I am quite excited to welcome one of my favorite humans to play with us today! Rashika blogs at Xpresso Reads and The Social Potato, and you probably want to talk to her on Twitter and stuff. Because again, one of my favorite humans. Rashika is sharing five of her favorite books about mental health today! I have only read one (Challenger Deep, which I totally agree with!) but I can promise that the rest of these are on my TBR (and let’s be real, all but one is on my bookshelf, too!) So Rashika, take it away!
Rashika’s Post
My Top 5 Reads about Mental Health (in no particular order)
- Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
Even though I said that this list is in no particular order, the reason that Saving Francesca makes the top of this list is because…. *cue dramatic drum roll* it holds a special place in my heart. I read it during a difficult period in my life (no friends, didn’t really like anything going on in my life at the time, angst and lots of sadness) and Saving Francesca helped me own up to it in a way that helped me think more positively about myself and things around me. While it is a book about mental health it’s focuses on mental health by looking at how it affects loved ones and such. - Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes
The synopsis for Girl Against the Universe seems more quirk and less serious but believe me when I say that this book does not turn mental illness into a bunch of quirky traits that make the MC stand out. There are people around her that help her get the help she needs and help her be healthier. 100/10, would recommend (I mean… it is on this list so I guess me saying this is redundant but whatever.) - The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong
It’s a THRILLER where mental health issues aren’t part of the plot twist. I feel like a lot of thrillers that say they deal with mental health really just turn it into a plot twist and this book didn’t. It actually dealt with mental health issues without making them into a plot twist and made you really think about how we perceive those who have mental illnesses. - Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
This book is one of my favorite books ever and no words I say could really ever do it justice. Supportive family and an amazing main character (and secondary ones) included - Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown
This book, like Saving Francesca, is a book about mental health told from the POV of a loved one. It’s one of my favorite books about mental illnesses because of the great sibling bond and the ways in which a road trip two siblings take help them not only be closer but also reconnect and be more supportive.
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I haven’t read any of these or even heard of some – off to add them to my wishlist!
That penguin picture, omg. Rashika’s also one of my favorite humans! You’re having so many favorite humans on your blog. Ahem.
I’ve also read Challenger Deep which was really great and unique. Saving Francesca is at the top of my TBR. So you know, I’ll get to it in the next decade or so. 😉 You should read The Masked Truth since I bought you it! Hahaha. (Then again, I have books from people -Holly, Val-you…) that I haven’t read yet. Oops.
I need to check out Perfect Escape, which I’d heard of, but wasn’t too sure about. Now that Rashika’s approved it, I should read it.
I own Girl Against the Universe and now want to read it even more. Challenger Deep has been on my TBR forever. Can’t wait to check out the rest!
I’m probably going to be reading Challenger Deep next month. It’s on my school reading list. I’m looking forward to it!
Rashikaaaaa! Uhum she is my child, Shannon. No stealing her.
Saving Francesca is one of my favorite too and it will forever be the book that I’m going to recommend if ever anyone asks me for mental health illness book recs.
And The Masked Truth too! I love how that book was a thriller but the focus on the mental conditions were given equal attention as the plot.
I need to read Challenger Deep as well as Perfect Escape.
HAHAHAH THAT BIO IS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY SHAPE AND FORM.
I should probably read Saving Francesca, because the only Melina Marchetta book I have tried is Finnikin (and I didn’t like it as much as I wanted to). ALSO JENNIFER BROWN. So I’ve only read The Hate List by her (because the MC has my name lol), but it was surprisingly REALLY good. So I can assume all her books are like that.
AWESOME LIST YOU LITTLE NUGGET
THE MASKED TRUTH sounds especially good!
I’m definitely going to have to check out Saving Francesca and The Masked Truth. Both sound like they do. Great job representing mental health. Great post!
These are some pretty great recommendations! Most of the books that I have read that feature mental illness focus on the main character and their struggles. But it would be completely different to read about mental illness from the point of view of a loved one. Seeing mental illness from a different point of view makes the topic relatable to more people, which then raises awareness and care for those struggling with mental health issues. I really need to pick up both Saving Francesca and Perfect Escape sometime soon.
Great recommendations! I love reading more diverse books because I feel like I learn so much from them. Also, that bio is fantastic!
Girl Against the Universe and Challenger Deep are two of my favorites, so I’m so glad to see them on here. 🙂 Thanks for sharing Rashika and, as always, fabulous post! <3
I haven’t read any of these books! All of them sound so good and so important to read. I will be adding them to my TBR for sure.
The only one of these I’ve read so far is Challenger Deep (which I agree was amazing!). I really want to read Saving Francesca – I’m reading Jellicoe Road right now, and Marchetta is genius!