The Words We Keep

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Lily. Initially likable, becomes more narcissistic throughout the story, focused only on herself and forgetting that she’s not the only person in her life. She lies to her best friend about things that she could have been truthful. Lily is careless with others’ feelings and generally doesn’t consider others have difficult *stuff* in their lives. I understood that she was overwhelmed, emotionally neglected by her only living parent and new stepmom and dealing with her own worries about mental health. Of course, she’s the MOST creative, talented poet, a superstar who doesn’t want others to know her struggles. I’m very glad Stewart didn’t write Lily as the perfect sister and I don’t need likable narrators, I wish she was a little less manic pixie girl. Okay, a lot less. It’s just, I have this vision, you know? A world where your diagnosis doesn’t define you, and getting help doesn’t make you weak or dangerous or other. And sometimes I forget that the world isn’t there yet.”

They embark on an art project for school, which involves finding poetry in unexpected places, and Lily realizes that it is the words she has been swallowing that desperately want to break through. Our ReviewEven though we broke up years ago, Damon’s never fully gotten the memo that I’m not his to torment. The knot in my stomach expands, undulating out in all directions. When I look again, the boy with the sunglasses is still laser-beam focused on me. Are you sure?” Sam straightens up, talking to me out of the corner of her mouth now. “Because he’s coming over here. Right. Now.”

Who turned out to be the savior was Micah. He has quite the reputation that followed him and he never let that stop him from being his true self and bringing others out from their shells. He was the perfect fit for this story, his love interest just didn’t fit nor make sense. Note: give me a brooding, male artist with a troubled past any day and I’ll love him to bits, and that’s exactly what I did with Micah.When Lily and Micah embark on an art project for school involving finding poetry in unexpected places, she realizes that it's the words she's been swallowing that desperately want to break through. Sorry, dude,” he says with so much disdain, I can taste it. Damon rants about how the school shouldn’t let in “people like that,” while dabbing at the wet spot with the paper towel Kali hands him. Author Erin Stewart takes a raw, thought-provoking look into the mind of a teen struggling with anxiety. I was captivated by Lily’s narration and how her inner thoughts, the monsters, would just jump in when they wanted to. There were words that she wanted to say to her family and friends, but wouldn’t and instead of just thinking them, they’d be off to the side with a strikeout through them to indicate she was scared to reveal how she really felt. The use of poetry in the book was perfect to show her struggle with anxiety and trying to not let the monsters win. Authors, if you are a member of the Goodreads Author Program, you can edit information about your own books. Find out how in this guide.