The Definition of Us Review

Title: The Definition of Us
Author: Sarah Harris
Series: Not Applicable
Publisher: Piatkus Books
Publication Date: 12 July 2018
Source: Jonathan Ball Publishers
Format: Paperback
Pages: 272
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reading Timeline: 31 October 2018 - 03 November 2018


Goodreads Synopsis:

Normal


(adj.) Conforming to a standard; regular, typical or expected

(urban) A word inapplicable to human beings
(Florence) Round, smooth and bumpy like a cobbled street
Florence doesn't always see things the way other people do. She feels different.
When Florence meets Jasper, Andrew and Wilf she can't imagine they'd have much in common - with at least five mental health conditions between them, they all have very different reasons for being referred to Manor Lane Therapy Centre.
It's only when their therapist, Howard, goes missing that they find a common purpose. Worried by his disappearance and wanting answers, the four of them decide to track him down.
As they cross the country in a 'borrowed' van, asking each other Ultimate Questions and facing a series of challenges along the way, they start to reveal their true selves - and Florence realises there's more to all of them than just a diagnosis . . .
Maybe they're not so different after all?




Book Review:
Pre-reading Thoughts:

The reason why I chose to read The Definition of Us is that it is a very short book and I really wanted a small win after being in a reading slump towards the end of the October. Also, there is a lot of representation of mental illness in this book.

Thank you so much to Jonathan Ball Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book. Just a small disclaimer for those reading this review. I have received this for free. Please note that this does not affect my opinion in any way. All thoughts are my own.

Writing Thoughts:

The writing was okay. There wasn't anything in particular that stood out for me. I really enjoyed the multimedia, where the reader is able to see the small lists that Florence makes. It is a good break from the pages of content. I liked how well the characters relationship is represented in the writing and the emotions of Florence who control our narrative.

Plot Thoughts:

The plot at first glance is about this adventure that four teens go on but when you look deeper it's about these teens who are struggling to find comfort in what they consider to be the normal world. The characters attempt to find their therapist because life without him seemed difficult. I really enjoyed how the author brought them together in different situations, where they could learn more about one another.

Character Thoughts:

I really liked these characters. They were likeable and they let you sympathies with their situation because we all get attached to people sometimes. I did, however, find that they weren't quite developed but in this short book, it did not make a big difference.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this was a great book. I highly recommend it for those who want a quick read and who want a summer contemporary. I personally believe that the representation in this book is quite good. The writing was not amazing but it stilled pulled who in. The plot is where the book shined the most. It was interesting and heartfelt. The characters were likeable and made the reading experience both enjoyable and in some way educational. Thank you so much to Jonathan Ball Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

Yours in Reading,
Melleny

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