youngadultfiction

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Picked this book up as a quick read, and couldn‘t put it down. Once I started the author pulled me into Ellie‘s world and I was encapsulated.

rachelsbrittain

A Banh Mi for Two | Trinity Nguyen

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This was an adorable foodie NA / YA romance about a food blogger in Saigon and the college freshman studying abroad to try to reconnect with her culture and family. Sweet and full of mouthwatering descriptions of food.

40 likes

Jari-chan

A Banh Mi for Two | Trinity Nguyen

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Listening to the audiobook was absolutely the right choice, because I got to hear the Vietnamese words and sentences how the really sound. And it's a beautiful language. I loved the glimpse of Vietnamese culture (and food!) I got through this book. The plot itself is a typical romance, also exactly what I wanted and needed (escape is needed right now).

Kenyazero Good to know about the audiobook! Thanks for sharing. I‘m looking forward to this one, it looks adorable. 4w

Jari-chan @Kenyazero It is adorable 🥰 Hope you'll like it too 4w

31 likes2 comments

rachelsbrittain

A Banh Mi for Two | Trinity Nguyen

Two romance audiobook holds just came in at the same time 😂

peanutnine 🩷🩷🩷 1mo

38 likes1 comment

Kristy_K

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

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A truly unique look at mental health and depression. I think the way Sorrow was depicted was especially affecting and pictorial.

#riseupreads

54 likes

Catsandbooks

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

Mental health matters

“The only way out is through…”

My dad committed suicide when I was 10. I've had depression and anxiety my whole life. I take antidepressants. I've done therapy multiple times in my life. I believe it's important to discuss mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illnesses. If anyone is ever struggling I am always here to talk. Please reach out!

Resources below

#riseupreads

Catsandbooks @LaughterHp @melismatic @julsmarshall @skygoddess1 @Bookwormjillk @lil1inblue @Jadams89 @puddlejumper @Liz_M @mrsV @thebookhippie @lapreader @willaful @cuilin 1mo

Catsandbooks @peanutnine @singout @mhillis @light_of_aether @alldebooks @kspenmoll @librarybelle @mimi28 @ElizaMarie @AbigailJaneBlog @DebinHawaii @Kristy_K
1mo

Catsandbooks Call or text 988 in the US for immediate help. 988lifeline.org 1mo

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Catsandbooks https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/mental-health-resources/ 1mo

Catsandbooks https://afsp.org/get-help/ I've walked with this organization 💙 1mo

AmyG You are so kind to post this. 1mo

AllDebooks That's such a harsh start in life for you. Thank you for sharing your story, positive messages and support links. X 1mo

Susanita Thank you for sharing your story. My mother dealt with bipolar disorder all her life, and we had limited discussions if any as a family. 1mo

Melismatic Echoing what‘s being said here - so many mental health struggles in my family as well. It‘s so much more common than some people wish to believe. So important to walk this road of life with empathy. You never know what someone is going through. 1mo

JenReadsAlot Thank you for sharing. My best friends mom did at the same age so I have seen her struggles. I'm also a therapist ❤️ 1mo

ElizaMarie Thank you for feeling comfortable enough to share this story. I find it very empowering that you can so. By being raw, honest, and candid, you have provided help/hope to those around you. It helps normalize mental health struggles and allows others to feel confident in telling their own stories. I believe stories (like yours, and this book) help in so many ways. 1mo

lil1inblue Thank you for sharing! It can be so helpful and empowering for people to hear that they are not alone in their mental health struggles. One of the worst things about depression is how isolating it can be. ❤ I, too, have had anxiety and depression for most of my life, and I experienced trauma during my childhood. It really helped my healing once I knew I wasn't alone in my experiences. 1mo

peanutnine ❤️❤️❤️ I hope that the stigma surrounding mental health continues to be fought against. I think it's better to be open about things so others don't feel alone 1mo

Catsandbooks @AmyG @alldebooks @susanita @melismatic @JenReadsAlot @ElizaMarie @lil1inblue @peanutnine Thank you all for the support and sharing your own experiences ❤️ 1mo

45 likes14 comments

Catsandbooks

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

Folklore and fairytale references
Sorrow‘s garden
Whimsy and Faerry‘s journey through the forest

#riseupreads

Catsandbooks @LaughterHp @melismatic @julsmarshall @skygoddess1 @Bookwormjillk @lil1inblue @Jadams89 @puddlejumper @Liz_M @mrsV @thebookhippie @lapreader @willaful @cuilin 1mo

Catsandbooks @peanutnine @singout @mhillis @light_of_aether @alldebooks @kspenmoll @librarybelle @mimi28 @ElizaMarie @AbigailJaneBlog @DebinHawaii @Kristy_K
1mo

AllDebooks I LOVED this book so very much. 1mo

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ElizaMarie Fairytales and folklore were ways to teach important lessons in life. I love how this author used these references in that way as well. It made for such beautiful storytelling. 1mo

lil1inblue I really liked how she used fairytales and folklore from different cultures. I feel like it made the book more universal and relatable, despite your background. 1mo

peanutnine Loved the fairytale aspect!! Definitely made it relatable and I liked how it felt like the characters were on a quest, with different riddles to solve and problems to overcome 1mo

43 likes1 stack add6 comments

Catsandbooks

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

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I really enjoyed this fantasy told in verse about depression, trauma, and the journey to heal.

For me I noticed that they finally could heal when the truth was revealed and everyone started communicating with each other. While the truth isn't always accessible, communication and talking through things instead ignoring or trying to forget about them is necessary to work through issues.

#riseupreads

Catsandbooks @LaughterHp @melismatic @julsmarshall @skygoddess1 @Bookwormjillk @lil1inblue @Jadams89 @puddlejumper @Liz_M @mrsV @thebookhippie @lapreader @willaful @cuilin 1mo

Catsandbooks @peanutnine @singout @mhillis @light_of_aether @alldebooks @kspenmoll @librarybelle @mimi28 @ElizaMarie @AbigailJaneBlog @DebinHawaii @Kristy_K
1mo

Melismatic I enjoyed this - I definitely think it‘s the type to lend itself to a reread to spot all of the hidden metaphors at play. 1mo

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ElizaMarie I agree - I think the fact that they weren't able to heal initially is because they are hiding the truth from themselves. Pain/grief/emotional turmoil doesn't go away when we ignore it, and I think this book does a great job at reminding its readers that they must go “through“ it in order to heal. I loved this narrative. I listened to this one (which was read beautifully), but I feel like re-reading at a slower pace may be in order soon. 1mo

lil1inblue Totally agree re: revealing the truth to heal. That part really hit home for me. The parts about the forgetting spells were really powerful for me. 1mo

peanutnine I waited til the last minute to read this one and then devoured it in like two days. I really loved it! I thought it stressed beautifully how memory plays a big role in grief, and how trauma can warp your understanding of what really happened. Confronting the truth can be difficult but ultimately promotes healing 1mo

41 likes6 comments

lil1inblue

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

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Every so often, accidental themes start emerging with the books I'm reading. Lately, it is "books that I wish were in existence during my adolescence." What a unique, yet painfully accurate, approach to discussing depression and trauma. This one is going to stick with me for a while.

#riseupreads @catsandbooks

TheBookHippie I adored this book I read it last year from the library and promptly bought a copy. I agree with your sentiment. I wish books like this existed when I was a teen. 1mo

lil1inblue @TheBookHippie 🩵🩵🩵 1mo

Catsandbooks Glad you enjoyed it! ✊🏼❤️ 1mo

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ElizaMarie I think this book definitely falls into that theme for me too - “books I wish were in existence during my adolescence“ ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 1mo

lil1inblue @Catsandbooks 💓 💓 💓 1mo

lil1inblue @ElizaMarie 💙 💙 💙 1mo

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