Refraction

by Naomi Hughes

[shannonmiz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

3.5*

I know that this doesn't come out until next month, and I usually am hesitant to review stuff that far out. But when I started reading it and found that it involves mental health in a non-contemporary setting, well. I knew it had to be done! Because not only is the main character's OCD a part of the story, it's a fairly significant part. And it's like... finally, you know? Because you better believe that my anxious, depressed ass is trying to figure out what exactly I'd do during the apocalypse. Med withdrawals, no support/therapy/self-care, and the stressors would be off the charts. And thank goodness, Naomi Hughes has written this very thing!

Now look, it's going to be hard to review this without giving anything away, so if you think I'm being vague... it's cause I am. At first, I found that I needed to suspend quite a bit of disbelief. But I promise that if you can do so in the beginning, it ends up working itself into making sense. There, that's as least-spoilery as I can make that while still making you understand that it's okay if it seems a little bananas at times.

Anyway, Marty just wants to find his brother, who he thinks might be in London. Clearly, these two are close, and that's pretty awesome. Brother books are so rare, and this book features two pairs of them! Marty ends up in exile with his nemesis, after which I can tell you almost nothing, but let's just say they have an interesting and intense journey.

Throughout the book, Marty has to battle his OCD. Before the attack, Marty had made a lot of progress in therapy and was starting to be able to manage his condition. But now, when the world is in shambles, Marty isn't having as much success. The thing I love so much about the mental health rep in this book is that the author has made Marty's situation so relatable, even if aliens haven't attacked us. Marty's OCD is inopportune, illogical, and creeps up on him just when he thinks he has gotten a grip on it. That is so many of us, just in (usually) slightly less dire circumstances. Marty has to continue to battle his OCD and challenge himself every day, just as he did when Earth was in one piece.

Bottom Line: Despite some initial suspension of disbelief, this was enjoyable! Fast-paced, filled with a lot of relatable moments and relationships, it's a great representation of mental health, with some aliens thrown in for good measure.