Are we all Lemmings and Snowflakes? By Holly Bourne – Book Review

When I heard about this book I thought it was really intriguing and it was about mental health so I just had to pick it up when it released and I’m so glad I did! It’s such a wonderful book and I highly recommend reading it!

So what is this book about? Well you can read the synopsis here, taken from Goodreads:

Welcome to Camp Reset, a summer camp with a difference. A place offering a shot at “normality” for Olive, a girl on the edge, and for the new friends she never expected to make – who each have their own reasons for being there. Luckily Olive has a plan to solve all their problems. But how do you fix the world when you can’t fix yourself?

The first thing I want to say is that this book has such great mental health rep! It a realistic, honest view on mental health. The characters are so real and have great character development that shows exactly how managing and dealing with mental health can be. It’s not a straight line up, there’s up and downs but you still keep going.

One of the things I loved was that through the story I actually learnt a lot about mental health services and different mental health conditions, but it was never pretentious of preachy. It all just felt naturally part of the story.

The story itself was so interesting and so relatable and the messages it gave were wonderful! The message about being kind not only to others but also to yourself were so powerful and really makes you think.

“You don’t have to stop looking after yourself just to help the world. In fact, sometimes it’s better for the world if you put yourself first. That’s not being selfish, in fact looking after yourself is the greatest act of kindness you can give the world. Loving yourself first is the best way to spread love. You’ve tried so hard to be kind, but you’ve not started with you, and maybe that’s where it’s gone wrong?”

Each character was genuine and fully fleshed out. They were more than their mental illness and I loved that about them. I also loved that despite them being in a place which will hopefully help them to learn how to manage and live a better quality life they had moments where they did relapse but also made progress. It all felt so real! I honestly can’t explain how much I loved the portrayal of each character! It was real and respectful.

I’m so glad books like this are being written now as they are so needed. Because we need books with good mental health rep not only for those who suffer from it but also for others so that more people can understand what it is like. The message of this book is so important; kindness to ourselves and others is so important. The world could be a much better place if we were kinder. And remember #KindnessIsContagious so spread it!

“I think real kindness, real compassion, is having the strength to stop and try and see where another person is coming from. To try and work out why they’re being the way they’re being. It takes time and patience. It’s not easy, but that’s real kindness.”

The Blurt Foundation Buddy Box Unboxing

Hey everyone! So I wanted to share an unboxing with you today. This is an unboxing of The Blurt Foundation’s Buddy Box.

What’s The Blurt Foundation you say? Well, The Blurt Foundation are a social enterprise who are dedicated to creating positive social change for those affected by depression.

Read on for their statement, taken from their website:

Blurt exists to make a difference to anyone affected by depression. Being diagnosed can be overwhelming – there’s a lot to learn and plenty of prejudice to battle. Telling people is tough, and not everyone will understand. That’s why we’re here for you, whenever you need us, for anything at all.
We’ll help you understand depression and what it means for you. We’ll support you, listen to you and introduce you to people who’ve been where you are. We’ll help you break down barriers and broach the subject with those closest to you. We’ll help you help yourself, with a little knowing nod.

So I’ve been wanting to share this unboxing for a while and since it’s Mental Health Awareness Week I thought it was the perfect time to share this!

This box was the Self Care Sanctuary Buddy Box. My husband actually bought this for me as a gift because I am the worst at self care!

I loved the box! It had some really great items and it also included a book called The Self Care Project by Jayne Hardy who is also the founder and CEO of The Blurt Foundation.

This Box included:

• The Self Care Project
• Thought Bamboo Socks
• Okko Foot Balm
• Self Care Champion Enamel Pin
• Space Mask
• Blurt Zine

I would definitely recommend this box to everyone who suffers from depression or anxiety. They include really great items which are all useful and they have different themes each month. And it’s totally affordable.

The Self Care Project is a really great book which I’ve recently started reading. It’s got some great tips and includes activities so we can actually start to make changes. You can also buy this book on it’s own on amazon.

I would also recommend that you all check out The Blurt Foundation. They have really great resources and you can keep up to date on their social media. They also have monthly twitter chats!

Here’s the links to their website and social media:

Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

If any of you have bought their boxes or used their resources do let me know!