This book manages to take the reader on quite a journey. The beginning of the book, when Abby finds her deceased neighbour is laugh out loud funny. Extence very cleverly uses black humour to portray Abby's awkwardness in this situation. However it shifts to alarm when you realise the trajectory that Abby is now on and desolation when she ends up in the psychiatric ward. I also enjoyed Abby's stay on Lindisfarne, where she finally found the space to find peace with herself. This functional and healing withdrawal from the world contrasted well with that forced on her in the hospital. However Extence was able to show the importance of both in Abby's healing. I found the writing of Abby's inner drama authentic, even though I was aware that Abby's perception of events and herself was probably a bit off the mark. Her path to healing began when these started to match up more closely, starting off with her 'acting as if' in the hospital. I enjoyed the book. It was insightful, funny, compassionate and optimistic. I give it 3.5, so I've bumped it up to 4 stars.
