The best way to describe my feelings towards this book is to shrug. This is a solid 3 star read. As much as I wanted to fall in love with this story of a boy dealing with mental illness as he fell in love with his dream girl, I couldn’t connect. Since I finished reading, I’ve struggled with how to put into words why that connection was missing and it comes down to the plot, or lack there of, or maybe just the whole mundane, guy has secret, clichéd bullies, truth comes out, romance. It was all too familiar. And what irked me even further was the title. It’s catchy, it’s clever, it is barely in the story and while there could have been a serious, philosophical moment with the words, it fell flat, despite attempts to tie it in. And on top of that, it made the plot feel thrown together and nowhere near as cohesive or smooth as it could have been, but perhaps that was the point.

Here’s what I liked:

I’m not a doctor. What I know about schizophrenia is pretty much the tripe, false portrayals in horror films or TV shows that make it seem like a dangerous, and deadly sickness that turns people into serial killers or something. It’s horrible, inaccurate, and even discussed throughout the story. Especially in relation to Sandy Hook. After the shooting, which happened during the timeline of this book, schizophrenia became something to be scared of. Knowing someone with the mental illness made people panic or at the very least feel apprehensive and on guard. Adam reflects on that and it’s a huge part of why he never confides in his friends about his schizophrenia, because he doesn’t want the looks, the doubts, the slow backing away and dissolution of friendships that has happened to him before out of fear. This is poignant and heartbreaking and a reality that needs to be called out and questioned. The stigma around mental illness and how it is perceived needs to be a discussion and unfortunately, like other timely issues, it is not. How schizophrenia is portrayed in the story may or may not be 100% accurate, the author does put a note in the back of the book addressing this, which I appreciated. Adam’s hallucinations are each unique and reflect parts of himself that he’s not in tune with, parts that he’s scared of or tries to hide and they speak to him, try to guide him through hard choices and situations. They pop in and out of the story. They’re memorable, but fleeting, and some are more solid than others. Adam’s emotions and voice were strong. They were all over the place, but he was honest, his voice never wavered, and at times his letters were like a confession to himself.

The structure. I think this is the only book I’ve read where the entire story is told through journal entries to a therapist. Because of the style, it’s introspective, reflective, and full of genuine voice. You really get a feel for who Adam is, what he’s going through, and his humor about the whole situation.

Love doesn’t save the day. So many times illness or some perceived flaw is solved simply by falling in love. It’s become a dangerous trope. I liked that at the end of this story, nothing was really resolved or fixed because mental illness is not something that magically disappears because feelings trump everything. Drugs can help manage, but they fail, they lose effectiveness, and sometimes the side effects are life threatening. Maya is great for Adam, don’t get me wrong. She listens to him. She befriends him when he felt so alone and scared on his journey and she sticks by him when things get weird. What more could you ask for?

Here’s what didn’t work for me:

The pacing, the plot. I was bored and what’s weird is that I shouldn’t have been. So many scenes were of your run of the mill, everyday life and while Adam’s perception and snarky comments were entertaining, the incidents themselves were not.

The enemy. The popular kids. The hot guy. So overdone and while there is some redemption it just didn’t do justice to the story. It was all too predictable. You could see that plot point coming from the moment you met the popular guy with connections because that’s always the choice. I was hoping for something more unexpected because of the subject matter but I guess the popular kids will always be evil bullies.

I wasn’t sold on Maya or Dwight. They were just…sort of there. Dwight especially has few scenes and while those scenes do give you a better picture of him, it feels like filler. For Maya…the emotions were, and this could definitely be because of the style, lacking. Because everything is told from Adam’s POV, how Maya really feels like seen through his gaze and it makes her feel aloof.

Adam is a Schizophrenic teenage boy, who is going to start a new experimental drug therapy in hopes of improving the quality of his life. If he were Harry Potter, then hearing voices and having Hallucination wouldn't have been considered as a mental illness. But this isn't Hogwarts, and life can't be won by shaking a wand, and casting a fancy spell.

He is going to a new school where none of his classmates know about the illness; as well as, having a new therapist who has an interesting way of making Adam talk to him. Did I say talk? I meant write letters to his therapist.

Julia Walton nailed her debut YA novel with this slick depiction of Adam's battle with schizophrenia!
The way the chapters were designed in this book is really unique. We get to read Adam's diary entries to his physiatrist; as well as, the Drs comments on Adam's illness.

I really appreciated how the characters were built. Especially with Adam, he is not the charming, sweet, perfect teenage boy who exits in most YA novels. He is probably the closest thing that I have ever read in a book that actually represents a teenage boy.

The lie that Disney has been spreading for decades on how true love can conquer anything isn't a part of the story. Adam doesn't magically get cured when he falls in love. Having a loved one to support you and understand the kind of shit that you go through is best thing ever, and if there is a moral behind this book, it is definitely this.

I think this is a book that should be added to school curriculums. Everyone, no matter how old they are, from parents, to friends, and every single member of this society, will learn something important. 

Also, the Harry Potter Integration/ references were truly appreciated!!

I absolutely enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to see what Julia is going to write next.

I received an e-ARC of Words on Bathroom Walls from the publisher, in exchange with an honest review

I didn’t expect to like Words on Bathroom Walls so much. Sure, the blurb looks really intriguing, but I expected it to be somewhat serious and heavy considering the topic it’s dealing with. Imagine my surprise upon reading something less heavy and funny. I am so hooked, I love it! Adam is such a delight to read. It is impossible not to like him. He is witty, smart, snarky and sarcastic at times, and so easy to connect with, you can’t help but root for him all throughout. The fact that he is schizophrenic, which we don’t see often is interesting enough. But his attitude towards his uncommon condition is so refreshing. He is not totally positive about life, not that. But he doesn’t wallow in self-pity, either. He is calm about it, and even hopeful. And if you’re not sold yet, Adam loves baking and he used it to deal with his stress. Now, that’s new, a teenage guy who bake. Also, all those Harry Potter references are just too funny!

Words on Bathroom Walls is a well-written story and it came as a surprise upon knowing that it is Julia Walton’s debut novel. I have no idea about how close the representation of schizophrenia is in the book but I’d say it is evident that the author did her research well. I feel like it was represented truthfully. She managed to write a story where people can learn more about mental illness and understand what it’s like to live with it. While some books that deal with mental illness can be emotionally heavy, sometimes even dark, this tackles the subject lighter than most yet still realistic. I honestly don’t know much about schizophrenia but this book gave me a better understanding of the illness. It is, in a way, can help educate people and remove the negative notion the people with mental illness constantly get. A truly engaging read and I hope a lot more people will get to read this.

The standard mental health novel meets Flowers for Algernon. We've got that sort of rise toward "normalcy' and the inevitable decline. I like that there's no cure, no miracle drug, no blanket love and acceptance. Just the ongoing struggle to keep hold of reality, to trust the people around him. In typical novel fashion, this does largely work out in his favor. Yes, he loses his "miracle drug" in a rather spectacular fashion but he does, in the end, get the girl. Its a bit of a risk, setting the whole thing as journal entries. This format can create a sort of emotional distance, a tendency to tell instead of show or experience. In this case, that is softened by the long entries, the narrator's long explanations.

It's hard to find a book that combines humor with such serious subject matter. I think the author managed to do that with Words on Bathroom Walls. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the entire book, which doesn't happen often. She also takes on teenage schizophrenia, an often misunderstood mental illness, and presents it through the eyes of a struggling teenage boy. I thought it was beautifully done and I applaud the author.

I was really interested in reading this book because I came in contact with a seven-year-old child recently diagnosed with schizophrenia at work. There had always been symptoms, but as the child grew older those symptoms became much more intense. He was often lost in his own mind and acted out in ways that didn’t make sense to those around him. The few times I had to work closely with him were extremely challenging because it pained me to realize how little I understood this kid. How unable I was to help him. Schizophrenia is something I hardly know anything about. I wanted this book to help me understand a little better.

So meet Adam. Adam is schizophrenic. In his case this means he hears voices in his head. Not the good kind. Not the kind of voices Harry Potter heard in his second year and that turned out to be real. Adam’s voices are never real, no matter how much he sometimes believes they are. Things went really bad at his last school when people found out. That’s why he’s determined to keep everyone at his new school in the dark. He volunteers to try an experimental drug called ToZaPrex and for a while he’s able to keep things under control. He still hallucinates, but the drugs at least help him tell fiction from reality. We learn Adam’s story as he writes it to the therapist he refuses to talk to. After all:

"Once words tumble out of your mouth, there’s no room for editing. It’s out there."

I loved Adam. There was just something about his voice that drew me in the minute I met him. He had a good sense of humour and was able to find irony in difficult situations. Most of all I appreciated his inner struggle, because it was so authentically done. I’m not entirely sure if the hallucinations were accurate, but the many struggles that come with suffering from mental illness were brought adequately and truthfully. It especially captured the isolation well. How having an illness no one really understands makes people afraid and wary. How prejudice unfortunately beats common sense too often. Adam’s thoughts on how hard it can get, dealing with mental illness, rang true.

I also really appreciated that Adam was in a fully functional relationship with this amazing girl Maya and that none of that miraculously cured him from his schizophrenia. Love does not conquer all, but it does help to know you’re not in it alone. The relationship was healthy and very realistically portrayed.

I can say the same about Adam’s relationship with his mother and stepfather. Both of them were well-developed characters and definitely not your typical caricature (step)parents. Their relationship was not always easy, as no relationship ever is, but I thought the way he both fought and connected with his parents (especially his stepfather) was beautiful.

I liked this book a lot. The writing is very engaging. The words flow naturally and it’s almost as if Adam is directly talking to you. Reading books about people with mental illnesses can be tough and ‘dark’ sometimes, but this book finds the perfect balance between serious matter and light-heartedness. Would definitely recommend!

Adam has schizophrenia and learning to cope with of seeing people who aren't there with a trial drug. He's in a new school and can actually start over with people who don't know him which is nice enough. At this school Adam meets Maya and he wants to be a better person and hide his schizophrenia. It was working until cdhis meds stop working and things start to slowly go down.

"It's funny how sometimes your own hallucinations can hurt you without touching you or saying anything you didn't already know."

After reading the description of the book and hearing that it would appeal to those who are fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Which is my favorite book) along with a few others I knew this book was right for me. I just found myself so hooked to Adam as a character, this is my second time reading about a character with schizophrenia and I loved the different take in this book. Adam was a realistic type of guy who says what he thinks but then again, I can remember a few points there he pretty much was able to get that courage being that he wasn't telling anyone but writing it. I loved that he was self aware of what was going on and seeing how he dealt with what he was seeing. I thought it was interesting that little touch of what med he was taking and seeing it progressively get higher and how we was in certain states in how he was able to deal with certain moments of his schizophrenia. But I think the real eye opener for me was how people were treating him. Treating him as if he was a dangerous creature that shouldn't be around others which was tough and sad to see. It was a realistic and sad truth that many people think of this mental health issue is something to be afraid of. It just seems so strange to me. I got family members with different mental health issues so seeing something out of the norm is something that normal for me so seeing someone with a different issue, isn't intimidating or scary. So for a person to be scared or worried about a person with a different mental health such as schizophrenia is so strange to me. I would rather made it a learning opportunity and learn about the mental illness, rather then be afraid.

"Is it strange watching your world crumble around you, knowing there's nothing you can do about it? I imagine it's strange."

Back to the review, any who this book was a pretty enjoyable contemporary read and I enjoyed this. I think if you read Made You Up by Francesca Zappia you would be interested in this book as well with the POV of a character with schizophrenia. Or in general if you read and loved this book you might enjoy Made You Up as well. Overall Highly recommend you lovely readers to check out this book, I didn't think I would love this book as much as I did.

I’m going to do you a favor and warn you that you will need sweets or baked goods of some sort to munch on. The male protagonist bakes when he is upset, which I adore, but damn did I need some cookies! This is an outstanding debut about a boy who has just been diagnosed with schizophrenia. So often books on a mental health subject struggle, but this one is full on honesty and hilarity and the most incredible cast of characters. I could not get enough.

Adam is starting a new experimental drug to help him differentiate his visions from real life. He’s starting at a new school and is afraid people will find out about his schizophrenia. The story is told through his journal entries, a tactic suggested by his therapist.

Adam’s world is filled with amazing people - both real and imaginary. I could not get enough of his parents. They are truly loving and caring, well-developed human beings. Maya, his love interest, is a breath of fresh air. She is so intelligent and not afraid to speak her mind. His wingman Dwight is nerdy and fun.

There are times when I couldn’t stop laughing thanks to how cynical Adam is. His humorous commentary adds a little something special. Especially when other times I got a bit emotional. This is an emotional rollercoaster of a journey, but damn is it worth the payoff. The synopsis doesn’t even do the story justice.

What an important, yet wholly entertaining read. I highly recommend!

"Real is subjective."
This is an amazing novel about what it means to be a teenager with schizophrenia. It does not patronize or romanticise, simply explains. And Julia Walton finds some of the best descriptions ever to convey the feeling of schizophrenia to others. I loved that our protagonist Adam also goes through other stuff and that his illness is not the only plot point of the book - while still being constantly present. There was a variety of reactions from other characters, which was very believable. Even though the side characters were portrayed in broad strokes, they remained interesting and deep. I loved all of the Harry Potter references and little details, such as the love interest being Filipino. Overall, it was very well done, also sending a message of hope to other non-typical people.

I had just two issues, which contribute to the 4/5 stars rating. Firstly, why the age recommendation of 12+? That seems too low. There is some sexual content, discussion of suicidal thoughts and the descriptions of schizophrenia are meant for a more mature audience. The characters are Juniors in high school, so I would recommend at least a 14+. Secondly, I did not buy the frame narrative of the book being diary entries written in lieu of verbal communication with the therapist. They were way to literary and polished for that. But those are minor and personal details - this is still a very imporant novel!

I loved this book so much. I learned a lot about schizophrenia without it being to info dumpy. I loved how this book wasn't only focussed on his mental illness but also on Adam's personal day to day teenager life and regular teenage issues. I loved the friendships in this book, they were just so wonderfull. And oh my god, Dwight is me new everything. The character development in this was crazy fantastic even for side characters. This book made me laugh out loud so many times but also made me cry and gave me all the feels. I loved how this book gave a new perspective on therapy. I feel like this book dealt with schizophrenia in a very respectful and well researched way. I would highly recommend the book to everyone because it's just so good.

I love reading books featuring different types of mental illnesses and this is the first one I read featuring schizophrenia. I didn't have any expectations for it, and I read the synopsis quite long ago and I didn't remember what it was even about. But I was hooked from the first page!

As you may know, schizophrenia is quite a difficult illness. It's basically a mental disorder where the person can't distinguish real from unreal. It's never the same with anyone, but the symptoms can vary from hearing voices no one can hear, seeing things no one can see, delusion, confused thinking, lack of motivation, reduced social/ emotional expression... which can lead to other mental illnesses like depression and anxiety; and even addiction.

It's an illness that requires a lot of help. There's is no cure, although there's a lot of medication that can be used, and the trick is to try to find the one that fits better with each person. Without that, it can lead to harm to self or others and even suicide.

It affects mostly male's in their late 20s, but our main character is 16 years old. Adam is a very strong, intelligent and (dark) humoristic person, and although I couldn't connect with what was going on, I sympathized with him with all my heart. Adam is lucky enough to have a family that really worries and protects him, but that's not enough to make others see what a good person he is.

People are often afraid and prefer to just step aside than to try. But when he moves to a new Catholic school, the kids don't know anything about him, and he has the opportunity to be "normal" in their eyes, while he is in a drug trial.

He gains two friends and they are really great and different characters. Maya was a character I was very fond of. She is the type of person that says everything in her mind as it is. She is rational, decided and incredibly intelligent. And although less humoristic then Adam, I had a great time reading about her.

But the key part about this book has to be Adam's illness. Both in a good and a bad way. It's quite emotional to read about but at the same time incredibly funny and interesting! I absolutely love dark humor and Adam is the king of it! He is the type of person that doesn't want pity from others neither does he pity himself. And although the humor may also be a protection for Adam, I think it's the best attitude anyone could have!

The book reads like a diary, and each entry is a made to give to his psychologist about his week. It makes it feel incredibly personal and gripping. We see everything through his eyes and it's impossible not to get emotional. This book made me cry my heart out a couple of times and I would definitely recommend it, especially if you like reading books featuring mental illnesses!

I knew going into this, that the book would hit me hard. A lot of people in today's society don't like talking about mental health; although, I do believe that it's getting better and better as the years go on. Schizophrenia is one so complex and interesting. And I say that not trying to be offensive at all. I remember one year when I took college psychology, my professor told us a story about a man he was treating for schizophrenia. The man's brother was the one taking care of him and the brother would wake in the middle of the night to find the young man missing. He would then find him in an abandoned field fighting like he was in the avengers - saving us from the evil. And that's exactly what it was. He had a vision that demons would be coming to invade our world. Now the whole point of my story is my professor and the response he had for his patient. When the young man was explaining to him what was happening, my professor looked at him and said, "I believe you". And the look at the patient's face was something he couldn't explain; it was such deep relief and elation, that someone believed him. It touched me deeply and I never ever forgot that story.

Adam has struggled with schizophrenia and all the symptoms that manifests with it. Such as seeing things and people that aren't really there. He's the test subject for a new drug to help with the hallucinations. And for a while there, it's working. Adam can actually have a normal life and not have to worry about jumping at things that aren't actually there. He meets Maya, and she's perfect. Everything is perfect, until it isn't. The drugs start having a negative effect and Adam will do anything to keep Maya in the dark.

The book starts off with Adam explains his illness to his therapist, who allows him to write in a journal instead of talking. I immediately liked Adam; he's funny, tries to keep a positive attitude, and he's a character I could see myself being friends with. Overall, I think it's one of the better YA novels about mental health. Also, Adam is a totally Harry Potter nerd. That right there means he must be awesome! Now I leave you with the wise words of Dumbledore himself.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

Words On Bathroom Walls was a book I didn't enjoy from pretty much the get-go. I even considered DNFing it multiple times but finished reading it in the end. 

I was really uncomfortable with the way the main character Adam (who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is taking part in a trial for a new drug) constantly referred to himself and others suffering from schizophrenia as 'crazy' or 'crazies'. I can't tell you if this is a me thing or something that would be considered offensive by someone who actually lives with a mental health illness like schizophrenia. All I can say is that I didn't like reading a character referring to himself and others as 'crazy' for a mental health illness. It felt offending. But I want someone to talk in more detail about this who has experience with this! 

Once I finished the book I actually went back and put a bookmark on every scene I found uncomfortable or possibly offensive because of the usage of the word 'crazy' and I actually ended up with 34 different instances and I feel like that is too much. And the character never really seems to learn how his words might hurt someone else. He is never actively shown talking to people the entire book. The entire story is narrated through diary entries Adam makes and sends to his therapist after each session as Adam doesn't want to actually speak in his sessions. 

The main reason why I requested this book was to get a perspective into what life might be like for people with schizophrenia but all I got was a 16-year-old boy who talks negatively about mental health problems and doesn't undergo any kind of character development over the course of the entire story which takes place over almost an entire year. 

When we first meet Adam we also meet Ian who is pretty much the stereotypical high school bully and Maya who later one becomes Adam's girlfriend. One of the things that really bothered me was how Adam refers to Maya as his 'cure'. The only thing that keeps him sane, etc. It's is so often criticised in books when love or a relationship is seen as the 'cure' for a mental illness and then we have this kid who refers to his girlfriend as exactly that and since all we're getting is his perspective no one is going to talk about how that might not be the best thing.  

Had we actually gotten to see Adam in therapy and conversation with his therapist, I think this book could've been so much better and the messages it sent would've been more positive.  

As we follow Adam throughout almost a year of his life, we also get a look into what Valentine's Day is like and how it's dealt with at the Catholic school Adam is attending. Adam talks about how there are religious parents who have convinced their kids that sex is bad, etc and then he ends his musings by saying that those people are weirdos and everyone knows it. And I just wanted to yell at him. You do not get to tell other people what they can and can't think about sex or how they approach sex. It's up to an individual to decide on how they want to act. Or not to act, for that matter. 

Honestly, I feel like this concept of a story could have been a really great book but it was just executed so poorly in my opinion. This ended up being a 1-star book for me and even then just barely.

Where do I even start with this book? I finished it last night after an emotional roller coaster that left me exhausted. I'd casually read the first 80% of the book over the previous nights. It was intriguing and obviously captivating since I read it each night. However, the last 20% is where the payoff is. It's where I was sniffling and silent tears streamed down my cheeks while my husband snored away on the pillow next to mine. It's not traditionally sad so to speak. No character deaths occur. After spending so much time inside of a character's head, you cannot help but be invested in Adam's recovery.

To avoid any spoilers, I'm not going to comment further on the plot with the exception of saying this felt like a very realistic portrayal of schizophrenia. Every case is different, of course. The author includes a special note about mental illness and seeking help with resources at the end of the narrative.

To round up a few stray thoughts:
This book would translate very well to the screen. (Hey, Netflix, wanna get on this one?)
The inevitable comparisons to Challenger Deep will come along. Don't bother. Every instance of mental illness is different. BOTH of these books are valid and worthy representations on their own merit.
I didn't care for Maya until the very end of the book. She was hard for me to connect to, but perhaps that is because she was hard for Adam to connect with on a real level?
The writing was very accessible. It's my first Julia Walton book, but it won't be my last. She's got something to say with her work.

"You'll hear one thing that gives you hope and another thing that takes it away.
Be who you are. But not that. Anything but that."


Adam has schizophrenia and he's on an experimental treatment for a new drug that helps him to differentiate his hallucinations from the real world. Also he is new student in a Catholic school and he has to pretend that he's a “normal boy” to avoid everyone from being afraid of him or treat him like a menace. His life is narrated through entries in a diary, suggested by his therapist (since Adam prefers writing than speaking to him). He explain how is living with hallucinations and the typical problems that teenagers have in the world: attraction, bullying, friendship, love.


My problem is that I'm not so sure I liked it at 100%. I loved Adam and how he tells his story, but I think his illness was a bit "romanticized" or softened. Not long ago I read Challenger Deep and it was brutal. I think that is what made Words on Bathrooms Walls kinda low; I mean, I tried not to compare them but it was impossible.

And that doesn't mean I did not enjoy the book, it was just the opposite. I was fascinated by Adam's style of expressing himself, he's quite sarcastic, cynical and realistic about what is happening to him. One of the things that terrifies me the most in the world is to fear my own mind and lose the sense of reality. And in that thing, the book fulfilled all my expectations. Adam's hallucinations are realistic and hard to read for what it means to him to live day after day with them. It was the most painful/dark part of the book and it's the reason I recommend it.


But I got exasperated with the way the book is writeen: through journal entries with the date at the begginning. Sometimes I had to go back to find out how much time had passed between the entries and it was SO stressful.


So, even though there were some things that I didn't like at hundred porcent, I enjoyed the story and how it shows what it's to life with a illness as stigmatized and feared as schizophrenia. Adam is a character I felt connected with since the first page, I enjoyed reading his thoughts, his fears, his problems. I didn't feel the time went by and when I realized, I was almost finishing the book. It was completely addictive and highly recommended.

While a little at odds with what I expected, I found Adam's story in <i>Words on Bathroom Walls</i> to be compelling and thought-provoking. It provided an interesting and insightful perspective on life inside the mind of a schizophrenic. Adam was an intensely likeable character and I desperately wanted his story to work out well.

I enjoyed reading this book that dealt with serious issues and finding love. I loved that this these entries were all journal thoughts. He went in different directions at times but it was enough to follow the story. Great book

Ladies and gentlemen I want to present you all my new favourite book.

Words on bathroom walls tells the story of Adam who has schizophrenia and is taking the experimental medication ToZaPrex to help him control his mental illness. On top of this he’s starting a new school where he tries to hide his illness as much as he can. He’s also seeing a therapist but Adam refuses to talk so instead he writes letters.

I must say I had my doubts before starting this book. I am diagnosed with schizophrenia and I have tried to read so many books about it or that handles the mental illness yet they’re never any good, or they’re just very disrespectful.

But this book is just perfect. It gives you a proper look on how living with schizophrenia is like and what people with it have to go through everyday. I related to a lot of stuff, hallucinations of Adam that were similar to mine and how he felt when something was about to happen.

If you want to know more about what it is like to live with schizophrenia then I totally recommend you to read this wonderful book. If I had the money I would buy a million copies and give them away, this is a very important book.

As someone living with schizophrenia I’d like to thank the author,
thank you for writing a book that handles schizophrenia in a respectful way.

This book handled the mental health issue of Schizophrenia with humor. It provided a unique view of the mind of a young man facing a lifetime illness.