Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Published: June 9th 2015 by: Delacorte BFYR

Genres: YA, Contemporary, Mental Health

Format: Paperback Source: Won

My Rating: 4 Stars

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An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.

 

Review

Finding Audrey is a very quick, witty read. Even with mental illness heading this story, there was such positive humor, and it really made the story no less important than one without humor. I really connected with Audrey, and I love her family; especially her mom. Kinsella blends mental illness with family drama and romance, and I flew through it without a problem. Being sensitive to mental illness myself, I really appreciate the direction the author took in Audrey’s case. Everyone deals with anxiety and panic attacks differently. The thing is to find  someone who can help you understand why you feel what you feel, and why your brain reacts. I love Audrey’s relationship with her therapist. Even when Audrey thought there was no point to some of the things her therapist suggested, she was open to it.  

I couldn’t stop laughing at her mom’s rants about her brother being addicted to computer games. Suggesting that he find some other use for his time; such as running. Well, that turned out not as her mom planned and It was moments like that, that made me really keep reading because I truly was thinking that this may be one of those reads that make you cry. The day-to-day life of Audrey’s family throughout made it an even quicker read. I like the way it all played out. Now, the romance was really cute and it was central to Audrey’s recovery. Not really a fan of the way Audrey seemed to gravitate towards Linus when he was over, but I guess the author wanted him to be a huge part of her recovery. He encouraged her and she grew confident over time, so I really like him as a character.

Overall, I liked this book very much and I’m sure it won’t be my last read by this author. I recommend this one to those who want a heartwarming story of a girl lost, but she finds her way through. This isn’t a heavy read for it to have such a HEAVY topic, but it is no less important. I’ve read my share of mental health related stories, and I can count this as one of the more lighter ones that I’ve enjoyed. Definitely recommend!