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!

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!

The Opposite of Falling Apart by Micah Good, 352 pages.
Wattpad Books, 2020. $18.
Language: PG13 (25 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
As 18-year-olds the summer before starting college, Jonas and Brennan should be excitedly anticipating the transition to freedom away from home. Instead, both of these teens are struggling -- one with adjusting to life as an amputee and one with anxiety. After meeting due to yet more unfortunate and embarrassing situations in their lives, an unlikely friendship starts to form, giving both Jonas and Brennan hope to hold onto -- if they let themselves.
Being able to read from alternating points of view throughout this story brilliantly illustrated what I found to be the message from Good: everyone has insecurities. I loved being able to read the overwhelming and debilitating thoughts from both Jonas’s and Brennan’s points of view because I felt understood as I did. While I may not have the same issues as these characters, I have other issues that I feel vulnerable about sharing and that I try to hide. And I am not alone. I’m not the only one who overthinks and has hard days and doesn’t know how to handle a situation. It is okay that I don’t only have good days. Being able to relate to Jonas and Brennan and then read their happy ending gives hope to readers that our struggles can also be overcome to find our own happy endings.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

I went into The Opposite of Falling Apart expecting what I always expect from wattpad, a messy badly-written quick read that goes back and forth and ultimately drives me to DNFing it. But this book is the opposite of that, pun intended. The Opposite of Falling Apart is the best thing that's come from wattpad and I've had the pleasure of reading.
It's written really well, even with the heavy subject matter, the paragraphs don't feel densely packed. I really enjoyed the way it was structured, and though I think that the time jumps could've been executed a bit better, it still worked for me. I thought the characters were really good, and though I wish the side characters had a bit more 'screen time', I feel like they were all presented realistically. There was a bit of going back and forth with the development, but with the characteristics given to the characters, it was understandable why it wasn't a straight line up.
The best part of it all, I have to note, was the way anxiety was portrayed in the book. The conversations the two characters have about anxiety were candid, the way they process it is so close to how I do, and I couldn't help but enjoy those parts, as some of my feelings were being put into words.
Overall, The Opposite of Falling Apart is a solid YA romance read. It was right up my alley, and I really enjoyed it.

I don't know. I love this book's portrayal of the struggles that each of the MCs had to face, the mental and physical battles that they were subjected to. It made everything feel so personal, earnest, engaged.

However, I really don't know if I liked the main pairing much at all? It's great that Brennan and Jonas both leaned on each other and had open dialogue when it mattered, but I feel like they mean so much more as people that helped one another get back up than people who found each other attractive.

There was a lot that went on in this book, but I also feel like the pacing didn't really match up with what I would've liked to see either. They met, talked a few times, texted more times, then they transitioned and left for school, somehow falling together at the end I guess. It somehow ended up feeling detached when they weren't actively going through mental battles to me.

In the end, it was nice to get inside the heads of other people, and this was a pretty okay read for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for the ARC!

5 complete STARS ★★★★★
This book is for you if… you possess the means to consume books in any form: digital, physical, auditive. It features an underrepresented part of society that has wrongly been forced to be ashamed for way too long.

⤐ Overall.
If you don't like this book we can't be friends. It's as simple as that. This book, you guys, it's perfect. I literally want to devour this book so the happy feels never leave my body. THIS is what makes reading great. Everybody go read this book.

It makes you cry, and laugh, and smirk, and eye-roll, and everything else that makes reading this great thing. It's such a dreamy book. Without downplaying the topics of anxiety and PTSD, Micah managed to brew a potent potion that will keep its readers glued to the pages without even noticing. I can all but keep myself from doing lapses on the freezing streets.

I read the blurb no less than three months ago and instantly knew that this book has a lot of potential. Why did it take you 3 months to read it, then? Well, I'm a mess, okay? I've totally overestimated my abilities to write a thesis, read books I already got and committing to arcs. But, this. book. It's fantastic! It absolutely lived up to the expectations I head and even recovered from the slow start that made me doubt my instincts.

Characters you wanna hug. Seriously! Not because I pitied them but because they were so stinking cute in their ways and feelings towards each other. They were unique and well-drawn out and although their struggles are nothing I can relate to personally, I could relate to them still. That's everything one can ask with books like this.

Effortless world(-building). Falling into this universe was like falling into bed on a cosy Sunday morning with a cuppa in your hand. You do it with the full intent of enjoying every minute of it. This is what reading this book feels like.

The arch of suspense. Apart from the slow start, which probably served the purpose of getting a feel for the MCs, this was perfect in every way. The closer they got the more obvious their feelings became and the denser the happenings in the plot got.

P.S. Since this book didn't destroy me, I now consider myself invincible.

⤐ What’s happening.
‘He’d chosen to wear the prosthetic leg – he’d been wearing it more and more lately because he’d become almost addicted to the visual representation of having two legs.’

Jonas can't believe how much a car accident can change a person. Not only is he missing part of his leg, he's also missing part of himself. He doesn't see how anything will bee good ever again. Until Brennan.
‘You know, the one who had to walk ahead or behind when the sidewalk wasn’t wide enough for three people.’

That's the most Brennan ever got out of a friendship. Eversince her brain became more and more of an enemy, Brennan doesn't have any friends at all. Until Jonas.

‘Three and a half perfect legs.’

Con:
⇢ trauma and anxiety can be paralysing
⇢ communication is hard
⇢ afraid to get heard
Pro:
⇢ new friend means new perspective
⇢ finally feels like somebody is actually listening
⇢ finally feel good again

_____________________
writing quality + easy of reading = 5*

pace = 4.5*

plot/story in general = 5*

plot development = 5*

characters = 5*

enjoyability = 5*

insightfulness = 5*

Thanks netgalley and publisher for sending me an ARC of this!
MAN! What an emotional rollercoaster this was!
I'm still processing the whole story. I finished it last night and it was 3 stars for me but when i woke up today and thought about it I fell in love with this book. I can't stop thinking about it. The author did an amazing job. The plot and character building are just one of the few things I loved about it. I think I'll re read it next month because I want to feel the rush of emotions again. I'll definitely recommend this and would love to read more books by Micah!

Jonas was in a serious car accident and has anxiety about being different with is prosthetic. Brennan has a severe case of anxiety and is doing her best to cope while preparing to leave for college. When these two unlikely characters make a connection, it is a rollercoaster of emotions as we listen to what is happening inside their minds. It really was exhausting at times, and that made it completely believable. I like how we watched them try to overcome their hardships and it gave me a better appreciation on how to best be around those with anxiety. For that reason I give it 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.