A Spot of Bother

The depiction of anxiety and embarrassment felt very authentic, but I'm curious whether Haddon's own insights influenced this realism or if it was purely fictional.

Some moments felt like they hit close to home, while others seemed heightened for effect. How do readers interpret the balance between realism and storytelling here?

It added such a layered tension to the story—I'm curious whether this theme was driven by personal experience or a deliberate commentary on societal pressures.