Trigger Warnings:
Suicide attempt, blood, sexual abuse
From what I could gather from those who actually have DID and read this book, this is a relatively accurate portrayal and it was a really nice read for me. I also liked how it asserted no one solution and rather honored the “we’re gonna figure this out as we go” approach, which highlights the spectrum and how every person’s disorder affects them differently and should be handled according to what’s best for the person, system, or situation.
The pacing was wonderful.
It was split into three sections: Me, Them, and Us. I loved how that flowed with their journey of discovery and acceptance. Though I could easily predict who the abuser was from the beginning, this didn’t bother me, because the story was mainly about Dylan discovering and finding strength and healing in her system, not necessarily finding out who caused the disorder.
This book is comforting as well as revealing. It shows more accurately what having DID is like, but very few people are mean to her about it, believing she’s making it up for attention. Dylan is blessed with a mostly great support system inside and out. While it may be unrealistic for many, it can be comforting to see a story where people are good to you for who and what you are, even if it isn’t something you have in real life right now.
However, that being said, there are times when things felt a bit…fake. Like people were too understanding or accepting or questions and thoughts were too perfect. It didn’t ruin the read for me, but it did take some of my verisimilitude away in those moments.
One loose end did not get tied up: What is Jess’s story? She is a very side character, but her life affected a main side character’s behavior and understanding, and knowing more about her story would have helped me believe his “perfection” a bit better.
All that said, I really enjoyed this book. It was a roller-coaster and I had to pause every so often to research if certain things were real experiences for people with DID, and then I had to pause to digest that wild new information about how the human brain works. It’s amazing and terrifying and portrayed with diligent respect in this novel.
I do recommend this book, though perhaps not to the faint of heart, even though the ending is a happy one.
That’s all from me! Now go get some sunlight and try to honor your emotions through healthy outlets. ❤
N. K. Valek: Author 