Unfortunately this book has gone in my DNF pile. It just wasn't engaging me like it would have years ago when I first requested it. My reading tastes have changed a lot over the years as I've gotten older and unfortunately some of the books requested years ago have been affected by my reading tastes and the fact that a lot of books for younger audiences haven't been grasping my attention as of late. I thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Interesting book with an interesting perspective on mental illness. Personally, I wish this book felt more conclusive but I understand why it isn't based on the way the author wrote it. I think it's a good book for YA readers.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Alice and the Fly by James Rice.

Greg has a phobia. The phobia of THEM. He sees them in the most inconvenient of times and places causing problems in his dating and social life. His family, obliviously dysfunctional, don't quite know what to do with him. His narration is directed toward a classmate that he feels himself inexplicably drawn to, Alice. Through his one sided discussions with Alice we see the world through Greg's eyes, what's real? What's just his mind? And we watch as his relationship with Alice turns into something dangerous.

This book was very interesting and slightly disturbing. I like books that let you draw your own conclusions, even if it's totally frustrating, and this book definitely allows for that.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get into this title. It just wasn't a good fit for me. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this title. I will not be posting a review online, in order not to skew the ratings. Thanks for the opportunity to read it.

This book was particularly disappointing because it started so fabulously. I was immensely enjoying it for the first 50-100 pages. Then it took a sharp U-turn and made a straight nose dive into the actual sewer. No thanks. It originally reminded me of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (in a good way), and I was appreciating the odd voice, but it just got creepier and creepier and... more boring. It resolved in an odd, annoying way. I would go so far as to say this might even be my most disappointing book of 2017. It's like the author just gave up halfway through. Wow, that's depressing.

I’m not really sure how to review “Alice and the Fly.” It wasn’t a bad characterization of mental illness, though it did lack any real answers for the reader. I feel like I just didn’t connect to the main character the way I wish I could. Overall, I can neither recommend nor not recommend it.

A great debut novel. The author adds a bit of mystery to the story and its characters by slowly revealing tidbits throughout the book - keeping you surprised until the end. You feel Greg's loneliness, his struggle with his mental disorder, his desire to please everyone and find love and acceptance. A love story that is sweet and sad at the same time. A good read.

A sweet and at times difficult to read novel about finding yourself. A great read for those long summer nights!

Taken from an upcoming review.

What is it? A YA novel by James Rice that we received free from NetGalley in exchange for a free review.

What’s it about? Told in both Greg’s journal, addressed to you, and police interviews, you see the life of a boy continually outcast from everyone.

Who’s represented? Greg is schizophrenic.

How’s that representation? ...Jesus Christ. That marks the first time I’ve ever sworn on this blog and I don’t care. This is not a great book. If you’re going to write about a mental illness that’s so misunderstood in an ableist culture, don’t do it in a way that villainizes the character and all of his actions. Greg is a thoroughly unlikable character and his illness is presented in such a sensational and voyeuristic way. It’s like the lists of “quirks” on the back of Autism TM books; his entire personality is based on an idea of how “crazy” people behave. To Rice’s credit... I guess he tried. I guess. There’s something like effort there. There’s an attempt to make Greg an interesting and well rounded character, it just doesn’t work, because this kind of writing for mentally ill characters sucks. The fear that the other characters feel towards him feels almost justified if you don’t read critically and just get swept along in it. His actions are truly unacceptable and there’s never an explanation for the thought process behind them except for “Greg’s crazy and we all should have known and stopped him”. If you’re going to write about schizophrenia, maybe talk to a schizophrenic person about how to not make them seem like the scum of the earth? Just a thought.

Aside from that, how is it? Based on the style, I guess that this was supposed to be a poetic style focusing on love for a girl going wrong, through the eyes of an everyman and it’s artsy and cool except for look! He’s craaazy! But all this does is remind us that teenage boys are this strange mix of predatory and extremely boring when they’re written this way. I did not care at all about Greg’s life or his hobbies or his observations on the world, because I’ve read all of it before, in every other novel written by a wannabe who thinks this is great art. This sounds more negative than I meant it to be but I mean what I’m saying. He just kind of judges people and gets bullied and watches movies and leers at his teacher’s breasts and is a sad sympathetic boy who, in fact, inspires no interest aside from the hallucinations and paranoia that aren’t delved into nearly enough.

The ending: Like almost every single book about schizophrenia, the big twist comes in and makes you regret reading and caring about anything. It’s not a shock, it’s just disappointing. (Spoilers) but, fun fact, you can write about about mentally ill people without making them murders. Once again, Jesus Christ. I can’t believe no one editing this saw a problem with it. What do I even say about this.

If you liked it: Just go check out Schizo. I know you want to.

Quirky, interesting and fascinating characterisation, I really enjoyed this book.
Dealing with phobias, obsessions and relationships it's a great debut. I'm not sure whether it's adult fiction or YA though.