Name: The Existence of Amy
ISBN: 9781086835816

Lana Grace Riva

Amy has a normal life. That is, if you were to go by a definition of 'no obvious indicators of peculiarity', and you didn't know her very well. She has good friends, a good job, a nice enough home. This normality, however, is precariously plastered on top of a different life. A life that is Amy's real life. The only one her brain will let her lead.A fictional story that depicts the reality of mental illness behind a perception of normality.

The Existence of Amy

Kacie bulpitt

This book was kindly send to me by the author in exchange for an honest review... 

This book was extremely eye opening and you can definitely tell that Lana has researched OCD thoroughly and this is displayed through the detail in the writing. It was a very fast read and very simplistic writing which made it feel more powerful for me. Overall it didn’t have much of a plot which at first I didn’t like but as I read more into it I realised that it wasn’t needed. I would definitely recommend this book to those who want to increase their understanding on OCD or for those who want a quick and easy read.

This book gives you the perfect insight of what a person with mental illness is going through. I struggle with the same mental illnesses as Amy and I could relate to the way she was acting with other people or her own thoughts and emotions. It's a really great book with a hopeful ending.

Thank you Lana for the free copy of the book, you're amazing! Also, thank you for writing this book.

Sintia

This book gives you the perfect insight of what a person with mental illness is going through. I struggle with the same mental illnesses as Amy and I could relate to the way she was acting with other people or her own thoughts and emotions. It's a really great book with a hopeful ending.

Thank you Lana for the free copy of the book, you're amazing! Also, thank you for writing this book.

Sam Pulliam

3.5
I was sent this book by Riva in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Amy throughout her average life but shows readers the ways her OCD and depression can change the ways in which she goes about her everyday life. Though there is a bit of a plot involving international travel and romantic relationships, this book definitely feels, at times, like a character study. In this way, Riva accomplishes her goal of showing what maintaining a regular office job and a social life can look like with OCD. I definitely think this book picks up in the second half as Amy starts to really have to deal with the things in her life that she feels are holding her back from being happy. Overall, a fairly quick read which I enjoyed. 

I am working on a more in-depth review on my blog which I will link later.

Karolina

Amy seems like a normal woman. She has a good job, loyal friends and a nice home. As you probably think, it’s everything that wants to achieve in life. However, the real life of Amy looks completely different. She lives how her brain allows her to and it’s making everything harder. She can’t fight it, even if she wants. It controls her life, relationships and moods. It’s hard for her to leave her apartments because it’s her safe place and outside waits for her a lot of hazards. 

She’s good in hiding it from the world. Everyone thinks she’s kind of weird, but no one knows that there is something more than that. Her depression and OCD grow stronger. Thankfully, when it comes to the work trip to Australia, she’s able to fight it. 

The doesn’t include any adventures or romances but it’s much more than that. It’s about the fight for life and happiness. It’s about a strong and unique friendship in the time it’s needed the most. It’s the story you’ve never heard before. 

My thoughts

Reading this book was at some point very hard. The book was written in first person, so we have a complete view of her all thoughts. It’s so hard to imagine how people get through life with the mental illness. The easiest things we do on the daily basis are a real struggle for the people like this. 
Amy is very weak, and she doesn’t even try to ask for help. She thinks that that’s how her life is, and it can’t be changed. She tries, because she wants it to be different, but her mental illness is so strong that it’s hard to push it away. 

In the book is a lot of great characters that I would like to talk about. My favorite one is Natan, who develops a lot throughout the book. He doesn’t play a big part at the beginning but he’s one that at the end that stays with her and makes her life easier. Another one is Ed who’s her best friend. His character has two sides. He’s very caring but sometimes a little bit selfish and annoying. He wants the best for Amy but it’s hard for him to understand some aspects of her life. 

The story is very original and deep. It’s one of the hardest books I read but surprisingly I read it in one day, because if you start you can’t put the book down. It’s worth reading just to understand the meaning of the effects obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression have. 

I received the book from the author to honestly review the book. I had a few attempts to read this book but finally few days ago I sat down and read it at once. I am so glad that Lana Grace Riva contacted me and provided me one of the copies. It’s an amazing book that everyone should know about.

Anika | @chaptersofmay

TW: mental health disorders

This book is hauntingly realistic. From the first two paragraphs I could identify with Amy and it struck a chord straight away. All she wants to feel is “normal”, but instead she feels she’s anything but. Her brain has complete control over her, it’s almost like she can’t think independently of her anxieties. 

While reading this book, I really felt like I was transported into Amy’s head. Halfway through, I could almost predict what her next thought of action would be because I understood the character so well. It’s not just because she has relatable qualities, but also because the author establishes her personality in the early stages of the story - she doesn’t feel like a stranger. 

Because you feel like you know Amy from the start, you sympathise with her immediately. It’s hard not to sympathise with anyone facing mental health disorders, and Amy’s are OCD and depression. The two added together also give her anxiety. They’re so severe, they affect her daily life, her interactions with others and her ability to use everyday objects outside of her home. 

Throughout the book, Amy’s OCD is ever-present, but her depression creeps in on her and she can usually feel it coming. I found that to be very realistic and the concepts of the two different illnesses were honestly and clearly presented.The entire story is from our main character’s point of view, and she speaks very matter-of-factly. 

The only thing stopping The Existence of Amy being a 5-star read for me was the pacing. While it was great in the beginning, and doesn’t lag much, it did feel rushed towards the end. Over the 281 pages, I would have liked to see more of Amy’s good days and recovery. There were improvements for her but they only seemed to last a few pages and then I reached the end. It would have been great to peer into her therapy more and really understand how her thinking so drastically changed over the years. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I felt a lot like reading a diary, and although it covers heavy subjects, it was an easy read.

The Existence of Amy

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