The Boy Between

After seeing a lot of hype around this book, I just had to read it. Amanda is one of my favourite authors and I was curious to see how her and her son’s real experience would unfold in the pages of a book.

Depression and mental health is something most people can empathise with, especially in today’s society; mental health is at the forefront of daily life. If you yourself personally haven’t dealt with mental health issues, chances are you know someone close to you who has. I think that because of this, the story of The Boy Between will resonate with so many people, I know this was certainly the case with me.

Different people will gain different things by reading this book, some will recognise themselves in Josh, they will identify with his unflinching honesty and raw emotion, others will recognise the journey that Amanda went on with her son, and some will relate to both sides of the coin.

There’s so much I could say about this book, but I genuinely think that although there will be triggers for many in the narrative, everyone should give this book a read. I thought I’d handled other’s mental health crises well before but this has given me tools to be a better friend hopefully.

Thank you Amanda and Josh for writing from the heart with such raw and powerful emotion. This book will touch everyone who reads it, five wonderful stars.

It took me months to finish reading this. Not because it isn’t a good book. Quite opposite, actually.

I was going through an especially difficult time when I’d picked this up. I read the first page and knew it wasn’t going to be an easy read. I even debated if I want to keep reading it after 3 pages. I didn’t read more than 5 pages at a time.

I’m glad I did read this though.

Not going to lie, personally, it was an excruciating and painful journey and my brain doesn’t even want a recap, but still, all I have is good things to say about this little masterpiece.

This raw and brave memoir is written by a boy Josh who’s struggling with mental illness and extreme depression and his mother who decides to be his light to guide him through. It’s such a powerful book and depicts the true realities of depression and the taboos that surround it. To give you an idea-Amanda, when she discovers Josh’s struggles, she’s devastated for her son and tries to find ways to “fix” him and slowly comes to learn, there is in fact no way to “fix” someone up.

A person who's gone through it all will tell how they never want to revisit those agonizing moments ever again, but the sheer bravery & honesty Amanda and Josh has shown while recounting them and penning them is truly admirable.

I recommend this book to everyone. Everyone who’s fighting the demons by themselves, everyone who wants to help another soul fight them, everyone who cares to learn how mental illness works.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a hard book to rate as I suffer with anxiety and depression myself so while I think that it’s important that we raise awareness for important topics I do sometimes find it difficult to read about it can be a trigger for my own anxiety. That being said it’s an heartfelt book and very real and informative.

This book was sent to me as an ARC on NetGalley. However, all opinions are of my own.
I don’t have the words to describe how incredible this book really is. It spoke to me on a different level and I felt every word. It was insightful to see how different mental illness looks to someone who hasn’t struggled - and also trying to understand how others are feeling to. This book needs to be read by anyone, whether struggling with mental illnesses or not. Amanda and Josiah did such a fantastic job on this book, I definitely think it was my favourite of 2020!

This collaboration is written by both Josh and Amanda, alternating between one another per chapter both documenting their consecutive thoughts, feelings and emotions during this period of time. The amount of courage it has taken by both of them, to put pen to paper and share their journey cannot and should not be underestimated. The opening chapter, written by Josh hits you full on. This young man who had recently headed off to university and should be living “his best life” is sat on the edge of his bed in a darkened room, holding a handful of pills bought from the World Wide Web, contemplating taking his own life. His world he described as “the colour turned down until only grayscale remained.”

I work as a counsellor; Josh invited me into his world, his head and his life, an experience I will take with me when I work with clients in similar circumstances. For that I am eternally grateful.

Amanda’s raw emotions of being a mum whose son is in such a painful place, one she knows nothing about, and has no idea where to turn or who to ask for help is sadly a reality so many people face.

Ultimately this book offers hope. Hope that sharing their experiences will help anyone else in similar situations, hope that opening up this conversation will encourage others to do the same and hop that if you hold on for just one more minute, hour, day, week things can and will get better.

The Boy Between is a raw and honest account of the reality of mental health. It’s not as simple as reaching out and there is no magic cure, just a journey of ups and downs and trying to prevent the lows. I have read several books about mental health, as a mental health sufferer this is the closest to my own journey I have ever read.

Mental health though talked about more, remains a taboo. Mental health problems are not rare, Josh is one of many who continue to battle with an ongoing journey to achieve mental wellness. Co-written by Josiah Hartley and his mum Amanda Prowse, this is unlike any book you have written. A unique and interesting perspective of Josh’s story comes from Amanda’s chapters, the despair and helplessness of watching her son change from a vibrant character to someone who couldn’t get out of bed. It hits home just how much my parents struggled watching me spiral during my own low points.

This book contains real life accounts of Josh / Josiah’s mental health journey from his time in education university onwards. Similarly, to Josh, the start of university caused me to have a massive mental breakdown and was the start of things to come. It is a highly stressful time for many due to expectations and newfound independence.

The honesty from both Amanda and Josiah made for an insightful and heart wrenching read. Depression lies to you; makes you feel isolated and unloved. Amanda’s chapters show just how much depression and anxiety lies to you. Whilst in a dark place, it is apparent how much love Josh was surrounded in, even if he couldn’t connect or immerse himself in it.

Due to the personal nature of this book, I don’t feel it is appropriate to rate it. A huge amount of respect and love to Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley for a book I didn’t know I needed to read.

Right from the off I am going to say that if you have any interest in mental health, the effects on the sufferer or those around then you really do need to read this book. It is very insightful and also incredibly helpful.

Mental health has been in the news a lot this year, people are aware more of the effects it can have on everyday life, but still, it is not understood by many. Reading this from the viewpoint of a mother and son felt like a very privileged position to be in. Being allowed into the thoughts and feeling of individuals from different sides of the fence was a very personal view from a readers point of view.

This is not the journey of just one person. While it is Josh who to live with depression it is also the family that have to witness him live depression. What was insightful was how people think they are helping, but actually, they are not. But how can you help if you don’t know what you are doing for the best. It is a vicious circle.

This book is such an honest and open account, from a mother and a son. It is full of emotion, love, anger despair, frustration and all of it from the real lives of real people. Opening up and allowing people to see the journey of a family as well as an individual gives a balance. There is no one side to this book.

This is such a, well I want to say fabulous read, this feels wrong in some ways as the experiences of Mandy and Josh are anything but fabulous! But it is such an engrossing book, honest, with moments of humour and giggles. It is a book I would definitely recommend.

📚 B O O K T O U R 📚
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The Boy Between Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley
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Many of us have read Amanda Prowse's fiction novels. I've read and enjoyed many of them. So this one was a little different. The Boy Between is the journey of her and her son navigating through his depression at the age of nineteen to the point of planning his own death.
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This book is so raw and gut-wrenching. But if you or someone you love has ever suffered with depression, it's the book you need to tell you that you're not alone. People love you. They want to help you.
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It's brutal honesty was a shock for me, who hasn't suffered with such a deep depression but has seen it in people extremely close. You think you get it, but you don't.
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I'd recommend this book to everyone. If you're suffering, read it in the hope that you'll feel less alone and perhaps find a way to make those first steps of reaching out for help. If you're not suffering, read it. I think we could all do with understanding what depression is like for others, a little (or a lot) more.
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Thank you so much to @lovebookstours for the #gifted copy in exchange for this honest review.
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#theboybetween #amandaprowse #josiahhartley #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #depression #lovebooktours #nonfictionbooks #nonfiction #booksilove

A very insightful read. Depression is not spoken about enough. The authors did a good job of letting readers see inside a young person suffering with this disease. It will make anyone who reads this have a much better understanding into this awful issue! Young adults should always feel that they should do with their future what makes them happy not what will make people around them feel happy. This will open your eyes.

This book tells a story that has to be told. A lot.
I wish it was not as recognisable, but it is. I remember all those times thinking 'I wish it was a broken arm'. When I did break my arm earlier this year and couldn't work for more than a month, it was way easier to call my manager than it would be to take a mental health break because of a depression. I could point at my arm in it's sling, and everyone recognised that I could not move it to unlock my laptop, and I could not hold myself while standing in a moving train with it. I was not asked to pick up even the tiniest of boxes, as Amanda's analogy went. It felt as a relief, for once it was something tangilbe.
I wish I were the only one who will feel both the dreaded sense of familiarity and the feeling of guiltily being ... not happy, but relieved that there are more people like us. I know I'm not, and while I don't wish depression on anyone, it does feel good that there are people who know what it is like.

'The Boy Between' is raw, honest, sad, sprinkled with some tiny specks of hope. I cannot do anything but wish Josh and everyone who loves him will find peace of mind and more and more specks of hope and happiness.

A fabulous book from a fabulous author. A hard subject to deal with, especially in your own family and Amanda has told it beautifully. Highly recommended

Incredible read, raw and honest. This is a must read for parents and teenagers, really draws you into Amanda and Josh’ story. You want to reach in and give Amanda a big hug and to help Josh on his journey.

Before I start to talk about this book, I just want to thank the authors for speaking so openly about depression and mental health. It has helped my mental health and will encourage me to speak to others, friends in particularly about how my head works – I was always one of those people who laughed the loudest yet didn’t realise how my mental health had declined until early 2020. So again, thank you.

The book is written with Josh and Amanda writing every other chapter, the beginning of each chapter starting with a quote – great touch!

Josh hasn’t had the best start with his health, he suffered with joint pain from being young and in his late teens, he struggles with his mental health. Amanda, his mother, doesn’t really know how to deal with it.

The book narrates wonderfully how Josh deals with his depression, trying many different methods and finding the right solution him. Luckily, he is surrounded by such a supportive family who realised fairly early on, even before Josh, how he was struggling.

Finding out how much mental health has an affect on the family is such an eyeopener. Seeing how they are trying so hard to put on brave faces for such a long time until they cannot cope any further.

I would encourage as many people as I can to read this book. It would help so many cope with their own mental health and would educate those people who think that depression is made up.

4.5 stars

This is a powerful and heartbreaking story that speaks up about mental health issues and how we are so affected by it.

It's still a mystery how so many times we are afraid to speak up, to open up to anyone because of fear of rejection or indifference, because of what others will think of us and the judgment of our actions and thoughts.

A must read beautiful story for anyone indeed.

Oh my word, my emotions went right through the wringer with this book - it has all the feels!

Josh is a young man from a close, loving family, achieving well at school, predicted great grades with conditional offers from brilliant universities when he is suddenly hit by depression. Depression which gets so bad he makes plans to escape it. Permanently. This is his story, and the story of his mum Amanda as she comes to terms with Josh's depression, tries to under it and work out how she can best support her son. There are some tough times for her, husband Simeon and other son Ben, but Josh has the hardest time of all.

I was keen to read this book for two reasons. I live with anxiety based depression. I am fortunate never to have felt as low as Josh (there but by the grace...) but I know what it's like to feel empty, or to cry at everything. Or nothing. Secondly, I am the mother of two boys in their late teens who've both had their struggles (not depression). And I have often lay awake wondering if their dad and I had done the best we could for them, made the right choices, consulted the right people, etc. So I could relate in some small way to the words of both Josh and Amanda.

The opening sentence of the prologue is 'The decision to end my life was one that came easily.' This book is very open, honest and raw. Josh is unflinching about his moods, his frustration, his shame and his use of alcohol for self medication. He is also clear about why he felt that suicide was the way out. I can only imagine how hard it was for him to revisit that time for the writing of this book, it was difficult to read in places. For Amanda, to see her child deteriorating in front of her, and not knowing how to reach him must have been heartbreaking for her. Especially knowing that he wanted to end his life. It was certainly heartbreaking to read. There is a moment in the book when Amanda is trying to make Christmas jolly and fun in the hope it will lift Josh's mood. The extended family are hugely supportive but the joy doesn't get through to Josh. She writes 'Their words slid from his sadness and pooled on the floor for us to slip in.' I found that sentence both beautiful and heartbreaking.

But there are two other people deeply affected by Josh's illness. Theirs is a blended family - Josh's friend Ben becomes his brother when Simeon marries Amanda. Simeon is incredibly supportive of Josh. And Amanda, of course. Arguably, he takes on more than most stepdads but he never once shirks his responsibility. Josh clearly appreciates Simeon and the way he speaks about him in an early chapter is just lovely. I had tears in my eyes. In a later chapter the stress of it all hits Simeon and it proves to be a turning point for the family. I was in tears reading it but so pleased they all opened up to each other.

There were so, so many moments that touched me. It shows the power of an inspiring teacher and the damage caused by bad ones. When Josh takes part, very successfully, in a public speaking event, the head teacher says to him something like 'Well I never, who knew you could do that?' and Josh replies 'I did, Sir, I knew.' I cried that Josh had to say it but was so proud of him for doing it!

This is a very personal story which Josh and Amanda been brave enough to share, and I know it will touch many people. Whilst more people are talking openly about depression, it's still not enough, and I really hope this will encourage more people to open up. Particularly young men. The suicide rate of men under is very high and part of that is because men feel unable to open up. Josh was brave enough to open up to his family and then to the world via this book, so I hope any struggling young man who reads his story will reach out to someone close.

Josh, thank you for sharing your story. I hope that you are very proud about how far you've come and how well you're doing. I'm so happy you're hopeful about the future. Thank you for your honesty. Amanda, I felt your pain. Thank you for being so open. The Boy Between is heartbreaking, heartfelt, honest, raw, beautiful and hopeful and will stay with me for a long time. Please read it.

This is such a candid and emotional book to read. The book is written in alternative chapters telling Josh’s perspective and then Amanda’s. Depression is really not an easy subject to write about much less go through. But the honesty and the willingness of this mother and son to put it out there is truly courageous.

No family is prepared to have their child go through depression and to realize that a son doesn’t want to live any more is a mother’s worst nightmare. Amanda has shared her all her feelings of despair and helplessness about the situation. In sharing what has worked for her and what hasn’t, she’s helping other parents of depressed children to find some answers to their questions and confusion too.

Josh is such a brave young man, not only for the battle he’s fighting against depression but for sharing the raw emotions that he feels. For those young people trying to battle depression, to have a someone like Josh who can identify with their pain and the daily struggles that they face.

The Boy Between made me so much more mindful of what people with depression and their families go through. There were times I had to put the book down with the sheer weight of the emotions shared. And yet, this is a book of hope – a book that will show the way to others.

It goes without saying that the writing is impeccable. I would encourage every one to read this book, if only to become more aware, understanding and empathetic of those struggling with mental health issues.

This book was potentially the most raw and honest depiction of depression I have ever read. Both Josh and Amanda put their all into it, and weren't afraid to share the ugly bits. Amanda especially was transparent and honest, even when she came across in a bad light, she put her hands up and said this is how I reacted, even if it wasn't right.

I wouldn't recommend reading this when you are in a dark place (CW: Suicide Ideation, suicide attempts, graphic injury depiction, depression ...) But if you are supporting someone with depression or you yourself have come through it then I would say get your hands on this book.

I am hoping to read this book at some point and review, but unfortunately due to the subject matter and my own personal circumstances I’m not in the right headspace to read it at this point in time I’m sure I will as I have read some amazing, thoughtful and touching reviews for this book.

No one wants to find themselves in a situation where their child becomes depressed or indeed has a mental health issue, but there is a heartfelt reminder at the start of the book that you are not alone. What Josiah and Amanda have done is bravely spoken out about how it is and how it came to be that a 19 year old boy became depressed. Hopefully one day it won't be a brave thing to do, it just will float into natural conversation, but I use, that sometimes overrated word because mental health is still judged and still needs to be part of this type of conversation to get it even more into the public domain and in the hope that people will seek help.

It starts with a prologue as to the state in which Josh became so depressed he could have committed suicide, followed by an introduction by Amanda that shows what a hard predicament to find a household having to deal with and write it down. It's such an honest account that they deserve kudos as they each write alternating chapters, so you as a reader can see 2 perspectives, one from Josiah who is deeply depressed and the other from Amanda who wants to save her son.
This book may resonate with some people, whether they are that person or caring for a person in similar circumstances and it also brings it more out into the public domain for a wider conversation, understanding and empathy.

The writing is absorbing because of the language that is used and you can almost feel what is being written. There is such honesty and a rawness that comes with that. It is incredibly moving and emotional and at the same time informative in a way and may well leave you just wanting to hug them.

There are some lovely tender moments when Amanda recollects when, Joshy, as she likes to call him, is very young and has the ambition of cutting grass and comes up with a rather emotionally intelligent answer as to why this and not something else. There is also, almost a bittersweetness to it. The importance of happiness also comes across.

The innermost thoughts are incredibly interesting from both Josiah and Amanda. What is fascinating and thought-provoking is some of the back-tracking Amanda does, from how her son was when he was very young to the present, in terms of his health and his personality traits and the correlations between how he was then and now, similarly as Josiah talks about his own life from the past and present. There are some uplifiting moments that just capture a different, more positive, lighter side of life that spike through times when life was quite the opposite.

It is highly responsible too that they have highlighted high profile mental health campaigns such as 'Campaign Against Living Miserably' and 'Britain Get Talking' amongst others, including Mental Health Month and then there is also MIND and The Samaritans. At the bottom of my review, I will add some contact links to people who can assist. Never find yourself alone. Within the book there is also a list of symptoms to depression. It's all incredibly well thought out, it is about the authors lives, which I'm certain many readers will be able to relate to and also has helpful information throughout it as well, that builds for a greater understanding. It is more than lists, it is from the point of view of how it actually feels for Josiah as well. There are the challenges of school, homelife and university life. There is the mother trying to do the best she can for her son and wishing for a better outcome and then there is the offspring, going through depression and in reality they are both, in different ways, having to deal with it and live with it. It really shows how mental health issues can affect the whole family, just in different ways.

The book takes a very interesting look into universities, it could actually provide some use for people within them, for students, but a greater insight for those who are staffing them. It also shows up what is lacking within society that needs fixing, whether that was intentional or not, I do not know, but it's certainly there, which could be very thought-provoking as a society as a whole, in how behaviours affect others. It is startling how much pressure is there, when it is actually all written down, from work/study/life balance to barely being seen as a whole human-being in places like universities and more and how it all made, in this instance, Josh feel and the impact it had.

The book also goes into an interesting look into anti-depressants, Josh's take on them and also some of the effects he had and being in the psychiatrist's office and also the lack of understanding from friends. This really is such an honest look into his life.

It concludes with very helpful advice for those who have depression and those who are carers/guardians/friends of those with depression that could really benefit someone in someway and are really easy to do. There is also a list of people, really famous people, who readers perhaps wouldn't have thought, could possibly have depression because of being in the spotlight so much for their achievements. It also shows some hope and positivity for the authors futures.

This book was sent to me to review for the blog tour orgniased. However, I had no idea that during the course of reading this, I would experience the situation discussed in such a personal manner. It has become the bible that has helped me through one of the most difficult periods of my life and reading the words of Josh and Amanda has given me so much comfort, understanding and moments of enlightenment. I can't begin to thank them enough for the bravery they showed in writing this book.

Due to the personal circumstances, I was unable to write a review without it being so personal, so I offered Amanda and Josh the chance to partake in an interview instead.

This is an incredibly affecting book, but one that everyone should read.