3 Novels To Read For Mental Health Awareness Month

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As you find yourself swapping our boots for sandals and hoodies for tank tops, maybe you’re already starting to plan those coveted summer vacations. Perhaps you picture yourself lounging at the beach with a stack of books at your side, or camping in the woods with a bag of books nearby (we must never forget to bring a book!).

Along with the arrival of beautiful weather, May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. While supporting one another should be year-long, it’s nice to have a set time where we can dismantle the mantra that mental health issues should be brushed under the rug. Getting people the help they need (or getting ourselves the help we need) should always be a priority.

While you’re planning your upcoming trips, consider reading one of these novels that do a wonderful job of addressing mental health issues with characters that are relatable, memorable, and inspiring.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I first read Eleanor’s story a few weeks ago and still think about the haunting and hilarious things in this book. Eleanor is a quirky, socially awkward woman struggling with past and present trauma. You’ll fall in love with her offbeat personality, and cringe at some of her choices and direct, unfiltered way of speaking. 

Sadly, she has an unhealthy relationship with her mother and not many people in her corner — until she meets Raymond, the IT guy from work who ends up becoming the friend she never knew she needed. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a beautiful, heartbreaking story showcasing how important it is to address past trauma, and most importantly, about the life-giving power of friendship.

Anxious People by Fredick Backman

Every novel by Fredrick Backman is magical in its own unique way. His latest, Anxious People, was no different. While the premise is about a botched bank robbery, it ends up being about so much more than that — it takes a deep look at the human spirit.

When a group of strangers become the oddest group of hostages known to man, they must come together to get out of their sticky situation. Each person, including the bank robber, has their own anxieties and personal demons they’re dealing with throughout the book.

Backman gently unravels their stories a little bit at a time; from the no-nonsense businesswoman in therapy to the older couple dealing with empty nest syndrome, each character offers a vivid reminder that you should never judge someone from a first impression — you never know the emotional turmoil they may be dealing with under the surface.

With an ending that surprised me and left me smiling, I encourage you to pick this book up as soon as possible!

Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick

I was on the fence about which Matthew Quick book to choose for this article. His most well-known book is Silver Linings Playbook, but my favorite has got to be the lesser-known Every Exquisite Thing.

Quick is an expert at novels with quirky, socially awkward characters and there’s always a greater theme of mental health woven throughout. This particular novel is a young adult/coming of age story (one of my favorite genres), and I just soaked up every line.

Nanette is a popular high school student who’s got it all together — until her teacher gives her a copy of the discontinued novel, The Bubblegum Reaper, which opens up a whole new world of self-actualization. She befriends the author of the book, starts dating a poet, and becomes a new, more real version of herself. And soon, tragic events take place and Nanette is forced to cope with the unimaginable. 

Give it a read and see if you’re not referring to yourself in the third person by the end of it!