Book Review: My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Title: My Heart and Other Black Holes

Author: Jasmine Warga

Release date: February 10th 2015
Pages: 302
Genres: YA, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
My rating: 5/ 5
Source: Bought

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.

There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner. 

Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together. Except that Roman may not be so easy to convince.

(taken from goodreads)

Review:

I've always had a keen interest in books, especially YA, that center on the topic of mental illness. It's a topic that hits real close to home and I find it very interesting to see how authors portray the subject. It's something that I think should be talked about and discussed more often. Not only could it really help those suffering from it, it might also help those who know someone who's going through it understand the situation a lot better. Jasmine Warga dealt with this sensitive topic in what I found was one of the most truthful and honest portrayals. 

Both of the main characters in this book felt relatable. Not only that, they were also believable. I found myself powering through this book and when I got near towards the end I realized that I became very much attached to them. I really liked Aysel and reading from her pov. I liked how she was honest with the things she was feeling. I also really liked Roman too although a little bit less than I did Aysel. Regardless, I found both of them to be really strong characters. 

I will say that prior to reading the book I was a bit uneasy about the plot since it is about these two characters that meet on a website to become suicide partners. I was afraid of how the story would unfold since the circumstances do seem pretty extreme, but in the end I was not disappointed. It was. Very well-written book and I loved every single bit.

Another thing I want to add, is how this book doesn't just focus on depression. It brings a lot more to the table. For example: family. Family was a huge topic in this book and I loved how it was included. After all, it's no secret that YA books tend to neglect the topic altogether. Jasmine Warga showed how important and crucial it is for people who are in this state of mind to have support from their family. To have someone that cares about them and only wants to see them get better.

Overall, I would recommend this book to people who would like a more insightful view of what depression is like and how it affects people who suffer from it and those around them. It's clearly not a light-hearted read, but it is eye-opening and I think more people should give it a try. It definitely made its way to my favorites list! 

YouTube Instagram Facebook