Wow. This book is exactly what I think so many people need in their lives. With representation for bipolar disorder, anxiety, OCD, and depression, it will make you feel seen no matter what you’re struggling with. It hits close to home for me because I used to suffer from debilitating anxiety. I couldn’t be alone or else I’d hear the monsters just like Lily. It still comes back every now and then, there are days when all I want to do is stay on the couch and listen to the monsters mock me, but I’m better. I know how to handle it.

With Lily, though, you get to see her journey as she goes from being slightly okay to not okay at all. You get to see how she tries to overcome her monsters and every twist along the way. I thought it was wonderfully written and in a way that respectfully and artfully portrays mental illness. You do have bullies who mock you for your pain. There are times when you can’t get up, but let me tell you, my favorite quote from this novel was three words. Three words that mean so much and I think anyone struggling with mental illness should hear them: “Stay. That’s brave.”

This book almost brought me to tears because it reminded me of how hard I try every day to stay. The darkness is not allowed around me. My voice, my positivity, is the only thing allowed to come through. Not the monsters. The Words We Keep reminded me of my own novel, All the Little Things, and how cathartic it was for me to write. That was the beginning of my journey to heal. Writing. I would love to thank Erin Stewart for finding the courage to write about her experiences as well because it’s hard to bare your soul, and it’s even harder to ask for help.

Overall, this book deserves all the stars. It deserves a whole lot more than that. For now, though, I’ll just say that if you struggle with your mental health, if you need a story that makes you feel seen, this is the one for you. Ask for help. Love yourself. Let others love you, too. Because you are enough. No matter what the monsters say.  

Source: Personal Copy