I’ve never read a book quite like Juliet the Maniac by Juliet Escoria, and I’m telling you now, you need to read it too.
The plot:
It’s 1998, and fourteen-year-old honours student Juliet is on her way to great success. But over the course of the next two years, she finds herself in a downward trajectory of mental illness and self-destruction.
An explosive portrayal of unravelling teenage life.
Disturbing, compelling and broke my heart
First things first: this book is insanely good. There are lots of parts which are difficult to read, making it an intense and unforgettable journey.
Juliet the Maniac covers self-harm, substance abuse, mental illnesses and other topics which are distressing, but it’s an important book for readers.
It’s dark, but with moments of humour and hope. It explores real issues which people face, and although fiction, really does give an autobiography type of feel. Being in first person from Juliet’s point of view, it feels like you’re inside her mind, seeing and feeling what she was, and this just makes it so pure and realistic.
Many chapters are short, often one page or two, so it’s a quick read. The writing is exquisite, with short sentences to add to the tension, whilst including more complex sentences to add elements of imagery and for you to really see through the protagonists’ eyes.
Adding an extra depth, there were also excerpts from articles or logs which were slotted in seamlessly.
An incredible novel, similar to Girl, Interrupted but more raw, from my point of view. Extraordinary, but at times can be upsetting. Juliet the Maniac is a must-read, especially when it comes to teenagers with mental health issues, but also those who know others, or experienced this themselves.
Disturbing, compelling and broke my heart. A definite 5-star read.
Juliet the Maniac, Juliet Escoria, RRP £12.99 (paperback); Book Depository
Pages: 309
Publisher: Melville House
Genre: Fiction/ Mental Health