#kristen granata

[critical-quoter]

She lives inside an impenetrable fortress, her emotions locked inside. I want to break down her walls, to rip out the nails holding up her misguided convictions. But then I realize, no, I don’t want to take her by force. I want her to trust me enough to let down her drawbridge and invite me inside. I want her to hand me the keys to her heart. And I’ll earn them.

Puck Pact - Kristen Granata

[nalit-source]

HOLIDAY ROMANCE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Part 1/?

[im-me-he-says]

(Okay I wasnt going to post this but im actually pissed off.)

((TW INFERTILITY))

Dear Bridgerton fans who are unreasonably angry at Michael being Micheala in the new season,

You still have the book.

Let me bring up points that I've seen in arguments online:

1- "But her story is about infertility! Putting her with a woman changes everything!"

Queer women struggle with infertility too, in fact it can be very difficult for lesbians who wish to start families of their own as not everyone is able to adopt or find a sperm donor, and even if a sperm donor is found THEY CAN STILL HAVE INFERTILITY ISSUES.

Let me list off romance books that deal with cishet women and their infertility issues below-

Untamed Rose, Scandalous Mistress by Bronwyn Scott

The Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt

What's Left of Me by Kristen Granata

Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen (this one is regency too)

A Secret Sorrow by Karen Van Der Zees

And many more if you google I just dont have all day.

(Extra point, in many of these books the women do not stay infertile and have a miracle baby...not only do many cishet women never get their miracle baby but lesbian couples literally cannot concieve)

And now let me list of books that deal with Lesbian women and their fertility issues-

.....

OH WAIT I COULDNT FIND A SINGLE ONE!!

This leads me to my next point.

2- Bridgerton is a love letter to minorities in romance.

As someone who is south asian myself, I have seen how western beauty standards and racism has treated women in our culture, literally go online and search up "which race would you not date" its disgusting.

I grew up only seeing white women be the desirable one in romances as did many others, you know what changed this for me?

Kate Sharma.

The international audience for Bridgerton especially with brown women of South Asian descent grew TREMENDOUSLY. We had a woman like us portrayed positively and seen as desirable, you guys genuinely do not understand how many brown women watch this show because of season 2.

If we had Kate, WHY should Lesbians struggling with infertility and Black Lesbians not have Francesca and Micheala.

3- "It should have been Eloise and Cressida!"

Why? Because Eloise is a loud mouthed feminist and Cressida is a mean blonde and they shared an understanding? Because theyre both white?

While I do want Eloise to be queer as well just think about that for a moment, while lesbian representation is scarce these days it is even scarcer for Lesbians who do not fit the norm...the mostly white, neurotypical, skinny, cis norm.

Genuinely think about how many times ypu have seen these tropes in wlw fiction, like sit and think about it.

Such as Black lesbians for example, you all are aware they exist right?

I want to reccomend this video by a sunny book nook which talks about how lesbians in a VAST MAJORITY of lesbian romance novels arent really...allowed to be complex characters and it would be some FANTASTIC insight for some of yall

In conclusion, you are allowed to miss Michael, but don't you dare say this takes away from her story, as it ties into the very aim of the show.

Thank you for reading.

[sapphicmsmarvel]

2024 reading log!

i wanna preface and tell yall not to compare your reading habits to mine, i work a job i read a lot at (bc i know in the book community comparisons happen. comparisons are a thief of joy)

and with that, we are off to 2025!

💜 queer 

🤍 rereads 

January 

Mermaids never drown short story collection 💜

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

Killjoy by Holly Jackson

This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede

Happy Place by Emily Henry 

Light in the Flame by JLA 

Soul of Ash and Blood by JLA

Cupcakes and Kisses by JLA

Fire in the Flesh by JLA 

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer🤍

Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer🤍

Destroy the Day by Bridgid Kemmerer 💜(gay relationship for one mc) 

The Lightstruck by Sunya Mara 

Verity by Colleen Hoover 

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie 

Heartstopper Vol 5 by Alice Oseman 💜

February 

Emily Wildes Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett 

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft 💜 (both mc’s bi) 

Mister Magic by Kiersten White 💜(fmc is bi) 

You’re not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron 💜(main relationship is sapphic)

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten 

Frightmares by Eva V Gibson 

The Hollow Dead by Darcy Coates 

Savage Gods by Amanda Richardson 💜(poly characters) 

Savage Reign by Amanda Richardson 💜(poly characters)

The Whispering Dead by Darcy Coates 

Pucking Ever After Vol 2 by Emily Rath 💜(polycule) 

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent 

Pucking Ever After Vol 1 by Emily Rath 💜🤍(polycule) 

Haunting Adeline by HD Carlton 

Hunting Adeline by HD Carlton 

The Doctor by Nikki Sloane 

Pucking Ever After Vol 1 by Emily Rath 💜🤍(polycule) 

Pucking every After Vol 2 by Emily Rath 💜🤍(polycule) 

March 

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood 

Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood 

Visions of Flesh and Blood by JLA 

Crown of Gilded Bones by JLA 🤍

Over my Dead Body by Sweeny Boo 💜(sapphic side relationship) 

The Pool Boy by Nikki Sloane 

The Architect by Nikki Sloane 💜(polycule) 

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood 

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood 💜 (Bi fmc) 

Vampires Never Get Old Short Story Collection 💜

The Prisoners Throne by Holly Black 

The Chase by Elle Kennedy 

The Risk by Elle Kennedy 

The Play by Elle Kennedy 

The Dare by Elle Kennedy 

Pucking Around by Emily Rath 💜🤍

April 

Pucking Wild by Emily Rath 💜 (fmc is bi) 

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten 💜🤍 (just trust me) 

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten 💜(just trust me) 

Puck Pact by Kristen Granata 

Snug by Catana Comics 

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillg 🤍

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillg

A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene 

Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares 

I Have No Secrets by Penny Joelson 

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall 

Winnie the Pooh Vol 1: Demon Rising by J. Scott (peace and love do not read this) 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston 

We were Never Here by Andrea Bartz 

May 

The Only One Left by Riley Sager 

The Broken Girls by Simone St James 

The Coworker by Frieda McFadden 

Burning Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber 

Funny Story by Emily Henry 

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 💜(both fmc and mc have relationships with others) 

Little Moments of Love by Catana Comics 

June 

The Underworld by Susan Casey 

Can’t Spell Treason without Tea by Rebecca Thorne 💜(sapphic relationship) 

MHA vol 39 by Kohei Horikoshi 

Ink and Feathers by Nikki St Crowe 

The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan (more like Great Disappointment) 

July 

Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver 

Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen 💜(reverse harem but two of the guys are also involved with each other) 

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni 🤍

The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni 🤍

Woven By Gold by Elizabeth Helen 💜 (reverse harem but two of the guys are also involved with each other) 

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata 🤍

August

The Ship Beneath the Ice by Mensun Bound (i don’t think nonfiction is for me yall) 

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 🤍

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 

Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver 

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R Alban💜

it’s raining men by Dani Galliaro 💜 (gay side characters, poly dynamics) 

fake and dont tell by Rebel Bloom

September

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber 🤍

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber 🤍

A Curse For True Love by Stephanie Garber 🤍

If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun🤍

An Education In Malice by ST Gibson 💜 (sapphic relationship as the main plot) 

The Blood That Binds Us by SL Cokeley 

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll 

In Love and Pajamas by Catana Chetwynd

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller 🤍💜 (Bi MMC) 

Master of Iron by Tricia Levenseller 🤍💜 (BI MMC) 

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky 

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco 🤍

Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco 🤍

Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco 🤍

Happily Ever After & Everything in Between by Debbie Tung 

Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan 

A Haunted Road Atlas: Next Stop by Em Schulz and Christine Schiefer 

October

The Deep by Alma Katsu 

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M Danforth 💜(poly sapphic relationship) 

Blood Moon by Jilian Graves 

House of M by Brian Michael Bendis 

My Vampire Plus One by Jenna Levine 

Lore Olympus: Volume 6 by Rachel Smythe 

Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London 💜(sapphic relationship as the secondary couple) 

November 

The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan 💜

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie 

The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith 

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow 💜

December

Spectacular by Stephanie Garber 

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn 

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood 

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan 

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur 

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith 

Tangled in Tinsel by Trilina Pucci 

My Hero Academia Team Up Missions Vol 5 by Yoko Akiyama 

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter 

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

[embodies]

BLACK SHEEP IN THE HERD OF CHRIST — DEAN WINCHESTER.

"Bring Me Back", by Kristen Granata (2022); // aysgulkaratkn on Flickr; // "Hercules vs. Cerberus", charcoal sketch by Megan Agee; // "Haunter", by Vincenzo Natali (2013); // "Horns", by Alexandre Aja (2013); // "Untitled #1601" (from the House Hunting series), by Todd Tido (1999); // Unknown; // "The Problem of Pain", by C.S. Lewis (1940); // "Untitled", by William Eggleston (1970); // "Demons", by lifeinpixels78 on Instagram (2024); // "Badlands", by Terrence Malick (1973); // Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 27, 1908

[jesswallflowerreviews]

Heart Trick by Kristen Granata 4 Stars

This was a fun romance that began with an unfortunate meeting. When you meet your neighbour and immediately get off on the wrong foot it is funny to see how this turns into a fun rivalry for both of them. But our hero comes to her rescue when she needs him to and that allows for the beginning of their fake dating arrangement as he could use the good press after all the coverage of his fiance leaving him for his teammate and best friend. The hockey aspects were very well done, there was a cute nod to the sequel at the end, and I loved their dynamics as the fake dating allowed them to become friends and then quickly realise they had much stronger feelings for each other.

[thefault-inourflaws]

BOOK REVIEW 1

for my first book review, i'll be starting with the first book i read since posting my book bingo which was bring me back by kristen granata ! i crossed off a total of four tropes for this read; 'found family', 'plot twist', 'tragic past', and 'story within a story'. i posted a review to this on my storygraph already, for those of you who use that app, but i'll also be sharing it here ˙��˙ stars : ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ date read : 5/27/23

loveable cast, strong character development, character flaws and their development play a key role in the plot

diversity is marked as ‘it’s complicated’ on storygraph, as some things weren’t explicitly stated but primarily due to the diverse backgrounds of the characters. it showed a lot of diversity in mental health i am not used to seeing in novels, especially ones of the ‘spice’ variety including them.

content warnings - emotional abuse, panic attacks/disorders, grief, violence, sexual content, death, death of parent, self harm, cancer, abandonment, suicide attempt, mental illness, injury/injury detail, schizophrenia/psychosis, cursing, suicide, blood, medical trauma, medical content, addiciton, stalking, animal death, alcohol, gun violence, drug abuse/use, animal cruelty, child death, miscarriage, infertility, pregnancy

proceed to read with caution, the aforementioned trigger warnings are what that 60% of the novel is covering nearly back to back. some of them are a brief one-line piece, but they are all mentioned in a way that makes them relevant and makes me want to put them as a warning. you are responsible for your reading, please stay safe while doing so. i had been following the author of this novel for quite some time on instagram prior to reading this book, and can confidentally say it did not disappoint! despite being a 'steamy'/'spicy' romance, the first half of this book (i read this on kindle, i can confidentally gear this at around 60% of the book) was almost completely mental health focused, alongside a 10/10 did NOT see it coming twist at the end! all in all, i would rate this book a 4.5/5 stars and i would definitely read again! the other .5 is due to some of the reptitive nature of wording, but i genuinely adored this story and it made me sob (at a ridiculous time in the late hours of the morning) with how emotional it gets when the characters get vulnerable and honest with each other and start growing in their arcs. i’d say it's a medium paced book, it feels as though it moves fast once you get past the first half, but I was not bored in the slightest reading through the mental health segments. as someone with diagnosed mental health things, i felt seen in phoenix and felt as though it was a very accurate portrayal of depression and anxiety and other mental health issues, and had good mental health representation. also, 10/10 some steamy scenes!

[hopeless-weakness]

2021 Books I’ve Read

257/75

Fighting the Odds by Kristen Granata

(Collision book 4)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Trigger Warnings include:

miscarriage, abuse, death, drug addiction

There’s a lot of heavy topics in this one, so make sure you read the blurb, trigger warnings, and maybe a couple reviews. Carla and TJ are both filled with heartbreak. Each of them struggling with different demons. And because TJ thinks he’s the worst demon of them all, he doesn’t think he deserves Carla’s light. But it’s her light that saves him, saves them both. There’s technically two meet cutes. They don’t realize the first one until after the second. TJ keeps his past locked down tight, and even though she’s curious, she never pushes him for information. She understands the line, and waits there patiently until he’s ready to let her across. TJ is convinced his past controls him, but there’s little things that say otherwise. Like his accomplishments with the gym, the people he helps. He’s Superman, even has the thick rimmed glasses. But even Superman needs helps sometimes, and Carla uses that opening! It’s good for her too; to focus on being there to help TJ in any way he’s willing to accept. Even if it’s just file folders and digital paperwork. My heart broke more each time we got one of TJ’s POV chapters. It’s a good thing he’s a cuddler, because I just wanted to hold him! The epilogue in his POV was beautiful.

My Favorite Quotes:

•”I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do, but I can assure you: You’re going to want me to do all the things I’m going to do to you.”

•”You deserve everything good in this world.”

•”I want it all with you.”

•”You have me, TJ. I’m already yours.”

Make the playlist the author provides. It’s worth it!

6/10 Dirty Birdy

5/10 Sports Romance

6/10 Workplace Romance

goodreads account

click here for my reading playlist! 🎧📖

click here for my reading playlist on spotify! 🎧📖

[amorinarose]

Chilling Corner in April

Chilling Corner in April with some interesting reading.

Photo by BARBARA RIBEIRO on Pexels.com The last few months I have been varying what I put up as a chilling option. I am currently overwhelmed by my ‘to be read’ (tbr) list and have had to slow down completely or never get any writing done. However, I am still including some books. Two are books that I read a short while ago, both best-sellers with a selfish demand for the suspension of…

[literaryillusions]

 Back to You

Michelle walks in on her first day of teaching ready to take on the world and a rambunctious set of first graders - what she isn’t prepared for is the guy that ghosted her in college being the gym teacher at the same elementary school. Chris has been in love with Michelle for years and after his life changed in an instant - he left her behind. But fate has other things in mind. 

I adored this story. It is heartbreakingly sweet and honest and made me laugh out loud. Both Chris and Michelle have reasons for their feelings after five years apart and Granata lets them actually work through them. I especially loved the fact that they had a character who had a disability versus a disabled character! (Aiden definitely deserves his own story! Also Micheal...) 

There was realistic heat between the mains with a side of longing and just a dash of angst that kept this story going and I highly recommend it for those who love second chance romances (my favorite!) and just a heartwarming and quick read. the bedroom scene felt natural and was surprisingly hot! 

[critical-quoter]

You never have anything to be jealous over. You are all I see, all I want, all I crave. You are it for me. The sooner you accept that, the sooner we can be on the same page. So, I'm gonna need you to catch up.

Puck Pact - Kristen Granata

[bookthorns]

NOVEMBER TBR | percy jackson, the romantic agenda, discworld + 2022 romances! 📚✨🌊

NOVEMBER TBR | percy jackson, the romantic agenda, discworld + 2022 romances! 📚✨🌊

Hey everyone, welcome to or welcome back to my blog! It’s somehow now November so I’m posting my monthly tbr! I’m sure that as per usual I’ll go completely off script but for now these are the top 20-ish books that I’m most excited to read! I have quite a few 2022 releases on my tbr, as well as some backlist series that I want to continue and a couple of Christmas romances I’m excited about! *If…

[pringlereads]

Do you ever consume media and it feels like the creator dropped their character in a trauma tree and made sure they hit every branch on the way down?

[dargeereads]

Fighting the Odds

Kristen Granata

I’d prepared myself for a life without love. Lost my parents and anyone else I got close to. Nothing good ever stays for long. I’m a statistic after all. Former foster kid. Former drug addict, alcoholic. Always thought I was destined to be alone. Always felt like I wasn’t worth a damn.

Then Carla Evans walked into my life.

One look at her in that uptight, buttoned-up outfit and I knew I had to have her. For a night, I’d indulge myself in the fantasy of a girl like her actually wanting a guy like me.

Then she moved here with no job and that ridiculous bucket list.

I knew she needed my help.

I just didn’t expect to need hers.

I spent a long time letting myself believe I didn’t deserve happiness. It took me a while (and a whole lot of therapy) to realize I’d had it all wrong.

Now I know.

And now I have to tell her.

*This new adult romance flip-flops between the past and present, following TJ’s difficult journey to get to where he is now. Fighting the Odds deals with sensitive topics like drug abuse, death, foster care, homelessness, and miscarriage. But it is also an inspirational story of love, friendship, hope, and finding your inner warrior.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Km6Pcj

Kristen Granata is a teacher by day, and an (exhausted) author by night. Known for writing emotional New Adult Romance, she loves creating realistic, flawed characters who struggle through the darkest parts of life and come out stronger on the other side. Kristen is a self-proclaimed "bitter cynic trapped in a hopeless romantic's body." Her characters pack a sarcastic punch, make you laugh, make you think, make you ugly cry - and they will always live happily ever after. If you're a lover of moving, inspirational reads, Kristen's your girl. Kristen was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1986. She moved to Staten Island with her family and lived there for almost twenty years. There she attended community college and became a teacher. Despite her passion for writing, and despite her professors strongly suggesting she become a writer, she took the more sensible route (bitter cynic, remember?) After going through a difficult divorce when she was only twenty-nine, Kristen returned to writing. The raw story that poured out of her led her to publish her debut novel, Collision, in March of 2018. Soon after in August 2018, the sequel, Avoidance, was published. Her third novel, The Other Brother, released in April 2019. Kristen openly shares her mental health struggles with depression and anxiety with her Instagram following. Her message is a beacon of hope to anyone who is suffering: You are not alone. She delicately weaves this theme into her writing, and demonstrates the ability of love to heal trauma. When she's not teaching or writing, Kristen is reading, Instagramming, indulging in her messy love affair with popcorn, and annoying her wife and step-daughters by incessantly singing along to The Greatest Showman soundtrack.

Author Links:

Instagram: https://www.amazon.com/Kristen-Granata/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristen.granata.16

Website: https://www.kristengranata.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kristen-Granata/e/B07CNPTYGC?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1555521544&sr=1-2-catcorr

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17827187.Kristen_Granata

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristen_granata?lang=en

Author Giveaway:

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[kiingocreative]

The Structure of Story is now available! Check it out on Amazon, via the link in our bio, or at https://kiingo.co/book

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Whether I’m writing or reading, I personally love a story that portrays the full complexity of the human experience, in all its glorious intricacy and wonderful contradictions.

As we as a society become more open to talking about the hard stuff, the things that might have been swept under the carpet are starting to emerge in modern culture and literature. We’re more receptive to hearing about those challenging and vulnerable experiences.

In this, however, lies a common trap: as hard topics become more common and popular, how can we as writers ensure we treat them in a way that’s respectful, authentic, and non-trivialising?

What’s a Hard Topic?

First things first, when I talk about ‘hard topics’, I'm referring to those challenging and traumatic experiences people go through that have a profound impact on their lives.

Here’s a non-extensive list, in no particular order: physical, emotional or sexual abuse; assault; trauma / PTSD; suicide; addiction; depression; mental illness; terminal illness; eating disorders; grief; miscarriage; racial or gender-based prejudice; etc.

Why the Need for TLC, You Ask?

Engaging readers emotionally is the best way to get them hooked onto the story you’re trying to tell. And for readers to become emotionally invested in your story, you have to give them a plot and characters that are plausible, convincing and relatable.

As someone who has suffered abuse and depression, I find nothing worse than reading a story that treats those topics too lightly or portrays a limited or romanticised experience of it. I find it alienating, and almost offensive.

3 Ways to Deal with Hard Topics

Through my own writing experimentation, as well as conversations and interviews with fellow writers, I’ve identified three main ways of dealing with hard topics:

1. Draw From Your Own Experience.

The best way to paint a plausible picture is to draw on your own experiences. Yes, different people go through different events in their own, unique way, and we can’t claim to paint all traumatic experiences with the same brush.

That said, even though your individual experience may not be the exact same as the next person, drawing from your own life will give your retelling of it a sense of authenticity that other readers will more easily be able to relate to.

Author Lauren Dow says she started writing her semi-autobiographical book *In Body I Trust* as a therapeutic endeavour to help her navigate through her own experience of depression and battling eating disorder. Through her writing, she ‘turned her eating disorder into a living, breathing person with a face, a story, and a name’ that other people might be better able to relate to and engage with.

Suffering can be both incredibly unique and widely universal. Sharing your own story through your writing, even when fictionalised, is a great way to give others a chance to realise they’re not alone in what they’re going through. They’re more likely to connect with some, if not all, facets of one’s genuine experiences, which in turn instils a sense of trust between writer and reader and creates a bond that will make them want to keep reading your work.

2. Put Your Research Hat On.

This isn’t to say writers can only ever write about trauma if they’ve experienced firsthand — as much as the world likes to paint traditional writers as tortured, broken souls, thankfully we know that’s not the case.

If you’re writing about a topic you haven’t yourself experienced yourself, the best way to go about it is to educate yourself on it, ideally by hearing other people’s real life accounts.

In an interview I conducted with author Kristen Granata for The Indie Writers Collective, she explained that although some of her writing is inspired by her own difficult experiences, she’s always ‘looking to talk about topics [she hasn’t] experienced [herself] to give people who have had those experiences a voice and a platform to tell their story’.

This involves a great amount of research, she says, to make sure she doesn’t get it wrong. In What’s Left of Me in fact, she asked people she knew had gone through domestic abuse and miscarriage to share their stories and then weaved in unaltered chunks of their narrative into the storyline to make it more raw and authentic.

3. When in Doubt, Don’t

If you’re unsure about how to handle a hard topic, my golden rule is to avoid it entirely.

No, going through depression is not the same as being sad or feeling blue. It’s a state of mind that both numb you to the extreme and bring you on the verge of imploding with a burning intensity you never knew was possible, and leave you wondering what the point of going on living even is.

No, experiencing grief isn’t just difficult. It’s soul-crushing and life-ending and heart-breaking in ways one cannot begin to comprehend unless they’ve gone through it.

No, facing abuse isn’t only about the physical ‘logistics’ of the act. It’s a state of constant and long-lasting fear and agony that can permeate every moment of your waking life. It comes across in the way you speak and breathe and hold yourself physically, and it shapes the person you become.

Some writers actually choose to steer clear of some of those more challenging topics unless they have experienced them themselves. Dealing with any one of these issues too lightly, romanticising it or trivialising it runs the risk of alienating your reader. It risks leaving them feeling betrayed and angry, and turning them away from your work entirely.

I cannot stress this enough: howsoever you chose to handle those difficult topics, you absolutely have to treat them with the utmost care. You need to give them room in your story to paint the right picture. If you’re not able or ready to draw on your own experience, or not willing to put in the work needed to do extensive research, then it’s safer to give those topics a miss entirely.

Keep this all in mind, if not for your own sake — readers will rarely give an author they didn’t like the first time around a second chance, which impacts the reviews they’re likely to leave and ultimately your book sales — then for the sake of the people out there who have had to live through incredible difficult and traumatic episodes and deserve to have these topics handled with respect.