Review: A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel

Title: A Danger to Herself and Others

Author: Alyssa Sheinmel

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publishing Date: February 5th, 2019

Pages: 352
Audio Length: 8 Hours and 40 Minutes

Genre: YA Mental Health/Contemporary
TW: Mental Illness, anorexia

Series: Standalone

Source: Audio

 

Only when she’s locked away does the truth begin to escape…

Four walls. One window. No way to escape. Hannah knows there's been a mistake. She didn't need to be institutionalized. What happened to her roommate at her summer program was an accident. As soon as the doctors and judge figure out that she isn't a danger to herself or others, she can go home to start her senior year. In the meantime, she is going to use her persuasive skills to get the staff on her side.
Then Lucy arrives. Lucy has her own baggage. And she may be the only person who can get Hannah to confront the dangerous games and secrets that landed her in confinement in the first place.

What made me pick this book up: 

I kept seeing it everywhere. The title probably caught my eye the most, because it sounds mysterious almost. Why is she a danger to herself and others? Is this a horror book? I had to find out. 

I like how on the cover it looks almost like the title is scratched into a wall, which the ivy definitely adds to. 

What made me read this book: 

Once I found out what it was about, it sounded really good. I've been really into mental health/contemporary books of all types lately. 

I wanted to know what the accident was, and what she had to do with it. 

What did I like the most: 

The unreliable narrator. Unreliable narrator books are some of my absolute favorites. It's like a mind f*ck the whole time.

What's real? What isn't? Is this real? This can't be real. Holy crap this is real. Wait no it isn't. You just never know. 

The story with this is great. Like I said, it's a really great mystery. You want to find out what happened to Agnes and how Hannah was involved. 

One of the things I like the most is how this is about her not knowing she has a mental illness. She learns about it as the book progresses. And she learns to cope with it. Sort of. Anyway, not important. This isn't a typical "She's f'd up and knows it and doesn't want to fix herself and/or wants to fix herself" it's a "There is nothing wrong with me. Oh wait, yes there is" type of book. 

I feel like the pace was really good with this one. It starts off with a bang and has an even pace the entire time. There wasn't really any slow parts where I zoned out, but it also didn't stop me from doing my regular activities like some others do. This is a good thing I promise. 

I was still completely into this book. Once things started going it was like "wait what" "wait. What!?" I totally didn't see that coming.

That's another great thing I love. I didn't see any of what happened coming at all. The author did a great job with the reveal and the mystery.

I've read quite a few reviews where they complain about the MC and how awful she is. But honestly I liked her. Yeah she had some annoying moments, and she seemed like a stuck up brat who likes to manipulate people. But her parents were leaving her alone or taking her to grown up parties at a young age. It's what she's always known.

The character growth in this book is phenomenal though. She goes from that stuck up brat to realizing there really is something wrong with her. And her whole world comes crashing down.

This book is so raw. It doesn't hide anything or sugar coat it. It shows how real mental illnesses are and how they really effect people's lives. 

Honestly this book was more of a 4.5 stars for me. 

What didn't I like: 

Her parents. Oh my God! I understand that their world also got flipped turned upside down. But really. THIS IS YOUR DAUGHTER. And it effects her a hell of a lot more than it effects y'all! Stop being selfish a-holes and love on your very confused and lost daughter.

Okay rant over. Sorry.

I feel so bad for Hannah because honestly it's like she has no one. No one to support or love her. She's so confused and lost and I know I just said that, but if y'all read this book y'all will understand. I feel for her.

I almost wish there would be a sequel only because I want to continue reading about how much she grows and learns to cope, or not cope in the real world. 

Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
Yes, yes, and yes! I actually realized she's written more than I knew she did. I really want to read these ones...

This book was so much more than I had ever hoped it would be. 

"It was so easy when I was five, to manipulate my parents' friends into being ashamed of their own children, into thinking I was so much better. It's still so easy."
- Alyssa Sheinmel, A Danger to Herself and Others

Alyssa Sheinmel is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels for young adults, including A Danger to Herself and Others and Faceless. She is the co-author of The Haunting of Sunshine Girl and its sequel, The Awakening of Sunshine Girl. Alyssa grew up in Northern California and New York, and currently lives and writes in New York City. Follow her on Instagram @alyssasheinmel and Twitter @AlyssaSheinmel or visit her online at www.alyssasheinmel.com.