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The Voice in My Head
She can feel sorry for herself.
Or she can listen…to the voice in her head.
Indigo Phillips has always lived in the shadow of her identical twin, Violet—the perfectly dressed, gentle, popular sister. But when Violet becomes terminally ill and plans to die on her own terms via medically assisted death, Indigo spirals into desperation in her efforts to cope. That’s when she begins to hear a mysterious voice—a voice claiming to be God . The Voice insists that if she takes Violet to a remote rock formation in the Arizona desert, her sister will live .
Incredibly, Violet agrees to go— if their chaotic family tags along for the ride. With all nine members stuffed into a wonky old bus, including their controlling older sister and distant mother, Indigo must find a way to face insecurities she’s spent a lifetime masking and step up to lead the trip. As she deals with outrageous mishaps and odd strangers along the way, Indigo will figure out how to come to terms with her sister, her family…and the voice in her head.
Or she can listen…to the voice in her head.
Indigo Phillips has always lived in the shadow of her identical twin, Violet—the perfectly dressed, gentle, popular sister. But when Violet becomes terminally ill and plans to die on her own terms via medically assisted death, Indigo spirals into desperation in her efforts to cope. That’s when she begins to hear a mysterious voice—a voice claiming to be God . The Voice insists that if she takes Violet to a remote rock formation in the Arizona desert, her sister will live .
Incredibly, Violet agrees to go— if their chaotic family tags along for the ride. With all nine members stuffed into a wonky old bus, including their controlling older sister and distant mother, Indigo must find a way to face insecurities she’s spent a lifetime masking and step up to lead the trip. As she deals with outrageous mishaps and odd strangers along the way, Indigo will figure out how to come to terms with her sister, her family…and the voice in her head.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
June 24, 2020
3.5 stars
From the beginning of this novel, I think it's easy to predict what the eventual ending of this story will be. This story is moreso about the journey getting there and the lessons learned along the way.
This was a good, emotional, and wholesome read that reinforced the importance of living and not just surviving.
I know that this novel will have some controversy as this topic is very controversial even within the medical community. There are many, many opinions of what is 'right' and what is 'wrong'. I think if anything, the takeaway from this novel should be to live. Truly LIVE, enjoy life, and appreciate the time that is granted to each of us.
***I received an ARC of this book from a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you to Goodreads and the publisher for hosting this giveaway***
From the beginning of this novel, I think it's easy to predict what the eventual ending of this story will be. This story is moreso about the journey getting there and the lessons learned along the way.
This was a good, emotional, and wholesome read that reinforced the importance of living and not just surviving.
I know that this novel will have some controversy as this topic is very controversial even within the medical community. There are many, many opinions of what is 'right' and what is 'wrong'. I think if anything, the takeaway from this novel should be to live. Truly LIVE, enjoy life, and appreciate the time that is granted to each of us.
***I received an ARC of this book from a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you to Goodreads and the publisher for hosting this giveaway***
November 21, 2018
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE VOICE IN MY HEAD by Dana L Davis in exchange for my honest review.***
Indigo prepares to jump from a building when she hears a voice in her head claiming to be god. Not wanting to live without her terminally ill twin Violet, god tells Indigo her sister will live if they visit The Wave. Instead of swallowing pills to die with dignity, Violet agrees to take a road trip with her family.
Depending on the reader’s perspective, Indigo’s Voice can be seen as an auditory hallucination, that of god or something else. As a psychologist who interned in a state hospital, I’ve known a number of people whose brain synapses misfired as delusions and hallucinations, I went with the mental illness. I’m also atheist, which contributed to my perspective.
Indigo clearly saw herself as the lesser twin, the least favorite sibling, second best. The chip on her shoulder was a product of her environment as well as her curious personality. I enjoyed her narration. Dana L Davis gave her a smart, witty voice.
Davis created a unique cast of secondary characters, family members to the twins and an unconventional preacher wise without being religious. Like most families, some annoying and difficult to tolerate members drove Indigo, and me the reader, nuts, namely her older sister Michelle.
What THE VOICE IN MY HEAD lacked in plot, Davis made up for in writing and dialogue. The ending, while predictable, was fitting.
YA readers love stories about twins and with such smart writing, THE VOICE IN MY HEAD will certainly please most readers.
Indigo prepares to jump from a building when she hears a voice in her head claiming to be god. Not wanting to live without her terminally ill twin Violet, god tells Indigo her sister will live if they visit The Wave. Instead of swallowing pills to die with dignity, Violet agrees to take a road trip with her family.
Depending on the reader’s perspective, Indigo’s Voice can be seen as an auditory hallucination, that of god or something else. As a psychologist who interned in a state hospital, I’ve known a number of people whose brain synapses misfired as delusions and hallucinations, I went with the mental illness. I’m also atheist, which contributed to my perspective.
Indigo clearly saw herself as the lesser twin, the least favorite sibling, second best. The chip on her shoulder was a product of her environment as well as her curious personality. I enjoyed her narration. Dana L Davis gave her a smart, witty voice.
Davis created a unique cast of secondary characters, family members to the twins and an unconventional preacher wise without being religious. Like most families, some annoying and difficult to tolerate members drove Indigo, and me the reader, nuts, namely her older sister Michelle.
What THE VOICE IN MY HEAD lacked in plot, Davis made up for in writing and dialogue. The ending, while predictable, was fitting.
YA readers love stories about twins and with such smart writing, THE VOICE IN MY HEAD will certainly please most readers.
June 26, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Sasha Zatz
In Dana L. Davis’s The Voice In My Head, our main character, Indigo, and her family go on a road trip and the story will take the reader on a journey too with it filled with plenty of emotion. Not 70 pages in, you may find yourself already crying and laughing over a beautifully written story whose characters will stay with you forever.
Indigo was unique and smart and every member of the Phillips family were great, plus Pastor Jed of course! The contrasting and intriguing characters really sparked the story, which saw the dialogue and storylines between every character were authentic and it’s easy to get attached to the characters.
The author blends in not only humour, love, and wit into the story, but she also deals with important issues such as suicide and euthanasia. The relationship between the two sisters, Indigo and Violet, was so special, although it would have been great to see more of prior to Violet being diagnosed with a terminal illness through the usage of flashbacks. Indigo’s growth throughout the novel and how her perspective on the world changed was great character development.
Lyrical, honest, and perfectly paced, Dana’s writing will suck you in and won’t let you go. For me, when I started reading, I read for nearly an hour and lost track of the time as I was completely engrossed in the book. Throughout the day, my mind kept wandering back to the book. It was also intriguing to see the creative approach Dana weaved when it came to God and the Phillips family and this shouldn’t deter you if you’re not religious.
If you’re wary of romance, never fear! This book is full of love and heart, but our main character, Indigo, doesn’t have a love interest.
The Voice in My Head is the story of a family dealing with a tragedy, but it is also a story about living. This moving tale teaches us to treasure our short lives and take the opportunities presented to us! There is a lot to take away from this book and I devoured the entire book in a single day, which is something I rarely do. The Voice in My Head is a bittersweet and beautiful coming-of-age novel and I would recommend it to anyone who loves contemporary young adult fiction.
In Dana L. Davis’s The Voice In My Head, our main character, Indigo, and her family go on a road trip and the story will take the reader on a journey too with it filled with plenty of emotion. Not 70 pages in, you may find yourself already crying and laughing over a beautifully written story whose characters will stay with you forever.
Indigo was unique and smart and every member of the Phillips family were great, plus Pastor Jed of course! The contrasting and intriguing characters really sparked the story, which saw the dialogue and storylines between every character were authentic and it’s easy to get attached to the characters.
The author blends in not only humour, love, and wit into the story, but she also deals with important issues such as suicide and euthanasia. The relationship between the two sisters, Indigo and Violet, was so special, although it would have been great to see more of prior to Violet being diagnosed with a terminal illness through the usage of flashbacks. Indigo’s growth throughout the novel and how her perspective on the world changed was great character development.
Lyrical, honest, and perfectly paced, Dana’s writing will suck you in and won’t let you go. For me, when I started reading, I read for nearly an hour and lost track of the time as I was completely engrossed in the book. Throughout the day, my mind kept wandering back to the book. It was also intriguing to see the creative approach Dana weaved when it came to God and the Phillips family and this shouldn’t deter you if you’re not religious.
If you’re wary of romance, never fear! This book is full of love and heart, but our main character, Indigo, doesn’t have a love interest.
The Voice in My Head is the story of a family dealing with a tragedy, but it is also a story about living. This moving tale teaches us to treasure our short lives and take the opportunities presented to us! There is a lot to take away from this book and I devoured the entire book in a single day, which is something I rarely do. The Voice in My Head is a bittersweet and beautiful coming-of-age novel and I would recommend it to anyone who loves contemporary young adult fiction.
February 21, 2021
It is the story of a girl who decides to listen to the voice in her head and take her terminally ill sister on a trip into the desert in order to save her life. Clever and moving and important, this book reflects on family and how to save others while at the same time saving ourselves.
December 15, 2024
this was so fucking weird
August 3, 2019
This bittersweet story is about twin sisters Violet and Indigo Phillips and their family as they traverse all the ups and downs that make up a life fully lived. Violet is battling a terminal lung disease, Indigo is struggling to deal with it, and with a strange turn of events, the family is set in motion on the adventure for a lifetime.
In the midst of dealing with things like terminal illness, suicide, and euthanasia, this story shines with love, hope, faith, humor, and family. I can't even say how much I LOVED the Phillips family! The interactions and conversations described among all these family members are so realistic and relatable that I have tucked each of them away in my heart forever. They'll always be real to me. Brandon, Nam, Albert....I loved them so much. Let me not forget Pastor Jed (my fellow Palo Santo user) and his back story and his faith- oh, and his bus with the Third Eye, lol! He was a beacon of light throughout the story and now I'm wishing I could find a Pastor Jed for myself.
Dana L. Davis made me fall in love with this entire clan and made me care so deeply about them all. My heart hurt for Violet and Indigo and the way they had to come to terms with their relationship and what was written in the stars for them. In the end, this story is about love. It is also about faith - in one another and in something a little bigger. It is also a story about life, or rather, living life to the fullest and confidently taking the opportunities we're presented with knowing that we'll all be okay in the end.
I couldn't have enjoyed this one more.
In the midst of dealing with things like terminal illness, suicide, and euthanasia, this story shines with love, hope, faith, humor, and family. I can't even say how much I LOVED the Phillips family! The interactions and conversations described among all these family members are so realistic and relatable that I have tucked each of them away in my heart forever. They'll always be real to me. Brandon, Nam, Albert....I loved them so much. Let me not forget Pastor Jed (my fellow Palo Santo user) and his back story and his faith- oh, and his bus with the Third Eye, lol! He was a beacon of light throughout the story and now I'm wishing I could find a Pastor Jed for myself.
Dana L. Davis made me fall in love with this entire clan and made me care so deeply about them all. My heart hurt for Violet and Indigo and the way they had to come to terms with their relationship and what was written in the stars for them. In the end, this story is about love. It is also about faith - in one another and in something a little bigger. It is also a story about life, or rather, living life to the fullest and confidently taking the opportunities we're presented with knowing that we'll all be okay in the end.
I couldn't have enjoyed this one more.
March 28, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read early for an honest review.
This book.
From the beginning of the story, I was laughing out-loud. Indigo's family is crazy in the best possible way. They were hilarious and the way they interacted felt authentic. There were so many good lines that I wanted to stop and remember.
This book deals with some pretty heavy issues - a suicide attempt and euthanasia. The humor is in no way downplaying these. And I think the discussion questions at the end are a good inclusion for impressionable readers.
Indigo ends up with a concussion and a Voice in her head that says it's God. It tells her to take Violet to the Wave in Arizona for a miracle, and the entire family is packed up into a bus with eyes on it (nicknamed "Eye of the Tiger"), and driven by their happy, new-agey Pastor.
I'm definitely buying this one when it's released.
This book.
From the beginning of the story, I was laughing out-loud. Indigo's family is crazy in the best possible way. They were hilarious and the way they interacted felt authentic. There were so many good lines that I wanted to stop and remember.
This book deals with some pretty heavy issues - a suicide attempt and euthanasia. The humor is in no way downplaying these. And I think the discussion questions at the end are a good inclusion for impressionable readers.
Indigo ends up with a concussion and a Voice in her head that says it's God. It tells her to take Violet to the Wave in Arizona for a miracle, and the entire family is packed up into a bus with eyes on it (nicknamed "Eye of the Tiger"), and driven by their happy, new-agey Pastor.
I'm definitely buying this one when it's released.
February 5, 2022
Indigo’s twin sister is terminally ill and about to die. The whole family is struggling to deal with that so relationships are strained. After a suicide attempt, Indigo starts to hear a voice which calls itself god. The voice tells Indigo, her sister will live if they make the trip to this hike and take it.
I liked the concept of this book and the way the characters interacted. I found it a bit hard to get behind some of the characters at a lot of points. Indigo in particular made a lot of questionable decisions which involved lying too her family about where her sister was at medically at multiple points and not trying to connect with her family members because she wanted them to try and connect with her. I just found her a bit irritating overall. Violet (Indigo’s sister) also annoyed me a little by being so eager to please everyone.
The ending of this book was also really rushed. We didn’t get to see how most of the family were doing and the whole story had been building to one moment but it was over in a couple of pages. I wasn’t a big fan of the pacing overall. The book was also quite slow in the middle. I enjoyed the concept of this book more than the actual book. A wide range of issues were covered sensitively and I’ve never come across a book with a plot like this one but it ended up being just alright.
I liked the concept of this book and the way the characters interacted. I found it a bit hard to get behind some of the characters at a lot of points. Indigo in particular made a lot of questionable decisions which involved lying too her family about where her sister was at medically at multiple points and not trying to connect with her family members because she wanted them to try and connect with her. I just found her a bit irritating overall. Violet (Indigo’s sister) also annoyed me a little by being so eager to please everyone.
The ending of this book was also really rushed. We didn’t get to see how most of the family were doing and the whole story had been building to one moment but it was over in a couple of pages. I wasn’t a big fan of the pacing overall. The book was also quite slow in the middle. I enjoyed the concept of this book more than the actual book. A wide range of issues were covered sensitively and I’ve never come across a book with a plot like this one but it ended up being just alright.
February 2, 2019
The Voice In My Head is a sad story. Twins Indigo and Violet have lost the closeness they once shared but for a good reason. At eighteen years old, one of the twins, Violet, is terminal. Dying. The grief of the surviving sister is a palpable thing. Indigo begins to hear the voice of God telling her things to do to save her sister. The story is far fetched for me. It's proof that people will believe what they want to believe even though it's ridiculous. It's a sad story about a family in the middle of tragedy and doing the best they can. I read this fairly quickly and ended up sad. Overall it's a good read about love and loss. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin TEEN for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2024
4.75 stars! I really enjoyed reading this and how the book emphasized trusting in God and having faith. It also showed how easy it is for us to doubt and try to take matters into our own hands.
March 6, 2019
I selected this book based on an interesting premise: Twin sisters, 18-year-old Indigo and Violet, are not close. Indigo lives in the shadow of her popular sister, Violet who becomes terminally ill. When she plans to die on her own terms via medically assisted death, Indigo spirals into desperation in her efforts to cope. That’s when she begins to hear a mysterious voice—a voice claiming to be God. The voice insists that if she takes Violet to a remote rock formation in the Arizona desert, her sister will live.
The story is in first-person POV via Indigo. There's a lot going on in the first 20% of the book (heavy in dialogue and introduction of several characters) which made the read somewhat confusing. I wanted to know more about Violet, Indigo and their mother's relationship before finding out Violet's dilemma and the voice entering the picture. The main character's voice sounded much younger than 18 yrs. old and the 'voice' wavered between a jokester and sage.
I did enjoy the humor, the diverse cast of characters and family relationships. I didn't like the resolution. NetGalley provided this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is in first-person POV via Indigo. There's a lot going on in the first 20% of the book (heavy in dialogue and introduction of several characters) which made the read somewhat confusing. I wanted to know more about Violet, Indigo and their mother's relationship before finding out Violet's dilemma and the voice entering the picture. The main character's voice sounded much younger than 18 yrs. old and the 'voice' wavered between a jokester and sage.
I did enjoy the humor, the diverse cast of characters and family relationships. I didn't like the resolution. NetGalley provided this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2019
*1.5 :/
August 21, 2019
Beautiful story about family and love.
February 5, 2022
After liking Dana L Davis’ first book, Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now, I picked up The Voice in My Head, expecting a family bonding road trip. While I got that and some good character interaction and heartfelt messages, everything else was a let down with poor pacing, a main protagonist I found hard to like and a underwhelming ending.
As a warning, this book deals with suicide throughout, and is one of the major themes of the book. The first chapter depicts an attempted suicide. This is a difficult topic to write about, and treated seriously.
Indigo, our protagonist, is very much brash, but I think she makes some questionable choices throughout. It made it a struggle to cheer for her at times. The family dynamic was realistic for someone dealing with a terminally ill daughter and the other issues that are revealed throughout the book. When things get revealed, it’s not pretty. Though sometimes, the twists and reveals come off as a shocking swerve to put as much drama in the story as possible. I wish we got to know a bit more about how Violet’s mind works, as her choice to go on the road trip seemed sudden and out of left field. I did like the pastor, especially when he talks about his life story.
My biggest issue was the pacing. For a good while, it felt like not a lot happened in terms of the trip and we had some fun adventures, but didn’t feel like we got any closer to getting to know the characters or getting to the goal or figuring out the voice in her head . Then we get a lot of heartfelt quotables and life lessons at the end, while nice, didn’t have as much build up as there should have been. While Indigo’s character arc is realized full circle and emotions were had , everything else feels like it was left hanging, which was something I had an issue with Tiffany Sly as well, but doesn’t feel as clean.
While this road trip book has a few ups, it has just as many downs. If you’re looking for a book tackling on a serious issue with some heartfelt messages, take a look.
As a warning, this book deals with suicide throughout, and is one of the major themes of the book. The first chapter depicts an attempted suicide. This is a difficult topic to write about, and treated seriously.
Indigo, our protagonist, is very much brash, but I think she makes some questionable choices throughout. It made it a struggle to cheer for her at times. The family dynamic was realistic for someone dealing with a terminally ill daughter and the other issues that are revealed throughout the book. When things get revealed, it’s not pretty. Though sometimes, the twists and reveals come off as a shocking swerve to put as much drama in the story as possible. I wish we got to know a bit more about how Violet’s mind works, as her choice to go on the road trip seemed sudden and out of left field. I did like the pastor, especially when he talks about his life story.
My biggest issue was the pacing. For a good while, it felt like not a lot happened in terms of the trip and we had some fun adventures, but didn’t feel like we got any closer to getting to know the characters or getting to the goal or figuring out the voice in her head . Then we get a lot of heartfelt quotables and life lessons at the end, while nice, didn’t have as much build up as there should have been. While Indigo’s character arc is realized full circle and emotions were had , everything else feels like it was left hanging, which was something I had an issue with Tiffany Sly as well, but doesn’t feel as clean.
While this road trip book has a few ups, it has just as many downs. If you’re looking for a book tackling on a serious issue with some heartfelt messages, take a look.
April 10, 2019
Ok.. this book was just sad!!!
Ugh... super heart breaking :(.
The book follows the story of two 18 year old twin sisters Indigo and Violet who have lost their connection along the way of growing up. Indigo and Violet are the polar opposite of one another. Violet is suffering from an intense illness that will ultimately take her life. Violet is given a choice to end her life with dignity. This changes when Indigo hears the word of God in her head. This mysterious god voice is telling Indigo that Violet will live if they make it to the Wave in Arizona.
This begins the journey for a family to save Violet's life. This book is an emotional roller coaster and you become invested in this family rooting to save beautiful Violet's life.
I really enjoyed how Dana Davis left the "voice of god" up to the interpretation to the reader.
My only issues with this one was in the beginning of the story there was a lot going on and it was a bit all over the place... hard to follow with introducing so many characters.
I also felt the ending didn't live up to my expectations and was disappointed.
Overall, this was a sweet YA novel but a tad on the sad side :).
3 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 5/28/19
Published to Goodreads: 4/9/19
Ugh... super heart breaking :(.
The book follows the story of two 18 year old twin sisters Indigo and Violet who have lost their connection along the way of growing up. Indigo and Violet are the polar opposite of one another. Violet is suffering from an intense illness that will ultimately take her life. Violet is given a choice to end her life with dignity. This changes when Indigo hears the word of God in her head. This mysterious god voice is telling Indigo that Violet will live if they make it to the Wave in Arizona.
This begins the journey for a family to save Violet's life. This book is an emotional roller coaster and you become invested in this family rooting to save beautiful Violet's life.
I really enjoyed how Dana Davis left the "voice of god" up to the interpretation to the reader.
My only issues with this one was in the beginning of the story there was a lot going on and it was a bit all over the place... hard to follow with introducing so many characters.
I also felt the ending didn't live up to my expectations and was disappointed.
Overall, this was a sweet YA novel but a tad on the sad side :).
3 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 5/28/19
Published to Goodreads: 4/9/19
June 22, 2022
This book was hard to put down. As you can see, I finished it in a day. This story takes you on a whirlwind of a twin sister trying to find hope on saving her dying twin sister and encouraging her family to follow her quest. Topics in this book discusses suicidal ideation. Indigo talks to “God,” a voice that is in her head and try’s to take this voice’s direction on how to save her sister. This is a really good book because it shows the family dynamics, finding your own self, and allows you to explore your relationship/interpretation of a spiritual being.
Read
May 31, 2019one of the first times o dnf an arc and i dropped really quick
was not a fan
rtc
was not a fan
rtc
Read
June 1, 2019Categories
Young Adult Family, Young Adult Social Themes
Young Adult Family, Young Adult Social Themes
November 30, 2022
Just to be clear, I only read to page 216 before I had to put down the book. That being said I was disgusted by the direction the story went in. It’s incredibly irritating and nerve racking to see Indigo dig a hole of lies and directly oppose the voice of god. It’s not even a situation where she doesn’t believe the voice because it proved time and time again that, even if it isn’t the voice of god, it has some level of omnipotence. If the voice of god tells you a convenience store robber won’t hurt you, you should probably believe him. If it tells you “don’t pop that dude’s tire’s, you’ll get in trouble” you should believe him. When it says that your dying sister needs to go to the hospital, you should take her to the hospital. It’s disappointing to see the gimmick that make me pick up the book literally ignored for major parts in the story, there is also a good chunk of the story where the voice (the thing that’s the title of the book) is gone, there about 98 pages where the voice isn’t there! If you are going to advertise your book as a book where the main character hears the voice of god and has to deal with that, I want the book to be about that. The fact that the voice is gone also means that I would have to read through roughly 98 pages of Indigo lying to her family about hearing him. I didn’t think that sounded very enjoyable so I stopped reading. To basically sum myself up, I just wish that the story stuck to the gimmick that it advertised a bit more.it made the experience very frustrating because it didn’t
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2019
When I first read the description of this book I passed it over unsure of what to expect. The words terminally ill jumped out at me and I assumed this would just be another one of those sad stories about the journey towards someone's death. But while Violet was very sick this story instead chose to focus on her being alive. The family goes on a journey based off the hope that she will be cured. And we follow them along for this crazy road trip. There were characters who I didn't enjoy but we get to see growth and the reasons for their actions which helps you come to an understanding about why they are the way they are. And that ending was not the ending I expected but it was powerful and fitting.
I received an ARC from Harlequin Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC from Harlequin Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2021
This book depicts a real family with many personalities and flaws. I fell in love with the characters even with the sister Michelle who I wanted to shake at times. I was able to feel as though I was on this journey with them. I couldn’t believe how invested I was in this story so much so that I stayed up late trying to finish the book. I like the unpredictable ending. I recommend this book.
November 6, 2022
2.5 stars.
Eighteen-year-old Indigo Philips can’t imagine life without her twin and best friend, Violet. But when her terminally ill sister decides to end her life by way of medically assisted suicide, Indigo doesn’t know what to do with herself. That is until a voice that calls himself God begins communicating with her. The voice convinces her that if she can get her sister to a natural phenomenon called the Wave, she’ll be cured and go on to live a healthy life.
***
I didn’t have high expectations going into this book. I’ve read variations of this story countless times before and they tend to be pretentious, melodramatic and sappy. And while this book was all those things at certain times, it also featured something I’m not used to seeing when it comes to this specific plot. And that’s black characters and an effortless humor that actually made me laugh out loud. Like Dana has a knack for creating the funniest of scenarios without trying too hard, which is rather impressive, especially when dealing with heavy topics like suicide and terminal illness.
***
I also appreciated how realistic and flawed all the characters were. Sure, they were painfully annoying and upsetting at times. But they really did love one another and I appreciated them all…well except for one. (I hated Michelle’s guts but we’re not gonna get into that right now.) Indigo and Violet’s relationship was so cute as well. Their relationship wasn’t perfect and each girl secretly resented the other for their own reason but at the end of the day both were willing to do whatever it took for the other. Which brings me to my last high point of the novel. Our awkward protagonist, Indigo. She was so awkward that it made me cringe multiple times. But I always appreciate reading stories that star awkward black girls, because unfortunately I can relate, whether I’d like to admit it or not.
***
Now that that’s all out of the way, I feel it’s only fair to mention all the components that made this book a bust for me. First of all…the talk about God. I’m a Christian. I know that not everyone is and that’s perfectly fine but the way that religion was discussed in this story, it just gave me the ick at certain times. The book would have been perfectly fine without it in my opinion. Especially because it felt at times that the author was just mocking religious people.
***
Another thing that I could have done without was Michelle. She was insufferable. Her hatred toward her younger sister was…I don’t know, creepy? Weird? Unjustified? What thirty-three-year old married woman with kids harbors such resentment towards an eighteen-year-old? I wanted their parents or her husband to take her by the shoulders, shake her and tell her to quit being such a witch to everyone but it never happened.
***
I guess that complaint leads into my next. Which was that Mr and Mrs. Philips attitude towards their children and their different issues was infuriating. Because most of these issues are directly correlated in my opinion to the way they both treat them. During one pivotal scene, Indigo reveals to her mother that she doesn’t feel liked by her. And instead of her mother apologizing, she takes the opportunity to guilt trip her using her own childhood trauma and essentially tells Indigo that her being there is enough. Like what?!! It just seemed to me that they weren’t willing to take the blame for anything and found it easier to dump it all on their kids.
***
Now I don’t know if I mentioned this or not before but up until 70% of the story, I really liked Indigo’s character and thought she was a well developed protagonist…that is until a little more than halfway through the book. I’m not gonna say what she does, because it’s a huge spoiler but I lost all respect for Indigo and even wondered if her intentions in getting Violet to the Wave had ever been about saving her sister. Or if maybe it was just a feeble attempt to redeem herself in her family’s eyes. Either way, after that plot twist (can it even be called a plot twist?) I found her to be selfish, manipulative and not much better than Michelle really.
***
Despite all these grievances, I was still looking forward to the ending. I was actually excited to find out how Dana tied everything together and resolved it all. But I kid you not this is one of the most disappointing endings I’ve ever read. Like I don’t know how to properly convey to you how upset, cheated and betrayed (that word might be a bit dramatic but I don’t care) that ending had me feeling. We race towards this promising climax, it arrives and then the book sizzles into nothingness. And it was so unclear. I’m all for glittery and flowery prose. Except for when it’s confusing as heck and leaves me wondering “what the heck just happened?” That’s exactly how this ending left me feeling. It just took a decent book and wrecked it for me.
***
The weird thing is, I would read this book again if given the choice. It wasn’t God awful and it did have its redeeming qualities. But they were unfortunately outweighed by a poorly executed ending. But if you’re able to suspend reality for a while and aren’t expecting too much in the way of a conclusion, then The Voice In My Head might be the book for you.
Eighteen-year-old Indigo Philips can’t imagine life without her twin and best friend, Violet. But when her terminally ill sister decides to end her life by way of medically assisted suicide, Indigo doesn’t know what to do with herself. That is until a voice that calls himself God begins communicating with her. The voice convinces her that if she can get her sister to a natural phenomenon called the Wave, she’ll be cured and go on to live a healthy life.
***
I didn’t have high expectations going into this book. I’ve read variations of this story countless times before and they tend to be pretentious, melodramatic and sappy. And while this book was all those things at certain times, it also featured something I’m not used to seeing when it comes to this specific plot. And that’s black characters and an effortless humor that actually made me laugh out loud. Like Dana has a knack for creating the funniest of scenarios without trying too hard, which is rather impressive, especially when dealing with heavy topics like suicide and terminal illness.
***
I also appreciated how realistic and flawed all the characters were. Sure, they were painfully annoying and upsetting at times. But they really did love one another and I appreciated them all…well except for one. (I hated Michelle’s guts but we’re not gonna get into that right now.) Indigo and Violet’s relationship was so cute as well. Their relationship wasn’t perfect and each girl secretly resented the other for their own reason but at the end of the day both were willing to do whatever it took for the other. Which brings me to my last high point of the novel. Our awkward protagonist, Indigo. She was so awkward that it made me cringe multiple times. But I always appreciate reading stories that star awkward black girls, because unfortunately I can relate, whether I’d like to admit it or not.
***
Now that that’s all out of the way, I feel it’s only fair to mention all the components that made this book a bust for me. First of all…the talk about God. I’m a Christian. I know that not everyone is and that’s perfectly fine but the way that religion was discussed in this story, it just gave me the ick at certain times. The book would have been perfectly fine without it in my opinion. Especially because it felt at times that the author was just mocking religious people.
***
Another thing that I could have done without was Michelle. She was insufferable. Her hatred toward her younger sister was…I don’t know, creepy? Weird? Unjustified? What thirty-three-year old married woman with kids harbors such resentment towards an eighteen-year-old? I wanted their parents or her husband to take her by the shoulders, shake her and tell her to quit being such a witch to everyone but it never happened.
***
I guess that complaint leads into my next. Which was that Mr and Mrs. Philips attitude towards their children and their different issues was infuriating. Because most of these issues are directly correlated in my opinion to the way they both treat them. During one pivotal scene, Indigo reveals to her mother that she doesn’t feel liked by her. And instead of her mother apologizing, she takes the opportunity to guilt trip her using her own childhood trauma and essentially tells Indigo that her being there is enough. Like what?!! It just seemed to me that they weren’t willing to take the blame for anything and found it easier to dump it all on their kids.
***
Now I don’t know if I mentioned this or not before but up until 70% of the story, I really liked Indigo’s character and thought she was a well developed protagonist…that is until a little more than halfway through the book. I’m not gonna say what she does, because it’s a huge spoiler but I lost all respect for Indigo and even wondered if her intentions in getting Violet to the Wave had ever been about saving her sister. Or if maybe it was just a feeble attempt to redeem herself in her family’s eyes. Either way, after that plot twist (can it even be called a plot twist?) I found her to be selfish, manipulative and not much better than Michelle really.
***
Despite all these grievances, I was still looking forward to the ending. I was actually excited to find out how Dana tied everything together and resolved it all. But I kid you not this is one of the most disappointing endings I’ve ever read. Like I don’t know how to properly convey to you how upset, cheated and betrayed (that word might be a bit dramatic but I don’t care) that ending had me feeling. We race towards this promising climax, it arrives and then the book sizzles into nothingness. And it was so unclear. I’m all for glittery and flowery prose. Except for when it’s confusing as heck and leaves me wondering “what the heck just happened?” That’s exactly how this ending left me feeling. It just took a decent book and wrecked it for me.
***
The weird thing is, I would read this book again if given the choice. It wasn’t God awful and it did have its redeeming qualities. But they were unfortunately outweighed by a poorly executed ending. But if you’re able to suspend reality for a while and aren’t expecting too much in the way of a conclusion, then The Voice In My Head might be the book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this title in exchange for an honest review!
TW for suicide, medical assisted suicide, terminal illness/medical stuff.
Indigo's twin sister Violet has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Indigo, unable to fathom life without her twin sister decides to jump from a building. But before she does, she calls to God to help. Then, just as Indigo decides not to jump, God answers back and she's so surprised that she falls off the building.
But she's fine! And God, aka the Voice in her head, has some news. If she can convince Violet, who is planning on dying with dignity that very day, to make this dangerous and epic hike, she'll live.
Violet shockingly agrees, but only if their whole family comes along for the journey. Meaning Indigo and Violet, their parents, their younger brother, their older sister and her husband, and their two kids. And, of course, the pastor who was about to help Violet die with dignity. Indigo knows immediately that this trip is sure to be something.
I think that overall this was a solid read, definitely 4/5 stars. There are some parts of the novel that will have you feeling feels, and parts that will make you laugh! Definitely recommend, as long as you're someone who won't be upset by the subject matter.
TW for suicide, medical assisted suicide, terminal illness/medical stuff.
Indigo's twin sister Violet has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Indigo, unable to fathom life without her twin sister decides to jump from a building. But before she does, she calls to God to help. Then, just as Indigo decides not to jump, God answers back and she's so surprised that she falls off the building.
But she's fine! And God, aka the Voice in her head, has some news. If she can convince Violet, who is planning on dying with dignity that very day, to make this dangerous and epic hike, she'll live.
Violet shockingly agrees, but only if their whole family comes along for the journey. Meaning Indigo and Violet, their parents, their younger brother, their older sister and her husband, and their two kids. And, of course, the pastor who was about to help Violet die with dignity. Indigo knows immediately that this trip is sure to be something.
I think that overall this was a solid read, definitely 4/5 stars. There are some parts of the novel that will have you feeling feels, and parts that will make you laugh! Definitely recommend, as long as you're someone who won't be upset by the subject matter.
January 13, 2019
(ARC provided by Netgalley in return for my honest opinion.)
Indigo's sister is dying. As in, she's terminal. As in she's going to die by doctor assisted suicide. As in Indigo is about to be one half of a set. Overwhelmed at the prospect of living without her twin, Indigo climbs a building, prepared to die, too. But before she can leap, she hears a voice telling her that if she takes her sister to Arizona, she'll live. Always a believer, her sister Violet agrees, and the whole family takes off on road trip to prolong what seems inevitable.
This book sounded so good from the get go. I'm not super into religious fiction, but I approached this with the hope that it was super creative, and not preachy. While there is a lot of praying and such, it didn't have the usual religious fiction feel. I really enjoyed the story of Indigo and her sister, and eventually I even got into the rest of the family.
If I had one criticism, it would be that it felt like Indigo believed the voice she was hearing way, way too easily. (Although, I suppose if you're actually hearing a voice, it would be hard to be skeptical?) Likewise, I felt her family bought into it way too easily, although this could be explained later in the book.
There were bits that felt a little forced, like the scene with Willy May, but I did forget about that in my rush to see what would happen at the end. When I got to the end, I was kind of disappointed.
In the end, it was a pretty compelling read, that I raced through. And isn't that really all you can ask from a book?
Indigo's sister is dying. As in, she's terminal. As in she's going to die by doctor assisted suicide. As in Indigo is about to be one half of a set. Overwhelmed at the prospect of living without her twin, Indigo climbs a building, prepared to die, too. But before she can leap, she hears a voice telling her that if she takes her sister to Arizona, she'll live. Always a believer, her sister Violet agrees, and the whole family takes off on road trip to prolong what seems inevitable.
This book sounded so good from the get go. I'm not super into religious fiction, but I approached this with the hope that it was super creative, and not preachy. While there is a lot of praying and such, it didn't have the usual religious fiction feel. I really enjoyed the story of Indigo and her sister, and eventually I even got into the rest of the family.
If I had one criticism, it would be that it felt like Indigo believed the voice she was hearing way, way too easily. (Although, I suppose if you're actually hearing a voice, it would be hard to be skeptical?) Likewise, I felt her family bought into it way too easily, although this could be explained later in the book.
There were bits that felt a little forced, like the scene with Willy May, but I did forget about that in my rush to see what would happen at the end. When I got to the end, I was kind of disappointed.
In the end, it was a pretty compelling read, that I raced through. And isn't that really all you can ask from a book?
October 2, 2019
*Got this book as an ARC from Edelweiss+*
Oh my god. this book, it was so beautiful, so heartbreaking. I don't even know what to say. I feel it in my bones, in my heart and soul how much it sort of affected me, how it made me think, and feel - and let alone, how it made me want to live my life to the fullest. I loved it, but i also, hated it? i hated how heartbreaking it was, how i rooted for...another ending of sorts... i am an emotional person, and it shows, i'm crying for Indigo, i'm crying for Violet, but i'm also happy because Violet got to live, Violet is now at peace and Indigo decided to live, live for herself, live for Violet.
Oh my god. this book, it was so beautiful, so heartbreaking. I don't even know what to say. I feel it in my bones, in my heart and soul how much it sort of affected me, how it made me think, and feel - and let alone, how it made me want to live my life to the fullest. I loved it, but i also, hated it? i hated how heartbreaking it was, how i rooted for...another ending of sorts... i am an emotional person, and it shows, i'm crying for Indigo, i'm crying for Violet, but i'm also happy because Violet got to live, Violet is now at peace and Indigo decided to live, live for herself, live for Violet.
May 17, 2019
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This is the story of Indigo trying to make her way through an incredibly difficult time that has impacted her entire family. She starts to hear a voice in her head, which leads her family on a wild road trip in a desperate situation.
I fell in love with this family very quickly and I wanted all good things for them. I was incredibly impressed with how Dana L. Davis dealt with such a difficult topic, death with dignity, that includes humor, hijinks and love.
This is a powerful story that made an impact on my heart and I will never forget it.
This is the story of Indigo trying to make her way through an incredibly difficult time that has impacted her entire family. She starts to hear a voice in her head, which leads her family on a wild road trip in a desperate situation.
I fell in love with this family very quickly and I wanted all good things for them. I was incredibly impressed with how Dana L. Davis dealt with such a difficult topic, death with dignity, that includes humor, hijinks and love.
This is a powerful story that made an impact on my heart and I will never forget it.
May 24, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this 5.28.19 release. Indigo and Violet are identical twins. When Violet, who is terminally ill, decides to exercise her right to die by medical assistance, Indigo starts hearing a voice that claims to be God. With the help of this voice, Indigo convinces her family to take one last trip, hoping to keep Violet alive. Sad and deep, this one is a good fit for high school readers.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this 5.28.19 release. Indigo and Violet are identical twins. When Violet, who is terminally ill, decides to exercise her right to die by medical assistance, Indigo starts hearing a voice that claims to be God. With the help of this voice, Indigo convinces her family to take one last trip, hoping to keep Violet alive. Sad and deep, this one is a good fit for high school readers.
July 26, 2020
"Easy peasy lemon squeezy"
Cute, hopeful, sad, quirky, funny...
I do wish we got a little more at the end of Indigo.
I wonder why this book is not marketed as inspirational or Christian fiction with God as an active character. I read Christian Fiction and would have missed this book in my search.
I would not read again because my heart! But i would reccomend to high middle school, lower high school students.
Cute, hopeful, sad, quirky, funny...
I do wish we got a little more at the end of Indigo.
I wonder why this book is not marketed as inspirational or Christian fiction with God as an active character. I read Christian Fiction and would have missed this book in my search.
I would not read again because my heart! But i would reccomend to high middle school, lower high school students.
August 14, 2019
This was wonderful. Dana Davis continues to impress me with the difficult subjects she takes on in her YA novels. This one includes assisted suicide and hearing the voice of God. I was concerned it would come off as preachy. Happily, I was wrong. I loved getting to know Indigo and her family. There was lots of laughter and a few tears. I'm already looking forward to Dana's next one.
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September 23, 2022Trigger & Content Warnings:
Suicide, attempted suicide & suicidal ideation (theme)
Terminal illness
Suicide, attempted suicide & suicidal ideation (theme)
Terminal illness
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