Beautiful Mess

Beautiful Mess
Written by Claire Christian
Contemporary, Mental Illness, #LoveOzYA
304 Pages
Published August 28th 2017
Thank you to Text Publishing
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★★★★★
Since Ava lost Kelly, things haven’t been going so well. Even before she gets thrown out of school for shouting at the principal, there’s the simmering rage and all the weird destructive choices. The only thing going right for Ava is her job at Magic Kebab.

Which is where she meets Gideon. Skinny, shy, anxious Gideon. A mad poet and collector of vinyl records with an aversion to social media. He lives in his head. She lives in her grief. The only people who can help them move on with their lives are each other.
Ava is barely surviving in the depths of despair after her friend takes her own life. As the moments pass Ava is inconsolable, engaging in abusive and destructive behaviour, now expelled while involved in a non committal sexual relationship with Lincoln. Seeking solace in one another. Ava is an incredible character, her despair is palpable as she navigates life after Kelly, a vivacious young woman who was diagnosed with depression and committed suicide.

Gideon is a quiet, young poet with anxiety, baring the pain of self harm. With the assistance of his councillor and medication, Gideon performs Slam poetry by sharing his experience with small audiences. Throughout the quiet, solitary moments, Gideon meticulously considers scenarios, moments of reflection while retreating to the sanctuary of his bedroom until bravery ignites.

Beautiful Mess is a wonderful reflection of complexities of adolescence. Palpable, poignant and captivating, the narration of two adolescents finding moments of solace in one another. Six months prior, Ava lost her childhood friend Kelly to depression, leaving behind a family in despair. Ava feels unsupported by her peers and teaching facility, offered counselling without compassion and understanding. Ava's father is a single parent and a wonderful support, compassionate and maternal while Ava momentarily finds comfort in a physical, although considerably toxic relationship with Lincoln. Ava's narrative also examines mental health through her own undiagnosed depression after losing Kelly and enrolling in The Alternative Program, who offer counselling and education for teens unsupported by the traditional education system.

Gideon is an extraordinary young man who upon the advice of his therapist, composes slam poetry as a instrument to express his experiences with illness. Gideon is often socially incapacitated and with the encouragement of his family, engages in acts of bravery to defy his social anxiety. A wonderfully peculiar young man, Gideon is disengaged with the online world and preferring to communicate through the artistry of writing letters in which he and Ava communicate. The concept was charming and allowed both Gideon and Ava to share their experiences while easing Gideon's transition into the tentative friendship.
Kintsukuroi they call it. They take broken pieces of porcelain and they repair the cracks with gold. Making it as it was, but new again. They believe that the cracks can make something more beautiful, more valuable.
A wonderful inclusion of diversity. The late Kelly is bisexual and Maori, Ava is of Greek heritage, Gideon's parents are in a female, same sex relationship and the discussion of depression, suicide and anxiety was magnificent and wonderfully represented. I appreciated the reiterating of the importance of prescription medication and counselling. Too often young adult literature promotes the mental well being of adolescents as an illness to be remedied by a love interest and I applauded the discussion of mental illness as a chronic condition that fluctuates upon a wellness spectrum, Gideon a quintessential example.

Claire Christian is a captivating, compassionate and remarkable debut author composing a narrative that will linger long after the final page. Exquisite Australian young adult literature.

18 comments

  1. I love the diversity, the gloriously beautiful cover, and promoting healthy conversation on mental illness in YA without "romance" being some kind of magic cure for something that is a life long struggle. Thanks for introducing me to a new debut author!

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    1. It's brilliant Sarah, the portrayal of mental illness was so wonderfully written with compassion. One of the loveliest young adult books I've had the privilege of reading.

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  2. What a beautiful & incredibly necessary book. I am so tired of books, especially YA ones, that play the “I’ve acquired a love interest so now all of my ailments are cured!” card — it’s getting exhausting & cliché, not to mention dangerous & misleading to those who aren’t well informed about how mental illness really works. Yay for diversity & also what looks like a damn adorable romance, as well! Thank you so much for introducing me to this book; I truly can’t wait to read it. <3

    Topaz (Six Impossible Things)

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    1. Oh I feel the same Topaz. So many authors use the message of love cures all and it's such a dangerous trope. I loved how Claire Christian reiterated the message of the importance of medication, counselling and how mental health fluctuates. So beautifully written.

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  3. This sounds heartbreaking, but I can't help but love the diversity and a realistic conversation on mental illness. Sighs. What I wouldn't give for the "love cures everything" trope being done away with.

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    1. Couldn't agree more Verushka. I think most young adult readers have become conditioned to see books about mental illness and assume romance equates to being cured but I'm so pleased to say that this isn't the case at all with Beautiful Mess. It's immaculate.

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  4. Well I'm just about already sobbing because this sounds like a heartbreaking story, but also an important one. I definitely need to find a way to get it. I love that it tackles an important conversation, and also manages to be a diverse book with good representation.

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    1. Let me know if your sister isn't able to find a copy here. In regards to mental health in young adult novels, it's pretty much perfection. So wonderfully written and a breath of fresh air.

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  5. I do have a time when I want to be a drama queen does making me crave for heartbreaking story, and this one sounds really good. I'll definitely keep this in mind. Great review!

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    1. It's emotional but so uplifting Vanessa. I think you'll adore this one too and would love to see what you think of it.

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  6. oh.. wow a YA book that doesn't use love as a fix to mental illness? That is actually quiet refreshing and is probably well deserved of your lovely review. Gideon himself sounds quiet wonderful.

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    1. He's gorgeous Lily, my goodness. His character is a remarkable young man, so charming and lovely. Just wait until you meet him.

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  7. This sounds like a really refreshing (& intense) YA book.

    Thanks for putting another new to me book on my radar.

    For What It's Worth

    For What It's Worth

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    1. It's emotional Karen but so lovely. The prose is absolutely beautiful and the portrayal of mental illness is among the best I've seen in young adult.

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  8. This book sounds absolutely amazing! How is it you find these spectacular reads? It sounds like the best kind of read with characters who are complex and are going through a lot of problems and yet you feel connected with them. Their struggles are not always completely relatable but are something you can connect with in some way.

    I love how Gideon is socially anxious but working with a therapist and following their advise to try and express himself. He sounds absolutely wonderful. This entire book does, to be honest.

    I am going to try and get my hands on it but it's another one of those awesome sounding OZYA reads which are difficult to find here in the UK. I'll have to get on Book Depository.

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    1. Most of what I read are books by Australian young adult authors and there's something remarkable about how honest and lovely they are. There's no over dramatisation and characters tend to learn and grow from their experiences. I do hope you're able to snare a copy, The Book Depository now has an Australian depot, so many of the #loveozya reads are available on there too.

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  9. all the feels! I am glad that this book actually did mental health well, it is one of the most hardest thing to talk about. Pretty cool

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    1. It is Ailyn and so few authors can capture the experience so compassionate and yet honestly but this was magnificent.

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