CONTENT WARNING: This review is about a book that talks explicitly about suicide, mental illness and substance use.

I think it’s really important that stories about mental health are told and that suicide is talked about. It is of course a very touchy subject, but the only way to truly reduce the stigma is I think to become more open to discussing it. And so much of this story does exactly that – working through tough emotions and trying to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. Levine goes through the loss of both her sister and her best friend, and this book really shows how grief needs to be felt in whatever way works for you. It’s not a 5 step process, but rather one that we all need to figure out on our own. Levine does a really nice job of walking us through what she went through, how these deaths have changed her life in ways that you can’t even imagine, and how even the smallest things can really reawaken your grief.

I will admit though, I do have a few issues with the ways Levine talked about her sister. Undoubtedly there were disagreements and hurt feelings and pain I can’t even image between the two of them. But I also felt as though Tamara was often portrayed as the ‘crazy sister’ and that felt a little harsh to me. I know that everyone processes grief and experiences differently, but that aspect of the story kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Especially because putting people with mental illness into the box of being ‘crazy’ further divides people from the reality of mental illness, and makes it harder to get help.

Further more, I’m a little concerned with her description of her best friend, Judson’s, sexuality. She explicitly states that Judson is gay. Okay, I don’t know him, maybe he was. But she then goes on to talk about relationships that he had with women. And it unfortunately took on a bit of a bi-erasure tone. Sure, maybe he commonly used the phrase “God, I’m so gay”, which like I get it, I also use that phrase a lot of as a bisexual person. But to not clarify this just feels… a little icky to me. Don’t get me wrong, if he was gay then woohoo! But to be left feeling as though she just ignored that part of his identity, which could very easily be cleared up, just doesn’t sit well with me. And I know that I am not privy to a lot of their life. But as a bisexual woman, I’m tired of part of my identity being erased, and would just appreciate a little more respect for it.

Anyways, overall I did enjoy the book! I think that it provides a raw and real look into the impact that grief and loss can have on a person, and like I said, it’s really important to talk about this. Mental illness and grief need to be normalized so that people don’t feel afraid to reach out to others, and this book is making steps in the right direction.

Trigger warning: suicide, mental illness, death, drug use, cancer ⁣
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“I feel like I might be a terrible person to be laughing in these moments. But it turns out, I’m not alone.”⁣
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In November of 2016, Liz Levine’s younger sister, Tamara, reached a breaking point after years of living with mental illness. In the dark hours before dawn, she sent a final message to her family then killed herself.⁣
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It took me more than a month to read Levine’s memoir. Not because I wasn’t enjoying it, but because it was so powerful and emotional that I had to keep taking breaks. It tackles not only the death of her sister, Tamara, but also the loss of her best friend, Judson, to cancer. ⁣
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It’s a no holds barred look into mental illness, suicide, drug abuse, cancer, grief and mourning. I recognized pieces and pains from my life in some of the stories she told. And while your heart may feel like breaking as you read, just as Levine warned us at the beginning, you may just find some moments of laughter too.⁣
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I highly recommend this memoir to all readers. Even if you don’t typically read this genre, I encourage you to pick it up and absorb the messages. Mental illness impacts so many people and needs to be spoken about openly and without stigma. ⁣
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If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the Canadian Suicide Prevention line at 1.833.456.4566 or your local emergency number. ⁣
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Thank you to @simonschusterca for a gifted review copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. ⁣

Nobody Ever Talks About Anything But the End is a memoir written by film and TV producer Liz Levine. It is an engaging account of her experience with loss and grief, mental illness and suicide, following the deaths of her childhood best friend, Judson, and her younger sister,

This book is written in a very interesting way, an A to Z list of stories relating to her experience with grief and mourning, loss and death. This was my favourite aspect of the book. It made for fast, easy reading, all while maintaining the author's raw honesty and taking me on an emotional journey. She sheds a light on the importance of talking about those who are gone regardless of the circumstances surrounding their death. Taken from the synopsis, "she reveals how, in the midst of death, life—with all its messy complications—must also be celebrated.

This memoir is not the most emotional one I have read, but it had me laughing, crying and feeling all the feels associated with loss. I commend Levine for writing a brutally honest account of living with a close relative afflicted with mental illness. Education and awareness is so important. At one point, she discusses the reality of mental health services in Canada, and she couldn't have said it any better. It's a headache to get the services needed, there is an overwhelming lack of support available, and while this book isn't going to fix the problem, it helps by raising awareness.

While I would recommend this book to everyone, I know the subject matter is not for all readers. This is a very real account of mental illness, of death and grief. If you are a fan of memoirs, a strong supporter of mental health awareness, and/or the topic of death and grieving, then this is worth checking out.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.