There are no spoilers in this review.
Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes, Holly Bourne
Published on August 9th, 2018 by Usborne Publishing.
Welcome to Camp Reset, a summer camp with a difference. A place offering a shot at “normality” for Olive, a girl on the edge, and for the new friends she never expected to make – who each have their own reasons for being there. Luckily Olive has a plan to solve all their problems. But how do you fix the world when you can’t fix yourself?
Buddy-read this book with the wonderful Clara!
Fair warning: this book is not an easy read, especially if you’re dealing with mental heath issues on your own. Beware of the trigger warnings (listed below) and take care of yourself!
I ENJOYED…
☂️
- Holly Bourne is, for sure, one of these authors I’m always looking forward to reading more from. I feel like she is so, so very good at tackling books dealing with mental health and, with Lemmings & Snowflakes, it once again, shows. There are so many moments and quotes that just, hit all the right notes.
“Because trying to use logic to explain anxiety is like using a banana to open a locked safe.”
- The author doesn’t take any precaution in this book and throws us right into the main character’s mind, an experience that was raw, emotional and intense. As we slowly get to know her and her issues, as we see her slowly but certainly unravelling, in both positives and negative ways, it’s hard to look away.
- Olive, the main character, was so complex and sometimes hard to follow, sometimes frustrating, really flawed, too, yet she had such a unique voice, too. If I wasn’t entirely loving her course of action in the story, I rooted for her as a character and really wanted her to feel better and most of it all, not to feel like a bad person.
- We get an interesting cast of characters in Camp Reset just as well and I liked the diversity of them all dealing with different mental illnesses. I especially liked Lewis, kind and sweet, loving-maths-Lewis.
- I really loved the message of the book overall about kindness and, most importantly, being kinder to yourself. It’s a message that really hit home for me and my own mental health issues and I really appreciated that the author highlighted that. It’s such an important message.
“You don’t have to stop looking after yourself just to help the world. In fact, sometimes it’s better for the world if you put yourself first. That’s not being selfish, in fact looking after yourself is the greatest act of kindness you can give the world. Loving yourself first is the best way to spread love.”
I HAD A HARD TIME WITH…
☂️
- The pacing of the story felt a little, off at times and, with Olive’s trail of thoughts and narrative, sometimes compelled me to read on, sometimes slowed me down.
- I kind of wish we got to know the other characters a little more, they lacked a little bit of depth for me. If I liked how different they all were and thought overall it was a nice little group, I would have loved to get to know them a little more because I feel like there was a lot of potential there.
OVERALL
☂️
If this book wasn’t my favorite by Holly Bourne, it certainly convinced me that she’s such a gifted writer, especially when it comes to talking about mental health. I really can’t wait to read more and more from her.
Final rating: 3,5 drops!
Trigger warnings: suicide idealisation, discussion of sexual assault, depression, panic attacks, OCD, bipolar disorder, hypomania, slut-shaming.
Diversity: this book is filled with characters dealing with mental illnesses. Agoraphobia, social anxiety, panic disorder, anxiety disorder, OCD, depression, bipolar disorder etc.
Other books by Holly Bourne I’ve reviewed:
☂️ If you’re interested in ya books with mental health representation, read my recommendations post!
Did you read Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? Do you want to?
What’s the latest book you’ve read with mental health rep? Let me know in comments!
Small note: I’m on a blog hiatus from today-tomorrow to July, 7th and will only answer to comments and see your wonderful blogs again then. See you soon xx
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That’s a great review!!! I really want to read it asap!?❤?
Thank you so much! I hope you will 😀
I am so glad that we read this book together, and I hope we’ll be able to buddy read many other books in the future! <3 I'm also super happy that we thought the exact same things on it!! #readingtwins
I really hope so, I loved buddy reading with you so much <3 <3
I LOVE flawed characters but olive honestly got on my nerves a lot sometimes and seemed really ignorant and obnoxious point at so many points. But I liked the story overall! I’m glad you somewhat enjoyed this one though!!!
I get what you mean, Olive was such a difficult character at times,. I’m glad you liked the story overall though 😀
Thank you so much <3
This was a great bullet review! Do you like writing those better than full reviews? Which one is more enjoyable to post? Also thanks so much for the recommendation list of YA books with mental health representation. It’s such an important topic and I’d love to read more about it <3 Enjoy your hiatus!
Thank you so much!! 🙂 I really enjoy writing both types of reviews, but when I have less things to say about a book or less time, bullet point reviews help me a lot. It also helps when I just don’t know how to form coherent sentences to talk about a book haha. Making lists like that really helps and it’s a lot of fun too 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
That makes sense! I like that idea <3 And you're very welcome. You are a sweet person.
Aww, you’re too sweet <3 <3
I so glad to see a review for some Holly Bourne books because I want to read more of her books so seeing reviews help decide which one I want to pick up first. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed this one and I agree being kind to yourself is such an important message and we all need to be reminded of it sometimes!!! ?
I hope you have a relaxing hiatus and enjoy yourself whatever you are doing– you deserve it!! ?
Thank you so much Sophie <3 I hope you'll get to read more of Holly Bourne's books, I adore everything she writes, so far my favorite was probably Am I Normal Yet 🙂
Thank you <3 <3
Lovely review, Marie! I’m sorry this wasn’t your favorite read, but I’m glad you still liked it. I added it to my TBR and I think I’ll like it! I hope your travels are going phenomenally <3
Thank you so much Olivia, I hope you’ll love it! <3 <3
Thank you so much, you're too sweet! <3
Excellent honest review Marie! You gave the good as well as the less “stellar” here. Oh and enjoy your holiday in Croatia!
Thank you, Sophie! <3 <3
Wonderful review! It’s quite hard to achieve genuine insight into and exploration of mental health issues. But it sounds like this one did a well enough job though it might have faltered in some other areas. But I’m glad you mostly enjoyed it! Also, love the bulleted format. Was thinking of trying that out myself 😀
It really is complicated, but Holly Bourne does this so well and I love her so much for it 🙂
Thank you, Azia! and I hope you’ll try out that format, it’s a lot of fun to write reviews this way:)
Sounds like the author tackled those mental health issues with a lot of tact and helps the reader reflect on it while “enjoying” the story. Great honest review as always, Marie!
Definitely! Holly Bourne is so talented for that 🙂
Thank you so much <3
Great honest review! I haven’t read this book but the premise sounds pretty good. I’m sorry it’s not your favorite read but I’m glad you overall liked the story.
Thank you so much Raven! 🙂
This sounds so interesting! I’m still yet to read any Holly Bourne, and I really must do something about it!
Have a lovely hiatus. You deserve a break <3
Thank you so much, it was good to take a little break and it will be to do so again soon as well ahah <3
I hope you’ll get to read some of Holly Bourne’s books. They really are amazing, I love them SO much. <3
This is such a lovely little review, Marie! I haven’t read anything by Holly Bourne yet, but it’s so nice to hear that she’s great at discussing mental health in her stories. I’ll have to check this one out, along with Am I normal Yet and It Only Happens in the Movies! <3
Oh yes, Holly Bourne is one of the best writers about mental health I’ve come across so far in my reading journey and I love her stories and her writing voice so much. I hope you will too 😀
Good that this was so raw and emotional, even if the pacing was flawed. Awesome review!
Ahh thank you so much, you’re so sweet! <3 <3