A Danger to Herself and Others is unlike any book I have ever read before. It’s different. A good different. It made me doubt everything I was reading. It even made me doubt myself.

This book makes you think and feel. Think about all the good and bad in this world. Think of all the people whose life is affected by those they love. Your feelings are put on a platter. Served before you for all to see. Do you really love Hannah or do you hate her? Do you feel sorry for her or feel normal at all?

I’m still trying to decide how I feel. I’m more confused than anything. This book makes you question everything you have read within its pages. I’m going to have to reread this with the revelations that it revealed and see if I’m crazy or not.

Ms. Scheinmel wrote a book about self doubt and what happens when a little girl grows up too fast. It’s disconcerting. Weird. Making you doubt yourself at every flip of the page. Making you doubt the narrator. It’s definitely a book you should read for yourself.

I am a big fan of unreliable narrators, and I also like it when books have mental illness representation, which is why I decided to give this book a try.

Right off the bat I started loosing interest because I just didn't like the writing style, it made the characters feel unreal. I don't think that Hannah talked like someone her age should have talked. I also didn't feel like I got to know Hannah enough to care for her or what was happening to her. I was bored pretty much from the beginning. I didn't like that she was sleeping with her best friend's boyfriend, and I started to guess at what was happening with him too soon. At first the mystery of what happened between Hannah and her friend was enough to keep me going, but again I started figuring out what was going to happen way too soon. 

This story has been told before, and this book is nothing new. I didn't even read the whole thing, I mostly skipped around after the 25%.  I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and gave it 1 star on Goodreads.

If you enjoy books with unreliable and sometimes completely unlikable main characters you are in for a treat.

When I say unlikable I don't mean in a bad or poorly written way. Hannah, our main character, is very intelligent and she absolutely knows it. She is arrogant and at times manipulative not just to those in her life... the story is written in a way that it feels as if the readers are also having our strings pulled. We are locked in her head the way she is locked in her room at The Institute and are forced to see things exactly the way she wants us to.

While Hannah got on my nerves at times I enjoyed going through this story with her. I liked the mystery and confusion felt at the beginning of the story. Why was she institutionalized? What really happened the night of Agnes' accident? Then as the truth started to unfold and the plot began to twist I enjoyed seeing Hannah in a new light and the shift from "Mystery/Thriller book" to a story of mental health.

That being said, I do have a few pet peeves with this book

Firstly the title phrase "A Danger To Herself and Others" was over utilized throughout the book. It was thrown in at least once every chapter and just felt like overkill...we get it.

I don't live with the mental illness discussed in this book so I really can't speak on the accuracy of its depiction. I've also never been institutionalized so once again... I can't speak on the accuracy. I do however wish that there were more specifics regarding Hannah's diagnosis? What exactly is she now living with? I feel like it was hinted at but never actually given the name. That might just be a personal issue and it's a very small one it just made Hannah's illness feel... I don't know general.

Not a ton seemed to happen in this book. Most of it takes place in her room. Most of her encounters with others, most of if not all of the revelations. I know if she was deemed a "Danger To Herself and Others" (lol now I'M doing it) she probably wouldn't be allowed to interact with too many others. I just wish there was maybe more time of her earning and even losing privileges . Also, the revelations and plot twists seemed to happen sort of quickly. Once again I can't speak on the accuracy of the treatment or even how the medication works but it just seemed... fast.

For the most part I thought this was a good read. I enjoy mental health books and despite the fact that I could've used a bit more plot wise, I found Hannah interesting and wish her the best (the way it ended kind of left me sad)

A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel is a thought provoking almost psychological thriller. I’m sure it would fit in nicely with young adult general fiction though it has the added depth of a little bit of mystery. It’s backbone is a serious look into mental health, though it is completely fiction. It is a good book, I enjoyed it and it kept me engaged, it just fell a little flat for me.

The characters don’t seem to be very diverse and in a whole are generally unlikable. The main character, Hannah Gold, is exactly what you expect her to be by the end of the book, pitiable but dark. The book seems to suggest that even without her mental illness she would have had a Villanous personality. This is where the slight lean toward thriller comes in. I hope that given that lean the book doesn’t create or perpetuate a stigma for mental illness.

Hannah’s parents seem to be stuck up, despicable people. I really hate them as characters. All the other characters are pretty cardboard, except Lucy, I liked Lucy. Lucy is my favorite. 😄

That being said the plot is great. It was captivating enough to make up for the supporting character’s flatness. Imagine being thrust into a mental facility without really knowing why. Discovering that you have an illness that makes you question who you are. Not having the short you should given the situation. It would be pretty rough, right?

So my little bookings if your looking for a book to read that will make you think and has a deeper subject look no further. Yes, I do recommend A Danger to Herself and Others.

I give this book a 3.5 our of 5 stars.

A great big thanks goes to NetGally for allowing me to read this Arc for a fair and honest review.

*A big thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC inexchange for a honest review*

It is one my anticipated book this Feb and I'm sooo glad that I finished this book! A Danger to Herself and Others is a YA thriller that focuses the story of a teenage girl, Hannah Gold, who is placed in a psychiatric hospital where she will be studied by the doctor because the accident happened to her roommate, Agnes, who is her best friend. The question left unanswered: Does really Hannah Gold killed Agnes?

This book really give me to think for what really happened. It's pretty twisted and also, there are some parts that really confuses me so... I repeat some chapters to make some clearance. I don't want to miss a THING! So anyway, the story goes like we're in Hannah's mind, and she quickly planned on how she dwell to her doctor, as well as the rules in the hospital without breaking it. She was sent there because the authorities thinks she's crazy and accusing her for what happened to her best friend. Hannah thinks she’s not crazy and I love her optimism while she’s in the hospital. She always believes in herself that she will get out, going to see her best friend again and going again trips with her parents. Her doctor studies her very carefully and everything before the day she’ll be judged.

The story got more interesting when Lucy came by! Oh, I love Lucy! She’s a ballet dancer and because of her, it shows the friendly side of Hannah which I understand her side more in the story. Hannah is so passionate to Lucy, she even help her even though it’s risky and she knows the consequences! That’s what friends are for! :D
Overall, the story is captivating and interesting. My heart just skip a beat after what happened in the ending, it’s really unexpected. I wish it could be continued! I’m hoping the author will write more about mental illnesses because she’s really good at it. I understand every side of the story, both Hannah and Agnes. I really adore the author for writing this!

This was one of those books where if you have no idea at all what your reading about when you start, it'll take you a while to figure it out. (Well, it also takes a while even with this). You know there's a mystery going on (not in the traditional sense, exactly- in the "we don't know large pieces of the story" sense)- the protagonist (Hannah) is being admitted to what appears to be a mental hospital in the first few pages. And she keeps thinking about an unclear "something" that happened with her recent best friend and summer roommate, Agnes.

I will say that although the author got some things wrong about pysch hospitals, however it was generally good on that. And I liked how she had these twists that- weren't expected but made sense and "fit" well.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this title!*
What happened to Hannah's roommate was an accident. Just an accident! She fell out a window while playing truth or dare. And Hannah absolutely does not belong in this mental institution, or whatever they're calling it. She is just waiting until everything gets figured out, and she can go home. They're keeping her isolated because her chart says she's "a danger to herself and others," but really, it's all a big mistake. But there has to be a reason they've given her a roommate. Maybe she can prove to them that she's normal, after all.

My notes: I really wanted to like this, and it wasn't bad, but it was also fairly predictable. I wouldn't call it a "thriller." I will absolutely pick up other books by this author, though!

A Danger to Herself and Others is a thoroughly enjoyable YA thriller about a teen girl placed in a psychiatric institution after an accident put her summer roommate in a coma. Hannah is a smart, witty character and I found her to be very sympathetic. I enjoyed the twists, the unreliable narrator, and [ the ultimately positive view of mental health providers. It is hinted that [ parental neglect might have been a factor in triggering Hannah's mental state, which is something that deserves to be talked about more in YA literature.

I imagine that avid readers in the genre might not be surprised by the twists (I am not an avid thriller reader and I did figure some things out before the end), but while this may not be groundbreaking I thought it was well-executed. The author builds a sense of tension throughout the book and I found myself feeling very connected to Hannah and rooting for her.

The details of what it is like inside such an institution is painted in vivid detail, not in an unrealistic or problematic way but in a way that demonstrates its departure from the wider world. Her therapist is also a great character who is fleshed out as time goes on. At the end of the book [ I was truly concerned for Hannah's continued safety give the awful parents she has.. The author does a great job of demonstrating how neglect can be abuse, and can exist even in the midst of great privilege.

Overall, my reading experience of this was enjoyable and I think the author is doing important work with this story. I received an advance copy for review via NetGalley.

This was a very compelling read with a great turn of pace that I really appreciated. It tells the story of Hannah Gold, a precocious teen who is institutionalised for a psychiatric evaluation following an accident involving her best friend. Hannah was such an interesting character to follow. She is manipulative, calculating and quite devious and we know that something about the way she talks about people suggests a coldness to her character that is troubling. The setting is obviously disturbing and the flashbacks to her relationships with her parents and her friends certainly raised red flags. There is a turning point about two thirds of the way through which was very well done and all in all, I thought that this was a very compelling and well written narrative.
I received a free copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

'A Danger to Herself and Others' is a compelling YA story about mental illness.

It’s the summer before senior year, and Hannah is in California at an intensive study program. Everything is going great until Hannah’s roommate, Agnes, falls out of a second story window playing a game of Truth or Dare, and Hannah finds herself locked in a mental institution. The authorities think she made have been responsible for the accident. They say she is a danger to herself & others, but it wasn’t her fault, and she is sure once the misunderstanding is cleared up they will release her.

The story is told from Hannah’s POV; you’re in Hannah’s head and only see her realities. Because of this there were times I felt things were slightly off or not realistic, but as the story moves along and details are revealed, it starts to become clear, and I understood why things were the way they were.

Things get more interesting when Lucy, who becomes Hannah’s new BFF, is brought to the institution, and Hannah starts focusing on Lucy's problems. Lucy is a ballerina and has an eating disorder. There is an important audition she needs to get to, but she's stuck in the institution. Hannah wants to help Lucy, and it won't hurt if the doctor sees what a good friend Hannah can be, right?

I really enjoyed 'A Danger to Herself and Others!' It was fascinating to see how Hannah perceives her situation. The mind is an interesting creature, indeed!

Representation, representation, representation.
It's really difficult to write a spoiler free review of this book, so rather than focus on the story elements I'm going to focus on my thoughts and feelings as a reader.
First, could it be any creepier? I love the unreliable narrator aspect - and I've rarely seen it executed this well. Hannah is very easy for me to connect and sympathize with. She has a lot of anxiety and coping mechanisms in place throughout the book that honestly seem pretty reasonable. Counting steps? Sure. Not hurting anyone by counting steps. I think that's why I was so blown away by the book. We see everything through Hannah's perspective and she's a worthy narrator.
The masterful storytelling is something that has me really excited to share "A Danger to Herself and Others" with my readers. April Henry fans will devour this book. Heck, I would read it again! (And I'm known for NOT re-reading books.) It's suspenseful, nothing comes out of left field without justification, and just...beautiful. Beautifully written.
Finally, that ending... I wanted to pull Hannah to me and hug her myself. Her parents were so distant and aloof that I could barely stand it. The author doesn't cave to my need to know Hannah is going to be alright. She lets it dangle in front of me without succumbing to the trend to put a pretty bow on every ending - especially when dealing with mental illness. I am thrilled that this book is in my library's collection and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Most of the story is a compelling mixture of Girl in Pieces, Monday's Not Coming, and Justine Larbalestier's Liar, pushed forward by a fiercely unreliable narrator. While the later chapters are less settled in a way that's slightly uncomfortable, they do reflect a more realistic portrayal of mental illness, which is nearly always requires long term and perhaps indefinite treatment. (I do wonder at the portrayal of mental illness in general: the author's note references some unrealistic aspects of treatment, the entire premise of Hannah's crime plays uncomfortably into the trope of mental illness as significantly dangerous to others, and the consistent references to "Hannah's illness" or "Hannah's diagnosis" rather than actually naming a specific condition seemed a strange evasion. I found myself asking if it had been reviewed by medical professionals and sensitivity readers.) I did find Hannah's parents quite well-drawn, and their relationship added a fascinating element, especially as the background and Hannah's thoughts about them develop.

An interesting new addition, which might appeal to fans of My Sister Rosa.

A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel is a very well written book about an extremely intelligent girl, Hannah, who happens to have a mental illness. This mental illness may have caused Hannah to harm her friend and that is what lands her in a mental hospital while she awaits trial.

Hannah is extremely smart. As soon as you start the book you can tell she has a very obsessive nature when it comes to her studies. Instead of enjoying her summer doing normal teen activities she is at a summer school program at a college. At this program, she is given a roommate and they become be friends... Or do they? Hannah's roommate ends up in the hospital after taking a pretty nasty fall and Hannah finds herself in a mental hospital labeled as A DANGER TO HERSELF AND OTHERS.

While Hannah is in the hospital she goes through a lot of stuff:
Gaining and losing a friend, Lucy.
Being told that she has a mental illness.
Her trying to come to terms with this.
And worst of all, Hannah watches her parents become distant. They start treating her differently and her mother even starts to pull away entirely. This book hits so many nerves but only because the things the author writes about are so true

You know a book is good when it makes you question your own sanity, right?

Overall, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars.

From the very first page I was hooked. The story had a very great mystery too it with an unreliable narrator at the forfeit t and it gave a mental Illness rep.

A Danger to Herself and Others is a Young Adult fiction novel about Hannah, a young teen who is institutionalized for something that happened over summer school. As Hannah comes to grips with her current situation and what happened over the summer, she discovers things about herself that leave her struggling right until the very end of the novel.
This novel brings up many issues within mental illness. As it does not always paint an accurate picture of mental illness, treatment, and medication, I feel it should be read carefully by vulnerable young people. Otherwise, very well done and an enjoyable read.

*I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so good. I totally enjoyed it. It surprised me. It hit me in the feels. A Danger to Herself and Others tells the story of a girl in an institution. The story is told from our main characters perspective. She is totally an unreliable narrator, and we learn things as she learns them. She doesn’t always believe the things she’s being told. As the reader, I almost don’t believe the things she’s being told.
Hannah is complex and fascinating. At first, she’s arrogant and goes on and on about how she was the perfect kid and she’s so good at everything. But as the story progresses, she learns that her life is not what she’s always thought it was. It really brought her down a peg or two. The realizations she’s learned about herself really made it so I was able to sympathize with her. The world is taken out from under her feet and I totally felt for her. By the end of the story I really liked her.
Overall, A Danger to Herself and Others was a wild ride. Everything I thought I knew in the beginning was challenged and I felt like I didn’t know anything by the end, which is exactly how Hannah felt. I really enjoyed this. Thanks to NetGalley for providing this eARC for me to read and review. I will definitely be buying this when it’s released.

A Danger to Herself and Other by Alyssa Sheinmel

Hannah is an intelligent and mature young lady, but is also a little bit unlikeable. She can seem a bit arrogant at times and often thinks of herself as better than others (although she recognizes her perceived superiority and tries to actively hide it from others so they aren’t uncomfortable around her).

Hannah may or may not have done something to her roommate Agnes that caused her serious injury. As a result Hannah is placed in an institution for evaluation. This book tells the story of Hannah’s time in the institution as well as explaining her backstory, particularly the period of time leading up to Agnes’ accident.

Hannah really has no good idea why she is in an institution for evaluation. She knows she isn’t crazy. Being the intelligent young woman she is, Hannah thinks about a psychology experiment in the early 1970s that she read about where some psychologists were able to get themselves admitted to a mental hospital after claiming they were hearing voices. Once they are admitted and diagnosed with a mental illness, the psychologist “patients” tell their therapists that they are not actually insane and begin to act completely normally. But, no matter what they do, their behavior on the “inside” is always viewed via the lens of mental illness. The “patients” were admitted into the institution so they must be crazy, right? Hannah believes this exact same situation is now happening to her. So her focus is to prove she is completely fine and that this is all a big mistake.

Hannah was a well-written unreliable narrator. As we discover Hannah’s story through her thoughts, her discussions with Lucy (her roommate at the institution), and her therapy sessions with Dr. Lightfoot, we are lead down a path of wrong turns and rabbit holes. However, the reader will begin to realize what is going on at exactly the same moment that Hannah does. It is almost as if the reader is going through the therapy with her.

I don’t feel like I should say too much more about this book. Based on the title and the myriad other reviews available for this book it is clear that Hannah has some issues, but the reader should discover those issues for themselves, not via my review. However, I will mention a few other things I really liked about the book. I was impressed with Hannah’s doctor. While Hannah did not respect her much (particularly in the beginning) it was clear that Dr. Lightfoot really did want to help Hannah. I thought the emphasis on the benefits of quality therapy and medication (or combinations thereof) as well as the focus on self-realization (Hannah finally understanding herself what was going on vs. simply being told) was well done.

POSSIBLE SPOILER – DO NOT READ THIS PARAGRAPH IF YOU DON’T WANT A SPOILER. I also loved how Hannah actually noticed several things throughout the book that gave her clues to her own mental state, but she always rationalized them away. For example, Hannah thought it was odd that Lucy was always in the room when she had therapy sessions with Dr. Lightfoot. Hannah just believed that Dr. Lightfoot had no respect for confidentiality. Hannah couldn’t understand why Lucy returned to the institution after she escaped for her audition, but she accepted Lucy’s explanation that it was just easier to come back. Hannah also wondered why Jonah (a recent boyfriend) never gave her his phone number, but she rationalized that they just lived a few doors from each other and they didn’t need phone numbers, right? So many clues to what was going on that Hannah herself actually noticed, but didn’t pay attention to. That is why it is a mental illness I guess. Some brains work entirely differently than others and Hannah’s brain allowed her to experience the world she needed to experience. END POSSIBLE SPOILER!

Ultimately this is a book about mental illness, mental health and accepting who you are. The ending was a bit sad, and I kind of wish her parents weren’t depicted the way they were; however, that doesn’t really detract from the story. I can’t say it was an enjoyable read – hard to enjoy someone struggling with mental illness – but it was a well-written story that is worth reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourebooks Fire for a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel ⭐⭐⭐💫⠀
• genre: young adult contemporary thriller⠀
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Hannah Gold is an intelligent, driven, 17-year old upcoming senior from New York City who has always been treated like an adult by her wealthy parents. Determined to improve her college applications, she is spending her summer in a study program in California. During a game of Truth or Dare her friend and roommate, Agnes, falls from a window and ends up in a coma. Hannah finds herself locked in a room at a treatment facility where she is being evaluated to determine if she is 'a danger to herself and others'. Hannah is sure this is a misunderstanding and she will be released in time for her to make it back to New York for the first day of school. After all, it was just an accident. ⠀
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I found this story to be incredibly readable, and it kept me engaged in Hannah's story as she tells about her interactions with the doctors and other patients at the facility, her boyfriend Jonah, and her relationships with her parents and her friends growing up. Through Hannah's unreliable narration we find out that there is more to the story of how and why she is being held at this high-security institution. It is clear that something is wrong, and this page-turner leads us, along with Hannah, on a fast-paced journey to discover the answers. ⠀
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*content warning* There is discussion of mental illness, anorexia, bulimia, and a short description of someone trying to hurt themselves. ⠀
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This title is being published Feb 5, and I do recommend it for readers who enjoy young adult mystery, quick-read thrillers, and unreliable narrators. I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley. ⠀

This book was not what I expected, I expected more of a thriller/twisty novel and while this had some of that it was not the sole attributes. I saw many of the twists as they happened so it was a little formulaic but the ending was really well done.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire Publishing for providing me with a Digital Readers Copy, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. The quotes included in this review are subject to change upon publication.

A Danger to Herself and Others is about a 17-year-old girl, Hannah Gold, who is admitted into a mental hospital on a court order after an incident occurs with her and her roommate Agnes Smith at their summer school. As we learn more about Hannah, we start to discover that her information may not be reliable and slowly start to see her mental health deteriorate.

“Funny thing about lies. When someone doesn’t believe you, you feel like you have the moral high ground. How dare they accuse you of lying?”

Alyssa creates this point of view strictly through Hannah’s eyes and mind. In the beginning Hannah is portrayed as this strong, confident girl that was wrongly accused of being involved in an unfortunate incident with her best friend Agnes. As the story goes deeper into Hannah’s mind, I started to question Hannah’s sanity. While being questioned by Dr. Charan, also known as Dr. Lightfoot, we start to see inconsistencies in Hannah’s stories versus the information Dr. Lightfoot has obtained. We start to see Hannah’s mental health decline, and experience her struggle as she begins to realize what is happening to her.

“Everything we think and feel, every habit and movement, every personality trait and quirk: It’s all a result of our brains. Maybe it’s nature, maybe it’s nurture–but whoever we are, we are because of our brains are what they are.”

Hannah’s story was an interesting read but I did not love the style of writing. The book is a slow burn all the way through, and I kept waiting for something huge to happen, yet when Hannah begins to piece together what is happening to her, that is a slow burn process as well. What I did gather from this story is, there are many steps that she goes through in her realization of having a mental illness, and repeats those steps quite often throughout. If you are a fan of stories such as, Girl Interrupted, I think that you will enjoy this story.