This is a contemporary YA novel about a character with severe bipolar disorder still learning how to cope with the ups and downs of her emotional world.

Mel Hannigan is a seventeen year old girl struggling through her days with a newly (one year) diagnosed bipolar disorder. Her elder brother, Nolan, also suffered this disease, as does her Aunt Joan--who they all call HJ or "Hurricane Joan." Nolan, who we only meet in flashback, died four years ago--in an accident that stemmed from his mania. Since his tragic death, her parents have divorced and Mel lives with her mother and HJ. She'd also lived with her grandmother, but she died a year ago after a battle with stomach cancer.

Mel works in the Silver Sands, the same nursing home where her grandmother spent her final days. It's a touchstone place, for her, where she has many friends among the residents, including Dr. Jordan--a retired psychiatrist. He helped "diagnose" Mel before she had her first manic episode--and subsequent crash--just over a year ago, now. At that time, Mel was having a break with her group of friends, losing Annie, Conner and Zumi when she backed away following a fight and power play which coincided with an inpatient stay for treatment of her mental issues. Now she balances a cocktail of prescriptions designed to keep her moods even, and has two close-ish friends Holly and Declan, who brought her school work home over the period of her long absence and recovery--which everyone believes was for mono and bronchitis, not bipolar disorder.

When the book picks up, Annie has inexplicably reached out to leave behind childhood relics with Mel for Conner and Zumi--mementos of their friendship--because Annie's family is moving to Paris and she doesn't want to confront either Conner or Zumi regarding this life change. Turns out Annie isn't a nice person, and Zumi was desperately crushing on her. Mel knows it will break Zumi's heart, and the stress is fracturing her grip on her moods. Right about then, Mel meets David, grandson of one of the elderly residents at Silver Sands, and they strike a cautious friendship--which could lead to more. They both seem to want this, but Mel is reluctant because she doesn't think she--the gal with the broken brain--is really worthy of love. Surely someone "normal" is better suited for everyone. Just look at HJ! She's the life of the party and pretty, but no man will settle down with her.

Okay, so, being in the mind of a person with a mental condition like bipolar disorder is never easy. There are bouts of mania and depression, and episodes of disordered thinking and obsessive-compulsive behavior. That's not all of the book, but those moments exist and they ramp the tension up high as we're not quite sure where Mel will go, or what she will do, when she's manic, or obsessive. She does a LOT of checking in with her body and mind, and talking to responsible adults about her mental well-being, with is fantastic. Her aunt's not a great influence, because she's sure that Mel's missing out on life, doped up and quelled by medication. Joan is currently unmedicated, but her strong personality doesn't sway Mel from her chosen course to medicate--because she knows how things can go tragically wrong for someone like herself--like Nolan--when there's no meds on board. And, unfortunately, in her periods of mania she sometimes misses doses, leading to a downward spiral that results in another bad episode.

I really liked this book because it didn't feel varnished. It was a challenge, however, to keep up with Mel, and I think I'd have liked more information about Nolan up-front. That said, going along the winding path and following Mel into the rabbit hole of her racing mind was eye-opening. Having dealt with emotional wellness issues in myself and close family members for decades now, it was a journey I'm familiar with, and felt resonated off the page. Mental illness is never an easy read, but Mel's upbeat and committed choice for medical care was refreshing. I really appreciated the rich support network that assisted Mel, and how her fears of being abandoned once people learned her real "illness" weren't reinforced.

There's a hint of romance, but it's not the focus. Instead, the real-life dramas of friendships dissolving and new ones forming are the center of the book. These stressors are common for teens, which provides the context for grasping Mel's underlying medical problems, which makes her reaction to those stressors accessible, even in their extremes.

I received a review copy via NetGalley.

I feel so torn about this book. I enjoyed some aspects and others I struggled with so much that I almost gave up on the whole thing.

Unfortunately, I found the bulk of the story slow-going with the focus being on teenage angst, friendship and relationships vying for top billing instead of mental illness. It isn't until two-thirds of the way through the book (when I had almost given up) that I finally could sink my teeth into the story. It's at this point that Lindstrom gets to the heart of Mel's struggle with bipolar disorder and the results are vivid and emotional. From the intensity of her feelings, to her loss of control, delusions and finally her breakdown readers will witness the heart-breaking struggle within Mel and the enormous stress she is under to keep it hidden from people around her.

One of my issue with the book is that there was too much angst and not enough depth or character development. There is a mixed bag of secondary characters with the residents of the nursing home where Mel works being my favourites with their sass, personality and heart. Some of the teenagers by comparison (Declan and Holly, I'm looking at you) faded so much into the background that they were easily forgettable.

The other issue I had was that there was too much telling and not enough showing. I wanted to witness the connection or disconnection between Annie, Connor, Zumi and Mel so I could better understand Mel's hesitation to inform her friends of her mental illness. Similarly, the romance happened too quickly, felt forced and too good to be true considering all the issues and drama that occur in their brief relationship. Unfortunately, I just wasn't invested in these relationships.

Also, when it finally came down to the big reveal about the reason for the rift between Zumi, Connor and Mel, the result was disappointing for something that was alluded to many times. I would have preferred a more in-depth look at other relationships - namely, Mel's relationship with her brother. Her bond with him underlies much of the book yet is barely talked about. Or even a look at Mel's mother and how she has handled having so much mental illness within her family.

It sounds like I wasn't a fan of this book and for a chunk of it I wasn't. But I will take away a better understanding of bipolar disorder. This went from a book I almost gave up on to one that became a decent read due to the vivid and honest look at Mel's illness and her heartbreaking struggle to be seen as 'normal'. While this wasn't a home run for me I applaud the author for giving his readers a better insight into the mental health of teens.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mel Hannigan is a 16-year-old with bipolar disorder living an unpredictable life. Her latest struggle is balancing feelings. When a former friend confronts Mel, her teenage world begins to crumble. Now she fears whether her friends will abandon her after learning the truth.

Goodreads calls A Tragic Kind of Wonderful a captivating exploration of life with mental illness. Bookhearts, I am here to tell you it ain't. I started and stopped reading this book three times. I so wanted to like it. I really wanted to get lost in this YA novel. But the main character was not enough to pull me in. The chapters were redundant. The drama of Mel's world crumbling was over exaggerated. Yet there wasn't enough conflict. Sadly, it was a tragic kind of let down.

A Tragic Kind of Wonderful is now available if you wish to give it a chance; although, I do not recommend it.

LiteraryMarie

This story delved into mental illness in a way that felt true-to-life (complete with a bit of teen drama), and I was instantly drawn into Mel’s story.

What Fed My Addiction:

Relatable to a younger YA audience.
This book shines a light on mental illness in a way that seems a bit more approachable to a younger YA audience than some others that tackle the subject, which I think is incredibly valuable. It shows how fragile mental stability can be against a backdrop of typical teen angst—issues with friends and a new romance. Since most teens can imagine themselves in situations like the ones that Mel finds herself in, it might make the book a bit more relatable than some similar books might seem (again, especially for that younger YA set—who are sometimes overlooked a bit when it comes to books about mental illness). Many teens will be able to empathize with Mel’s “typical” problems that stem with problems with her friends and the possibility of a new romance, which will help them sympathize with Mel’s much more unique issues stemming from her mental illness (even if they’ve never been exposed to the realities of mental illness before). At least, that’s my theory.

Importance of medicine.
This book drives home how important medication can be for people with mental illness and the very real possible consequences of not getting the proper treatment. It also put counseling into a positive light and stressed that people with mental illness do not need to be ashamed and hide their illness. (There were some technical terms included in the book too, but they were peppered in with layman’s explanations, so it worked well as an educational tool without seeming like one.)

Heartbreaking.
I definitely found myself in tears more than once while reading this book. I was so connected to Mel, and my heart broke for her when she was spiraling out of control!

What Left Me Hungry for More:

A lot going on.
Since Mel’s life is headed in several different directions, none of her relationships can be completely, 100% fleshed out. The romance is cute, but nothing spectacular, and some of the drama with her friends can seem like … well, drama. Still, I thought that this book had more than enough heart to make up for some of its drawbacks.

This book explores an important topic in a way that makes it feel relatable. I easily give it 4/5 stars!

This book is a work of art. Everything about it was intriguing and mind-blowing. So much realism behind it that I had to be dragged away form the book by my friends and parents to do my homework. Just amazing.

Mel Hannigan is about to turn 17. We learn early on that her brother Nolan died, but the details unravel with Mel. The book skips between Mel's present and her past, which give us a glimpse into why relationships are in the state they are in. Mel is also bipolar. While this is something she hides from her friends, she is candid with the reader - about her medication, what's going on in her mind, etc. I felt this was a realistic representation. There were some threads from her past that I wasn't quite sure that I followed. But I enjoyed the characters so much it didn't faze me.

Favorite quote: "'She said the world needs more girls who don't keep their hands in their laps.'"

PROS:

There was so much to learn from this book. Mental health isn’t talked about anywhere near as much as it should be. There’s a complex system of animals Mel uses to illustrate her moods/how she’s feeling, which you might want to write down for reference throughout, because it is a little hard and confusing to keep track of. As far as I know (I’m not an expert), this is a poignant and realistic portrayal of the mental and physical highs and lows experienced by someone who is bipolar. It was an awakening for me as a reader, because I haven’t read many books with this mental illness. It brought keen insight into the disorder and how the individual’s thinking and feeling change, how they react, and the medicine cabinet full of medication that some who suffer from this disorder live with everyday. I think a big part of this story was trying to show how normal mental illness can appear to an outsider or someone who doesn’t know. There was a bunch of terminology I had no clue about and I was pretty startled by the idea of subintentional suicide; I’d never heard of that before. Generally when we think of people who make dangerous choices it’s in a oh, what a daredevil kind of way, but this was truly eye-opening for me, and in connection to bipolar disorder. I am still reeling.

I adored HJ (Hurricane Joan). She’s this feisty, sassy aunt, who like Mel, has bipolar disorder. She’s super fun and full of energy, and while she does have her down times, she has such a strong presence.

Mel was an intriguing character. She wasn’t particularly interesting, but she was compassionate, giving, a genuinely good person. Her emotions were a dizzying spiral of highs and lows, ups and downs, and very raw, honest. Her confusion and fear are clear, even if she doesn’t understand why she feels the way she does or how she’s going to react. Mel is trying to cope with her disorder, not beat it or pretend that it doesn’t exist. Mel believes she can be like a “normal” person and that in order to do so, she needs to lie. Why Mel insists on all the lies is revealed in time, but it doesn’t always feel like it was necessary.

Mel and David are cute together. They’re blunt and challenge each other. He is the only one that she is completely truthful with and where she can be the most herself. They’re funny, playful, and have an easy way with each other that feels meant to be.

CONS:

A Tragic Kind of Wonderful is split into flashbacks and current events. There are two storylines, one regarding the time before diagnosis and another after. These stories mix and mingle with each other and I wasn’t entirely sold on how it was set up. They way these two narratives were presented made the pacing feel staggered. You feel like you wait forever to things that are alluded to from the very beginning-like why her friendship with Zumi and Conner is on the outs. The whole book you wait for this reveal and it’s built up so much that you expect it to be something world-shattering and terrible, and while it is a betrayal, when you know the reasons why, it’s like, oh, shrug. Other reveals, like what happened to her brother and the mystery about her name, were a little frustrating, but once you understand that they took so long to get to because Mel couldn’t safely, emotionally process them, it’s okay.

All of the characters except for David and Mel and HJ and most of the elderly people-let me fix this, most of the teen characters were antisocial, withdrawn, and even with the flashbacks, didn’t have much personality. The connection between them and Mel was supposedly so strong that it emotionally paralyzes her to think about it, and yet, that feeling does not carry through the book, it’s more talked about than actually illustrated. Most of the story, I questioned why Mel even cared that these people were no longer in her life, she had replacements in the form of Holly and Declan, who were similar enough to the original friends that they were kind of forgettable. Had there been more interaction with ANY of these friends, a stronger establishment between characters would have been made and it would have been easier to become emotionally invested. Again, I think this had a lot to do with how the book was organized.

I wish there had been more flashbacks to Mel and her brother. I felt like the focus was skewed. So much emphasis was placed on the loss of these friends she made after her brother’s death, when his loss is the root of so much of her hurt.

SIDE NOTE: I would not compare this to All the Bright Places in terms of writing style, but thematically, sure.

I loved Not if I See You First, and had high expectations for A Tragic Kind of Wonderful. It took me a lot longer to connect with Mel, but the way she dealt with her mental illness, her grief over the loss of her brother, questions about sexual orientation, drama with friends, and the ups and downs of first love all seemed realistic and compelling in a way that caused me to be completely on board with the character by the end.
Lindstrom proves that he is a YA author that is worthy to be on your radar.

A Tragic Kind of Wonderful is a realistic story with well-developed characters. The protagonist and the book's language is authentic and tells an important story. I read this with my teenage daughter and it invoked many conversations that we may not have had otherwise. I highly recommend this book.

Mel's brother recently died, most believe it was suicide related to his bipolar disorder, but she believes that it was just an accident. Working to honor the memory of her brother, Mel works to set the record straight, while also coping with her own symptoms of bipolar. Within the past few months, she had a big blowout with her friends, which involved a love triangle between friends and serious concerns for Mel's mental health. Mel currently works at a local retirement home, where she makes friends and begins developing a love interest with one of the resident's grandsons.

I enjoyed this novel, though it wasn't memorable. It was a perfect great, fluffy teen novel. However, many of the plot points have been done before, so it didn't really have a unique flair. I will recommend this novel, because it was an enjoyable read.

I haven't read a lot of books about bipolar disorder and I really found this one, and Mel's story to be intriguing. Mel is trying to find her footing and keep her balance in a world where her mind and body aren't always on her side. This story takes the reader into Mel's life were she has been keeping secrets from those she loves and sacrificing her happiness for those she cares about. After a breakup with her friends, Mel has found a comfort working with the elderly at the care center her grandmother once lived. This story deals with a lot of little pieces and the one thing I found lacking was that I had a hard time keeping track of her tracking at the beginning of each chapter. I loved the character of Mel and her struggle made her both sympathetic and relatable. This is a well written story and I will definitely recommend it to my students.

This book is largely unsatisfactory both in style and execution. It's very jarring how it jumps back and forth in time and it does take a while to piece together the plot elements. I kept going because I wanted to find out what tragedy had truly befallen the brother but by the end I was so tired of the stylistic choices and the lack of development along that plotline that I wish I hadn't bothered to finish it . The book's best feature is that it addresses issues surrounding mental illness and particularly bipolar disorder skillfully but that is the only real strong point of the book.

I had read Eric Lindstrom's first novel and thought it was great at providing an insight into the mind of teens, struggling and otherwise but this novel was even better. I never felt that this was the cliched "mental illness" novel but more simply the life of Mel Hannigan and the great ups and the great downs she goes through while juggling the rest of the things that come along with being 16. Will definitely be making this an addition to our library.

Mel sometimes struggles with the day to day of her life and does everything she can to keep it hidden. And we are not talking the day to day struggles and up and downs of being a teen, finding yourself, fitting in, finding friends when you are new to town. No. Mel has bipolar disorder she is trying to live with along with coping with the death of her older brother and her parent's divorce. As the story unfolds told as only Mel can, you are pulled into a day in the life type of writing, which could have slowed the story and lose some teen readers. I don't think this will happen, because they will care for Mel and want to know more about her brother's death, the loss of the important friendships and what is going to happen to her and when is she going to be okay with telling people what she has AND let go of the secrets she holds on to for the good of others. It is like she is smoothing it over for the reader because it's just who she is. By about the middle of the book Mel begins to really unravel, the impact of the change in Mel's voice is profound as the pace becomes faster, scarier--you can feel what is happening to her, leaving no doubt the terrible that bipolar disorder is. Really well done on the author's part on how this was structured. This is a definite buy for my library and a book I look forward to book talking.

**I received this book for free, via Netgalley, in exchange of an honest review**

I give this book a 3.75 stars out of 5.

It was a very quick read. While it has dark subject matter, it still comes across as a light read, and that is due to the lighthearted funny characters within the book. There is a lot of humor in it.

I think the author has captured Bi-Polar disorder perfectly. He managed to capture the highs and lows, and the absolute free-falling nature of this illness. My heart aches for all that Mel has gone through, and the fight she faces everyday, not to lose herself. I really did enjoy this book, and I know it may not look like it in my photo, but the cover is absolutely gorgeous.

Kudos to Authors who are shedding light on a topic that many people want to shove under a rug and pretend it doesn't exist. You are making people talk about it, and that is a GREAT thing! This book comes out February 7th. Pick it up guys!