Letters From Bed World

I read this in one sitting. It’s written in letter form so it makes it go super fast. This book was so well written that I forgot it wasn’t a work of fiction. I hadn’t read this author before but I will be checking out her other books.

This is one of the best and most relatable books I've read in a while. It tells the story of a girl named Val who lives with ME/CFS. She has a pet python and has recently lost her sister, Lia. Val is grieving the loss of her sibling and also has to live with her chronic illness while not being supported by her parents and doctors. It's written in verse with makes this book a quick read and easy to digest. This book perfectly captured how to it feels to live with a chronic illness as a young person. The grief that Val experiences is extremely vivid. I can't express how much I love this book.

This book is both easy and hard to read. It's never fun to read about someone's loss, someone's trauma. But it is important. For us to know we aren't alone, that someone else has gone through something similar.

The prose style of writing is such an effective method, especially with the heavy content of this book.

Fast paced, important and relevent.

Letters From Bed World by Mel Mallory is written in HI/LO verse as a letter from Val to her older, now deceased, sister Lia.

Val suffers from a chronic illness and rarely leaves her bed, much to the frustration of her mother. The only thing making her situation at all bearable is the support of her sister, who is her most staunch supporter. Together, the sisters create bed world, a safe haven where Val feels comfortable and secure. But everything will change when a tragic accident claims Lia's life, leaving Val to sufer the pain of her daily life all alone.

Val's voice is given life through her letters, and the reader immediately gains an insight into her agony. I was emotionally engaged from beginning to end, and look forward to reading more from this author. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Rosen Publishing Group for an ARC.

This was a wonderfully painful quick read, and I say that in the best way possible. As someone with a chronic illness, I’m often looking for ways to be less lonely while I spend time in my own “bed world”. This book, though fiction, very aptly put to words so many of the feelings the lonely life I’ve experienced for so many years. The combination of story — Lia’s death and Val’s illness, combined truly show the struggle that a person can go through. I only wish there were more of the book because I have truly fallen in love with Val’s character. I would like to know what happens after, if she goes to college eventually and deals with that and her illness. If her mother ever becomes more accepting and believes her. If her father ever becomes more involved. It was a great story, it just left me wanting more.

This was such a fast read. I loved the letter format. It was such a sad story but I also loved that it dealt with chronic illness.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rosen Publishing Group, West 44 Books, and Mel Mallory for the opportunity to read Letters from Bed World in exchange for an honest review.

Told as a HiLo novel-in-verse, this story comes from the perspective of Val, writing letters to her dead sister Lia about her thoughts and feelings of her life as she tries to move forward. Her parents don't understand her the way she needs to be understood about the loss, because she isn't exactly the favorite daughter. Val has myalgic encephalomyelitis (referred in short as ME/CFS) is a disabling illness that causes extreme fatigue that does not go away with rest. Val cannot even get out of bed some days, and others may need to use a cane. Her mom particularly just treats her like a lazy bum instead of a person who needs physical assistance every so often just to achieve daily actions.

Val finds comfort in Holly, a peer from a support group online, who also has lost a sister. She also confides in Max, who was dating Val when she died. 

Val has secrets seeped in greed, and even a confession through a letter or to her friends may not be enough. It's hard to make amends when life is already so challenging, but Val will learn how to deal with her grief over time, how to navigate her family and their loss, feelings of love, and how to cope with her illness, something that will likely be a lifelong endeavor.

An excellently written novel that holds you in from start to finish. While I had a hard time getting into the story right away, I was sucked in quickly with the HiLo draw and the mysterious intrigue behind Val's secret relating to her sister's death. What an exquisite read. While not for the feint of heart, this novel does offer many life lessons and teaches the audience about a chronic illness that they may have had no prior knowledge of. A great novel for a young adult audience that teaches excellent lessons on how to deal with grief, guilt, and where to find safe outlets when you need to talk to someone that isn't your family.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Rosen Publishing Group for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Letters from Bed World releases August 16, 2023

This is a short epistolary read that’s told in verse from a chronically ill character who is working through grief and the loss of her sister.

<i>You and I called my
bedroom
Bed World

because
some days,
this bedroom is
my whole world.</I>

There’s only so much depth you can get out of a story with this type of writing structure, but I did like the themes it touched upon.
The ableism from her parents was tough to read about, especially how her illness was treated as an identity crisis that they thought could be solved with an attitude adjustment.

Definitely thought there would be more focus on the virtual peer support, but having the late sister’s boyfriend also finding a way to heal was nice.

In "Letters From Bed World," the author intricately weaves a profoundly personal narrative, touching the hearts of readers, especially those familiar with the challenges of living with a chronic illness. Val's journey, confined to the limits of her bedroom due to an energy-limiting condition, resonates deeply with individuals who navigate the complexities of chronic health conditions.

The author, with a nuanced understanding of the intricacies of chronic illness, captures the essence of Val's struggles and triumphs. Through the lens of verse, the emotional landscape of being a person with a chronic illness is laid bare, creating an authentic and relatable portrayal that transcends the pages.

Being that this was a verse novel I could finish it in one sitting! I have been reading a lot of in-verse novels lately. Many get overlooked due to being so short but I still enjoy them tremendously. The subject centered around our main character Val dealing with a chronic illness. Her doctors do not know exactly what it is yet, but there are symptoms. She often does not have much energy and spends so much time in bed. Other days she can also be so sore that it is hard to move. It is tough to deal with because she does not have the best support systems in place. Her mother does not believe that she’s ill and sometimes goes as far as making Val feel as if she is lazy though Val knows deep down she is indeed sick.

Luckily she can find support in an online forum where she is buddied up with a peer who can help her navigate this new territory. I suggest everyone who reads my blog give this novel a try. Not only to understand what I go through but to give a novel though it is a short a chance to shine!