Review: Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella 
Released: 9th June 2015
Published by: Doubleday Children's
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Publisher
Pages: 288
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Audrey can't leave the house. she can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house.

Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start.And with Linus at her side,

Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable. Be prepared to laugh, dream and hope with Audrey as she learns that even when you feel like you have lost yourself, love can still find you . . .

Thank you to Random House Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Finding Audrey is my first Sophie Kinsella novel, and after reading this quirky yet insightful story of one girl searching for herself outside of her mental illness - I know I'm going to want to read more. This is a book that will make you smile, or even actually laugh out loud. While it is undeniable that social anxiety disorder and other forms of depression are serious issues in themselves, having that portrayed in this way through one girl's experiences with a focus on family and finding the courage to move forward was refreshing, and made for a story which I could definitely re-read in future. 

What instantly draws us into Audrey's world is her speaking directly to us readers. Not being able to leave the house and wearing sunglasses all the time after this one defining incident at her old school made her trapped in the confines of her life. What this book did explore well I feel is the preconceived notions people have when they witness someone else acting differently, not realising that mental illness is often something hidden. For example, seeing Audrey's 24/7 sunglasses wouldn't necessarily tell you that she was someone who perhaps wanted to hide from the rest of the world - and taking them off would really mean something. Sophie Kinsella has a sensitive touch in writing this, and all throughout the humorous tone was right in balance with grounding those deeper issues. Even if you haven't experienced mental illness yourself, I think everyone could relate to this book in some way. Yes, we all have imperfections and own challenges to overcome, but we don't have to let those define us. Audrey herself was a perfect example of that quality - she still had her own unique personality and wit in abundance. Some of her backstory is revealed which provides a glimpse into why she developed anxiety, but while these teasers were adequate I do wish we had the whole explanation.

However, Audrey does develop as a character, not only because she had the strength to do so but because others around her were that catalyst for change. Linus brought her confidence, and while perhaps even he couldn't fully comprehend the extent of her situation, he did push her boundaries. There was a cute relationship between them, and in some parts I just wanted to give this book a hug because it was adorable. Family also has a role to play, though with an eccentric/obsessive worrywart of a mother it definitely wasn't the perfect picture. Her younger brother Felix was so nice to get to know though, and it just goes to show how children can see the world in such a blissfully whimsical way. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Humourous, heartwarming and with a sense of hopefulness, Finding Audrey is a novel which is
worth reading more than once. It shows that a mental illness doesn't have to become the be-all-and-end-all for someones state of existence. Although it has an impact on the person, it's someone's vibrant personality which can still shine through.