Aza Holmes is a sixteen-year-old girl who has struggled with various anxiety disorders, mainly Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, for her whole life. She often contemplates whether or not she is actually real, which causes most of her “thought spirals”. Then her energetic and fearless best friend, Daisy, suggests pursuing the mystery of a missing billionaire whose son, Davis, Aza actually knew from summer camp. Throughout the book, Aza struggles with her developing feelings for Davis, her friendship with Daisy, and her schoolwork, all while being controlled by the tightening spiral of her thoughts. This novel is appropriate for high school students, as it does touch on some more mature topics, like mental illness. Green illustrates activities that a “normal” teenager would do, but within those normalities, he does not shy away from showing how mental illness really takes over one’s brain.
-Freya (Teen Reviewer)