Lisa Genova has written another wonderful, gripping book! I love how she writes about what she knows - this time about bipolar disorder. I learned so much about the disease while also so engaged in the characters and their lives. I had a very hard time putting this book down!

"More or Less Maddy" by Lisa Genova is a poignant exploration of mental health, identity, and the complexities of adolescence. The story follows Maddy, a high school student grappling with the challenges of anxiety and depression. Genova's empathetic writing offers an authentic portrayal of Maddy's internal struggles and her journey toward understanding herself.

One of the strengths of the book is Genova's ability to create relatable characters who resonate with readers. Maddy's friendships, family dynamics, and the pressures of school life are depicted with sensitivity and realism. The narrative balances moments of hope and despair, illustrating the ebb and flow of mental health.

Genova also emphasizes the importance of seeking help and the various forms that support can take, making the book not just a story about struggle, but also about resilience and growth. The inclusion of coping strategies and the importance of community adds depth to the narrative.

Overall, "More or Less Maddy" is a heartfelt and insightful read that captures the complexities of navigating mental health in today's world. It's a valuable resource for young adults and anyone looking to understand the nuances of mental illness.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery/Scout. Press and Lisa Genova for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of More or Less Maddie.
This is a beautifully written story filled with strong emotions about a young woman struggling through life with bipolar disorder. The writing captured me at the very start and I was immersed with our main character, Maddie as she rode a fast moving roller coaster, sometimes without a seatbelt. I was with her from start to finish and I hate to see her leave me behind. I felt her pain, lack of self esteem, ups and downs that never end all the while admiring her strength and decisions she needed to make.
Maddie’s family is described in detail as they are critical pieces in Maddie’s puzzle. I felt their pain, and worry along with a different kind of roller coaster.
I will be thinking about this novel for a long time. Bipolar disorder has such a stigma along with lack of information. It opened my eyes and heart with a need to learn more. I was only able to see a portion of Maddie’s life and would love to know what happens next. I will definitely read more from Lisa Genova whose stories pack a punch along with important information about mental health.

I just love this book (and this author). More or Less Maddy is about Maddy a young woman headed off to college who has undiagnosed bipolar disorder. We experience the world through Maddy's eyes and brain and Genova does such a good job of helping us experience the world through her eyes. That duality sometimes tilted my response or feelings to be in opposition to what my rational brain told me might be happening. We also experience the lives of her family and friends and understand their fear and concern while always pulling for Maddy to make it through to have the life she wants.

I will be recommending this book for our book club in the new year as it is rich with discussion topics and perspectives and is a topic we have not discussed in the past. Genova has done it again by shining a light on an illness that is not understood by many but is experienced by too many.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa Genova is one of my favorite authors and once again she didn’t disappoint. While the book is uncomfortable at times, I so appreciate how she opens up a whole new world to me with each of her books. By offering a page-turning story, she also makes us understand what it means to be affected by an illness that deserves to have a lights shone on it. Bravo!

Thank you for the advanced copy of More or Less Maddy. The book was exciting for me because I have enjoyed Lisa Geneva’s prior books and also because of the topic. Frankly, this was a hard read. Mandy’s illness is so authentically portrayed alongside the reactions of her family and friends that is was heartbreaking. The start was disturbing, and I was afraid during the book that it would end badly. Thank you for not leaving the story there! I appreciate the book for its portrayal and once again, Lisa’s masterful writing style.

This book was a sneak peek into the life of a person with bipolar disorder. It is VERY interesting and entertaining to read, as the extremes of behavior are jaw-dropping. All the while, I felt guilty for deriving so much enjoyment from this woman’s horrific struggle with bipolar disorder. As always, Genova treats this mental health issue with compassion. Its is hard to read at times because of the nature of the story, but a fantastic read, and important for us all to know about.

I was so excited to see that Lisa Genova had a new book ready to come out! I've loved all of her previous novels. She's such a talented writer, and makes us feel like we are part of the character's family. I found myself holding my breath during Maddy's manic episodes, wondering how long they would go before the inevitable crash. Definitely recommended. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

📖 Book Review 📖 When I was in graduate school for social work, we had a whole class dedicated to diagnosing mental illness. It was fascinating and of course we went through all the symptoms and age of onset and did a little bit of self-reflection and perhaps a casual assessment of close family and friends (obviously not a formal diagnosis). I went on to intern and then work on a psychiatric unit and it turned out to be the favorite job that I ever had (and I met my husband working on the psych ward so mental health advocacy is huge in our household).

Lisa Genova has written an absolutely beautiful and poignant coming of age that tackles the scenario of what life looks like when a mental health diagnosis comes your way. More or Less Maddy is the most intimate look into the world of living with bipolar disorder that is so hard to truly capture but will help people understand the lived experience of so many young adults and beyond. And for those living with this disease or any other kind of mental health diagnosis, I certainly believe that they will find a connection in Maddy and hopefully feel seen and heard in Lisa Genova’s newest work, a realistic look at the reality of mental health yet this masterpiece resonates with vulnerability and a hopeful tone of resilience.

More or Less Maddy is a soulful story. It's sad, it's funny and very honest. The further I read, the more I enjoyed the story. This could and I'm sure is like true story, and it sure makes you think. Thank you @NetGalley@ScoutPress@LisaGenova

I’ve been a fan of Lisa Genova since Still Alice, so I was excited to read her latest book, More or Less Maddy. Genova is a neuroscientist by training, so I love how she dives deep into different neurological conditions in her novels. The novel is about a young college student who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Maddy is a student at NYU living in New York City learning to navigate young adulthood and her newly found independence. Early in the novel she cycles through depression and mania and diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

We follow Maddy through her struggles and treatment, navigating this unknown world. It gave me a better understanding of what it’s like to have bipolar disorder and how disruptive the medications used to treat it can be. Her family is affluent, and she has monetary support, but her mother seems limited in the emotional support she can give. I found her very frustrating and controlling but understand that reaction to a diagnosis like this is probably all too common. I found it super easy to get into this novel and root for Maddy. I so wanted her to find her way, to be able to pursue her interests in standup comedy and have stability in her life. Overall, this was a compelling look into bipolar disorder.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I love Lisa Genova's novels and the way that they give the reader a look into the mind and viewpoint of folks with different neurological conditions. More or Less Maddy is the story of a young woman who experiences manic and depressive episodes. This is not a particularly easy situation to read about but it is interesting to see how the entire family is affected and how devastating the diagnosis and condition can be for everyone. I appreciate the thorough research that was clearly put into this novel. The reader is given a front row seat to Maddy's thoughts and feelings as she navigates the diagnosis, the treatment and how to handle her life.

Maddy is a twenty year old college student who suddenly finds her life spinning out of control. A diagnosis of Bi-polar disease explains what has happened but not how to live with it. Maddie and her family must navigate the new normal and it affects all of them in different ways. Maddie did not ask for this and must now figure out how to live the rest of her life. An insightful look at a difficult disease, I would like to have seen a bit more about the effects it has on family members. The whole storyline about stand up comedy was a bit distracting. Overall a good look at this disease but not one of Genova's strongest efforts.

Maddy, the main character in 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘆, is a young woman learning to live with bipolar disorder. From Maddy’s first manic episode to her multiple suicide attempts, her obsession with Taylor Swift to her desires to become a comedian, Lisa Genova masterfully weaves a narrative that has us living in Maddy’s head, taking us through her highs and lows - an uncomfortable journey for sure but a masterpiece as always.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

When it comes to the human brain and the way it impacts our humanity, no one can write stories better than Lisa Genova. Her stories are always real and layered and her characters are always true to the complexities of what it means to be human. And this one is no exception.

Maddy's journey with discovering, living with, fighting and trying to make it through her bipolar diagnosis is heart-wrenching, scary, and not for the weak at heart. It's real and gritty and scary and it makes you want to cry again and again.

Bipolar disorder is no joke and Genova handles it with the seriousness and grace it requires. She doesn't shy away from the really hard parts and she manages to make us fall in love with Maddy even while we feel sorry for her and angry at her. All of the emotions are raw and real. This is exceptional book.

with gratitude to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I received a free copy of, More or Less Maddy, by Lisa Genova, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Maddy is a typical college freshman, except she has bipolar. Mental illness is still a major stigma in our society, its not talked about like it should be. Mental illness affects everyone in the family, not just the one with the mental illness, and some families have more than family member afflicted with mental illness. This was a good read.

As with her other novels regarding neurological conditions, Lisa Genova tackles the topic of someone with bipolar with empathy and vividness. Maddy and her family seem very real to me as they learn how to live and accept this reality. I felt that the use of Maddy's discovery of the world of stand up comedy was a clever way of showing her journey.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader copy of this title.

What an amazing representation of the mental health struggles and strength it takes to overcome the challenges associated with bipolar disorder. This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. Maddy struggles to find herself after a new diagnosis and life challenges.

3.5 rounded up. I really didn't like Maddy, even before her diagnosis and perhaps less after, but I'll try to give the benefit of the doubt here. I think the subject matter was handled well, though I wish the family relationships were better explored in relation to it. The best scene was Maddy with her grandma once she knew, and I wanted more of that. This isn't Genova's strongest book in my opinion, but it was well done.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book and it is one of the best depictions of mental illness I have read.... maybe ever!

Maddy was a wonderful protagonist. I loved reading her story and learning of her struggles. Her experience with bipolar disorder felt so authentic and genuine and I appreciated the unfiltered honesty Genova pushed forward. I felt for Maddy as she grappled with questioning what was real, what was the bipolar disorder, and how she would navigate this new normal.

More or Less Maddy also raised really strong points about how we treat people with mental illness. I particularly liked Maddy's insight into having bipolar disorder, not being bipolar. Just because you have a disorder, it does not make you that disorder. The analogy to eating a mushroom pizza not making you a mushroom pizza hit home and will stick with me.

I also really loved the comedy aspect of this novel. Recently I've read some books about female comics that didn't quite make the mark for me. I loved learning of Maddy's process, hearing her jokes (the good and bad ones!), and seeing her gain her footing and grow her confidence in a male dominated industry.

This was a quick read and one that was very powerful. It felt well-researched and gave so much insight into the bipolar disorder. There is so much to digest and discuss - it would definitely make a great book club read.

Thank you to THE BUZZ for putting this one on my radar. Highly, highly recommend!