Jonas Avery is withdrawn from pretty much everyone. A year ago he was involved in a car accident that cost him his leg, and now he’s pushed away pretty much everyone he can and sequestered himself away from the world. Dealing with PTSD without realizing that he has it, Jonas has a had time dealing with the aftermath of the accident, so much so that he doesn’t even like to walk without crutches and the prosthetic.

To say Brennan has anxiety would be putting it lightly. As someone who deals with anxiety myself, what Brennan goes through is on a whole other level. She’s constantly lost in her own head trying to come to terms with the daily stresses of life. She what ifs everything to death, constantly thinking about what could go wrong in every situation. She’s an aspiring writer who is always thinking of what comes next in her book.

Brennan and Jonas meet by accident…literally…when Jonas finally decides to get in a car and drive after a year and ends up in a fender bender with Brennan. It’s not some love at first sight kind of story (thank goodness), but Jonas is intrigued by her and wants to apologize, so he tracks her down at the deli she works at, and the story takes off from there.

This isn’t just a typical cute YA rom-com. This book really delves deep into dealing with the trauma and realities of what these two are living with. The romance is not the main center of this plot, but it’s one that develops over time as they help each other work through the hurdles in their lives. Brennan pushes Jonas out of his comfort zone, challenging him to take steps in his recovery, simply by being there and helping him along the way. Jonas helps Brennan get out of her own head and showing her she doesn’t have to deal with everything by herself.

I absolutely loved this story. Once I got a little into it, I was hooked. I couldn’t stop reading as Jonas finally took those steps without crutches or got behind the wheel of a car or as Brennan said yes to going to a party and opening herself up to her roommate, which can be terrifying for someone with the anxiety she has. I do wish there would have been more commentary on how beneficial medication and therapy can be for people who live with anxiety. I found myself relating a lot to the types of things Brennan was thinking and how she “coped” with her attacks because I used to go through the same types of things.

At times I found what these two were doing to be frustrating, but it’s so in-tune with real life because living with these conditions is frustrating. No one wants to not be able to leave their house because they’re too anxious, or stay home because you physically cannot look at yourself and see what’s missing. Overall I am so surprised by this book and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for any of Micah Good’s books in the future! She did a great job with these sensitive topics and showing how they can affect teenagers, but these messages can be taken in by anyone of any age.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the arc!

First disclaimer: this book was not for me- and that's okay! There is a lot of merit in The Opposite of Falling Apart and It's one of those novels I know a lot of people will enjoy. I'm happy to see some disability representation, both psychiatric and physical.

Overall the plot was fairly interesting and it wasn't hard to get through this book. I can't say I was really amazed by the relationship or that I fell in love with the characters, but it was still an enjoyable read and I can already see it's value in my library.

real rating: 3.5/4

I really enjoyed this book! Watching the story and the relationship evolve from each characters point of view added so much to this story. The story revolves around a chance meeting between two people who believe that they are both "damaged." Brennan has lots of anxiety and Jonas was in a bad car wreck that resulted in the loss of half of his leg.

The biggest drawback for me, was I felt the ending was a bit rushed. I would have loved a chapter that described what happened after Brennan finally called her mom and told her she had a lot to talk about. Overall, this book is written very well and the characters are extremly likeable.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#TheOppositeOfFallingApart #NetGalley

Before I start talking about this book I would like to make it clear that there are trigger warnings in this book revolving around PTSD and anxiety. Please keep that in mind before picking up this book.

This book was absolutely perfect, and I knew from early on that my rating was going to be high. While there is a slow burn romance in this book it is so much more than that.

This book tells the story of Jonas who is suffering from PTSD after a traumatic accident. It’s a story of his struggles learning to adapt to the fact that he has lost half of his leg in a situation he had no control over. My heart ached for Jonas and even when he was lashing out at his family I completely understood and sympathised with his situation.

It also tells the story of Brennan who is suffering from a severe anxiety disorder that she’s trying to keep in check and hidden. She’s lying to the people around her about how bad it is and is fighting with the negative thoughts and feelings that are trying to take control of her life. I 100% relate to Brennan in this story. Today, when reading this book, I was having a really bad day with my anxiety so reading Brennan’s story reminded me that I’m not alone in this. That I can take control of my anxiety and live life to the fullest.

This is a book about coming to terms with who you are as a person. It’s a book about realising that you are not alone and that its okay to have bad days. I recommend this book to everyone, even if you aren’t or have never suffered from PTSD or anxiety just so that you can learn more about how hard it is for people who are.

I will definitely be reading more of Micah Good’s work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A positive book full of encouragement and essence of support, The Opposite of Falling Apart is an enjoyable young adult book that takes on a different kind of grief and pain.

After losing his leg in a terrible car accident, Jonas Avery can’t wait to start over and go to college. Brennan Davis would like nothing more than to stay home and go to school, so she can keep her anxiety in check. When the two accidentally meet the summer before they move away, they’ll push each other to come to terms with what’s holding them back, even as they’re pulled closer to taking the biggest leap of all—falling in love.

The portrayal of anxiety and PTSD on this book is also remarkable. I sometimes feel annoyed with the MC with their avoidance at school but I often think that that's the way it is for them. I also love the slow burn romance in this book. Brennan and Jonas <3

Lastly, the powerful message of the book is mainly focused on winning the battle we all had in our lives. Be it physical or psychological, these various barriers are obstaclea that is set to be overcome. At the end of the day, what's important is how resilient with are with all this Boulder hindering our path. Kudos to the team for bringing this book to the world.

I definitely enjoyed this debut! I love the representation and the slow-burn of the relationship. It was nice to see the characters dealing with their own issues outside of falling in love. It did feel a bit long to me, and I think it probably could’ve been about 50 pages shorter. I also didn’t find myself dying to pick it back up whenever I had to stop. But overall, I enjoyed it and would definitely read more from this author!

The story of the book centers around the physical and psychological differences our protagonist face throughout their life. Our male protagonist, Jonas Avery, is an amputee who lost his leg to a traumatic accident and is suffering from PTSD. On the other hand, Brennan Davis, our female lead, suffers from anxiety and probable social disorder.
This book doesn't revolve around fixing each other with love, but around embracing their own differences from the general human population.
The book is a beautiful work, describing the truths of their battles with wondrous accuracy. It shows how it is hard for people to face the eyes of the society when they feel like they don't blend in. The book focuses on Jonas's struggle in accepting the lack of his leg, even a year later with heart-touching emotions.
The author also commented on how society treats people with differences, and the errors in their ways. She presented her views on the show of pity towards Jonas, even though it is the last thing he needs.
The situation about their respective families is aptly described too.
Along with Jonas, how his family suffers too really touches my heart, even more, when Jonas feels guilty about it.
The characters are extremely relatable, and their conversations, plausible. The books does have its share of cheesy moments, but minus the long words.
Romance in this book is subtle, and is pushed back as a sub-plot which I like very much. The story is more about coming out of their shell and less about the budding feelings.
The book is well researched and quite accurate about their medical accounts, another brownie point for the author.
The only con I could find in the book was the pace of the book. The overall pace is good, but there are points when the pace is too slow, and details, too much. This might cause a loss of interest in many readers. It isn't until 30% into the book when you feel trapped in the story.
So, to conclude the review, I would like to say, if you are in to find yourself romances, and enjoying your life romances, like Fault In Our Stars and Five Feet Apart (minus the male lead dying part), then this book is right up your alley.
Thank you netgallet to help me review this book.

3,5 STARS
***TRIGGER WARNING***
PTSD, loss of limb, anxiety

Jonas and Brennan meet a month before their first semester of college, each dealing with intense issues. Jonas is experiencing PTSD from a car accident that left him missing a leg and Brennan is trying to learn how to cope with her crippling anxiety.

This was a really realistic portrayal of anxiety, introversion—that kind of fatigued feeling you get from social interaction, and PTSD. I related so much to what these characters were feeling, especially Brennan. Her feelings once she gets to college hit me right in the gut. I had the same thoughts during my first year of college—you're so nervous about making a good impression, not to look stupid in front of roommates, floormates, or teachers. 

Although I really did relate to Brennan, there were times when I just wanted to scream at her for not helping herself more. Her anxiety was so debilitating that even though she had access to medication and therapy, she couldn't bring herself to accept the help. Jonas had a greater character development arc and really came into his own by the end of the book.

This book was very mental, meaning the characters were constantly in their own heads so much that at times it was frustrating. I wanted more action, though I understood why there was more introspection. I also felt that the story was very repetitive. There could have been a good chunk of scenes removed because they were just redundant. This was definitely a debut novel; you could tell from the immaturity in the writing. 

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

A year after losing his leg in a car accident, Jonas got into a little fender bender, which was the start of something great, for both him and the girl whose car he hit.

Both Jonas and Brennan were supposed to be getting ready to leave for college, but they were "stuck" for different reasons.

Brennan was dealing with severe anxiety. Fear and racing thoughts were keeping her from moving forward, and she didn't seem to have a lot of support at home. While Jonas was making no progress on accepting his new normal since losing his leg. He refused therapy, would not use his prosthetic, and choose to mope around, taking out his frustrations on his family.

What I Liked...

The friendship between Brennan and Jonas was the standout element for me. Though their circumstances were different, they could relate to what the other was going through. Their relationship did not start out on solid ground. It was not an instant friendship, but because of that, I felt very rewarded, when it finally formed and began to grow.

I was totally rooting for this friendship to turn into a romance, and I don't care if it's a predictable thing, because these two was too cute together. The stirrings of first love and all its glory was right there for me to enjoy, and I loved every second of it.

I also appreciated how much both Jonas and Brennan grew. Brennan gained confidence, as Jonas came to terms with his situation. It was a treat, that we got to spend such a long period of time with these two, as well as getting to tag along to college with them. The change of scenery came with new challenges for both of them, but along the way, they realized their most important resources were themselves and each other.

Good really took a lot of time to explore both Jonas' and Brennan's issues. After spending copious amounts of time in the characters' heads, I felt like I really understood what they were going through. Their struggles were palpable, and came across as authentic.

What I Wish...

This book had a LOT of introspection, and I do believe it was an important part of the story. However, I wish I had spent a little less time in the characters' heads. For me, it hampered the pacing a bit, but I would have also loved some of that page time to be allotted to seeing a more of the romance play out, as I absolutely adored these two together. They were precious and adorable, and I wanted more of those heart eyes time with them.

Overall

Despite the pacing issues, I enjoyed this book very much. I found that I cared about the fate of Jonas and Brennan. It was heartwarming and touching watching these two fight to overcome some big obstacles, and work to achieve the things they want, and I was glad to be a part of their journey.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this novel!

This was a 3 star read for me. It wasn't among my favorites, but it really wasn't bad, and I was mostly entertained throughout reading this book! However, I did not always feel very connected with the characters the entire time. What I LOVED about this book was the representation. Both characters had their own struggles, and I thought that was really nice. The book was however a bit predictable, and it reminded me a lot of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. While this is not a bad thing, I had hoped to read a bit more originality. I liked the book, but I don't think I would read it again anytime soon!

The cover is super cute though! So kudos to that.

I did not enjoy the book because of its writing style. There were also some things in the beginning that did not make sense.

This book has very good anxiety and PTSD representation. Unfortunately for me, it read like a story from somebody on watpad. The characters were nicely developed and relatable, the representation is there, but it didn't continue to capture my attention throughout the story. I was finding myself reading just to be done with it, and skimming over most parts that I was getting bored of.

This book was so sweet, and well done. There were many times in the book that I felt frustrated with the main characters, but what I love is, I felt like I gained genuine insight on what it can feel like to have an anxiety disorder, or PTSD. I think some of the inner dialogue was repetitive at times and could have been pared down, but the way the characters' friendship developed was paced well and felt authentic.

This book is wonderful. It's heartfelt, charming and inspiring. I laughed, I got mad and I might have even teared up at parts. Jonas and Brennan were so broken and beautiful I wanted to wrap them up and hug them.

Brennan has anxiety. Like, a lot of it. She is terrified with the idea of going to college, everything unfamiliar and new. She isn't certain she can handle it--worse, she's not certain her family does either.

Jonas has one and a half legs and a chip on his shoulder. He can't wait to get out of town and have a fresh start at college, where no one knows him or anything about the accident that took his leg.

When a fender bender brings Brennan and Jonas together, neither have any idea the effect that they will have on each other, or how that one small incident is the first of many ways the universe keeps throwing them together. They each need a friend. But what if that friendship leads to much more than either can imagine?

Perfect for fans of "Eliza and Her Monsters", "The Opposite of Falling Apart" is a story about two imperfect people who feel like they're always falling apart, find themselves falling for someone who makes them feel like they're whole. A wonderful story about what happens "after" life feels derailed, adjusting to college life, and figuring out life in general.

Wonderful story about falling and getting back up again, stronger than before. I loved the characters. They were unique, were well developed, and were super likeable. Their joint journey towards growing up and moving forward kept me engaged from beginning to end.

The Opposite of Falling Apart" is the tender story of Jonas, a guy who's eighteen and sadly lost one of his legs in a car accident, and Brennan, a girl of the same age who suffers of chronic anxiety. They meet in the summer before both of them have to leave for college and they change each other lives in more ways than one.

I have to admit I was really surprised by this book. I expected to like it, but not as much as I did. Sometimes I found that these kinds of YA stories are basically all the same, but this one really stood out to me. Most of all because of Brennan's anxiety's representation. Sadly, anxiety is a feeling I know very well, and sometimes in the book I recognized Brennan's thoughts as my own. The difficulty of living your life with this pathology was really well explained and this aspect certainly elevated the book for me.
I also loved how Brennan and Jonas started as strangers, then friends and then something more, without make them fall in love right at the beginning or at first sight. I thought that, because of their concerns and their lifestyles, that would have been a little bit out of character.

I also really liked Jonas's character arc, and how at the end he totally accepts himself for who he is, and he also accepts the tragedy that happened to him. I loved how both of them lifted each other up, and even though they were scared as hell of suffering again, they let themselves go with each other.

The only think I didn't like so much was that I felt like the book dragged a little bit too much in certain parts and it repeated the same concepts over and over again, while I found the end and the resolution to be a little bit too rushed.
But other than that I really enjoyed this sweet story, and I really recommend it if you're a fan of contemporary and YA books.

Following Jonas and Brennan through their unlikely first meet, and onto the friendship they form is one of the cutest and most frustrating things ever.

Jonas (who I keep accidentally calling Jonah) has unfortunately ended up in a car accident that stole him of his leg and of his hopes and dreams. He's not the same person he once was, the idea of hopping in a car, let alone driving one, scares him half to death.

Then there's Brennan. A writer and reader that suffers from an anxiety disorder and finds more comfort in her bedroom than anywhere else. With both of these teens struggling to find a grasp on themselves, it takes time and patience to bring them together to help one another out.

I actually found this book to be quite realistic, especially given that it was originally a Wattpad story. The illnesses listed within the book felt real, as well as the interaction amongst the pair. It wasn't an instant friendship, which I appreciated (given their personalities). Actually, the characterisation was close to spot on and thoroughly enjoyable. There's one character that's introduced that vanishes throughout the story, and I can't help but be pleased with that outcome. I know that sounds harsh, but it's the reality of life. (I'm not listing which character in hopes to preserve the 'spoiler-free' part of this review)

Another thing that I loved about this book (and a reason why I love Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell so much), is that it doesn't sit still. It isn't all in one place, following one thing, and that's all. There's depth to the characters. Jonas wants to be a doctor, and Brennan isn't really sure but she's trying. They have their friends and their families. Plus it isn't them staying at home, twiddling their thumbs waiting for something to happen, their lives go on. It sounds so obvious, but so many books keep the plot in one spot as it goes through the motions, I really appreciated the plot and development in this one.

The Opposite of Falling Apart is the opposite of what I expected of this novel. I loved it! There's raw characters you want to root for. Refreshing to read a book with REAL characters.

Really cute novel about two main characters; Jonas who can’t wait to start over and go to college and then Brennan who has such bad anxiety she'd like to just stay at home. They develop a sweet relationship but their own individual stories are really great too. I'd recommend this book!