Am I Normal Yet? is the latest novel by author Holly Bourne all about mental illness, friendship and feminism. From the moment I read the synopsis of Am I Normal Yet? I knew I was going to love it. Holly Bourne, as usual, does not disappoint and delivers readers with another amazingly relatable story about teenagers.
Am I Normal Yet? is from the perspective of Evie, a sixteen year old girl who suffers from OCD and anxiety. Evie has just started college and is trying to seem as ‘normal’ as possible and suppress her illness. Soon, Evie is going to parties, on dates and making new friends, but as she becomes closer to the new people in her life, she finds it harder to keep her OCD hidden. It is a very funny book, with dark moments that portrays mental illness very honestly.
Bournes writing style is completely gripping and the story flips between current events and looking back at how things were when she was very ill, before she was ‘normal’. The reader feels like they are suffering with Evie and Bourne allows you to fully get inside the mind of the character as her mental health declines. Bourne deals with many important topics within mental illness, such as how we speak about it and how people suffering with mental illness are treated, in a way that really makes you consider your own life.
Feminism is one of the main aspects in Am I Normal Yet? and is mentioned in a completely new and refreshing way. It shows three teenage girls who become increasingly aware of how messed up our society is when it comes to gender equality and decide to do something about it. Evie, Lottie and Amber start a Spinster club to talk about feminist issues and what it’s like to be a teenage girl. In YA I’ve only ever really seen feminism been written about in dystopias that are meant to shock and scare, such as Only Ever Yours (which I love), but by having teenagers in realistic YA be determined to dismantle patriarchy (as many are in real life) it will hopefully help people realise the issues women and girls still face. After reading this I’m certain more people will be calling themselves feminists, which is always a good thing.
This book is a must read for all teenage girls (and boys for that matter). We have all been affected by mental illness in some way, whether it is friends, family or ourselves who have suffered or are still suffering. Most have us will have experienced sexism at some point as well and Am I Normal Yet? tackles both these issues with amazingly well – with comedy and cheesy snacks. After reading this book I found myself understanding mental illnesses SO MUCH BETTER and desperate to start a spinster club. It’s amazing and you should read it.
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Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop
