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Something
Young adult coming-of-age novel following aspiring singer Aleeya Rai in her experiences of happiness, sadness and everything in between.
248 pages, Paperback
Published May 8, 2020
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 6, 2020
We, as humans, have evolved a lot. We have discovered new ways to do things, to make our lives easier and whatnot. Unfortunately, we understand machines better than humans, and that's where the problem starts. There are so many misbeliefs about the human mind, precisely, the health of it, mental health. The stigma attached to it has killed many lives. This stigma forces people to avoid seeking help. It can get dangerous, and even suicidal. 'Something' by Shoilee Banerjee is the book that addresses these issues and how worse they can get.
This is a brave and heartbreaking story of Aleeya, an Indian girl living in Boston with her remarkably affluent parents. Being famous doctors, her parents are always occupied. So much so that Aleeya sees them rarely. Aleeya is a talented girl. She always gets A’s in all of her tests and outshines in everything at school. Her parents want her to get into Harvard but she, on the other hand, finds solace in Music. She wants to be a singer. She secretly goes to the Boston subway to sing because she wants her talent to be noticed and appreciated. She is always afraid that someone will find out and her parents will ground her.
This book takes us on Aleeya's journey to achieve her dreams. The journey that isn't easy. Aleeya goes through substance addiction, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, heartbreaks and tremendous pain. Her parents find out about her addiction and warn her that she will be grounded. Her friendships and relationships fall apart. Things keep happening, and Aleeya gets lost. With no support at all, she keeps thinking that there is no point in living. She talks to herself and reminds herself that everyone left her because she was falling apart.
She decides to take help and finds a therapist, but that does not work as per her. She makes her way out through this, but how is the beauty of this book. Aleeya’s healing process in this book is so so beautiful. I cannot even describe in words. I shall not.
The first half of this book was exciting but slow-paced. The usual school drama, hangovers, and parties. But the second half impressed me, I would say, moved me. Every word was worth reading and crying for. It is difficult to write about the destructive and devastating things. You have to make readers feel what character is going through, and Shoilee has done a brilliant job with this. My heart ached a lot for Aleeya. I felt her pain. I even wrote notes to her. That is how well developed Aleeya's character is. You grow with her. You heal with her.
This book focuses on teenage issues, mental health, issues between parents and children, toxic friendships and relationships, passion killing and much more. Anyone went through such lonely and tough times will relate to this story. I would recommend this book, but there are some triggering topics like suicide and self-harm. So, find a suitable time and correct phase of your life to read this. But read this.
This book gives hope that you are not alone, and life is worth living. Things shall pass, and you will find ways.
This is a brave and heartbreaking story of Aleeya, an Indian girl living in Boston with her remarkably affluent parents. Being famous doctors, her parents are always occupied. So much so that Aleeya sees them rarely. Aleeya is a talented girl. She always gets A’s in all of her tests and outshines in everything at school. Her parents want her to get into Harvard but she, on the other hand, finds solace in Music. She wants to be a singer. She secretly goes to the Boston subway to sing because she wants her talent to be noticed and appreciated. She is always afraid that someone will find out and her parents will ground her.
This book takes us on Aleeya's journey to achieve her dreams. The journey that isn't easy. Aleeya goes through substance addiction, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, heartbreaks and tremendous pain. Her parents find out about her addiction and warn her that she will be grounded. Her friendships and relationships fall apart. Things keep happening, and Aleeya gets lost. With no support at all, she keeps thinking that there is no point in living. She talks to herself and reminds herself that everyone left her because she was falling apart.
She decides to take help and finds a therapist, but that does not work as per her. She makes her way out through this, but how is the beauty of this book. Aleeya’s healing process in this book is so so beautiful. I cannot even describe in words. I shall not.
The first half of this book was exciting but slow-paced. The usual school drama, hangovers, and parties. But the second half impressed me, I would say, moved me. Every word was worth reading and crying for. It is difficult to write about the destructive and devastating things. You have to make readers feel what character is going through, and Shoilee has done a brilliant job with this. My heart ached a lot for Aleeya. I felt her pain. I even wrote notes to her. That is how well developed Aleeya's character is. You grow with her. You heal with her.
This book focuses on teenage issues, mental health, issues between parents and children, toxic friendships and relationships, passion killing and much more. Anyone went through such lonely and tough times will relate to this story. I would recommend this book, but there are some triggering topics like suicide and self-harm. So, find a suitable time and correct phase of your life to read this. But read this.
This book gives hope that you are not alone, and life is worth living. Things shall pass, and you will find ways.
July 12, 2023
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I had an idea of what this book entailed: a young girl growing up and dealing with the hardships of mental health illness but I was unaware of what an important impact and how moved I was by the storytelling. In some ways I saw myself in Aleeya, the young protagonist, and how she navigated herself through the tough ups and downs of high school. I felt that the portrayal of anxiety and depression was true to reality. It shines a light on a topic that is not talked about much, and tells the story in such a real way that you can’t help but feel a pain in your heart for our main character.
I applaud Banerjee for her creative and moving writing, the book started off a little slow for me as I adjusted to the writing style. I found that the beginning of the book contained a lot of fast paced scenes. It seemed that weeks would pass within one or two pages which made it a bit hard to follow sometimes, but as the book got into a groove I found it easier and easier to read and follow along.
Overall this was a very good book written by a young author who wants to share the message of how mental health can affect people growing up and how they need support from those around them.
I applaud Banerjee for her creative and moving writing, the book started off a little slow for me as I adjusted to the writing style. I found that the beginning of the book contained a lot of fast paced scenes. It seemed that weeks would pass within one or two pages which made it a bit hard to follow sometimes, but as the book got into a groove I found it easier and easier to read and follow along.
Overall this was a very good book written by a young author who wants to share the message of how mental health can affect people growing up and how they need support from those around them.
October 20, 2020
🍷What are your thoughts on the
I was eyeing this book from so long and I must say the and I must say the wait was worth it. The storyline revolves around Aleeya a normal girl who is extremely relatable and talented, reading her story made me feel so much connected with her, I felt Aleeya existed somewhere within me and all of his, not that she is insecure but she lacks something, he has the passion and desire for music, she has that fire within her but her soul is broken because of her circumstances. She is a prey of her circumstances but life is not all about that, she is torn apart, goes through a lot pain trauma.
.
.
I liked how Aleeya gets over, I loved her story indeed, "Something" is not just something but it is everything. In the long time, I didn't read a story as relatable and as real. The book also play around themes of mental illness and stress and it is handled so well. It's an emotional read, reading it was like going on a very intense emotional roller coaster, it's not as fast paced as I expected you need to be patient in order to devour the emotions. It's a touching one.
.
.
I will definitely recommend it.
.
Rating: 4.25🌟
I was eyeing this book from so long and I must say the and I must say the wait was worth it. The storyline revolves around Aleeya a normal girl who is extremely relatable and talented, reading her story made me feel so much connected with her, I felt Aleeya existed somewhere within me and all of his, not that she is insecure but she lacks something, he has the passion and desire for music, she has that fire within her but her soul is broken because of her circumstances. She is a prey of her circumstances but life is not all about that, she is torn apart, goes through a lot pain trauma.
.
.
I liked how Aleeya gets over, I loved her story indeed, "Something" is not just something but it is everything. In the long time, I didn't read a story as relatable and as real. The book also play around themes of mental illness and stress and it is handled so well. It's an emotional read, reading it was like going on a very intense emotional roller coaster, it's not as fast paced as I expected you need to be patient in order to devour the emotions. It's a touching one.
.
.
I will definitely recommend it.
.
Rating: 4.25🌟
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews