***** 5 stars! More or Less Maddy is not an easy read but it definitely is a must read!
A huge Thank You to Lisa Genova for undertaking writing such a compassionate story centred around such a stigmatized topic.
Her writing draws you in from the first chapter. Although the subject matter of mental health -specifically bipolar disorder-is anything but light, her talent for story telling and the weaving of (researched) factual information into that story is unparalleled.
Thank You to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Lisa Genova for the opportunity to read and appreciate this ARC.

I have just taken a journey into the world of a person who has been diagnosed as bipolar. Wow! What an interesting but mostly scary and uncomfortable journey it has been.

Lisa Genova is a neurologist-scientist but she brings the complexity of the disorder to a layman's level.

The reader meets Maddy, a young lady who is just starting university. It is common for bipolar disorder to show up in a person in their teens. The story illustrates how the disorder has a ripple effect on family, friends, day-to-day life. We quickly see both the manic side and the depressive side. Neither one is preferable over the other.

Parts of the book were difficult to read, but compelling at the same time. Mental illness is not spoken of very much, even in this day and age. And, often family members tend to hide it, something to be ashamed of.

I was hoping that Maddy would be able to get her challenges under control. Watching the incredible swings between manic and depressive was very emotional for me. Watching her reaction to drug therapy is difficult. Sometimes it is a challenge to find the right combination of drugs as everyone is different. Maddy's struggle is real.

Due to Ms Genova's profession, I have complete confidence that this is an accurate depiction of bipolar disorder. Because it does not have clear edges, nor is it definitive, it is very difficult to understand that the brain can affect a person as it does. Kudos to her for all the in-depth research she did. Ms Genova even interviewed a Starbucks barista to ensure Maddie's part-time job was depicted accurately.

In the author's note at the end of the book, Ms Genova says: “I hope that this novel helps to humanize this disorder.”
I'm reporting back: Yes, it does!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

🧠 T O P N O T C H T H U R S D A Y review 🧠 featuring “More or Less Maddy” by Lisa Genova!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Maddy Banks is having a hard time keeping everything together as a freshman at NYU! Living away from home for the first time is one thing, but the added pressure of getting good grades, showing up to class, meeting new friends and juggling a boyfriend has become A LOT for her.

Maddy starts to take antidepressants and things start to really spiral out of control as she begins to have manic episodes. Her family seeks out help after a shocking event takes place. Once she is formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Maddy and her family must learn how to navigate this new reality for all of them!

Oh Lisa Genova, you have it done again! Every single one your books are outstanding, intriguing and masterfully written! There aren’t enough books out there that cover mental health topics like bi-polar disorder. Not only did I learn a lot about bipolar disorder, but also the side effects of medication and how to support a person living with this disorder.

Thank you kindly to @authorlisagenova @simonschusterca @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange of my honest review! This book releases on January 14, 2025 and is a must read for readers of all genres!

Another brilliant masterpiece in Lisa Genova’s pocket! Thoroughly enjoyed reading about Maddy as she is diagnosed as bipolar. What follows is Maddy’s mania and depression, which we experience first hand from her point of view. I had always heard about the effects of lithium and Maddy made it real. It gave me some insight as to how a person with bipolar must feel. I loved every moment of Maddy’s ups and felt bad about her downs. A well written novel worth reading!

This book was incredibly well written and thought provoking. In classic Lisa Genova style, the book was well researched and painted a detailed picture of what it is like to live with bipolar disorder. Maddy is a compelling character and it was very interesting to see her navigate her diagnosis and treatment journey. Maddy also had great character growth throughout the book. This book was immersive and very emotional. It was, at times, uncomfortable to read because it was such a realistic depiction of depression and mania, but this was a necessary discomfort and needed to help to destigmatize bipolar disorder and mental health as a whole. I thought the supporting characters were great as well, particularly Maddy's mom. Overall a wonderful, important read and one I will be recommending to all of my patrons when it is released.

More or Less Maddy

Lisa Genova

@authorlisagenova is one of my favourite authors because of her incredible talent for writing books that explore neurological conditions. Genova makes an understanding of these complex disorders accessible for readers and fosters empathy for people with these conditions through her exquisite character development. It is easy for readers to connect with the main characters and their family/caregivers, understand the many challenges faced as a result of the given neurological condition, and have a new perspective when hearing about or seeing people with these disorders in their communities.

More or Less Maddy follows a young adult, Maddy, who has just started college and is struggling with (mostly) typical college student challenges such as: break ups, weight gain, strained long distance relationships with friends and family, and depressive symptoms. When birth control and antidepressants are introduced, Maddy's body and brain start to react, and slowly these challenges that seemed normal given the transition to adulthood, begin to have a bigger and bigger impact on her daily life. In her manic states she believes she's working on Taylor Swift's biography, and writing a Netflix comedy series, cheats on her boyfriend and steals the family car, but in her depressive states she can't get out of bed and struggles with compulsive thoughts related to self-harm and suicide. At a time in her life where her peers are just starting to experience the freedom of adulthood, the thrill of trying new things and growing into their personalities, Maddy finds herself under constant supervision by her mother and/or hospital staff and confused about who she is really meant to be.

More or Less Maddy is an incredible book that completely altered my understanding of Bipolar Disorder. Having a window into the mind of someone with this condition, as well as the views of her family and friends, helped form a new perspective for me. I felt like a close friend of Maddy's, wanting the best for her, but also watching helplessly when she started to spiral. As I fully expected, this was an amazing book and one I would highly recommend. I was SO appreciative of the chance to read this book in advance of it's upcoming publication date in January, and would like to thank @netgalley, and @simonschusterca for the copy.