February 2015, Hodder & Stoughton, 320 pages, Paperback, Review copy
Content: teen romance, depression, suicide, dark humour,
Summary from Hodder and Stoughton
Aysel and Roman are practically strangers, but they've been drawn
into an unthinkable partnership. In a month's time, they plan to commit
suicide - together.
Aysel knows why she wants to
die: being the daughter of a murderer doesn't equal normal,
well-adjusted teenager. But she can't figure out why handsome, popular
Roman wants to end it all....and why he's even more determined than she
is.
With the deadline getting closer, something starts to
grow between Aysel and Roman - a feeling she never thought she would
experience. It seems there might be something to live for, after all -
but is Aysel in so deep she can't turn back?
Nayu's thoughts (which were typed fast and whose length won't correlate with the meaning of a short 'n' sweet review)
By
nature of the concept of depressed teens seeking suicide I knew this
wasn't a happy go lucky read. But I couldn't not find out what
happened in the end, which wasn't disappointing or what I'd expected,
yet was wonderful in all that it meant. Both Aysel and Roma have
tough lives, and because through no fault of their own they haven't
had the exact support which they would need to steer them away from
suicide they end up meeting each other, and a lot more. Knowing what
they both want to do was always at the front of my thoughts as I
witnessed them unwillingly find a bit of joy in life, however they
hard they tried to do deny it. Aysel more than Roma feels that she is
finally living, which is a bit crazy since she is planning her death.
There are some things they both do which I thought was stupid and not
right, regardless of whether they wanted to die or not, but wanting
to die removed some sense of self-preservation and restrain against
what was considered safe. It was a hard going read which I read in
sections to avoid getting too down about where their troubled lives
were heading. I wouldn't recommend it as a bedtime read as it is
thought provoking and led to prayers of hope and direction for those
who feel they are unworthy of living.
Support for mental illness can
be be sketchy, and I feel is hugely individual because everyone's
situation is unique. Aysel needed to be shown how to live, and Roma –
well he needed a brain transplant! Aysel hadn't had enough emotional
support, and Roma was too locked in a cycle of self-torment and grief
to understand that his life was worth living despite the tragedy
which had struck his family. Even if adults had initially tried to
persuade Aysel & Roma to keep living (not that they knew of their
intentions), neither one was in a receptive mood and had to
experience certain aspects of life together before their minds could
be changed. Hopefully that makes sense. This is certainly a book
readers will discuss with others, and open people's eyes to the
complexity of the mind regardless of how old the protagonist is.
Find out more on Jasmine's website.
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