Sometimes books are so powerful and resonate so much with you, even if you are not in the same place that the character is, that you need a break because otherwise you feel like you might drown in the emotions that book is stirring within you. This Saturday Pages' book is one of those books.
I discovered this book through Jenny from Supernatural Snark, since she designed the utterly gorgeous cover and so when I saw it on NetGalley I requested it, and luckily was approved by Spencer Hill Press, so a BIG thank you for them! As an ARC this one will be counted towards my 2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge and I hope it'll continue to help with my NG rating!
Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is one amazing and powerful book. If you've ever felt sad and had any insecurities, you will feel connected with Imogen in one way or another and will feel like her pain is your pain.
I am not clinically depressed and I have not Imogen's issues but I have dealt with insecurities before and even if I'm much better know, there's always a lil something in the back of my head, and now dealing with the emotional distress of a massive heartbreak... Reading this book has meant a lot of anxiety flaring for myself too because I was connecting so much with Imogen, but has also meant a lot of warmth and happiness as I saw every little bit of improvement.
Imogen has been fighting depression since her mother's death, seven years ago, and she was spiraling down to clinical depression for a long time, but things have been getting a little better as of late, getting out of the darkest part of her dark hole, but then a new change comes into her life, only with not the best of intentions.
Gen has a stepmother that has very good intentions and tries to help, but it's still an awkward situation for Imogen since she feels like she's a burden for someone without a real obligation towards her, a father that has written a book about living with grief (about Gen's mother) and is more out of the house than in because of promotion and the new addition, Carmella or Ella, the stepsister.
Seems like the stepsisters situation will be once again like the usual ones in the fairy tales, the beautiful one gets the prince and the ugly stepsister gets nothing. And Gen feels like the ugly and worthless stepsister way too often without Ella helping pushing her down with a vengeance. But Gen is not alone, she has friends and she has Grant, her best friend since childhood, the one that has seen all the worst and the best that she has, and the one that keeps on trying to help her out her dark places.
Gen's journey is a very slow and dark one and with her anxiety and her sadness and self-deprecation and self-doubts. She's her worst enemy and her journey to discovering that and to finally see some light at the end of the tunnel is a tough one to read, but it is never without hope and that's a wonderful message to take from this book, mental illness is a real illness, it's not something you can simply "snap out of it" but with time and the right help and people around you that love you, you can find hope again and you try and go towards the light at the end of that dark tunnel.
Very well deserved 4.5 stars to this one, a wonderful and powerful debut. The ARC didn't have all the enhanced artwork and music that the final book will have, and I am very much looking forward to get my hands on a finished copy!
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I discovered this book through Jenny from Supernatural Snark, since she designed the utterly gorgeous cover and so when I saw it on NetGalley I requested it, and luckily was approved by Spencer Hill Press, so a BIG thank you for them! As an ARC this one will be counted towards my 2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge and I hope it'll continue to help with my NG rating!
Damsel Distressed by Kelsey MackeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is one amazing and powerful book. If you've ever felt sad and had any insecurities, you will feel connected with Imogen in one way or another and will feel like her pain is your pain.
I am not clinically depressed and I have not Imogen's issues but I have dealt with insecurities before and even if I'm much better know, there's always a lil something in the back of my head, and now dealing with the emotional distress of a massive heartbreak... Reading this book has meant a lot of anxiety flaring for myself too because I was connecting so much with Imogen, but has also meant a lot of warmth and happiness as I saw every little bit of improvement.
Imogen has been fighting depression since her mother's death, seven years ago, and she was spiraling down to clinical depression for a long time, but things have been getting a little better as of late, getting out of the darkest part of her dark hole, but then a new change comes into her life, only with not the best of intentions.
Gen has a stepmother that has very good intentions and tries to help, but it's still an awkward situation for Imogen since she feels like she's a burden for someone without a real obligation towards her, a father that has written a book about living with grief (about Gen's mother) and is more out of the house than in because of promotion and the new addition, Carmella or Ella, the stepsister.
Seems like the stepsisters situation will be once again like the usual ones in the fairy tales, the beautiful one gets the prince and the ugly stepsister gets nothing. And Gen feels like the ugly and worthless stepsister way too often without Ella helping pushing her down with a vengeance. But Gen is not alone, she has friends and she has Grant, her best friend since childhood, the one that has seen all the worst and the best that she has, and the one that keeps on trying to help her out her dark places.
Gen's journey is a very slow and dark one and with her anxiety and her sadness and self-deprecation and self-doubts. She's her worst enemy and her journey to discovering that and to finally see some light at the end of the tunnel is a tough one to read, but it is never without hope and that's a wonderful message to take from this book, mental illness is a real illness, it's not something you can simply "snap out of it" but with time and the right help and people around you that love you, you can find hope again and you try and go towards the light at the end of that dark tunnel.
Very well deserved 4.5 stars to this one, a wonderful and powerful debut. The ARC didn't have all the enhanced artwork and music that the final book will have, and I am very much looking forward to get my hands on a finished copy!
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Love this cover and read another positive review of this earlier this morning. Glad you connected with this so much!
ReplyDeleteJen @ YA Romantics
It's a very emotional read and so well written! Thank you Jen!
DeleteAw, I'm so glad you loved this book Pili. <3 It sounds a bit different, yet awesome too. Not for me, but maybe one day :D I do like the cover a whole lot. So cute. I'm glad this book was full of feelings. It sounds sad, of course, but good too. Thank you for sharing your awesome thoughts :D
ReplyDeleteIt is awesome indeed, but it's a bit of a tough read too! And yes, the cover is so so gorgeous!
DeleteThank you Carina!
Oh Pili, I didn't know about the heart break *big hugs* it sounds like this novel was very relatable in that aspect and was really emotional in that sense. I'm really glad there was a light at the end of the tunnel for Gen, sometimes we need that type of story. Great review hun!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeann dear! *hugs* This was a fantastic story, therapeutic even!
DeleteOooo, ummm, sounds like just like the contemporary novels I so love to avoid LOL. I do enjoy staring at the cover though :D I'm glad you enjoyed this book so much, Pili! Excellent review :)
ReplyDeleteAlyssa @ The Eater of Books!
It is one of those tough subjects contemporary, but I must say I simply loved it Alyssa!
DeleteThank you!
Damsel Distressed sounds pretty good now that I've read your review! I thought it was gonna be one of those really light fluff reads, but powerful ones tend to make me curious so adding this one to the TBR! Thanks for putting this one under my radar, girl :)
ReplyDeleteLovely review! <33
Glad to have helped Melanie! This one isn't a fluffy read (not that fluffy reads are bad per se) but does deal with some tough subjects like depression and bullying.
DeleteI don't read much contemporary, but I have a weakness for real life scenarios that still manage to be hopeful. Thanks for putting this one on my radar, Pili ;) I've already added it to my wishlist!
ReplyDeleteI usually prefer interesting and gritty contemporaries to overly fluffy ones, and this one is one of those! Hope you'll like it Jessica!
DeleteI've actually heard quite a few positive things about this one lately so I already had it on my TBF but I just love how deeply you connected with this one! Lovely review :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very realistic book that connects and manages about some serious deep problems very well. I have this on my TBR because I do like to read a book that has a powerful message and is one not easily forgot. Thanks for telling me about this, and I loved your review ^^
ReplyDeleteCheck out my double giveaway and review: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/10/the-guardian-review-giveaway.html