By Courtney Cook
(5 / 5)
TW: self harm, suicidal thoughts, drug use
First off, I want to stress that this book is a memoir, so if you’re looking for a bunch of specific facts or advice about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), this might not be the book you’re looking for. I’m not a big nonfiction reader, so sometimes books that are very factual and clinical just don’t keep my attention. In The Way She Feels, Courtney Cook shares her personal experiences as a person with BPD. Obviously, not everyone with the condition will have the same experiences, but I appreciated the honesty and openness she shared about some very difficult-to-discuss experiences and behaviors that she had. I really liked the varied format of the book, with colorful drawings throughout. It made the book feel more inviting. Even more text-based stories in the book had illustrations, so it didn’t feel overwhelming. This book gave me a glimpse into her mind that helps me understand what a person with BPD might experience and feel. And I think coming out of this, you see that despite the obstacles she has faced, she is a person that feels and loves strongly. That things can get better even if your teenage years are rough. That so much of the stigma that media associates with BPD just isn’t accurate, and it’s not fair to only associate it with serial killers and “crazy”. And that even people from a good upbringing might have to face mental health challenges that aren’t their fault.
