Chaos Theory is raw and heartfelt story exploring themes of mental health, addiction, and the complexities of relationships. Andy and Shelbi, are two teens navigating personal struggles while forming an unexpected and deeply meaningful connection. Stone’s writing is both powerful and compassionate, capturing the highs and lows of their journey with honesty and nuance. The characters feel authentic with sharp, emotional, and humorous personalities.

Shelbi’s been through more than most teens, living with bipolar disorder and avoiding close relationships after being bullied for opening up about her mental health. She’s quirky, incredibly smart, and completely in love with science—her quick thinking and unique perspective make her stand out. Thankfully, her family is wonderfully supportive, giving her the space to be herself without treating her like she’s fragile. Her dad’s playful, her mum’s a cool author, and her cousin Beck, who’s also her best friend, is always there for her. Together, they form a strong foundation, even as Shelbi battles her own struggles.

Then there’s Walter Andy Criddle, who’s dealing with his own mess—grief over his sister’s death, a painful breakup, and his toxic, politician mother. After a drunk-driving accident, he crosses paths with Shelbi, and they strike up an unexpected friendship, holding each other together through their pain. But as their bond grows deeper, they begin to wonder if they’re capable of more. With both of them on the brink of breaking, can their friendship survive? Tackling tough subjects like mental health, addiction, and abuse, this book is raw, emotional, and eye-opening—an honest exploration of how young people navigate trauma and healing.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Loved the premise but just couldn't get into this. I credit that to the fact I don't often read a lot of YA so maybe I was just unimpressed with the level of depth put into the characters and storyline but that could be more typical of the genre. I think this as adult fiction would've hit very hard.

Nic Stone always hits the nail on the head with her books. They are smart, witty, and fun. This one felt very quick, and definitely played into some insta-love tropes, but I didn’t really mind it.

I loved this book so much that I finished it in one sitting! I haven't read anything by Nic Stone that I haven't loved! This is going on the shelves in my classroom library.

Chaos Theory by Nic Stone is a novel I would have loved when I was in high school. I recommend checking it out and other novels from this author.

My Thoughts:

It is the end of the school year and the beginning of summer when things are starting to get hot and muggy. This is graduation season here in Hawai'i, so a perfect time to read a YA romance about a "certified genius living with a diagnosed mental disorder and a politician's son who is running from his own addiction and grief."

This starts with Shelbi receiving a drunk text from some stranger. He is obviously in need of some support and a kind ear, so Shelbi agrees to be his anonymous support stranger. Except that he does not stay a stranger to her for very long. As soon as he promises his new drunk dial message buddy that he will not drive in his condition, he drives and gets into an accident. Shelbi happens to drive past the crash site and sees Andy Criddle, the school salutatorian outside of the car with a police officer. Shelbi's fascination with the physics of crashes takes her back to the scene where she finds Andy's wallet. She soon realizes that Andy is the drunk message buddy and she does eventually fess up that she has been on the other end of his texts, so anonymous no longer.

This book is about mental health and family trauma. It is about addiction and self harm. If any of those things are triggering for readers, they need to know that going in. But at the end of the day, it is also about two teens who are really trying to find friendship and love despite all of the chaos both within them and outside of them. It is about friendship, and despite the weird contract, I do believe that these two would be friends for life, however, trust is difficult for Shelbi.

This is not a book to teach or do activities with. Instead, it is a book to enjoy. Their love story, despite all the barriers and setback, is enjoyable. As a reader, I am rooting for these very broken people. So buy it. Read it. Borrow it. Listen to it. Either way, someone will pass through your classroom doors and need to also enjoy this book for no other reason than because they will also want to root for these two young adults.

From the Publisher:
Scars exist to remind us of what we’ve survived.

DETACHED
Since Shelbi enrolled at Windward Academy as a senior and won’t be there very long, she hasn’t bothered making friends. What her classmates don’t know about her can’t be used to hurt her—you know, like it did at her last school.

WASTED
Andy Criddle is not okay. At all.
He’s had far too much to drink.
Again. Which is bad.
And things are about to get worse.

When Shelbi sees Andy at his lowest, she can relate. So she doesn’t resist reaching out. And there’s no doubt their connection has them both seeing stars . . . but the closer they get, the more the past threatens to pull their universes apart.

Publication Information:
Author: Nic Stone
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (February 28, 2023)
ISBN-13: 978-0593307700
Grade level: 9-12
Hardcover: 288 pages

This was a cute contemporary about two teens finding solace in each other while dealing with a lot of real trauma and mental health issues. They have both endured a lot and its nice to see that they can come back to themselves through connection. The characters are well developed and you get to see so much growth. I also liked the little text exchanges between Shelbi and Wal (Andy) because they are humorous and split up the chapters nicely. I'd read more by this author for sure!

Nic Stone crafts a beautiful love story interwoven with a powerful exploration of mental health. She tackles the important topic of bipolar disorder with sensitivity and authenticity, offering readers a unique perspective on the challenges and realities of living with this condition. This thought-provoking novel will leave a lasting impression, fostering empathy and understanding for those affected by bipolar disorder.

Note: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book tackles several different topics that no young person should ever have to endure during their lifetime, but in fact the majority of them do. There is alcoholism, cheating, sibling death, and self harm mentioned during the course of the book. With all of these serious topics included in the book, it was written beautifully and I felt as if I knew these characters personally. One of the main characters deals with a broken family and the friendship between the two main characters we are following blossomed great! I also loved that they both helped each other overcome their obstacles that most people are defeated by. Nic Stone writes amazing books for her target audience and this one is no different!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

The characters in "Chaos Theory" are beautifully nuanced, each bearing scars of their own yet resilient in their pursuit of healing and acceptance. Shelbi and Andy's romance unfolds with authenticity and tenderness, serving as a beacon of hope amidst the chaos of their lives.

Nic Stone's narrative not only entertains but educates, instilling in readers a deeper understanding of the importance of prioritizing mental wellness. From the classroom to personal reflection, this book resonates on multiple levels, challenging societal norms and fostering empathy for those battling their innermost struggles.

Nic Stone wrote a beautiful romance while interweaving it with such important topics. I like that this book dealt with a topic I haven't read many books actually cover: bipolar disorder, and she dealt with it with sensitivity. I think readers will come away from this book with a better understanding of what it can be like for a person living with it.

I knew this was the book Nic Stone was working on when she published Dear Martin as her debut novel. I knew this was the book that Nic always said she needed when she was in high school. I knew this was the book that dealt with mental health and it was heavy. But even knowing all of this, it didn't prepare me for how much I was going to love this book.

Shelbi and Andy are both relatable characters even at (especially at?) their lowest and darkest moments. I appreciated that they both had mental health struggles, but one of them chose to use alcohol to cope. How many teens do we see make similar decisions but it's never, ever talked about? Thank you, Nic. I also appreciated that we have a character who knows what will trigger her and does her best to set boundaries. Yet, in the face of life, those boundaries can't always be kept and we see her struggle in the darkness that is mental illness. Again, thank you, Nic.

This book will undoubtedly resonate with young adult readers and save lives. The format of this book is accessible (talking to you, text message threads) and it's short. Short chapters, short book. Yet, as Nic's books so often go, incredibly powerful. Chaos Theory is not to be missed and should be on your must read list.

A powerful young adult novel about mental health and addiction. Nic Stone is a tour de force of ya literature. Recommend for 9th grade and up.

3.5 stars rounded up.

It was a great read if you are looking for YA mental health representation. The key to the great book part being stressed that it is YA. The characters were a little flat and the conversations felt flat as well. The pacing was also very quick, so it felt like the characters never fully evolved.

I debated for a bit between 3 and 4 on this one. Ultimately, the important impact of this one for the YA representation of bipolar and alcoholism made me give it the 4. I appreciated the adults in the book being positive role models (for the most part) and encouraging the need for open lines of communication and seeking help when needed.

I need a sequel! I love Nic Stone and everything thing she writes so I knew that I was going to love this! While it was informative, it was very fun and entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this DRC.
Shelbi and Andy are teens dealing with mental health issues. It was a very challenging book, emotionally, but completely needed. It deals with tough topics in a factual and graceful way that is realistic and heartfelt.
#ChaosTheory #NetGalley

As always, Nic Stone tackles hard issues with compassion and reality and a bit of humor. I appreciated the way she presented mental health and shared herself in the author’s note, and I heard her reflected in Shelbi’s voice. However, I wasn’t as invested in the relationship and felt the plot wasn’t as tight as Stone’s other novels.

I have to read everything that Nic Stone writes, but wow, this one was a punch in the gut. Her warning in the beginning should not be taken lightly, but if you are in a head space to read this book you NEED to. It should be read by both those looking for others who have the same thoughts and feelings but also those who might not have any experience with these types of mental health illnesses and want to know more.

Scars exist to remind us of what we've survived.

DETACHED
Since Shelbi enrolled at Windward Academy as a senior and won't be there very long, she hasn't bothered making friends. What her classmates don't know about her can't be used to hurt her--you know, like it did at her last school.

WASTED
Andy Criddle is not okay. At all.
He's had far too much to drink.
Again. Which is bad.
And things are about to get worse.

When Shelbi sees Andy at his lowest, she can relate. So she doesn't resist reaching out. And there's no doubt their connection has them both seeing stars . . . but the closer they get, the more the past threatens to pull their universes apart.


The best thing about this book is the character development. Shelbi and Andy are some of the most realistic characters I have ever read. Every secondary character is also developed with such intricacy. I can’t say enough about how well these characters are written.

Shelbi has a lot going on for such a young age, she has been diagnosed with bipolar and has had a history with bullying and humiliation that led to self harm. Because of this, she doesn’t want to open her heart again. Andy or Walter, as Shelbi calls him is dealing with the loss of his sister, the verbal abuse of his mother, grief, and his own alcoholism. While, it doesn’t seem like the best idea for them to be friends, at least from an outside perspective, they also can’t help but be drawn to each other.

Shelbi’s relationship with her family (parents, grandmother, and cousin) is one of my favorite aspects of this book. The example set should be the standard that all families with members who have mental health issues strive to meet. They love her fiercely, and are always there for her but try to provide her enough freedom to take care of her mental health on her own. As a parent, it is terrifying to let your child do anything that you fear will cause them pain, and this is only amplified when there is a mental illness like Bipolar in the mix. Her parents deserve all of the praise.

So many tough issues are discussed in this book including mental health, alcoholism, abortion, parental abuse, self harm, suicidal thoughts and more. Nic Stone handles it in such an honest way, setting the tone from the start with her own stories about mental health. I found this book inspirational, educational and emotional.

An absolute must read.