worst and best as they try to help and rely on each other to be free in the world again however when things didn't go to plan i didn't expect the drama that ensues at all. It was a great young adult mental health read and one that raises awareness of a lesser written about condition too.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
September 12, 2024
Some books, you love. Other books, you dislike.
AND THEN THERE'S THIS BOOK. Straight up my worst read of the year. Heck, maybe of the decade.
But first, a disclaimer: Despite the many low ratings and negative reviews, I really really wanted to love this book. I mean, the cover? Absolutely gorgeous. In fact, I used it as an inspiration for a drawing I did while I was going through a rough time. Mental health rep? I'll eat that stuff up in a heartbeat. A main character with OCD and a love interest with schizophrenia? YES, PLEASE. I wanted to learn a little bit more about both mental illnesses and reading that the author draws from his own personal experiences (particularly with OCD), I was prepared to just fall in love with this book.
And then the dumpster fire happened. And I have reasons.
1. The writing. THE APPALLINGLY TERRIBLE WRITING. Both the prose and the dialogue were very awkward. This is one of those books you read and wonder why you haven't published that short story you wrote in 2nd grade because you could be making bank right now. Absolutely terrible for the following reasons and more:
- Our main characters' incessant wordplay was over-the-top annoying. We get it. They are literary nerds, but you don't have to make the readers have multiple brain farts over it.
- This reads very much like if an emo teenager with a lazy drawl recorded themselves on audio and that audio was transcribed with no textual edits whatsoever, just punctuation standardization.
- If I took a shot for each time the narrator said "or whatever" or "get over it" or "c'mon" I swear I'd be a full-on alcoholic.
- The author also makes it a point to bring up Fitz's "handsome gap" in almost every chapter. We get it, our main character has a thing for gap teeth and gap teeth are cute, but you don't have to bring it up all the frikkin time.
2. Extremely unlikeable characters. "Rude?" you may say, because most of the characters are patients in a mental health facility. But no, that's not even it. In fact, I found two of them somewhat endearing: Leah and Wolf. But everyone else? The author makes zero attempt to help you like them or root for them. In fact, I'm quite convinced he wanted me to hate them. Each character had a token mental illness: the one with OCD, the one with schizophrenia, the one with anger issues, the one with depression, etc. And they all had almost the complete set of symptoms and stereotypical backstory. AND instead of helping the reader empathize with them, these characters are portrayed in such a way that there is not much depth to their personality beyond their mental illness. Worse? They all gang up to fake a few symptoms in order to do something ostensibly dumb.
3. The horrible depiction of mental health facilities. Look, I know that all facilities have their flaws and some are more helpful than others. I get it. But when you have a very unprofessional doctor, an assistant who eggs on a character who is a pathological liar to keep lying just for the humor of it, and terrible security, you're just pretty much scaring me from being comfortable and open to entering a facility should the need arise. So trigger warnings there: Do not read if you are uncomfortable or unsure about entering a facility.
The good?
I don't know. I gasped at the huge plot reveal. Was that enough though? Nahhh.
This book needed about 8 more rounds of editing and a sensitivity reader for each mental illness involved. Just because you have a diagnosis for one doesn't mean it's easy to figure the rest out. The one good thing that came out of this read is that I have finally decided that DNFing might not be such a terrible thing after all, because I could've spared myself the torture and trouble that is this book.
AND THEN THERE'S THIS BOOK. Straight up my worst read of the year. Heck, maybe of the decade.
But first, a disclaimer: Despite the many low ratings and negative reviews, I really really wanted to love this book. I mean, the cover? Absolutely gorgeous. In fact, I used it as an inspiration for a drawing I did while I was going through a rough time. Mental health rep? I'll eat that stuff up in a heartbeat. A main character with OCD and a love interest with schizophrenia? YES, PLEASE. I wanted to learn a little bit more about both mental illnesses and reading that the author draws from his own personal experiences (particularly with OCD), I was prepared to just fall in love with this book.
And then the dumpster fire happened. And I have reasons.
1. The writing. THE APPALLINGLY TERRIBLE WRITING. Both the prose and the dialogue were very awkward. This is one of those books you read and wonder why you haven't published that short story you wrote in 2nd grade because you could be making bank right now. Absolutely terrible for the following reasons and more:
- Our main characters' incessant wordplay was over-the-top annoying. We get it. They are literary nerds, but you don't have to make the readers have multiple brain farts over it.
- This reads very much like if an emo teenager with a lazy drawl recorded themselves on audio and that audio was transcribed with no textual edits whatsoever, just punctuation standardization.
- If I took a shot for each time the narrator said "or whatever" or "get over it" or "c'mon" I swear I'd be a full-on alcoholic.
- The author also makes it a point to bring up Fitz's "handsome gap" in almost every chapter. We get it, our main character has a thing for gap teeth and gap teeth are cute, but you don't have to bring it up all the frikkin time.
2. Extremely unlikeable characters. "Rude?" you may say, because most of the characters are patients in a mental health facility. But no, that's not even it. In fact, I found two of them somewhat endearing: Leah and Wolf. But everyone else? The author makes zero attempt to help you like them or root for them. In fact, I'm quite convinced he wanted me to hate them. Each character had a token mental illness: the one with OCD, the one with schizophrenia, the one with anger issues, the one with depression, etc. And they all had almost the complete set of symptoms and stereotypical backstory. AND instead of helping the reader empathize with them, these characters are portrayed in such a way that there is not much depth to their personality beyond their mental illness. Worse? They all gang up to fake a few symptoms in order to do something ostensibly dumb.
3. The horrible depiction of mental health facilities. Look, I know that all facilities have their flaws and some are more helpful than others. I get it. But when you have a very unprofessional doctor, an assistant who eggs on a character who is a pathological liar to keep lying just for the humor of it, and terrible security, you're just pretty much scaring me from being comfortable and open to entering a facility should the need arise. So trigger warnings there: Do not read if you are uncomfortable or unsure about entering a facility.
The good?
I don't know. I gasped at the huge plot reveal. Was that enough though? Nahhh.
This book needed about 8 more rounds of editing and a sensitivity reader for each mental illness involved. Just because you have a diagnosis for one doesn't mean it's easy to figure the rest out. The one good thing that came out of this read is that I have finally decided that DNFing might not be such a terrible thing after all, because I could've spared myself the torture and trouble that is this book.
August 22, 2021
3.75/5 ⭐️
It was actually pretty cute and enjoyable
It was actually pretty cute and enjoyable
March 15, 2019
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGallery from providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Addie, the first person narrator of this story, suffers from debilitating OCD. Her mother is very supportive of her, but her rituals increasingly interfere with her everyday life, so her doctor encourages her mother to place her as an inpatient at the psychiatric ward of Seattle General Hospital.
There she meets the charismatic Fitz (Fitzgerald Whitman IV) who suffers from schizophrenia, among other things. He has been in and out of mental hospitals all of his life. Addie and Fitz form a friendship (which leads to more) but Fitz is worried that their relationship cannot last, because most of his relationships outside of the mental hospital never last whenever he is forced to return to seek medical help for his recurring mental health issues.
"I don't know if I can ever keep the balance I need to sustain a normal life."
Addie is obsessed with finding the meaning of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - two characters from Hamlet who wait endlessly for a person who never shows up.
Spoiler alert:
In answer to Fitz's fears that Addie will not wait for him when she is released from the mental ward, she reassures him with this very interesting observation from her struggles to understand the meaning of Tom Stoppard's play: .... life is a just a series of absurd rituals until SOMETHING or SOMEONE comes along to give it all meaning."
Very thought-provoking. This is a very well-written and insightful book about mental health. The author provides extensive notes and commentary to aid the reader while we explore and understand Addie's journey through the mental health system. Highly recommended.
Addie, the first person narrator of this story, suffers from debilitating OCD. Her mother is very supportive of her, but her rituals increasingly interfere with her everyday life, so her doctor encourages her mother to place her as an inpatient at the psychiatric ward of Seattle General Hospital.
There she meets the charismatic Fitz (Fitzgerald Whitman IV) who suffers from schizophrenia, among other things. He has been in and out of mental hospitals all of his life. Addie and Fitz form a friendship (which leads to more) but Fitz is worried that their relationship cannot last, because most of his relationships outside of the mental hospital never last whenever he is forced to return to seek medical help for his recurring mental health issues.
"I don't know if I can ever keep the balance I need to sustain a normal life."
Addie is obsessed with finding the meaning of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - two characters from Hamlet who wait endlessly for a person who never shows up.
Spoiler alert:
In answer to Fitz's fears that Addie will not wait for him when she is released from the mental ward, she reassures him with this very interesting observation from her struggles to understand the meaning of Tom Stoppard's play: .... life is a just a series of absurd rituals until SOMETHING or SOMEONE comes along to give it all meaning."
Very thought-provoking. This is a very well-written and insightful book about mental health. The author provides extensive notes and commentary to aid the reader while we explore and understand Addie's journey through the mental health system. Highly recommended.
March 18, 2019
An excellent, moving story. Smart characters, smart writing, and beautiful poetic prose. As I read, I was reminded of A Fault in Our Stars, and I think people who enjoyed that one will really like this one, too. It's not afraid to deal with heavy, complicated topics in ways that are realistic and powerful.
March 6, 2019
I LOVED this book!! I thought the book really showed what it was like to be a teenager with a mental health disorder, and how everyone is facing something different..but overall, we can get through these things we’re facing together.
Mr. Hyde made the plot intense and suspenseful at points but also included playful dialogue that made me laugh out loud. It was a very good balance. I constantly wanted to know what happened next, and I found I related to the book on many aspects. Mr. Hyde also made it very easy for teenagers with mental disorders to relate to. It showed how teenagers with mental disorders aren’t crazy or scary people. They can still love and have fun. But it also does show how it affects them and how, in some aspects, the way their disorder affects them is out of their control.
Mr. Hyde made the plot intense and suspenseful at points but also included playful dialogue that made me laugh out loud. It was a very good balance. I constantly wanted to know what happened next, and I found I related to the book on many aspects. Mr. Hyde also made it very easy for teenagers with mental disorders to relate to. It showed how teenagers with mental disorders aren’t crazy or scary people. They can still love and have fun. But it also does show how it affects them and how, in some aspects, the way their disorder affects them is out of their control.
February 27, 2019
Too frustrated to say much about this now, but I -75/10 do not recommend. Save yourself the trouble and literally read anything else.
Read
February 1, 2020They may escape, but it already may be too late.
When Addie's OCD becomes unbearable, her mother checks her into the psychiatric unit to get help. There she meets Fitz, a boy dealing with schizophrenia, and the two become extremely close. As they bond over their love for words, wit, and hopes for the future, Fitz begs Addie to help him escape the ward. Will rejoining the outside world be the key making things okay again, or will it be the key to sending him on a downward spiral?
A story of help coming from unexpected people and places. A tale of trusting those who offer their souls.
Trigger warnings for OCD, schizophrenia, other various mental illnesses, cardio myopathy, parental death, loss of a loved one, and weight shaming.
Witty and somewhat compassionate, Addie used humor to cope with her problems. A lover of wordplay, she seemed a little too aware of her own cleverness, and she quickly became very annoying. I genuinely adore characters who love to play with words as much as I do, but she quickly became a pain. Unfortunately, I think this was due to the fact that she seemed very flat, based around her OCD instead of being a girl living with OCD. As the book became more and more about Fitz's story, the teens' character development almost stopped before it got started.
Isn't it interesting, how we just click with some people? Definitely very troubled, Fitz had a sort of charm about him that was supposed to endear him, but as with Addie, it seemed like he was formed around his illness. Addie and Fitz were a really good fit for each other, so much so that after a few chapters of them spending time with each other, they became obnoxious. Their relationship was a wild ride, that slowly seemed to become more of Addie narrating as she tagged along to Fitz's story. As for the other children in the ward, they were just as underdeveloped as our main characters, which was truly saddening.
After reading the author's note, I appreciated and respected the author's point of view. However, there were several aspects that greatly differed from my own experiences of living with OCD and spending time in the psychiatric wards that just rubbed me the wrong way. Further, mental illness in general was portrayed in a way that felt like it was being made light of and that its able to be turned on and off whenever necessary. While the world building was exceptional, the plot was utterly ridiculous. A romance would never have been actively encouraged by the staff in the way that it was, nor would the exposition of Addie and Fitz's journey have ever been plausible. Spencer Hyde's debut tried to talk about understanding that everyone's going through their own problems, the values of seeking treatment, and accepting that people aren't perfect. It also tries to spread the message of forgiveness, but all of that got lost in a lot of over the top writing. Extremely fast-paced, nothing was truly given time to deepen or feel meaningful. I was so excited about Waiting for Fitz, but unfortunately the book truly let me down.
Waiting for Fitz left me waiting for a story that didn't do more harm than help.
When Addie's OCD becomes unbearable, her mother checks her into the psychiatric unit to get help. There she meets Fitz, a boy dealing with schizophrenia, and the two become extremely close. As they bond over their love for words, wit, and hopes for the future, Fitz begs Addie to help him escape the ward. Will rejoining the outside world be the key making things okay again, or will it be the key to sending him on a downward spiral?
A story of help coming from unexpected people and places. A tale of trusting those who offer their souls.
Trigger warnings for OCD, schizophrenia, other various mental illnesses, cardio myopathy, parental death, loss of a loved one, and weight shaming.
Witty and somewhat compassionate, Addie used humor to cope with her problems. A lover of wordplay, she seemed a little too aware of her own cleverness, and she quickly became very annoying. I genuinely adore characters who love to play with words as much as I do, but she quickly became a pain. Unfortunately, I think this was due to the fact that she seemed very flat, based around her OCD instead of being a girl living with OCD. As the book became more and more about Fitz's story, the teens' character development almost stopped before it got started.
Isn't it interesting, how we just click with some people? Definitely very troubled, Fitz had a sort of charm about him that was supposed to endear him, but as with Addie, it seemed like he was formed around his illness. Addie and Fitz were a really good fit for each other, so much so that after a few chapters of them spending time with each other, they became obnoxious. Their relationship was a wild ride, that slowly seemed to become more of Addie narrating as she tagged along to Fitz's story. As for the other children in the ward, they were just as underdeveloped as our main characters, which was truly saddening.
After reading the author's note, I appreciated and respected the author's point of view. However, there were several aspects that greatly differed from my own experiences of living with OCD and spending time in the psychiatric wards that just rubbed me the wrong way. Further, mental illness in general was portrayed in a way that felt like it was being made light of and that its able to be turned on and off whenever necessary. While the world building was exceptional, the plot was utterly ridiculous. A romance would never have been actively encouraged by the staff in the way that it was, nor would the exposition of Addie and Fitz's journey have ever been plausible. Spencer Hyde's debut tried to talk about understanding that everyone's going through their own problems, the values of seeking treatment, and accepting that people aren't perfect. It also tries to spread the message of forgiveness, but all of that got lost in a lot of over the top writing. Extremely fast-paced, nothing was truly given time to deepen or feel meaningful. I was so excited about Waiting for Fitz, but unfortunately the book truly let me down.
Waiting for Fitz left me waiting for a story that didn't do more harm than help.
March 8, 2019
I've been sitting here for so long trying to figure out what to say about this book. I don't think I'm going to figure it out anytime soon because it was all such a mixed bag for me. There were moments that I was into this story but mostly I felt like a complete outsider looking in. I do not have first hand experience with either of the two mental illnesses that the main characters have so that was all a bit foreign to me. I didn't feel that emotional connection to either of the characters because I just didn't "get" them. They both like to engage in verbal word play which seemed a bit over the top at times. I mean, who can think like that at all times and for so long? I don't know.
I did love Addie's easy acceptance of Fitz and all the kids around her. In the beginning it's all about Addie's obsessive behaviors of washing and counting steps, heartbeats, etc. because she thought someone was going to die if she didn't. But, when she gets to the psychiatric ward, it's mostly just blinking and tapping mentioned. It wasn't so much about her actual progress to less obsessive/compulsive behaviors as it was talking about "masks" and plays and Fitz. I was definitely more interested in the story when Addie and Fitz left the hospital in order to accomplish something Fitz was determined to do.
Mental illness in all it's forms is a tough subject to write about, I think. It varies so much from person to person. I appreciate the author, his personal struggles and how much of himself he wove into the pages of this book. I am grateful for people willing to talk about the hard things in life.
This book was, overall, just okay for me.
Before I read the book, I thought the cover was interesting. Now that I've read the book, I think it's very cool because I understand it better.
Content: mental illness which might be a trigger for some people, mild violence, death mentioned
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I did love Addie's easy acceptance of Fitz and all the kids around her. In the beginning it's all about Addie's obsessive behaviors of washing and counting steps, heartbeats, etc. because she thought someone was going to die if she didn't. But, when she gets to the psychiatric ward, it's mostly just blinking and tapping mentioned. It wasn't so much about her actual progress to less obsessive/compulsive behaviors as it was talking about "masks" and plays and Fitz. I was definitely more interested in the story when Addie and Fitz left the hospital in order to accomplish something Fitz was determined to do.
Mental illness in all it's forms is a tough subject to write about, I think. It varies so much from person to person. I appreciate the author, his personal struggles and how much of himself he wove into the pages of this book. I am grateful for people willing to talk about the hard things in life.
This book was, overall, just okay for me.
Before I read the book, I thought the cover was interesting. Now that I've read the book, I think it's very cool because I understand it better.
Content: mental illness which might be a trigger for some people, mild violence, death mentioned
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 14, 2019
I received this ARC from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book had me in tears, laughing and crying some more. It was heartfelt and full of love. The mental illness was describes and written great and it is always great to see mental illness get more written in YA.
It started off super super slow, so slow that it was hard to get through. Then it picked up and I enjoyed it. But the first part was hard to get through.
I loved Fritz, my absolute favorite character.
Would read again and again. Would definitely recommend!
This book had me in tears, laughing and crying some more. It was heartfelt and full of love. The mental illness was describes and written great and it is always great to see mental illness get more written in YA.
It started off super super slow, so slow that it was hard to get through. Then it picked up and I enjoyed it. But the first part was hard to get through.
I loved Fritz, my absolute favorite character.
Would read again and again. Would definitely recommend!
September 26, 2018
3.5*
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really appreciated the depiction of OCD in this book. While not having the illness myself, I felt that it represented it in a comprehensible way for outsiders and as far as I know it is also ownvoices representation. I really enjoyed the overall story of this book, however I didn't care that much for any of the characters. Overall, it was a very good book though.
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really appreciated the depiction of OCD in this book. While not having the illness myself, I felt that it represented it in a comprehensible way for outsiders and as far as I know it is also ownvoices representation. I really enjoyed the overall story of this book, however I didn't care that much for any of the characters. Overall, it was a very good book though.
October 22, 2019
Waiting for Fitz is a book about young kids living with hard mental problems. Addie has been fighting against her OCD and is sent to a psychiatric ward to hopefully have doctoral help to make her problems go away. When she is there, she meets Fitz. Fitz has schizophrenia and was sent to the ward two years ago. Addie and Fitz are drawn to each other, and Fitz has a master plan. But, Will Addie stay to be completely better, or will her love for Fitz, bring her the opposite way to make him happy. This book was good, but a little slow and boring at some points.
January 16, 2019
This book is a little different simply because there's a lot of conflict, mainly internal, for the characters. The author says in the preface that this book is based on his personal experiences dealing with mental illness and his interactions with close friends and/or family that live with mental illness. He mentions that not everyone's experience will be the same, which makes sense to me because each person is different. I appreciated the preface because it helped me have an open mind.
In this story you have Addie who struggles with OCD; she counts things, blinks, washes, and taps her fingers, and Fitz who struggles with schizophrenia; he's given each of the different voices names of country singers and tries to deal with them through humor. Addie and Fitz meet in a psych ward and begin a friendship. They both appreciate words and the impact and power they can have in the world. Along the way, they start to have feelings for one another and learn how to support and encourage each other in their journey to learn how to cope with their illnesses.
I am sure that some people will pick apart this book, but I truly enjoyed it. It is taken from the author's experiences, so of course it's not going to match what everyone else has been through. Even if there are inaccuracies, it is an eye-opening story of what it would be like to live with a mental illness. It is written from the perspective of Addie, a 17-year-old girl, so things that she emphasizes would be different if a 25-year-old male was telling the story. I would recommend this book for anyone 13 and up, but depending on the maturity level of the child the parent may want to read it with them.
In this story you have Addie who struggles with OCD; she counts things, blinks, washes, and taps her fingers, and Fitz who struggles with schizophrenia; he's given each of the different voices names of country singers and tries to deal with them through humor. Addie and Fitz meet in a psych ward and begin a friendship. They both appreciate words and the impact and power they can have in the world. Along the way, they start to have feelings for one another and learn how to support and encourage each other in their journey to learn how to cope with their illnesses.
I am sure that some people will pick apart this book, but I truly enjoyed it. It is taken from the author's experiences, so of course it's not going to match what everyone else has been through. Even if there are inaccuracies, it is an eye-opening story of what it would be like to live with a mental illness. It is written from the perspective of Addie, a 17-year-old girl, so things that she emphasizes would be different if a 25-year-old male was telling the story. I would recommend this book for anyone 13 and up, but depending on the maturity level of the child the parent may want to read it with them.
December 21, 2018
Waiting for Fitz is fresh and original, with a powerfully authentic voice. Addie’s character resonates with the angst and snark familiar to those who love teens, made vulnerable and poignant by her struggle with mental health issues. This story is so much more than a love story, though the love story is deep and touching and reminds us that love isn’t about finding someone who is perfect. It is a story about finding our one person and the power of forgiveness, especially the power to forgive ourselves. Without a doubt, the best book I’ve read this year! With his debut novel, Spencer Hyde has captivated this fan and I look forward to following this gifted storyteller.
I received an ARC copy through the publisher, but enjoyed it so much I had to email the author when I finished reading it -- this is my immediate, "just finished reading it" response:
"OH MY GOODNESS!! I'm emailing you now, just before midnight, because I stayed up reading and could not put it down. Spencer, this story is amazing! Like, winning some kind of literary award amazing! I can picture this as an Oscar-winning movie. Loved it, loved it, loved it!"
I received an ARC copy through the publisher, but enjoyed it so much I had to email the author when I finished reading it -- this is my immediate, "just finished reading it" response:
"OH MY GOODNESS!! I'm emailing you now, just before midnight, because I stayed up reading and could not put it down. Spencer, this story is amazing! Like, winning some kind of literary award amazing! I can picture this as an Oscar-winning movie. Loved it, loved it, loved it!"
January 5, 2019
One of the particularly ingenious things that Hyde does in Waiting for Fitz is in writing the voice of Addie Foster. It is, at first, a bit tedious to have to plow through her thoughts to get through to the novel and the plot and the point. But that is, I believe, the point. For someone who does not have OCD, I can only say that I imagine that is what it feels like--obsessing so much over rituals and thoughts that you almost can't get back to real life.
The daily complexities of living inside the mental ward of a hospital--from the aching desire to get out to the excruciating pain of needing its safety--felt vivid and real to me, having had close family members in just such places. The phrasing and descriptions were unique and excellent. The references strong. Perhaps I should finally read Waiting for Godot.
There were a few lines, if I'm being honest, that felt repetitive and overused. However, those could be things that get edited before its release in March or, as I pointed out above, they could just be part of Addie's OCD.
Overall, a really strong debut and an excellent and important read for adolescents about mental illness.
The daily complexities of living inside the mental ward of a hospital--from the aching desire to get out to the excruciating pain of needing its safety--felt vivid and real to me, having had close family members in just such places. The phrasing and descriptions were unique and excellent. The references strong. Perhaps I should finally read Waiting for Godot.
There were a few lines, if I'm being honest, that felt repetitive and overused. However, those could be things that get edited before its release in March or, as I pointed out above, they could just be part of Addie's OCD.
Overall, a really strong debut and an excellent and important read for adolescents about mental illness.
October 1, 2019
Addie really grew on me. At times I wanted less of the mundane detail, but then I’d remember that I was inside of her head, which was, of course, over-analyzing everything. That grew on me, too. The book felt really personal to me, I have a friend who is the spitting mental image of Fitz, and I could feel a lot of Addie’s emotions in response to certain events with him.
I think this is a great story exploring mental health for young people. It may not be seamless or always believable, but it pulled me in and kept me all the way through. Some roll-your-eyes kind of humor, and there are also some great little factoids throughout that I kept finding myself sharing with my husband. I’d recommend to teenagers who have questions about or are struggling with poor mental health👍🏽
I think this is a great story exploring mental health for young people. It may not be seamless or always believable, but it pulled me in and kept me all the way through. Some roll-your-eyes kind of humor, and there are also some great little factoids throughout that I kept finding myself sharing with my husband. I’d recommend to teenagers who have questions about or are struggling with poor mental health👍🏽
December 21, 2018
Great read, couldn’t put it down toward the end. Hyde’s fusion of character development, humor, wit, emotion and adventure held me captive while he took me on a journey to a place I could only ever visit in a book - the mind of someone with OCD. I felt like Addie became a friend - like if I saw her getting a soda refill at a gas station, we’d have stuff to talk about. And I thought about Fitz even when I wasn’t reading the book - and was stirred to climb my own mountains as he climbed his. Solid 5 stars for Hyde and Waiting for Fitz.
January 22, 2019
I’m so glad I got my hands on this book, I couldn’t put it down. This book is a quick read and I really enjoyed each of the characters. I felt like the author did a great job of giving insight into inpatient care in a hospital. It was fun to watch different relationships unfold. I finished reading the book hopeful for all those struggling with mental illness. I love how well Spencer normalizes mental illness in a way we can all relate.
March 9, 2019
Good, but really slow up until the last hundred or so pages.
December 25, 2018
Waiting For Fitz is author Spencer Hyde’s debut novel. Drawing from his own experience, Hyde has created a one-of-a-kind story about friendship, mental health and the value of waiting for the things you find are the most important.
Addie counts everything. Heartbeats, blinks, the number of times she washes her hands. When Addie’s mother suggests moving to a psychiatric ward to help control her OCD, Addie didn’t expect to make friends or to meet someone as special at Fitz. Fitz has schizophrenia and has spent the last two years on the ward. When he and Addie connect over their shared love of grammar and dry humour, he convinces Addie to help him break out of the ward to complete a special task.
Hyde has created a unique, unreserved novel that doesn’t shy away from its sometimes difficult or emotional topics. I am not knowledgeable enough about the ins and outs of OCD, Schizophrenia and psych wards to know if Fitz and Addie’s experiences are realistic. In any case, I do know that these conditions vary significantly in each person and so Waiting For Fitz simply presents one possible experience.
Addie is a character who takes teenage snark to a whole new level. It helps protect her from her own emotions and the emotions of those around her, but it does make her seem rude and unapproachable. Addie certainly has a distinctive voice, evident in her consistent comments and use of ‘whatever’ or ‘get over it’. As she narrates the story it’s easy for the reader to experience the world through her eyes and viewpoint.
The adventure Fitz and Addie embark on brought an extra level of dept and meaning to the story as readers, and Addie, uncover some of Fitz’s backstory, and Addie is moved to question her own experiences and reasons for healing and living.
I had to put Waiting For Fitz down a few times due to reading time constraints but it was always easy to pick it back up again. It’s certainly not my favourite mental health-focused YA novel, but it is unique and offers a different, raw-around-the-edges feel.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Addie counts everything. Heartbeats, blinks, the number of times she washes her hands. When Addie’s mother suggests moving to a psychiatric ward to help control her OCD, Addie didn’t expect to make friends or to meet someone as special at Fitz. Fitz has schizophrenia and has spent the last two years on the ward. When he and Addie connect over their shared love of grammar and dry humour, he convinces Addie to help him break out of the ward to complete a special task.
Hyde has created a unique, unreserved novel that doesn’t shy away from its sometimes difficult or emotional topics. I am not knowledgeable enough about the ins and outs of OCD, Schizophrenia and psych wards to know if Fitz and Addie’s experiences are realistic. In any case, I do know that these conditions vary significantly in each person and so Waiting For Fitz simply presents one possible experience.
Addie is a character who takes teenage snark to a whole new level. It helps protect her from her own emotions and the emotions of those around her, but it does make her seem rude and unapproachable. Addie certainly has a distinctive voice, evident in her consistent comments and use of ‘whatever’ or ‘get over it’. As she narrates the story it’s easy for the reader to experience the world through her eyes and viewpoint.
The adventure Fitz and Addie embark on brought an extra level of dept and meaning to the story as readers, and Addie, uncover some of Fitz’s backstory, and Addie is moved to question her own experiences and reasons for healing and living.
I had to put Waiting For Fitz down a few times due to reading time constraints but it was always easy to pick it back up again. It’s certainly not my favourite mental health-focused YA novel, but it is unique and offers a different, raw-around-the-edges feel.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
August 28, 2020
I picked the audiobook on Storytel; mostly because of the plot but also because I wanted a short audiobook to get through a day – and the blurb just caught my attention!
Told in Addie’s PoV – who suffers from a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and realises that her mother’s decision to admit her into an in – patient facility might not be what she wanted; but it is something that is best for her. At this in – patient facility she meets some very interesting people – but one boy catches her eye – Fitz; who suffers from schizophrenia.
I loved how the author has portrayed Addie – mostly because she is hilariously sarcastic; sass filled conversations plus her self – deprecating humor endeared me to her but it was her maturity in understanding not just her own mental health issues; but also, of those around her.
While I do have some issues with the way Addie and Fitz’s relationship was handled; it is the candid way the author has handled the issues that comes with mental disorders that has me recommending this book for readers to understand the intricacies of how the mental disorders can affect the person themselves.
Just a little note: Do read the author’s note before starting the book; it will make the experience of reading the book all the more richer!
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon |
Told in Addie’s PoV – who suffers from a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and realises that her mother’s decision to admit her into an in – patient facility might not be what she wanted; but it is something that is best for her. At this in – patient facility she meets some very interesting people – but one boy catches her eye – Fitz; who suffers from schizophrenia.
I loved how the author has portrayed Addie – mostly because she is hilariously sarcastic; sass filled conversations plus her self – deprecating humor endeared me to her but it was her maturity in understanding not just her own mental health issues; but also, of those around her.
While I do have some issues with the way Addie and Fitz’s relationship was handled; it is the candid way the author has handled the issues that comes with mental disorders that has me recommending this book for readers to understand the intricacies of how the mental disorders can affect the person themselves.
Just a little note: Do read the author’s note before starting the book; it will make the experience of reading the book all the more richer!
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon |
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