Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

2/1/2018

SYNOPSIS

Norah has agoraphobia and OCD. While using a stick to snag grocery bags left on the porch, she meets Luke. He's sweet and funny, and he just caught her fishing for groceries. Because of course he did.

As their friendship grows deeper, Norah fears she's being selfish.

Doesn't Luke deserve a normal girl -- one who isn't so screwed up?

Readers will fall in love with Norah in this deeply engaging portrait of a teen struggling to find the strength to face her demons.

Synopsis from Chapters.Indigo.ca

PERSONAL REVIEW

This is the first time I've read a book about someone who is agoraphobic and OCD and I thought it was brilliantly done. I have virtually nothing in common with Norah, but when reading this I felt as if I could have easily been her. The writing and the honesty of this story is wonderful and there are so many reasons to love it.

Why I Loved It:

Beautifully Written:
Yes, Norah is incredibly sarcastic, and yes, Luke can sound a little bit more mature then most teenage boys, but overall I thought this was a beautifully written book. As an extrovert, this was an interesting POV for me to read about because Norah is pretty much the exact opposite of me – and yet I was able to connect with her and understand her. I love how Gornall brought us into Norah’s world and made us realize how Norah’s needed to fight every day to make decisions that come easily to most people. It was important that we connected with Norah but didn’t pity her.
An Honest Look at Mental Health:
There are no easy answers in this book. Every step that Norah takes, every moment between her and Luke are a battle within herself and a huge win when it actually happens. I’ve read comments after reading this book with people saying that the love story wasn’t romantic enough, and I just think they are dead wrong. I don’t think there is anything more romantic then fighting for what you love, and eventually winning. The “win” may be as simple as them being able to hold hands, but the fact that Luke would remember to wash his hands and that Norah was willing to take the risk in holding them…well, that’s beautiful to me. This is an honest look at how difficult life can be for people with a mental illness, but that falling in love and having relationships is not impossible. It’s an honest look at the work and struggle that the person will go through, but it’s also incredibly hopeful in the fact that there is a future waiting for them.
Love Isn’t a Cure:
I was really happy that Norah’s crush on Luke doesn’t automatically “cure” her of being agoraphobic or of her OCD. Having a crush on him and wanting to be with him certainly gives her a physical and tangible reason to help herself, but the crush isn’t a simple fix. And this is really important. Gornall did a brilliant job of showing that as much as Norah was falling for Luke, there were things she couldn’t simply “get over” because she wanted to be with him. This is a process, and it was so perfectly done that the conclusion is them going to therapy together, not simply going on a date. As much as she loves him, Norah still needs time to heal and still needs her therapy sessions. It’s a reminder that this is not an easy problem with a simple solution, but something that she will continue to battle with her entire life. But because of her feelings for Luke, she has the chance to live that full life. I’m just so happy for her!

This book is a must read for anything wanting or trying to understand what it's like for your mental health to take over your life. It is a story about struggle and finding yourself, and understanding that while some things are beyond our control, we will always have the power to keep fighting for what we want. This was a great read and gets a high recommendation from me!

FINAL RATING: 4.5/5