We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride is a story about clinical depression told through the lens of a fairytale. It is also written as poetry which took a little time to get into but once I got the hang of it - the pages flew by.

Please be mindful of the following trigger warnings (TW): racism, bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, grief, panic attacks

This story follows Whimsy, our main character, a teenage girl who has to be at a hospital to get treatment for clinical depression. There she meets Faerry - a boy with invisible wings and a garden of tattoos on his body. He also needs help, just like her. When she gets out and he stays behind, it's not for long - his family moves in next to them, making the two characters neighbors. They are also neighbors with a Forest, I'd say this Forest is a third main character. And so, the fight for their lives in this Forest begins.

I really enjoyed how Whimsy's fairytales actually portrayed different aspects of mental illness (and how they were also other kids at the hospital who she has given these names to). It's such a unique way to describe something so hard & life-altering and I've never read anything like this story before.

This story also deals with racism and bullying. Our main characters are the only Black kids in school and they get severely bullied. It broke my heart reading this, I truly don't know how people (because kids are reflections of their parents) can be this mean and hateful. It's not a big part of the book, it's only mentioned a few times but I think for a Black person this could be triggering.

The writing itself, callbacks to the past verses, and the flow of the story are so easy to read and once you get into the story and understand how the structure works - it's impossible to put this stunner down.

This is a beautiful and heartbreaking story about mental health, depression, and grief and how it alters you, alters your memories, and makes you someone else. I related so much to the words in this story & I felt seen. I really hope that this story makes you feel as seen as it did to me.

What elevated the story, even more, was referring to the playlist created by the author (at the end of the book) and playing the songs while reading the book - magical experience, 10/10, would recommend.

5/5, thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed 'Me, Moth' when it came out and I was excited to receive an ARC of McBride's new book. I wanted to like it. I really did, But I found the narrative to be completely confusing.

While back in the hospital being treated for her clinical depression, Whimsy meets a strange boy named Faerry. They find a kinship with each other when they both realize that they have magic in their bones. When she moves back home, Whimsy is surpsied to learn that Faerry and his family have moved to her street.

As they get to know each other, they both realize they have a paralyzing fear of the Marsh Creek Forest. And that maybe their paths have crossed before. But the forest whispers to Whimsy and Faerry, despite the dangers that it holds. After all, It just might hold the answers that they both have been looking for, if they're brave enough to face the truth.

Thanks to Feiwel and Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride to review! Me (Moth) was honestly such a masterpiece, and I don't know why more people don't talk about it. Plus, just look at this cover. It's on par for one of the best covers of 2023, and the year hasn't even started yet.

This is a novel in verse that doesn't shy away from the difficult topics. McBride pulls on her experiences with clinical depression, and she is a master at conveying these emotions in words. There were so many times where I had to pause while reading because this book is so emotional. It's about depression, about working through trauma, with two main characters that find solace in each other. It may be written in verse, but that almost makes it all the more powerful. 

There is a magical realism element to this book as well, which at times made it difficult to figure out what was actually going on. It's one of those books that lends itself to multiple readings because I'm sure that you'd find something different every single time you read it. Not only does it deal with Whimsy and Faerry trying to work through their own mental health, but also how they are perceived as Black teenagers with mental health issues. All of this is so well done, and I think this book will get a lot of buzz when it comes out in January.

All in all, be prepared for an emotional ride, but this should definitely be on your TBR for January.

First, this cover is absolutely gorgeous. As unsettling as the topic of depression can be, this book navigated it in a really unique way. I like that young people (or whomever) can find books like this now and relate and maybe know they are not alone. I also appreciate that the main characters are of color - there's a lot of stigma around depression in our community, and it's helpful to see it in 2 main characters. ♡

Whimsy meets a new friend, Faerry, in hospital while she is being treated for depression. They quickly spark a friendship. This book is written in verse instead of prose. I like the idea but this one wasn’t for me!

I won't forget Whimsy and Faerry any time soon. This book is so beautiful written with so much thought, care and heart. Amber McBride does an amazing job crafting the stories of the these two young people and their individual and combined journey navigating depression. It's raw, and honest with a little magic mixed in. This story captures aspects of depression in a way that I haven't read before and I was captured from the very first chapter to the very last. Absolutely amazing writing and I highly recommend this one.

Read with care. This story deals with loss, suicidal ideation, self harm and bullying.

Content warnings: racism, bullying, death, self harm, suicidal ideation, panic attacks

This is a novel-in-verse depicting the main character’s clinical depression and trauma. While in treatment for depression, Whimsy meets Faerry, who she realizes has magic, just like her. They become increasingly aware of how connected they are, especially when it comes to the pain they’ve held onto for over a decade.

This is my first Amber McBride book and I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author in the future. The writing was so lovely. I think the writing style really fit this magical tale of a girl coping with depression and grief.

"Remember you don't have to be brave, you live, you are (both) already bravery itself."

"There is someone out there rooting for you. You are not alone, in any Forest. You there, hello, bonjour, hola-we are rooting, cheering for you to live and thrive."

Written through metaphorical prose, this story follows Faerry and Whimsy through their struggles with depression and what appears to be PTSD following a traumatic event. It is so hard to find the right words for this review. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful. I loved the message of the only way out is through. One thing that I've learned in therapy is to not try to avoid the negative feelings, but to rather allow myself to feel them, use my coping skills to work through them, and then work to move on from them. The more I would try to avoid negative feelings and thoughts, the worse things got and I could appreciate how that was addressed throughout this book.

As someone who has suffered from depression, PPD, and PPA, it was like someone took exactly what I went through while in the thick of it and put it in poem form. Just like the author, it took me 3.5 years to get the help and therapy I needed. For some, myself included, you get so far into that dark pit that it's almost impossible to see how anything or anyone can help to get you out of it. Whimsy says that 11 minutes in the Garden (depression) could feel like 11 years and man, that is so true. I don't this this could have been any more perfect.

I love that more and more authors are writing novels normalizing therapy, especially for the Black community. It warms my heart to think that so many lives will likely be saved due to the decreasing stigma around seeking help.

I cannot thank you enough for allowing me the privilege of reading this arc. My review will be posted to Goodreads today, Thursday, December 1 and my Instagram (@readingwithtrey) on Monday, December 5.

This book was so thought provoking. The combo of mental health and fantasy was done so well. Look up trigger warnings for sure because this book has a lot of very sensitive topics. I would for sure rec it if you can read about those topics.

4 stars

This is one dark fairy tale and in it - to the surprise of no one who has read McBride's previous work - the author makes a deep impact with spare words.

Whimsy, the m.c., is a teen who is struggling with major depression and a lot of trauma surrounding a somewhat mysterious event that readers wonder about through most of the novel. As in her previous work, McBride employs verse; the structure really emphasizes the content, and that content is challenging. Folks who find reading about depression or trauma triggering may want to (as McBride responsibly and clearly notes) be mindful of when and how they approach this text. Whimsy is suffering, and readers get to see an up-close and unfiltered view of exactly how and ultimately why.

I'm thrilled any time a new YA verse novel appears, especially when it's thematically powerful like this one. I'd have loved to learn even a bit more about the characters' backstories and connections outside of the central event, but as an artistic study on this subject, it's quite well done. I remain a fan of this author and will continue to enthusiastically recommend McBride to students.

“No one ever tells you that Sorrow doesn’t grab you by the throat. It opens the door, offers a warm fire, says—Have some candy.”

I’ve been waiting to read the new novel in verse from @ambsmcbride We Are All So Good At Smiling, since she was the keynote speaker at our school district’s inservice this summer. And let me tell you, it surpassed every single expectation I had.

The book grabbed me from the first page, and like the Fairy Tales and Sorrow woven through the story, it did not let go until the very end. Whimsy, an 18 year old Black conjurer with half-remembered tragedy in her past, meets Faerry (a Fae who might have as much sadness inside him as she does) in the hospital while being treated for clinical depression. Ultimately, they find how connected they are through a shared history, and once they return home, have to fight their way through a garden made by Sorrow in the forest they both fear more than anything.

This was the book that got to me to my 2022 reading goal (over a month early this year… who am I?!) and I’m so happy it was. Absolutely a five star read that had me sobbing cathartic tears by the end. Thank you, Amber McBride, for a story that tells teens that it’s okay not to be okay, but the only way out is to keep going through. I needed this book, our kiddos need this book, and it’s already on my list of books to order for our library when it’s released in January.

This Fantasy story told in verse is a unique tale of a young girls ability to cope with clinical depression. Though this important message is delivered amidst the wiles of magic and fairy tale figures, they serve their purpose in drawing the reader deeper into the entangling abyss as the character unravels their mental health issues into a sense of humanity.

This was an unusual way to look at characters who are dealing with grief and depression. The author uses metaphors to convey the characters' ways of seeing the world around them. I think this will be a good resource for teens who are dealing with these issues.

This is definitely a case of it's me and not you, but sadly I didn't love this book. I think if it had been half the size, I would have felt a lot more engaged and immersed but due to the length I kept putting the book down and didn't feel particularly excited to pick it up again. I've never been a fan of flowery writing so if I had known to expect that I would not have picked this book up. However, I do think it's a brilliant metaphor for depression and the ending was very powerful, it just took too long to get there.

Whimsy is not well. She knows it and wants to leave the hospital. Her fairy tales are real to her and as alive as her mind makes them. Faery checks himself into the hospital and is the same age as Whimsy. He tries to be friends with her even as she pushes him away. They both are drowning in sorrow they can't quite remember. Faery's family moves in across the street from Whimsy. Her parents warn to her to stay away from that family. Whimsy's mom had put a spell on her family and Faery's family to not remember a past incident only to remember Whimsy's brother and Faery's sister are missing. Whimsy has her own magic and is working to remember details of her brother's disappearance and she is being drawn to Faery as a connection to the past. This is an honest and genuine look at depression. How guilt and sorrow can lead people (even children) to the edge of not wanting to be alive.

Wow. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but this book defies all of those easy-to-come words. I was left speechless at many points through the tale that Ms. McBride wrote for us. This couldn't be any higher of a recommendation from me. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC for early review. Formal review will be on Amazon, Goodreads and IG.

This was such an amazing read! I was blown away by the story telling and can't give this title enough praise! Whimsy is a character struggling with clinical depression and she uses her words as a way to express her feelings. The descriptions used were beautiful and using fairy tale characters from different cultures and times around the world was a great idea. I loved the pace and plot of this story. The ending was well done and reminds people that sorrow is not any person's fault. I also appreciated the glossary at the end that provided a little more detail about each character.

We Are All so Good at Smiling. A smile can mean fun. A smile can show warmth. A smile can be out of love. And a smile can be a mask to hide all the feelings we have inside from the people around us.

This YA novel in verse including a magical touch about a Black girl who deals with clinical depression and trauma is beautiful. It’s like the sadness and trauma of Benjamin Alire Saènz’s Last Night I Sang to the Monster meets the magic and grief from Deep in Providence by Riss M. Neilson.

I have some real difficult stuff right now to deal with and reading a story about clinical depression and trauma, about sadness hit me hard. And somehow it also grounded me because I know somewhere in the future I will be alright again. Like Amber McBride says in the book:
There is someone out there rooting for you
You are not alone, in any forest.

The tears will keep running down my cheeks for a while, I guess, before I feel okay again. And that’s fine. Because I know I’m not alone. And Whimsy and Faerry know that as well.

A huge shout out to the cover artist btw! It’s gorgeous!!

This is a book that so perfectly encapsulates what it can feel like being depressed and having clinical/major depression. This being a story told in verse just adds to the depth of feeling and I love all the fairy tale imagery and references. This is truly such a fantastic, emotional book and I love the emotional depth it captures. I highly encourage people to pick this book up and fall into Whimsy’s reality and experience the journey of escaping Sorrow’s Garden.

This was a beautiful novel-in-verse weaving in fairy tale and folk tale characters into the story of Whimsy, who is dealing with clinical depression, and her friend, Faerry, who is also dealing with his own mental health issues. The format worked so well to bring the stories of these two teens to life.