Two things that annoyed me about this book was that the main character had anxiety and the love interest said he liked her ‘quirks’ let’s stop describing people with mental illness as if it’s cute and the second is that her anxiety can be dealt with by falling in love. Also the characters actions make them seem really young so when there’s sex scenes it’s really awkward because it seems like they’re 13 and not 16/17. But it was a cute story and I liked the entire outcast group and all the film references.

I loved this so much - it was smart, funny and yet still dealt with very difficult topics in a way that felt true and serious. This is a book about grief, guilt, friendship, betrayal, crafting - and a short film version of Wuthering Heights - performed by cats in period costume. Brilliant!

I could relate to the main character Petula in this book so much, she thinks the worst about everything and is always planning ahead to avoid anything she deems unsafe. It all started after her her younger sister died which Petula blames herself for.
She attends an art therapy class where she ends up meeting a boy called Jacob who has his own secret. This isn't a story of boy curing girl which, as an anxiety sufferer would have annoyed me immensely, it is more a story of hope which I really enjoyed.
Plus it involves lots of cats which is always a good thing

Behind the cat poop, crochet vests, bionic arms and quirky array of characters this book had so much heart and I honestly feel like this could help a lot of people. Guilt can ruin people's lives and unless you've experienced that it's hard to understand.

There wasn't any teen drama or mean bitches, which makes a nice change in this genre. Every single one of the seemingly outlandish characters grew through the story and were made relatable thanks to the humorous writing. Even if you don't look as deep into this as much I did, it's still a funny age appropriate story.

I loved everything about it (but especially Petula).

I loved this - it was an excellent read! Plot, pacing, themes, characters... everything fit together wonderfully.

'Optimists Die First' is a novel which you read at one go. I was so gripped by the plot that I couldn't stop reading it. The book tell the stories of troubled teenagers that at first glance have nothing in common, but at the end become great friends and help each other grieve and find peace of mind. I laughed and I cried all those emotions often on the same page. I find this book enriching and definitely worth recommending.

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange with an honest review.

Want to start by saying how much the cat references made me laugh hysterically while reading this book. The author even dedicated this book to all of the people who are like me.

" To all the other crazy cat people. You know who you are."

Reading the title of this book, and this part of the blurb " ideas like remaking Wuthering Heights with cats." made me so excited to read this book.

The start and end were absolute perfection; I just felt a little bit bored in the middle of the book. I also wished that somethings were a bit more descriptive, than they actually were.

​We meet Petula, who is more that just a pessimistic person. She is also struggling with anxiety. This was portrayed perfectly, that even those who believe that people with anxiety are over-reacters, would get to see the illness itself. Everything Petula does and believes may seem extreme at first, but all of that is 105% justified.

I really do need to take a moment and applaud Susin because of what she has accomplished with this book. She was able to send a loud, clear message to shatter the ignorance of the disbelievers, without them even realizing that.

​I really want to read more books by Susin Nielsen. I absolutely loved Optimists Die first.

I give it 4/5 stars.