Review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto
Let me begin by saying thank you to Nicole at WOW! Women on Writing for the opportunity of participating in this book blog tour.
I'm not OKAY is a story that needed telling and Renee Antonia did a lovely job of pulling me in as a reader. It's safe to say those who have experienced anxiety (in youth or otherwise) will find the character of Alejandra to be well written and easy to relate with. Similarly, Alejandra's feelings are laid out so well that even someone who has no personal experience with anxiety or mental health issues will feel empathy as the story unfolds.
The author herself admitted in her interview with WOW! that she wishes she had hired someone to help edit I'm not OKAY and with that said, I found that the typos and such didn't take away from the story. I commend Renee Antonia for her bravery in telling this story as well as for self-publishing as a 20 year old. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and I think it is a beneficial read for teens to adults in all walks of life.
About the Book:
When she wakes up in the morning, the first thing that goes through Alejandra's head is whether or not she will be forced into another anxiety inducing situation. The struggles of being a young adult living with an anxiety ridden brain becomes too much for Alejandra to deal with. So, with the help of her friends, she forces herself out of the bubble her anxiety has placed her in. She learns to conquer the fears she once thought would destroy her and learns to rely on herself more than she ever has.
Print Length: 203 pages
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Publisher: BookBaby (June 24, 2017)
ISBN-13: 9781483598062
Let me begin by saying thank you to Nicole at WOW! Women on Writing for the opportunity of participating in this book blog tour.
I'm not OKAY is a story that needed telling and Renee Antonia did a lovely job of pulling me in as a reader. It's safe to say those who have experienced anxiety (in youth or otherwise) will find the character of Alejandra to be well written and easy to relate with. Similarly, Alejandra's feelings are laid out so well that even someone who has no personal experience with anxiety or mental health issues will feel empathy as the story unfolds.
The author herself admitted in her interview with WOW! that she wishes she had hired someone to help edit I'm not OKAY and with that said, I found that the typos and such didn't take away from the story. I commend Renee Antonia for her bravery in telling this story as well as for self-publishing as a 20 year old. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and I think it is a beneficial read for teens to adults in all walks of life.
About the Book:
When she wakes up in the morning, the first thing that goes through Alejandra's head is whether or not she will be forced into another anxiety inducing situation. The struggles of being a young adult living with an anxiety ridden brain becomes too much for Alejandra to deal with. So, with the help of her friends, she forces herself out of the bubble her anxiety has placed her in. She learns to conquer the fears she once thought would destroy her and learns to rely on herself more than she ever has.
Print Length: 203 pages
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Publisher: BookBaby (June 24, 2017)
ISBN-13: 9781483598062
I'm Not Okay is available as an eBook at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Apple iTunes.
About the Author
Renee Antonia grew up in the Los Angeles area with four siblings and two wonderful parents. Having such a strong support system enabled her to decide who and what she wanted to be. However, this question haunted her for years, because she couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly she saw herself doing for the rest of her life. She began to read a lot, hoping to find inspiration between the pages of a book. It was at this time that she realized one thing. She loved sharing, reading, and writing. Renee decided that she wanted to be a writer, and since that day, she has taken any steps necessary to achieve that goal.
You can find Renee Antonia at:
Website: www.writingsbyrenee.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/renee_antonia_
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/writingsbyrenee
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16771475.Renee_Antonia
Upcoming Blog Tour Dates
April 26th @ Madeline Sharples Blog
Renee Antonia will be a guest writer today at Madeline Sharples' blog and will be talking about mental health, a very timely and important subject.
http://madelinesharples.com/
April 27th @ Lori's Reading Corner
Plant yourself into your reading corner while you read Lori's blog, where you'll have a chance to read another guest post by Renee Antonia.
www.lorisreadingcorner.com
April 28th @ Bookworm Blog
If you can't get enough books, come by Anjanette's bookworm blog to find out Renee Antonia's thoughts on mental health.
http://bookworm66.wordpress.com/
April 29th @ The Page Turner
Kayla over at her blog The Page Turner will be hosting Renee Antonia, who will be sharing her thoughts on short stories.
http://www.thepageturner.org/blog
April 30th @ The Nerdy Bookcase
Come by Molly's blog The Nerdy Bookcase to read her thoughts on Renee Antonia's book I'm Not Okay.
https://thenerdybookcase.blogspot.com/
May 1st @ Mari's #WriteON!Journaling Blog
Make sure you visit Mari's blog where you can read another guest post by Renee Antonia on the poignant subject of mental health.
http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog
May 2nd @ Coffee with Lacey
Drink coffee and read Lacey's blog today where you can catch Renee Antonia's thoughts on the books she is currently reading. You can also find out what Lacey had to say about Renee Antonia’s book, I’m Not Okay.
http://www.coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/
May 3rd @ Write Like Crazy
Today's blog post will want to make you read like crazy when you catch Renee Antonia's thoughts on short stories over at Mary Jo's blog.
writelikecrazy.com
May 4th@ Phytallic Blog
May the 4th be with you today when you visit Phytallic's blog and read her opinion on the book I'm Not Okay.
https://phytallic.wordpress.com/
May 5th @ Bookworm Blog
Can't get enough books? Well come by Anjanette's blog today when she shares her thoughts on the book I'm Not Okay and interviews the author Renee Antonia.
http://bookworm66.wordpress.com/
May 6th @ Slightly Off the Mark
Stop by Mark Hunter's blog to find out Renee Antonia's thoughts on writing while working full time. Also, Mark interviews the author to tell us more about this incredible writer.
markrhunter.blogspot.com
May 7th @ A New Look on Books
Take a new look today when you stop by Rae's blog A New Look on Books when author Renee Antonia shares her thoughts on short stories.
http://anewlookonbooks.com/
May 10th @ Write Like Crazy
You'll want to read today's post over at Mary's blog Write Like Crazy when she shares her thoughts on Renee Antonia's moving young adult fiction book, I'm Not Okay. You can also enter to win a copy of the book too!
writelikecrazy.com
May 11th @ The Faerie Review
Come by Lily's blog at The Faerie Review to find out her thoughts on Renee Antonia's book, I'm Not Okay.
http://www.thefaeriereview.com/
May 12th @ The Faerie Review
Stop by The Faerie Review again when blogger Lily interviews Renee Antonia about her book. See what this young adult fiction author had to say!
http://www.thefaeriereview.com/
May 18th @ Strength4Spouses
Renee Antonia will be over at Wendi's blog Strength4Spouses and will discuss mental health. Maybe this will give you strength to talk about this subject with those closest to you.
https://strength4spouses.blog/
May 21st @ Strength 4 Spouses
The last stop on the tour is over at Wendi's blog Strength4Spouses when she shares her thoughts on Renee Antonia's book I'm Not Okay.
https://strength4spouses.blog/
Keep up with more stops on this tour on Twitter @WOWBlogTour
About the Author
You can find Renee Antonia at:
Website: www.writingsbyrenee.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/renee_antonia_
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/writingsbyrenee
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16771475.Renee_Antonia
Upcoming Blog Tour Dates
April 26th @ Madeline Sharples Blog
Renee Antonia will be a guest writer today at Madeline Sharples' blog and will be talking about mental health, a very timely and important subject.
http://madelinesharples.com/
April 27th @ Lori's Reading Corner
Plant yourself into your reading corner while you read Lori's blog, where you'll have a chance to read another guest post by Renee Antonia.
www.lorisreadingcorner.com
April 28th @ Bookworm Blog
If you can't get enough books, come by Anjanette's bookworm blog to find out Renee Antonia's thoughts on mental health.
http://bookworm66.wordpress.com/
April 29th @ The Page Turner
Kayla over at her blog The Page Turner will be hosting Renee Antonia, who will be sharing her thoughts on short stories.
http://www.thepageturner.org/blog
April 30th @ The Nerdy Bookcase
Come by Molly's blog The Nerdy Bookcase to read her thoughts on Renee Antonia's book I'm Not Okay.
https://thenerdybookcase.blogspot.com/
May 1st @ Mari's #WriteON!Journaling Blog
Make sure you visit Mari's blog where you can read another guest post by Renee Antonia on the poignant subject of mental health.
http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog
May 2nd @ Coffee with Lacey
Drink coffee and read Lacey's blog today where you can catch Renee Antonia's thoughts on the books she is currently reading. You can also find out what Lacey had to say about Renee Antonia’s book, I’m Not Okay.
http://www.coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/
May 3rd @ Write Like Crazy
Today's blog post will want to make you read like crazy when you catch Renee Antonia's thoughts on short stories over at Mary Jo's blog.
writelikecrazy.com
May 4th
May the 4th be with you today when you visit Phytallic's blog and read her opinion on the book I'm Not Okay.
https://phytallic.wordpress.com/
May 5th @ Bookworm Blog
Can't get enough books? Well come by Anjanette's blog today when she shares her thoughts on the book I'm Not Okay and interviews the author Renee Antonia.
http://bookworm66.wordpress.com/
May 6th @ Slightly Off the Mark
Stop by Mark Hunter's blog to find out Renee Antonia's thoughts on writing while working full time. Also, Mark interviews the author to tell us more about this incredible writer.
markrhunter.blogspot.com
May 7th @ A New Look on Books
Take a new look today when you stop by Rae's blog A New Look on Books when author Renee Antonia shares her thoughts on short stories.
http://anewlookonbooks.com/
May 8th @ The Page Turner
Kayla over at her blog The Page Turner will be sharing her thoughts on Renee Antonia’s book I’m Not Okay.
http://www.thepageturner.org/blogMay 10th @ Write Like Crazy
You'll want to read today's post over at Mary's blog Write Like Crazy when she shares her thoughts on Renee Antonia's moving young adult fiction book, I'm Not Okay. You can also enter to win a copy of the book too!
writelikecrazy.com
May 11th @ The Faerie Review
Come by Lily's blog at The Faerie Review to find out her thoughts on Renee Antonia's book, I'm Not Okay.
http://www.thefaeriereview.com/
May 12th @ The Faerie Review
Stop by The Faerie Review again when blogger Lily interviews Renee Antonia about her book. See what this young adult fiction author had to say!
http://www.thefaeriereview.com/
Renee Antonia will be over at Wendi's blog Strength4Spouses and will discuss mental health. Maybe this will give you strength to talk about this subject with those closest to you.
https://strength4spouses.blog/
May 21st @ Strength 4 Spouses
The last stop on the tour is over at Wendi's blog Strength4Spouses when she shares her thoughts on Renee Antonia's book I'm Not Okay.
https://strength4spouses.blog/
Keep up with more stops on this tour on Twitter @WOWBlogTour
Thank you for being part of this tour and sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the review! I hope you enjoyed the book!
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