Finding Audrey

Recently I have read a few books where the main character lives with a mental health condition, mainly because I can relate to how they feel and the other reason is it raises awareness in a whole new way.  At the start of the year I found out my all time favourite author, Sophie Kinsella, was releasing a book that I knew I could relate to.

Finding Audrey is a young adult book, a first for Sophie, and it tells the story of a young girl called Audrey who was diagnosed with Social Anxiety, General anxiety Disorder and Depressive episodes after an incident at school.  I will admit reading her "diagnosis" made me like her even more as I could really relate to how she was feeling.  

Audrey lives with her mum, dad and brothers.  I absolutely love all the characters in this book as they are the typical family, fighting over spending too long playing computer games and general family life.  In a way I can see me being  mum as I can imagine me overreacting when Liam and Sophie are older!

I don't want to give too much away so I won't tell you much about the story as such as you really need to read it and I know you will love it as much as I did, I felt a bit down once I finished the book as I really enjoyed it.

The way Sophie wrote about the symptoms Audrey had when she even thought about stepping out the house, the feeling of dread, sheer panic and not being in control where spot on yet tackled in such a way that it will educate the person reading the story.  I know I don't have Social anxiety but I know people who do and the not being able to socialise with people they don't know or even making eye contact and avoiding social events is typical symptoms and again spot on.

Not only does this book educate, as I have mentioned, it also helped me feel better about myself.  Yes I have been getting better recently but everyone's life is full of ups and downs, it is part of life and if we fall down we pick ourselves up and start again.  I know I might have a relapse or little set backs but that happens to everyone and there is no shame in it, in fact it just makes us human.

I would like to thank Sophie for writing this book, not only are you raising awareness, you are also educating and helping to reduce the stigma attached to mental health conditions. 

You can buy a copy of Finding Audrey from Waterstones by clicking here or you can find it on Amazon by clicking here

To find out more about Sophie Kinsella you can visit her website here