Constantine's Reviews > Under Rose-Tainted Skies

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary + Young Adult

"Under Rose-Tainted Skies" is a young adult novel that follows the story of a young girl named Norah who is 17 years old and has agoraphobia, which is a form of anxiety disease that causes the sufferer to be scared of leaving their home. Because Norah's illness is so severe, she hasn't attended school in years, and she relies on both her mother and a therapist for assistance in coping with her symptoms.

In spite of all of her difficulties, Norah is able to find peace and comfort in her love of music and literature. Reading and writing are her primary hobbies. When a new family moves in next door, Norah gets pulled toward Luke, and the two of them eventually form a profound bond. The more these two get to know each other, the harder it gets for Norah as her anxiety gets out of control and she starts having panic attacks. Their relationship suffers until Luke gets to know Norah’s struggles.

I think the author has successfully depicted the mental health issues in this book. I feel this sensitive portrayal will resonate with many readers. I also appreciate the realistic depiction of the support and kind of therapy the main protagonist was getting from her therapist. All this, along with the focus on themes of self-discovery, family support, and friendship, makes the reading worthwhile. However, to me, this felt like a story that I had already read several times. It is a good one, but not something new. The plot of a girl who can’t leave the house and falls for the new neighbor kid seems to be something I have read a lot about already. One example that comes to mind is “Everything Everything”. I’m not sure which novel is older, but I have already read this story. I was fine with the ending as it felt more realistic, but some readers may not be OK with the unresolved conclusion. Overall, this book has a decent story with an excellent depiction of mental health.