How do you pick up the pieces after life has served you enough trauma for a lifetime? Charlotte, aged 17, is trying to recover in a world that owes her nothing, but has taken so much. In our season 3 finale, we dive into Girl in Pieces' representations of self-harm, hospitalisation, and unhealthy relationships, and ask the big question: does this book risk doing more harm than good? Spoiler review starts at 31:34. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph [https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/3bd1085e-7b70-4327-b1d5-74616296ec18]. Detailed show notes available on our website. Note: We will going on hiatus in the first half of 2024, but hope to launch Season 4 later in the year!
Is it possible to hibernate your problems away? Our main character - privileged, vain, and traumatised - chooses to sleep for a year to take a break from her life. In our spiciest review yet, we discuss self-medication, unlikable characters, and one of the worst mental heath professionals we've ever encountered in fiction. Spoiler review starts at 41:36 Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph [https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/3bd1085e-7b70-4327-b1d5-74616296ec18]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
There are plenty of dates in this story, but Queenie is not about romance. Queenie Jenkins navigates life after a long-term relationship break-up. The premise sounds like a rom-com, but the story visits some dark places along the way. In this episode, we discuss themes such as trauma, racism, anxiety, relationship red flags, and consent. Listen to find out why we think Queenie is well worth a read. Spoiler review starts at 35:14. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph [https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/3bd1085e-7b70-4327-b1d5-74616296ec18]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
Last episode was prompted by Elise's recommendation. This time, it's Priscilla's. Tiger Daughter tells the story of Wen and Henry, and what happens when tragedy strikes their community. We cover themes of domestic abuse, misogyny, and the ripple effect of suicide - all framed by the Chinese immigrant experience in Australia. The first part of this episode is spoiler-free. Also, we interview author Rebecca Lim! Stay tuned for Rebecca's insights on her writing process and the themes of Tiger Daughter. Spoiler review starts at 24:37 | Interview starts at 42:19 Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph [https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/3bd1085e-7b70-4327-b1d5-74616296ec18]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
We're baaaaack! To kick off Season 3, we're covering the very hyped memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. We discuss Jennette's experience of childhood abuse and eating disorders, complicated grief, and our thoughts on her recovery process. FYI, our episodes are now two-parters: we start with general discussions of the books without spoilers, then we dive into the details. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph [https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/3bd1085e-7b70-4327-b1d5-74616296ec18]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
Well, 2021 has certainly been a year. We're still on hiatus, but popping up to say 'hey, we read some cool books this year!' In this special bonus episode, we each present our Top 3 books of the year (plus some honourable mentions). This episode is spoiler-free and the books aren't specific to mental health! Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
Welcome to the last episode of Season 2. We had such a wonderful time putting this season together. In this episode, we reflect on the process of recording the season, and talk about our favourite moments. After this episode, we will be going on a hiatus, and we're not planning on returning for a Season 3 at this stage. We're not going away completely though! We will still have opinions on books and mental health reps, so we are planning to continue posting our reviews on our blog. We will also keep our social media active. So keep us in your feeds and hopefully we can come back for Season 3 one day. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
What does it mean when a monster shows up at your window? For our final review episode of Season 2, we discuss A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness with special guest, author Mat Larkin. We talk about the stages of grief, middle grade tropes, surprisingly therapeutic monsters, and all the feels! Find Mat Larkin via https://matlarkin.com/ Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
What can you do when you feel disconnected from your family, and your culture? Darius is a 'fractional Persian', and speaks better Klingon than Farsi. And his first trip to Iran is about to change his life. In this episode, we chat about Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. We discuss what causes and maintains depression, cultural understandings of mental illness, and reflect on the role of medication. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
Would you run for prom king/queen? There is nothing Liz Lightly would like less, but she's willing to do whatever it takes to win a scholarship, even if it means facing her fear of the spotlight. With special guests, Hallie and Allie from the Read It, Next podcast, we chat about anxiety representation, cute romance, and the importance of seeing Black protagonists experiencing joy. We also chat about/get educated about prom culture. Listen to Read It, Next via Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/read-it-next/id1532734772], or check out their Instagram @readitnextpodcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/read-it-next/id1532734772] Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
How much do you really know about your parents? In Kelly Loy Gilbert's Picture Us in the Light, Danny Cheng grapples with the mysteries of his family's past, a tragedy in his friendship group, as well as the possibilities in his future. Along with our guest, Wendy Chen, we discuss the portrayal of grief following a suicide, intergenerational trauma, and the costs of defining yourself by your achievements. Wendy's blog: writteninwondersite.wordpress.com [https://writteninwondersite.wordpress.com/] | Lit CelebrAsian litcelebrasian.wordpress.com [https://litcelebrasian.wordpress.com/] Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
Portia Hobbs, 'perpetual hot mess', meets Tavish McKenzie, gruff Scottish swordsman. Sparks fly, and self-discoveries abound. We discuss the book's portrayal of ADHD and how this experience can impact on a person's self-beliefs. We also chat about positive female friendships, difficult family dynamics, and (of course) the central romance. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
How can you stay safe when there's a serial killer on the loose? Can you be best friends with someone you met online? Cry Blue Murder tells the story of two teenagers who exchange emails after shocking murders devastate a community. We don't have all the answers, but we can talk about the anxiety and grief that might be present after a crime in schools and the wider community. We also talk briefly about trauma, and nitpick some details about the mental health issues and diagnoses presented. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
What would life look like if you only focused on the things that bring you pleasure? Noni Blake is about to find out. This episode, we are joined by Shelby from the Chub Rub Book Club podcast to discuss body image, anxiety, and the joys of prioritising yourself. We love the sex positivity and portrayal of self-care in this book, but acknowledge the privilege required to uproot your life to focus on your own wellbeing. Find Chub Rub Book Club via www.chubrubbookclub.com [http://www.chubrubbookclub.com/] or on Instagram @chubrubbookclub [https://www.instagram.com/chubrubbookclub/?hl=en] Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
CW: suicide. Welcome to Season 2 of Novel Feelings! We're kicking things off with Thirteen Reasons Why, in all its controversy. We talk about the book's portrayal of suicide and why it makes us uncomfortable. Discussion topics also include bullying, sexism, and the lack of mental health support in the story. As an exciting bonus, we chat to researcher Dr Fincina Hopgood about the controversies and cultural impact of the Netflix adaptation (Interview starts at 58:25). Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
It's our Season 1 finale and, guess what? We break the first rule of Fight Club! (yes, that is a very new, unique joke). Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk, follows a man suffering from insomnia. He meets a strange man named Tyler Durden; the two bored men form an underground club and fight other men who are fed up with their own mundane lives. In this episode, we discuss arguably the best-known portrayal of dissociative identity disorder in fiction, for better or worse. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
What if the things you remember never happened? More importantly, what if no one believes your version of events? We discuss Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein, a fascinating YA psychological thriller. Small Spaces follows Tash Carmody who has has been traumatised since she witnessed her imaginary friend, Sparrow, lure a child away from a carnival. We discuss stigma, gaslighting, trauma, and the impact of bad therapy. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
Can you practice romance? Stella thinks so. In this episode, we talk about The Kiss Quotient, by Helen Hoang. It tells the story of Stella, an econometrician diagnosed with Asperger's, who decides to hire Michael, an escort, to teach her intimacy and romance. We discuss autism, the relationship between core beliefs and miscommunication, and the importance of being a decent human. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
Even faeries experience trauma. This episode is all about the novel A Court of Mist and Fury, by Sarah J. Maas. ACOMAF explores what happens after a brutal experience for Feyre, human-turned-fae. We discuss post-traumatic stress disorder in a fantasy setting, signs of a healthy (or potentially unhealthy) relationship, and a lot of angsty faeries. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.
Just as there is power in a good dumpling, there is power in good representation. Today we're reviewing The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling, by Wai Chim. We discuss Anna's experience of caring for a family member with mental health issues as a first-generation Asian Australian; the trajectory of recovery; and what a guidance counsellor should NOT say to a student. Find Novel Feelings via: * Our website [https://novelfeelings.com/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/novel_feelings/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/novel_feelings] * Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/novel_feelings]. Detailed show notes available on our website.