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Anna Bloom #1
Get Well Soon
Anna Bloom is depressed—so depressed that her parents have committed her to a mental hospital with a bunch of other messed-up teens. Here she meets a roommate with a secret (and a plastic baby), a doctor who focuses way too much on her weight, and a cute, shy boy who just might like her.
But wait! Being trapped in a loony bin isn’t supposed to be about making friends, losing weight, and having a crush, is it?
In her fiction debut, Julie Halpern finds humor in the unlikeliest of places, and presents a character whose voice—and heart—will resonate with all of us who have ever felt just a little bit crazy.
But wait! Being trapped in a loony bin isn’t supposed to be about making friends, losing weight, and having a crush, is it?
In her fiction debut, Julie Halpern finds humor in the unlikeliest of places, and presents a character whose voice—and heart—will resonate with all of us who have ever felt just a little bit crazy.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2007
223 people are currently reading
12740 people want to read
About the author
Julie Halpern
18 books426 followersJULIE HALPERN is the author of five young adult novels and one picture book for young readers. Maternity Leave is her first novel for adults. Prior to her life as full-time mom and author, Julie was a school librarian. In her imaginary spare time, she enjoys traveling, watching television for grown-ups, and eating baked goods. Julie lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, author and illustrator Matthew Cordell, and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 681 reviews
April 2, 2013
If I could give this book zero stars, I would. I couldn't even finish it.
Get Well Soon is supposed to be about a young teenager's struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Instead it makes a mockery of real life problems people have. From the tag line on the cover ("Who says depression has to be depressing?") to Anna Bloom's psychiatrist telling her that her not eating was good because she could afford to lose a few pounds it's very clear that this is a complete joke.
Besides this, Anna Bloom is easily one of the most annoying, immature characters I have ever read. Raise your hand if at 15 years old you have ever told somebody that you could do a "celebratory Snoopy dance" over the return of your one true friend, blankey? Anyone? No? Of course not, because self-respecting teenage girls don't say blankey. Anna Bloom is one dimensional, not funny, and just a bore to read about.
To be honest with you, I don't remember anything about the plot or side characters, I was too busy growing more and more pissed off with this book's inaccurate portrayal of serious issues in the world. The bottom line is this, if you care at all about the reality of mental illness and are even slightly educated or experienced in the subject, this book will only frustrate you.
Some books I would recommend instead that deal with this subject matter are:
It's Kind of A Funny Story- Ned Vizzini
The pact- Jodi Picoult
Cut- Patricia McCormick
Skin- Andrienne Maria Vrettos
Cracked- K.M Walton
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky
Looking For Alaska- John Green (Subtle themes)
Impulse- Ellen Hopkins
Suicide Notes- Michael Thomas Ford
Trigger- Susan Vaught.
[Warning: All of the above books come with trigger warnings of scenes of suicide, self harm, eating disorders, ect.]
Get Well Soon is supposed to be about a young teenager's struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Instead it makes a mockery of real life problems people have. From the tag line on the cover ("Who says depression has to be depressing?") to Anna Bloom's psychiatrist telling her that her not eating was good because she could afford to lose a few pounds it's very clear that this is a complete joke.
Besides this, Anna Bloom is easily one of the most annoying, immature characters I have ever read. Raise your hand if at 15 years old you have ever told somebody that you could do a "celebratory Snoopy dance" over the return of your one true friend, blankey? Anyone? No? Of course not, because self-respecting teenage girls don't say blankey. Anna Bloom is one dimensional, not funny, and just a bore to read about.
To be honest with you, I don't remember anything about the plot or side characters, I was too busy growing more and more pissed off with this book's inaccurate portrayal of serious issues in the world. The bottom line is this, if you care at all about the reality of mental illness and are even slightly educated or experienced in the subject, this book will only frustrate you.
Some books I would recommend instead that deal with this subject matter are:
It's Kind of A Funny Story- Ned Vizzini
The pact- Jodi Picoult
Cut- Patricia McCormick
Skin- Andrienne Maria Vrettos
Cracked- K.M Walton
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky
Looking For Alaska- John Green (Subtle themes)
Impulse- Ellen Hopkins
Suicide Notes- Michael Thomas Ford
Trigger- Susan Vaught.
[Warning: All of the above books come with trigger warnings of scenes of suicide, self harm, eating disorders, ect.]
October 21, 2019
This has to be one of the worst books I've ever read! My review is based on my own personal experiences with my own mental health issues, and those around me.
Get Well Soon follows Anna Bloom, a 15-year old girl who has been placed in a facility after her parents believe she is depressed. The novel chronicles her stay in the facility, told in letter format to her best friend.
What follows is an offensive, unfunny, annoying and harmful story about a cast of characters with mental illness, and how the only thing depressed people care about is having their first kiss. The main character didn't feel like a true portrayal of someone with mental illness, and this book seemed to be a mocking parody of YA books about mental illness. I hated every single line in this book.
Maybe it's just me, but I felt the book was problematic and harmful.
0/5 stars, DO NOT RECOMMEND!
January 11, 2014
I loved it. There were so many hilarious parts in this book. Not to mention the fact that Anna has a kickass taste in music in this book ;]
It's one of those books where you want to know what happens to the character in the future. It's the type of book that you want to keep reading and reading but you've already turned the last page and staring at the smiley face sticking out its tongue at you. Oh well.
I loved this book. I would definitely reccommend it for anyone who wants a good laugh and a greater understanding of reality in a more ironic view. ;]
It's one of those books where you want to know what happens to the character in the future. It's the type of book that you want to keep reading and reading but you've already turned the last page and staring at the smiley face sticking out its tongue at you. Oh well.
I loved this book. I would definitely reccommend it for anyone who wants a good laugh and a greater understanding of reality in a more ironic view. ;]
June 12, 2013
So, I decided to rewrite my previous review of this book. I realized that the plot was reasonable, but the whole book revolved around swearing and emo misery. It was not worth spending the three weeks that I spent reading this book just to hear the word s**t in every sentence. The narrator has an extreme bias, and is very sympathetic for herself, which in a main character, I usually find boring repulsive and just not fun to read at all whatsoever. I think the main reason I read this book was because of the cover. A frowny face that was yellow. It looked like a cookie, and therfore I read it. It was one bad cookie.
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by Christian C. for TeensReadToo.com
Anna is fat and depressed. She suffers from panic attacks, and has stopped going to school. Her parents, who are totally clueless, decide to send her to a mental hospital. Will that do any good? Anna doesn't think so! Not in this place. Nobody tells her anything, they have the weirdest rules ever, and she's forced to wear these ugly pajamas all day long with no bra!
But as days go by, things turn out to be not as bad as she originally thought. Anna meets other teens. Matt O. has been living there for six months. Six whole months? Will Anna ever get out of this place? She also spends time with Sandy, her roommate who's eating for two and has to carry a baby doll all day long. Victor becomes the first black friend she's ever had. And finally, there's Justin -- Oh, Justin! -- the cutest guy around who may have even looked at her.
Written in the form of a letter to her best friend, Tracy, Anna describes all of the details of her life at the nut house in a very funny way, with a writing style that is just like... well... that of a teenage girl!
This story is engaging, the characters sound real, the writing is refreshing and natural, and the descriptions of the situations are hilarious!
Great job for a first time novelist, who's also a librarian and spent time in a psychiatric hospital herself when she was a teen. (She claims to be fine now!)
Anna is fat and depressed. She suffers from panic attacks, and has stopped going to school. Her parents, who are totally clueless, decide to send her to a mental hospital. Will that do any good? Anna doesn't think so! Not in this place. Nobody tells her anything, they have the weirdest rules ever, and she's forced to wear these ugly pajamas all day long with no bra!
But as days go by, things turn out to be not as bad as she originally thought. Anna meets other teens. Matt O. has been living there for six months. Six whole months? Will Anna ever get out of this place? She also spends time with Sandy, her roommate who's eating for two and has to carry a baby doll all day long. Victor becomes the first black friend she's ever had. And finally, there's Justin -- Oh, Justin! -- the cutest guy around who may have even looked at her.
Written in the form of a letter to her best friend, Tracy, Anna describes all of the details of her life at the nut house in a very funny way, with a writing style that is just like... well... that of a teenage girl!
This story is engaging, the characters sound real, the writing is refreshing and natural, and the descriptions of the situations are hilarious!
Great job for a first time novelist, who's also a librarian and spent time in a psychiatric hospital herself when she was a teen. (She claims to be fine now!)
dnf
September 13, 2023DNF @ pg. 55
I started this book because I wanted to read something I could breeze through. Get Well Soon promised to quick, easy, and funny. Sadly however, was none of those things. I was really struggling to finish this when I realized I never would; so I gave up and DNF'd it. There was no way I was going to finish this book.
The main problem I had was with the writing. I was surprised that this was considered a young adult novel, it felt a lot more like a middle grade, and not necessarily in a good way. It seemed more childlike and was written much less elaborately than a YA novel.
That, factored in with the narrator, and there was no way I was going to enjoy this book. Anna was just so immature. She came across quite petty and self-obsessed. And I'm not saying I can't enjoy those characteristics, because I can. I loved The Magicians by Lev Grossman, whose main character Quentin Coldwater is one of the most pretentious, self-obsessed, whiny protagonists I've ever read. I even managed to learn to love Laura Jean's certain brand of childishness from the To All the Boys I've Loved Before duology. But it just didn't work with Anna.
Mix all of what I just said in with the lackluster humor, improbable setting, and the protagonist's unrealistic reaction to being there and there was no way I was going to finish this book. It's a shame, I was hoping this would be an important book with something interesting to say about mental illness; and maybe it is, but the execution was just so bad that I couldn't get far enough to figure it out.
I started this book because I wanted to read something I could breeze through. Get Well Soon promised to quick, easy, and funny. Sadly however, was none of those things. I was really struggling to finish this when I realized I never would; so I gave up and DNF'd it. There was no way I was going to finish this book.
The main problem I had was with the writing. I was surprised that this was considered a young adult novel, it felt a lot more like a middle grade, and not necessarily in a good way. It seemed more childlike and was written much less elaborately than a YA novel.
That, factored in with the narrator, and there was no way I was going to enjoy this book. Anna was just so immature. She came across quite petty and self-obsessed. And I'm not saying I can't enjoy those characteristics, because I can. I loved The Magicians by Lev Grossman, whose main character Quentin Coldwater is one of the most pretentious, self-obsessed, whiny protagonists I've ever read. I even managed to learn to love Laura Jean's certain brand of childishness from the To All the Boys I've Loved Before duology. But it just didn't work with Anna.
Mix all of what I just said in with the lackluster humor, improbable setting, and the protagonist's unrealistic reaction to being there and there was no way I was going to finish this book. It's a shame, I was hoping this would be an important book with something interesting to say about mental illness; and maybe it is, but the execution was just so bad that I couldn't get far enough to figure it out.
January 6, 2012
EDIT: I didn't think this was a bad book, but there's no way in hell I'm supporting the author. She'd probably call me a "beyotch" or "dumb as fuck" for writing a short, negative review. Her words, not mine.
http://juliehalpern.blogspot.com/2012...
http://juliehalpern.blogspot.com/2011...
Matt O was cool, love interest Justin was a bit bland though. The book started out kinda slow but it got better in the middle. It fizzed out in the end though and the narrators voice changed completely. I thought her transformation was pretty good until the last fifty pages. Not a bad weekend read. Picked it up with Rhythm of the Road which is a superior read.
http://juliehalpern.blogspot.com/2012...
http://juliehalpern.blogspot.com/2011...
Matt O was cool, love interest Justin was a bit bland though. The book started out kinda slow but it got better in the middle. It fizzed out in the end though and the narrators voice changed completely. I thought her transformation was pretty good until the last fifty pages. Not a bad weekend read. Picked it up with Rhythm of the Road which is a superior read.
December 24, 2013
I mean...good premise. I think there should be more books like this, dealing with the "taboo" of mental illness and mental institutions, and I really liked the narrator's voice--witty and humorous, with just a touch of typical teenage drama. It was a fun, easy, quick read, and all the characters Anna encounters are great. ("Great" used because I can't really think of a more positive truthful adjective...) I just don't think it was a very realistic portrayal of depression. At all. Anna cries a lot, sure. She sees a therapist, sure. But just based on her inner monologue, she seems your everyday teenager out for a romp in the psychiatric care facility... Something that really bugged me was that on the front cover of this edition, there's a little tagline quipping, "Who says depression has to be so depressing?" I can't get over how much this bugs me because--I get that it's supposed to be witty and everything but ugh--depression is depressing. That's like the whole definition. It's not just a random pity-to-you label you attach to someone, it's an imbalance in neurochemistry where you feel...depressed...all the time. All your thoughts, your thought patterns, and your actions reflect this, regardless of whether you want them to or not. And Anna's spunkily lovable voice just...didn't cut it for me. I get that the author herself spent time in a mental hospital, and I get that she thought she could make the book appeal to more people by lightening the voice up a little bit, but I feel like she strayed from authentic portrayal of the illness by doing this. Sorry.
For those looking for a more realistic portrayal of mental illness (with just enough humor to keep it light and the plot moving), I would recommend It's Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini.
For those looking for a more realistic portrayal of mental illness (with just enough humor to keep it light and the plot moving), I would recommend It's Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini.
March 12, 2017
DNF at 25%
I was planning on finishing this damn book since it's only 193 pages, but the main character was too annoying and too bitchy for me to even want to continue this book...
So this book tells the story of Anna, who is sent to a mental hospital by her parents for extreme anxiety. When I fist started reading this book I thought the premise was interesting, since it's being told by Anna in letters to her friend Tracy, but Anna is bitchy and whiny and the whole first half is just her having a crush on a male patient. And that is what made me dislike this whole book. I don't mind romance in a mental health novel, but when that romance becomes THE ONLY THING THE MC IS TALKING ABOUT, it can become pretty annoying. I picked up this book in order to read a contemporary on real life mental health problems, I did not want another romance.
And don't get me started on the grammar and spelling errors. This book is riddled with them. I mean, honestly, was this book even looked at by a publisher?
Overall, I bet everyone can tell I didn't like the book at all! Mostly because of a whiny MC and the romance. I have little time and I could be reading so much better books, so that's what I'm going to do.
I was planning on finishing this damn book since it's only 193 pages, but the main character was too annoying and too bitchy for me to even want to continue this book...
So this book tells the story of Anna, who is sent to a mental hospital by her parents for extreme anxiety. When I fist started reading this book I thought the premise was interesting, since it's being told by Anna in letters to her friend Tracy, but Anna is bitchy and whiny and the whole first half is just her having a crush on a male patient. And that is what made me dislike this whole book. I don't mind romance in a mental health novel, but when that romance becomes THE ONLY THING THE MC IS TALKING ABOUT, it can become pretty annoying. I picked up this book in order to read a contemporary on real life mental health problems, I did not want another romance.
And don't get me started on the grammar and spelling errors. This book is riddled with them. I mean, honestly, was this book even looked at by a publisher?
Overall, I bet everyone can tell I didn't like the book at all! Mostly because of a whiny MC and the romance. I have little time and I could be reading so much better books, so that's what I'm going to do.
July 11, 2011
3.5 stars, it was good, but not quite 4 star worthy.
Get Well Soon is about Anna, just your average girl who, at her own admission, is fat and depressed. She's no stranger to to panic attacks, bouts of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (in Anna's words - TMI!) and as a result, refused to attend school. After being sent away to a "mental hospital" which she lovingly nicknames "Lake Shit", she comes to the realisation that she is stuck and hasn't a clue how to function in the "real world". When Anna arrives at the hospital, she is seated at a desk in the hall and isn't allowed into a room, has to wear daggy Pyjamas without a bra, and be escorted to use the bathroom (uncomfortable much?). Nobody tells her anything, the staff are ignorant and rude, their rules make no sense, and her fellow patients range from seemingly normal individuals to satan worshipping, pyromaniac loonies.
As Anna's stay goes on, she meets and makes friends with a group of teens, each of which are in for help with their own 'issues'. Each of the characters were funny, unique and definitely out there. They were all very well described, and were easy to imagine and form a voice for.
The book is written in the form of a (very long) letter to Anna's best friend, Tracy. The dialogue was easy to read and follow along with (some stories written in letter format seem a bit patchy, but Anna certainly doesn't leave much out, updating about 4 times a day), and, in my opinion, very honest and resembled that of a teenage girl.
Over all, a fun read. This was Julie Halpern's debut, and while I certainly enjoyed one of her other works (Don't Stop Now) more, Get Well Soon does deserve its own praise. It's very likely I'll read more by this Author in the future.
Get Well Soon is about Anna, just your average girl who, at her own admission, is fat and depressed. She's no stranger to to panic attacks, bouts of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (in Anna's words - TMI!) and as a result, refused to attend school. After being sent away to a "mental hospital" which she lovingly nicknames "Lake Shit", she comes to the realisation that she is stuck and hasn't a clue how to function in the "real world". When Anna arrives at the hospital, she is seated at a desk in the hall and isn't allowed into a room, has to wear daggy Pyjamas without a bra, and be escorted to use the bathroom (uncomfortable much?). Nobody tells her anything, the staff are ignorant and rude, their rules make no sense, and her fellow patients range from seemingly normal individuals to satan worshipping, pyromaniac loonies.
As Anna's stay goes on, she meets and makes friends with a group of teens, each of which are in for help with their own 'issues'. Each of the characters were funny, unique and definitely out there. They were all very well described, and were easy to imagine and form a voice for.
The book is written in the form of a (very long) letter to Anna's best friend, Tracy. The dialogue was easy to read and follow along with (some stories written in letter format seem a bit patchy, but Anna certainly doesn't leave much out, updating about 4 times a day), and, in my opinion, very honest and resembled that of a teenage girl.
Over all, a fun read. This was Julie Halpern's debut, and while I certainly enjoyed one of her other works (Don't Stop Now) more, Get Well Soon does deserve its own praise. It's very likely I'll read more by this Author in the future.
June 28, 2018
I liked this book, I swear. I actually laughed quite a bit, when Anna was talking about the facility she was in. Totally made me flashback to my own in-patient stints. Anna was really honest, and I really appreciated the growth she experienced, but I feel like she was maybe a little too angsty for me. Don't get me wrong. I understood that she was supposed to be angsty, but I have my limits when it comes to that. Neither here, nor there, I am still curious to see what happened to her, and will most likely check out the next book.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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March 23, 2017
Wow!! If it wasn't for my exams I would've had finished it in an hour!
This book was brilliant! It was just so funny and I have no idea how the author managed to make jokes out of situations which one would regard as 'serious'
I loved Anna! She's sweet,witty,hilarious and what not. And the way she writes these letters it makes you feel like you're the best friend she's talking to (not really though because not most people have their best friends locked up in a mental hospital but still)
Yeah okay so this book is highly recommended if you're looking to read something short and hilarious at the same time.
This book was brilliant! It was just so funny and I have no idea how the author managed to make jokes out of situations which one would regard as 'serious'
I loved Anna! She's sweet,witty,hilarious and what not. And the way she writes these letters it makes you feel like you're the best friend she's talking to (not really though because not most people have their best friends locked up in a mental hospital but still)
Yeah okay so this book is highly recommended if you're looking to read something short and hilarious at the same time.
November 15, 2019
I thought this book was ok. Anna, the main character is writing to her friend from a mental hospital so the book is written in letter form. She is very self-conscious and dealt with depression/suicidal thoughts. This is a short book, 193 pages, and I don't know how Julie Halpern managed to make a serious topic funny, but she did it.
November 24, 2008
This was one fun book.
December 13, 2017
Personal Response
This book was horrific and should not exist. It does not accurately portray mental illness or hospitals in the slightest. There was no inner growth or recovery, and in the story people encouraged negative behavior. There was also extreme foul language that did not add to the story, but instead took away. It was a cheesy cliche romance in a mental hospital that made everything seem all fun and games. Well it's not. Not one bit. Being hospitalized is dead eyes, yelling, no privacy, people going to court, people being locked in isolation rooms, and more. I know this because of my personal experience. To turn something as serious as suicide into a joke is terrible. I looked for this book to relate to myself but it couldn't be farther from the truth. Mental illness isn't a joke. Mental illness is crying at 3 am not knowing why. It's contemplating taking your life at any given moment. It's worrying about every single thing you ingest. It's going to the hospital at 10 pm because you just took too many pills when you just give up. It's having to drink charcoal and having an EKG done while trying not to vomit. It's the police showing up because you refuse treatment. Yes, they will take you in handcuffs. Mental illness is scary and sad. Not funny or romantic.
Plot Summary
Ana Bloom is put in the hospital for supposedly being extremely depressed and having panic attacks. She writes no send letters to her friend Julie throughout the three weeks she resides at Lake View. Doctors encourage her to eat less due to being overweight. Ana meets a boy she likes named Justin. Romance ensues. Ana's roommate Sandy is pregnant and is bullied to have an abortion, only for people to find out she was faking her pregnancy. After three weeks run out from insurance coverage, Ana leaves with little different about her.
Characterization
Ana Bloom begins her stay at Lake View very judgemental of others, picking apart their appearance and qualities, mainly seeing negatives. As the story goes on however, she begins to meet people who are very friendly and relatively similar to her. This changes Ana to see that they are all in similar situations and she even begins to fall in love.
Recommendation
I would not recommend this to anybody because of it being factually incorrect. It is intended for ages 14-16 though, because of it containing romance and foul language. Because of the romance, it is more intended for females, given that the main character is female. If you must read this book, research what things are really like before diving in.
This book was horrific and should not exist. It does not accurately portray mental illness or hospitals in the slightest. There was no inner growth or recovery, and in the story people encouraged negative behavior. There was also extreme foul language that did not add to the story, but instead took away. It was a cheesy cliche romance in a mental hospital that made everything seem all fun and games. Well it's not. Not one bit. Being hospitalized is dead eyes, yelling, no privacy, people going to court, people being locked in isolation rooms, and more. I know this because of my personal experience. To turn something as serious as suicide into a joke is terrible. I looked for this book to relate to myself but it couldn't be farther from the truth. Mental illness isn't a joke. Mental illness is crying at 3 am not knowing why. It's contemplating taking your life at any given moment. It's worrying about every single thing you ingest. It's going to the hospital at 10 pm because you just took too many pills when you just give up. It's having to drink charcoal and having an EKG done while trying not to vomit. It's the police showing up because you refuse treatment. Yes, they will take you in handcuffs. Mental illness is scary and sad. Not funny or romantic.
Plot Summary
Ana Bloom is put in the hospital for supposedly being extremely depressed and having panic attacks. She writes no send letters to her friend Julie throughout the three weeks she resides at Lake View. Doctors encourage her to eat less due to being overweight. Ana meets a boy she likes named Justin. Romance ensues. Ana's roommate Sandy is pregnant and is bullied to have an abortion, only for people to find out she was faking her pregnancy. After three weeks run out from insurance coverage, Ana leaves with little different about her.
Characterization
Ana Bloom begins her stay at Lake View very judgemental of others, picking apart their appearance and qualities, mainly seeing negatives. As the story goes on however, she begins to meet people who are very friendly and relatively similar to her. This changes Ana to see that they are all in similar situations and she even begins to fall in love.
Recommendation
I would not recommend this to anybody because of it being factually incorrect. It is intended for ages 14-16 though, because of it containing romance and foul language. Because of the romance, it is more intended for females, given that the main character is female. If you must read this book, research what things are really like before diving in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2007
I came across Julie Halpern's first novel while browsing the offerings over at Feiwel & Friends. I was so grateful they were publishing Long May She Reign that I grabbed both Carpe Diem and Get Well Soon because if they're publishing Ellen Emerson White books they not only have superb taste, they deserve my undying loyalty. Get Well Soon tells the story of Anna Bloom, a depressed teenager whose parents commit her to a mental institution when her panic attacks get in the way of her going to school. Alone, overweight, and braless, Anna starts writing a series of letters to her best friend Tracy as a way of staying sane despite being surrounded by drug dealers, Satanists, pregnant cheerleaders, oh my! Anna's voice is at times bitter, amused, desperate, and uncertain. But it is always matter-of-fact. And it is this quality that is most appealing. I never got the feeling she was sugar-coating the way things were or trying to put something over on her reader. She writes all of these letters describing her experience in minute detail yet she doesn't send a single one. They stay in her room with her, her roommate Sandy, and Sandy's plastic baby Morgan. They seem to be a way of processing the unimaginable thing that has happened to her. By keeping them she can continue to review and add on to the narrative so that when it is time to go home there will be a record of how she survived. In an ironic twist of fate, life in the mental hospital turns out to be more interesting and "healthy" for Anna than it was outside. She makes friends who understand her and who do not send her "Get Well Soon" cards as though she had chicken pox or mono. Despite the absurd hospital workers and a few admittedly crazy fellow patients Anna is able to be herself. Paradoxically, the confining walls give her the space she needs to figure out not only what happened to her, but what she will do with this new-found self knowledge. I laughed repeatedly while reading about Anna and Sandy, Justin and Matt O. I felt about like Anna did when the time came to leave the hospital. I wasn't ready. A little more time in the loony bin, please. The real world can wait. But Anna had to go back home and the book had to end and I'm happy I got to spend this time with her.
January 1, 2017
This book has been really popular in my Middle School library for the last several years, so I grabbed it to read over winter break. I figured a story about a teenage girl struggling with mental illness and meeting a bunch of interesting characters during treatment was right up my alley.
Unfortunately, Get Well Soon pales in comparison to other books with similar themes that I've read and enjoyed (Clean, It's Kind of a Funny Story, and The Memory of Light come to mind, in particular). Mental illness and addiction are barely even addressed throughout the book--we're told Anna is depressed and led to believe that it is because of her weight, but that is never explored in any depth, and any meetings with her doctors or meaningful therapy sessions are not part of the narrative. The other patients' issues are only mentioned in passing.
Everything then seems to spiral into a superficial, high-school-drama-in-a-mental-ward. Students sit at desks in the middle of the hallways, make out with each other during "school time" when teachers leave the room, never talk about anything significant during group, have "relaxation" time where they lay on the floor with their pillows and listen to music, and gossip about each other at lunch. I'm honestly left wondering if this is the worst mental health facility on the face of the planet.
And, unfortunately, most of the narrative boils down to Anna falling for Justin, one of the other patients, and worrying that she isn't attractive enough...or interesting enough...or sane enough for him. The fact that they have very little chance to even interact with each other, added to the lack of actual healing taking place (well...it seems to take place, but I can't figure out where...) just was not super engaging for this reader.
(And...uh...what is up with the parental involvement or lack-thereof? No explanation there, huh? Okay...cool.)
Unfortunately, Get Well Soon pales in comparison to other books with similar themes that I've read and enjoyed (Clean, It's Kind of a Funny Story, and The Memory of Light come to mind, in particular). Mental illness and addiction are barely even addressed throughout the book--we're told Anna is depressed and led to believe that it is because of her weight, but that is never explored in any depth, and any meetings with her doctors or meaningful therapy sessions are not part of the narrative. The other patients' issues are only mentioned in passing.
Everything then seems to spiral into a superficial, high-school-drama-in-a-mental-ward. Students sit at desks in the middle of the hallways, make out with each other during "school time" when teachers leave the room, never talk about anything significant during group, have "relaxation" time where they lay on the floor with their pillows and listen to music, and gossip about each other at lunch. I'm honestly left wondering if this is the worst mental health facility on the face of the planet.
And, unfortunately, most of the narrative boils down to Anna falling for Justin, one of the other patients, and worrying that she isn't attractive enough...or interesting enough...or sane enough for him. The fact that they have very little chance to even interact with each other, added to the lack of actual healing taking place (well...it seems to take place, but I can't figure out where...) just was not super engaging for this reader.
(And...uh...what is up with the parental involvement or lack-thereof? No explanation there, huh? Okay...cool.)
December 24, 2011
Oy.
Loved this book. Really. Gosh Justin sounds so dreamy lmao and plus Anna thought he was one gorgeous hottie I envied Anna for having her first kiss with him!!! DAMNNNN.
OMG i thought this book was AMAZINGG and Anna has a really witty sense of humor I even laughed and giggled at the way she visualizes things cause' I'm like a typical teenage girl like her too!! I'm so glad I found this rad book because I could relate soo much about Anna's hormonal thoughts to mine!!! :D I also loved the chracters like Phil and Callie, Sandy and Jutin and Matt O. because they were really likeable characters and I felt that they were real good friends to Anna. Soo sad to say goodbye to them once you leave that special place. :/
GOD i feel like putting myself in a mental hospital at some point lol. Jk. The story was really moving especially towards the end. I hoped that maybe Justin would end up going out with Anna outside but nevertheless the bittersweet goodbyes left me in awe. It's really endearing to see how much Anna changed from the moment you flip the first page to reading last sentence of the story.
Like I said this book was well written and COMPLETELY in love with everything about it. Great job!!!!
Loved this book. Really. Gosh Justin sounds so dreamy lmao and plus Anna thought he was one gorgeous hottie I envied Anna for having her first kiss with him!!! DAMNNNN.
OMG i thought this book was AMAZINGG and Anna has a really witty sense of humor I even laughed and giggled at the way she visualizes things cause' I'm like a typical teenage girl like her too!! I'm so glad I found this rad book because I could relate soo much about Anna's hormonal thoughts to mine!!! :D I also loved the chracters like Phil and Callie, Sandy and Jutin and Matt O. because they were really likeable characters and I felt that they were real good friends to Anna. Soo sad to say goodbye to them once you leave that special place. :/
GOD i feel like putting myself in a mental hospital at some point lol. Jk. The story was really moving especially towards the end. I hoped that maybe Justin would end up going out with Anna outside but nevertheless the bittersweet goodbyes left me in awe. It's really endearing to see how much Anna changed from the moment you flip the first page to reading last sentence of the story.
Like I said this book was well written and COMPLETELY in love with everything about it. Great job!!!!
July 10, 2018
I really didn't like this book tbh. I thought it would be a bit like the perks of being a wallflower or it's kind of a funny story but it was really just very lame. The main character Anna got on my nerves constantly. I understand that she's only 16 (i think) but that doesn't mean she had to be this annoying. There was also a lot of problematic shit in here. Anna herself has weight issues and considers herself fat. All the other characters call her 'juicy'..., I'm not kidding. And she is very anti-skinny people which I thought was a bit hypocritical. At the end, she also mentions the fact that some dude in her mental hospital (don't remember his name) is probably the only black friend she's ever had. Which was completely irrelevant, in my opinion. Like, why does that have to be thrown in so blatantly at the end? Can't he just be your friend and not you 'black' friend? Idk, maybe it's because this book was published a decade ago? Or maybe it's just problematic? All in all, I thought it was lame and wouldn't recommend. There wasn't even a great description of all the mental health issues that were included in this book. They weren't really described at all...
October 1, 2019
I picked this book up on Libby, an audiobook app, so if there are any misspelled names please forgive me.
Let's start off by saying, I was hospitalized as a young teen. I was in-patient when I was 13 and out-patient at 16. I feel that gives me a good idea of how it works when reading this book.
This book comes off as a straight up comedy.
The main character has small moments of being familiar (wanting MY clothes and feeling weird in the hospital scrubs) but then there were things that felt like an adult going "This is how teens act, right?" How she refers to the others and the comments she makes are off to the point of being funny or cringey.
The author did get a few things about hospital life right (no touching, some people hooking up) but there were more things that were just not quite on the mark. Being able to wear shoes (especially with laces), allowed to wear punk band clothing (usually with 'aggressive images' on them), allowed pencils/pens, being sent back to your room for not knowing protocol on your first day.
If you are going into this expecting a serious take on the life of a depressed/anxious teen in a psych ward...you need to look elsewhere. If you are looking for a laugh with a bit of mental illness talk thrown in...sure.
GoodReads rating: 2 starts (it's okay)
My Rating: 2.5 stars (it's ok but won't recommend it)
Candy Rating: Laffy Taffy : a chewy, brightly colored, artificial flavor snack. It's kind of sweet and known for artificial fruit flavors. It isn't really satisfying, and no one I know would claim it as a favorite. But it isn't horrible for a quick snack.
Let's start off by saying, I was hospitalized as a young teen. I was in-patient when I was 13 and out-patient at 16. I feel that gives me a good idea of how it works when reading this book.
This book comes off as a straight up comedy.
The main character has small moments of being familiar (wanting MY clothes and feeling weird in the hospital scrubs) but then there were things that felt like an adult going "This is how teens act, right?" How she refers to the others and the comments she makes are off to the point of being funny or cringey.
The author did get a few things about hospital life right (no touching, some people hooking up) but there were more things that were just not quite on the mark. Being able to wear shoes (especially with laces), allowed to wear punk band clothing (usually with 'aggressive images' on them), allowed pencils/pens, being sent back to your room for not knowing protocol on your first day.
If you are going into this expecting a serious take on the life of a depressed/anxious teen in a psych ward...you need to look elsewhere. If you are looking for a laugh with a bit of mental illness talk thrown in...sure.
GoodReads rating: 2 starts (it's okay)
My Rating: 2.5 stars (it's ok but won't recommend it)
Candy Rating: Laffy Taffy : a chewy, brightly colored, artificial flavor snack. It's kind of sweet and known for artificial fruit flavors. It isn't really satisfying, and no one I know would claim it as a favorite. But it isn't horrible for a quick snack.
Read
November 12, 2018I really liked this book because it gave a view of a person who wasn't the same as everyone else, and had a very different view on being in a mental institute.
March 25, 2016
This book has been on my tbr-list for over a year now, and I was really looking forward to finally reading it now. I was hoping it would be an authentic and realistic portray of mental illness, which is (sadly) quite uncommon in YA-literature. As you might have guessed, I was pretty disappointed.
"Get Well Soon" is about sixteen-year-old Anna who is depressed, suffers from panic attacks, and has recently been admitted to a mental hospital. The book is written in letters from Anna to her old friend, Tracy, and we follow Anna for 21 days while she is at the hospital.
I had several issues with this book. The first one being that I really hated how her treatment was represented. She had like three sessions with a psychiatrist during the span of her 20+ days in the hospital, and she wasn't even allowed to talk to her parents at all for weeks. She also had to attend these group meetings, and surprise surprise she meets a boy there (a very hot boy I may add). I bet you didn't see that one coming! At this point I was feeling a bit apprehensive for the rest of the story, but Anna's relationships with the other people there (including the hot boy) actually ended up being the most entertaining part of reading this book that I was not otherwise the biggest fan of.
Also, I have to say that I do NOT think this novel sends the right kindt of message about depression or mental health issues in general. I obviously don't know how those things (i.e. mental hospitals and treatments for teenagers) work in America, but I sure hope it isn't remotely similar to Anna's story. As someone who suffers from mental issues myself, I was a bit offended at the idea that Anna got "better" in such a short time-span and with little to no real therapy. The lack of her parents involvement in the story and in Anna's life in general didn't help things either. I know that not all parents are as supportive as others, and I realise that there are "bad" parents out there. However, the fact that they would just admit Anna to the hospital without her knowing or just talking to her about her feelings and listening to her, felt very unrealistic. It felt like it was only done that way so that Anna would have to overcome some issues with her family as well as her depression and anxiety attacks. I really hate when parents aren't their for the MC for the single sake that the MC then has more obstacles and will appear more sympathetic to the reader.
Also another problem I had was Anna's slut-shaming. Anna is fat (her own words), and somehow she thinks that makes it okay to talk trash about literally all other girls. Because of course any girl that wears even a tiny bit of makeup and/or wears tight clothes must be a "slut" and "skank".
Ugh, I'm so frustrated right now.
"Get Well Soon" is about sixteen-year-old Anna who is depressed, suffers from panic attacks, and has recently been admitted to a mental hospital. The book is written in letters from Anna to her old friend, Tracy, and we follow Anna for 21 days while she is at the hospital.
I had several issues with this book. The first one being that I really hated how her treatment was represented. She had like three sessions with a psychiatrist during the span of her 20+ days in the hospital, and she wasn't even allowed to talk to her parents at all for weeks. She also had to attend these group meetings, and surprise surprise she meets a boy there (a very hot boy I may add). I bet you didn't see that one coming! At this point I was feeling a bit apprehensive for the rest of the story, but Anna's relationships with the other people there (including the hot boy) actually ended up being the most entertaining part of reading this book that I was not otherwise the biggest fan of.
Also, I have to say that I do NOT think this novel sends the right kindt of message about depression or mental health issues in general. I obviously don't know how those things (i.e. mental hospitals and treatments for teenagers) work in America, but I sure hope it isn't remotely similar to Anna's story. As someone who suffers from mental issues myself, I was a bit offended at the idea that Anna got "better" in such a short time-span and with little to no real therapy. The lack of her parents involvement in the story and in Anna's life in general didn't help things either. I know that not all parents are as supportive as others, and I realise that there are "bad" parents out there. However, the fact that they would just admit Anna to the hospital without her knowing or just talking to her about her feelings and listening to her, felt very unrealistic. It felt like it was only done that way so that Anna would have to overcome some issues with her family as well as her depression and anxiety attacks. I really hate when parents aren't their for the MC for the single sake that the MC then has more obstacles and will appear more sympathetic to the reader.
Also another problem I had was Anna's slut-shaming. Anna is fat (her own words), and somehow she thinks that makes it okay to talk trash about literally all other girls. Because of course any girl that wears even a tiny bit of makeup and/or wears tight clothes must be a "slut" and "skank".
Ugh, I'm so frustrated right now.
November 21, 2014
Read a little better than half of this but don't really care how it ends. Anna is a chatty teen struggling with depression and panic attacks, recovering from suicidal inclinations in a psychiatric hospital staffed by some of the meanest and least-compassionate people available. I can't tell if this is meant as caricature or how Halpern saw the staff in her own experiences (filtered through teen eyes).
But really, I wasn't all that interested in how it turned out. for better portrayals of teens dealing with depression in psychiatric facilities, pick up Girl, Interrupted or It's Kind of a Funny Story.
But really, I wasn't all that interested in how it turned out. for better portrayals of teens dealing with depression in psychiatric facilities, pick up Girl, Interrupted or It's Kind of a Funny Story.
August 31, 2012
Get well soon was an pretty good book. Its about a girl and she wakes up in a mental hospital and she doesn't know why she's there. during the time when she's at the mental hospital she has a crush and on her last day at the mental hospital they go on a field trip and the girl and her crush kiss, and I thought it was really sweet because she had been trying to get the kiss for a long time and she finally got it. I recommend this book to a lot of people.
August 24, 2015
How lovely and hilarious.
It talks about Anna and her experience inside the mental hospital through litters she wrote for her best friend.
It was a fluffy light and funny read. The narrator in the audiobook did an awesome job really.
I enjoyed it sooo much that I am motivated to read more by this author.
5 definite stars fir the author and the narrator.
It talks about Anna and her experience inside the mental hospital through litters she wrote for her best friend.
It was a fluffy light and funny read. The narrator in the audiobook did an awesome job really.
I enjoyed it sooo much that I am motivated to read more by this author.
5 definite stars fir the author and the narrator.
April 28, 2017
I didn't like this book much at all.. Some girl goes to a mental hospital, falls in love, ect ect. It's pretty cliche if you're asking me.. It was like reading from the perspective of a goth 12 year old (who knew too much about sex).
February 17, 2016
Really good , can't wait to read number 2 x
December 20, 2021
People say not to judge a book by its cover, but that's what I did when I picked Get Well Soon. I saw the simple cover with the sunshine yellow sad face and decided that was the book for me. So I picked it up and started reading. Even though the beginning was a little slow, I was hooked once I got past that. This book was written for teenage girls, and well that's me.
Anna ends up in what she calls the looney bin (a mental institution) after her parents just don't know what to do with her anymore. She is depressed and suffers from panic attacks that began to get in the way of school. She quickly learns this isn't going to be a relaxing vacation. Tons of rules exist in this looney bin, from having to stick your finger out in the middle of the hallway to ask a question to not being able to drop your pillow in "Relaxation." Also, this hospital has levels; yeah, you heard that right, each patient is assigned a level based on how bad they are. Moving up ranks comes with perks like wearing your own clothes or picking out the song during group sessions. How nice of them! She can't understand why her parents would ever send her here and hates everything about this place, from the gross food to wearing paper pajamas. Anna's doctor is definitely not helping her become any less depressed either all he seems to care about is her weight. It seems like it couldn't get any worse. But there's one person in the mental hospital that makes it all worth it---Justin. He is a tall boy with straight brown hair and loves the band The Doors. Oh, and he also has a really interesting scar on his hand, but we have to wait a while to find out what that means. What starts as a bit of crush turns into a full-fledged obsession. Meeting people becomes one of the only good things to come out of her time here, and people like Matt O, who may never escape the looney bin due to his top-tier insurance, are making her time easier. After being the only girl for some time, Anna gets a roommate, Sandy, who Anna describes as, slightly white trash" (51), who also has one buff boyfriend. Oh, and she says she is pregnant? But with a little time and some bonding over Sandys fake baby, Anna seems to have made a real friend. They dream about their escape, staring out the window deciding who gets to take the pink or blue getaway car, and making up as many games as possible with anything they can find. Quite a few crazy people come through the looney bin like Lawrance, a devil speaker, follower, and worshiper? But her love for Justin is building and she discovers with the help of her experienced roommate that Justin likes her too. But too bad for Anna because she's going home soon and she's not happy about it. She made real friends and felt good and didn't know how she would feel when she entered the real world. But, when Justin and Anna all get to move up to the last level, they are granted a field trip to an aquarium. Where let's just say Anna's dreams come true.
When I read this book, I felt like Anna's best friend, and for a good reason. This book is structured in letters she writes to her best friend, Tracy, while in the looney bin. Due to this, we get to see Annas true character and her comical side. Her commentary on the ins and outs of the mental hospital never failed to make me smile. The entries were a nice length, making this book such a quick read. The way the author describes the crazy things that happen while she's in the hospital is written with so much detail and is very interesting. From the Quiet Room to playing cards with her and crush and a drug dealer, every situation is written with dialogue that is super easy to follow and is sprinkled with inside jokes throughout like "(Flashback to Mr. Judson, my math teacher, making me turn my Claires cross earring right side up.)" (94) I couldn't help but fall for Anna and Justin's relationship. It was such a classic teenage love story with a happy ending (which we all need once in a while). The suspense of their relationship was well built, especially towards the end of the book. Even with the crazy number of people entering and leaving the hospital, it was super easy to follow. I always knew who was who. I couldn't put this book down once I opened it. I always wanted to know what would happen next in the looney bin.
I loved the romance in this book, but if you picked this up for a story focusing on mental health, it's not that. Anna doesn't seem to talk about that too much, nor does she really receive any helpful insights from anyone there. Instead, this book focuses on her crazy roommate, psycho patients, and love story. I found all of this was extremely fun to read, but it doesn't really focus on her anxiety or her being depressed. It's more of a funny romance. I like the fact it's able to make mental health less taboo, but it misses the mark on what it's really like to be depressed by having the book written in letters. She addresses all the crazy things that go on, but she leaves out her own feelings on mental illness out most of the time. So if you are looking for a book addressing the ins and outs of mental illness, I would pick up something else.
I read a ton of very mixed reviews, from people hating this book to loving it. For me, I think it's worthwhile to read. Many people think it's unrealistic, but with the author spending time in a mental hospital herself, I think it was well written even if Anna didn't have the best experience with the staff there. I found it really interesting how she began to feel better through her friends there and not the activities planned by the staff. Anna says, "This place seemed to erase all social stereotypes. There was absolutely no pressure to be cool or skinny or entertaining. I was there, and that was enough." (53) Everyone heals differently, and for Anna going to this looney bin did help her in an unplanned way and I thought that it was really entertaining to read.
Anna ends up in what she calls the looney bin (a mental institution) after her parents just don't know what to do with her anymore. She is depressed and suffers from panic attacks that began to get in the way of school. She quickly learns this isn't going to be a relaxing vacation. Tons of rules exist in this looney bin, from having to stick your finger out in the middle of the hallway to ask a question to not being able to drop your pillow in "Relaxation." Also, this hospital has levels; yeah, you heard that right, each patient is assigned a level based on how bad they are. Moving up ranks comes with perks like wearing your own clothes or picking out the song during group sessions. How nice of them! She can't understand why her parents would ever send her here and hates everything about this place, from the gross food to wearing paper pajamas. Anna's doctor is definitely not helping her become any less depressed either all he seems to care about is her weight. It seems like it couldn't get any worse. But there's one person in the mental hospital that makes it all worth it---Justin. He is a tall boy with straight brown hair and loves the band The Doors. Oh, and he also has a really interesting scar on his hand, but we have to wait a while to find out what that means. What starts as a bit of crush turns into a full-fledged obsession. Meeting people becomes one of the only good things to come out of her time here, and people like Matt O, who may never escape the looney bin due to his top-tier insurance, are making her time easier. After being the only girl for some time, Anna gets a roommate, Sandy, who Anna describes as, slightly white trash" (51), who also has one buff boyfriend. Oh, and she says she is pregnant? But with a little time and some bonding over Sandys fake baby, Anna seems to have made a real friend. They dream about their escape, staring out the window deciding who gets to take the pink or blue getaway car, and making up as many games as possible with anything they can find. Quite a few crazy people come through the looney bin like Lawrance, a devil speaker, follower, and worshiper? But her love for Justin is building and she discovers with the help of her experienced roommate that Justin likes her too. But too bad for Anna because she's going home soon and she's not happy about it. She made real friends and felt good and didn't know how she would feel when she entered the real world. But, when Justin and Anna all get to move up to the last level, they are granted a field trip to an aquarium. Where let's just say Anna's dreams come true.
When I read this book, I felt like Anna's best friend, and for a good reason. This book is structured in letters she writes to her best friend, Tracy, while in the looney bin. Due to this, we get to see Annas true character and her comical side. Her commentary on the ins and outs of the mental hospital never failed to make me smile. The entries were a nice length, making this book such a quick read. The way the author describes the crazy things that happen while she's in the hospital is written with so much detail and is very interesting. From the Quiet Room to playing cards with her and crush and a drug dealer, every situation is written with dialogue that is super easy to follow and is sprinkled with inside jokes throughout like "(Flashback to Mr. Judson, my math teacher, making me turn my Claires cross earring right side up.)" (94) I couldn't help but fall for Anna and Justin's relationship. It was such a classic teenage love story with a happy ending (which we all need once in a while). The suspense of their relationship was well built, especially towards the end of the book. Even with the crazy number of people entering and leaving the hospital, it was super easy to follow. I always knew who was who. I couldn't put this book down once I opened it. I always wanted to know what would happen next in the looney bin.
I loved the romance in this book, but if you picked this up for a story focusing on mental health, it's not that. Anna doesn't seem to talk about that too much, nor does she really receive any helpful insights from anyone there. Instead, this book focuses on her crazy roommate, psycho patients, and love story. I found all of this was extremely fun to read, but it doesn't really focus on her anxiety or her being depressed. It's more of a funny romance. I like the fact it's able to make mental health less taboo, but it misses the mark on what it's really like to be depressed by having the book written in letters. She addresses all the crazy things that go on, but she leaves out her own feelings on mental illness out most of the time. So if you are looking for a book addressing the ins and outs of mental illness, I would pick up something else.
I read a ton of very mixed reviews, from people hating this book to loving it. For me, I think it's worthwhile to read. Many people think it's unrealistic, but with the author spending time in a mental hospital herself, I think it was well written even if Anna didn't have the best experience with the staff there. I found it really interesting how she began to feel better through her friends there and not the activities planned by the staff. Anna says, "This place seemed to erase all social stereotypes. There was absolutely no pressure to be cool or skinny or entertaining. I was there, and that was enough." (53) Everyone heals differently, and for Anna going to this looney bin did help her in an unplanned way and I thought that it was really entertaining to read.
April 4, 2018
Being locked up in a building that restricts you from talking, any human interaction, and even smiling seems like torture to most people. In fact, it did to Anna once her parents abruptly sent her to a Lakeland, a mental hospital, due to her depression. Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern follows the 21 days Anna was in Lakeland. Anna was experiencing severe panic attacks due to her insecurity over her weight and “these panic attacks are the reasons why I’m [Anna] never in class [school] anymore” (5). Due to Annas “change in behavior,” her parents sent her to a mental hospital (without forewarning.) Her time in the hospital is recorded through a letter Anna is writing to her best friend. The first few days Anna could not bear to stop crying as she slept in the hallway. After seeing a doctor (who only seemed to care about her weight, not her mental state) she was finally given her own room. Anna was finally beginning to understand the strict ways of Lakeland and even started to make friends with other teenagers who were as well locked up for various reasons (like Lawrence who worships Satan). Things start to get better when Anna gets a roommate, Sandy who Anna describes as “my trusty roommate, slightly white trash” (51). Each day is like the next with scheduled eating times and group therapy. Surprisingly Anna is enjoying life under so many restrictions and goes two weeks without a panic attack. Things get even better when Anna realizes the cutest kid in the hospital, Justin, has and is showing feelings for her (in the least awkward way since touching others is forbidden). Justin and Anna are both rewarded with their good behavior and are allowed to go on a field trip together. However, things change for the worst when Anna’s doctor announces her departure within the next few days. For most people that is thrilling news, but for Anna, it was crushing, “What about Justin? My first chance that a gorgeous guy could possibly like me, and I’ll never know because I’m leaving” and Justin will just, “fall in love with the next girl who moves onto the floor” (165). Anna does make the best of the little time left with Justin, but by day 21 she has to leave it all behind...
Julie Halpern was able to turn a story about depression into one filled with laughter. Relatable life lessons are found throughout the novel since Anna advocates that, “women have all sort of unrealistic expectation about their bodies” and "it sucks." (126). Since Get Well Soon is a letter to Anna’s best friend we are able to read Anna’s direct feelings. Through her daily updates, the reader is able to notice her improvement and are along for her journey.
This is just one of the many books focusing on mental illnesses but I would have to say it is like no other; Anna is truly an unforgettable character who you can’t help but wish she “gets well soon.”
Julie Halpern was able to turn a story about depression into one filled with laughter. Relatable life lessons are found throughout the novel since Anna advocates that, “women have all sort of unrealistic expectation about their bodies” and "it sucks." (126). Since Get Well Soon is a letter to Anna’s best friend we are able to read Anna’s direct feelings. Through her daily updates, the reader is able to notice her improvement and are along for her journey.
This is just one of the many books focusing on mental illnesses but I would have to say it is like no other; Anna is truly an unforgettable character who you can’t help but wish she “gets well soon.”
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