Manic

The portrayal of abuse and mental health was so visceral — I wonder how much was based on personal experience or research, and how that influenced the narrative tone.

Their struggles felt so real, yet I kept wondering if I was overlooking the darker aspects of their behaviors. How do readers reconcile empathy with difficult subject matter?

Seeing the world through their eyes made the trauma feel so immediate. I'm curious if the author considered other narrative formats or if this was the only way to tell it authentically.