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Am I Normal Yet? Book Review

 Am I Normal Yet? is a book that I read a few weeks back and wasn't planning on reviewing, but when I was writing my books I've enjoyed recently recommendations I realised I had so much to say about this book and I couldn't say it all then. This review may not make sense and be all over the place but who cares? 

Am I Normal Yet? is about Evie who struggles with OCD and Anxiety but just wants to be normal - make friends go to college and date boys and Evie is starting college where nobody knows her as the girl who went mad. I can't really say much else about the plot without giving spoilers, that's all I went in knowing and I really enjoyed. 

I want to preface this by saying I don't struggle with any mental health conditions but do live with someone who has struggled with their mental health for almost as long as I can remember and I have done my own research into it as well. 
The mental health representation in this book was amazing, probably the best I have ever read. Something I loved was the fact that Evie had a personality on top of struggling with OCD and Anxiety, struggling with OCD and Anxiety wasn't Evie's personality. There were times when even though I don't suffer from any mental health conditions, I felt so seen and understood. There is one exact quote at the start of the book, that has stuck with me since reading the book weeks ago. It goes - 
"Because now people use the phrase OCD to describe minor personality quirks. 'Oooh, I like my pens in a line, I'm so OCD.'
NO YOUR FUCKING NOT
'Oh my god, I was so nervous about that presentation, I literally had a panic attack.'
NO YOU FUCKING DIDN'T
'I'm so hormonal today, I just feel totally bipolar.'
SHUT UP YOU IGNORANT BUMFACE"
I have felt that way so many times. 
Holly Bourne really did her research and it paid off, you can tell that she wanted it to be as true as it could be and didn't want to portray it wrong and insult people. I have looked at reviews and other things people with OCD have said about this book and many of the things I've seen people have said that for them with OCD, this has accurate descriptions and possibly triggering for someone with OCD and Anxiety. 

I also loved the friendship between Amber, Lottie and Evie, it might be a newly developing friendship but it felt like a really strong true female teenage friendship. Holly Bourne really thought about what it is like to be a teenager and how it feels, I really do feel like the teenage friendships were portrayed really well and possibly my favourite part of the book. The idea of a Spinister Club is really cool too and I now what to make my own. 
The relationship between Evie and her sister, whose name I've forgotten, also felt really real and is something I really want to read more about. 

I'm super excited to continue the series. I'm hoping for more fun and well done feminist content, more of Amber, Lottie and Evie's friendship and maybe more sibling relationships. Overall I just love Holly Bourne's books and writing.  

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