The Book:
The Existence of Amy by Lana Grace Riva
Published August 2nd 2019
Date read: October 13, 2021
The Characters:
Amy
Her coworkers Sally, Ed, and Ben
Buy it on Bookshop.org | Amazon
The Plot (from Goodreads):
Amy has a normal life. That is, if you were to go by a definition of ‘no immediate obvious indicators of peculiarity’, and you didn’t know her very well. She has good friends, a good job, a nice enough home. This normality, however, is precariously plastered on top of a different life. A life that is Amy’s real life. The only one her brain will let her lead.
The Review:
Thank you to the author for sending me this complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Existence of Amy is a character-driven novel about Amy’s life with OCD and depression. Every day, she has to battle with her brain just to complete the most basic tasks. Luckily, she has some amazing friends at work that help her manage. I loved Amy’s friendship with Ed, and how he covers for her and understands what she is struggling with without her having to explain her thoughts.
This is an uncomfortable book to read, but I also think it’s an incredibly important read. The reader is placed directly inside Amy’s brain. It certainly sheds light on the struggles that people with mental illness face, and I have a new appreciation for their strength after reading this book.
As heavy as the subject matter is, this is a very quick read. I was actually surprised how quickly I was able to get through it. It’s also hopeful: even though Amy feels incredibly trapped by her own mind, she isn’t alone. She has people looking out for her and not letting her slip too far into herself.
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