The Boy Between

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Amanda Prowse Josiah Hartley                                      283 Pages                                                                          Psychology Mental Health                                              Published on 01 November 2020

Bestselling novelist Amanda Prowse knew how to resolve a fictional family crisis. But then her son came to her with a real one…

Josiah was nineteen with the world at his feet when things changed. Without warning, the new university student’s mental health deteriorated to the point that he planned his own death. His mother, bestselling author Amanda Prowse, found herself grappling for ways to help him, with no clear sense of where that could be found. This is the book they wish had been there for them during those dark times.

Josiah’s situation is not unusual: the statistics on student mental health are terrifying. And he was not the only one suffering; his family was also hijacked by his illness, watching him struggle and fearing the day he might succeed in taking his life.

In this book, Josiah and Amanda hope to give a voice to those who suffer, and to show them that help can be found. It is Josiah’s raw, at times bleak, sometimes humorous, but always honest account of what it is like to live with depression. It is Amanda’s heart-rending account of her pain at watching him suffer, speaking from the heart about a mother’s love for her child.

For anyone with depression and anyone who loves someone with depression, Amanda and Josiah have a clear message—you are not alone, and there is hope. 

My Thoughts 

The Boy Between Amanda Prowse Josiah Hartley This is a book that everyone needs to read. I feel like I have been on an emotional rollercoaster. I think most people have had their lives touched by suicide, and if you haven't then you probably will in future. I typically stear clear of books that claim there is raw emotion in them, so for me to say that's what in this book is huge. As a massive fan of Amanda's books, this was one of my most anticipated reads for 2020. In her fiction Amanda has never been afraid to tackle huge and emotional topics, so I was expecting high emotion in this true life story. I laughed I cried and I gasped reading this. Both Amanda and Josh poured their hearts out on these pages, and I really think this book will be an important read to so many people. As a mum to 3 young girls, and stepmum to a 27 year old, I felt all of the pain on these pages. My stepson is in final year of PhD, having had to swap courses after 1st year in college, I've probably only seen a fraction of how difficult it was for him at times. This is one of those books that will stay on your mind for a long time after you finish it, and when I was done I really just wanted to give Amanda a hug! Josh really left nothing unsaid, and I truly hope he continues to see life in colour.  I loved this book. Thank you to Amanda Prowse Josiah Hartley Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy for review.