The Words We Keep

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I finally bought a physical copy and wanted to annotate it veryy heavily and that’s exactly what i did. When Lily and Micah embark on an art project for school involving finding poetry in unexpected places, she realizes that it’s the words she’s been swallowing that desperately want to break through. All the characters were great in this, even the ones I hated (*cough*Damon*cough*), as they were real, raw, and a perfect portrayal of how people function in real life. You have those who are outwardly struggling with mental health, like Alice and Micah, those who try to help them, the girls’ dad, step-mom, and youngest sister, those who are silently suffering, Lily, and those who are insensitive to mental health, Damon and other students. I obviously wanted to punch characters like Damon and Kali, who were complete jerks about knowing Micah had been a patient at Fairview, but sadly, there are people like them in the real world.

Micah, what can I say about him? He was a delightful angel who was battling his own demons. Since we meet him when he’s out of Fairview, we only learn a little of his past and struggle with depression, but enough to want to hug him and make it all better. He used his own knowledge of fighting monsters to recognize it in Lily before she was ready to admit it, and helped to give her strength to start fighting them. His way of fighting his demons is through art, but he’s able to use that to help Lily find her inner muse to write poetry. Dad falls to his knees, and he’s hugging us, so tight I almost pop, and we’re huddled on the beach, and he’s crying, and I think they’re happy tears, but it’s hard to tell. Even though we broke up years ago, Damon’s never fully gotten the memo that I’m not his to torment. The knot in my stomach expands, undulating out in all directions. When I look again, the boy with the sunglasses is still laser-beam focused on me. I mean yeah there are a few flaws, like how it’s pretty cringy since it’s a YA book but i don’t mind! The amazingness of the book compensates for it! The characters are so deep and i just relate to Lily (the fmc) so much. She is me, I am her.

I do love Micah as well, like how could i not!? He is so incredibly sweet! This book does have some romance in it but don’t read this book for it because it’s not THE best. I still do really love it! The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart’s story follows high school junior Lily Larkin, who is desperately trying to hold things together for her family three months after her older sister Alice’s traumatic suicide attempt. Lily is partnered with Micah Mendez, a new student at school who knows all about Alice’s experience, and together they embark on an art project for school

It’s been three months since The Night on the Bathroom Floor–when Lily found her older sister Alice hurting herself. Ever since then, Lily has been desperately trying to keep things together, for herself and for her family. But now Alice is coming home from her treatment program and it is becoming harder for Lily to ignore all of the feelings she’s been trying to outrun.The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart is a realistic and relatable novel that touches on themes of mental health, anxiety, perfectionism, and depression. The story follows Lily Larkin, a high school junior, who has been desperately trying to keep things together for herself and her family since the Night on the Bathroom Floor when she found her older sister Alice hurting herself.

Relaxation will not help me ace this,” I reply without looking up from my notecards, where I’ve written each line of my poem for today’s presentation. And he doesn’t appear particularly psychotic.” I’m not exactly sure what a true psycho would, in fact, look like. But I do not think this kid is it. Lily hasn’t seen her sister, Alice, since the Night of the Bathroom Floor. She can’t bring herself to visit her at Fairview Treatment Centre. Straight A student Lily thinks she needs to keep her school life separate from her home life if she’s going to stay afloat. She’s desperately trying to hold her family together. Anyways i also love how poetry is such a big part of the book! I’ve always loved reading poetry and i even like to write, i’m just not that good. I also relate a lot to every single poem. Sure. Sure. The dog groomer,” he says slowly, unconvincingly. “Can’t get enough of those little mutts.”Dad scoops her up. Carries her, legs limp, blood dripping like a fairy-tale crumb trail down the stairs. He puts her in the car. Drives her away. The reception that Micah had to face, and the pressure to be the perfect child that Lily had to wrestle each day displayed just how hard it is for people to speak out and ask for help. I loved Micah’s character and the friendship he contributed through his own battles and triumphs, while shedding a little more light into Lily’s darkness. I stare holes into my notecards. I pretend not to see him coming. Pretend I don’t notice when he’s standing right next to me. Gorgeous and deeply touching.' – Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and You'd Be Home Now