The Truth about Lilly Barnes [NOOK Book]

Loved it.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I was hooked after the 1st few pages because I kepton wanting to know what happen. Overall I would recommend this book to anyone.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I just found this yesterday. I was suprised how much I liked it!

I just found this yesterday. I was suprised how much I liked it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Kimberly Russell¿s The Truth about Lilly Barnes is one of the mo

Kimberly Russell’s The Truth about Lilly Barnes is one of the most realistic depictions of depression I’ve ever read, and it’s also a story you won’t be able to stop reading once you start.  I really think anyone who has experienced depression themselves, or knows someone who’s struggled with depression and/or abuse, should read this book—and really, isn’t that almost everyone? 
At the risk of getting too personal, I will say that I have struggled with depression myself, and a lot of fictional (and heck, even nonfictional) accounts of depression read somehow “off” to me.  With The Truth about Lilly Barnes, I never had this problem.  I’d say the author either has some personal experience in this field or did very detailed research, because everything about this book felt realistic, from Lilly’s internal thought processes at various stages in her journey, to the description of the psychiatric facility, to the characterization of the therapist.  In addition, Lilly’s reaction to the incident that prompted her suicide attempt was VERY real, complex, and well-defined.
This novel draws you in from the very beginning as Lilly tells us that she plans to commit suicide, but doesn’t reveal her reasons.  This tactic forces readers to keep turning pages…but it also forces me to be a bit vague in my review, so sorry about that!  The other factor that draws you in right away is Lilly’s vivid voice.  Lilly’s depression comes through loud and clear, but so does her dark sense of humor, which keeps the narration from becoming overdramatic or maudlin.  Here’s a great example, when Lilly sees her IV in the hospital:
“It seems sort of unnecessary to prolong my life but I guess they can’t just let me die. I’m sure there would be paperwork.”
As the story continues, we also get the POV of Lilly’s friend Buddy.  While Buddy’s POV isn’t quite as memorable as Lilly’s, it’s still distinct and gives us a necessary break from the intensity of Lilly’s worldview. 
Since Smashwords gives word counts on its website, I know that The Truth about Lilly Barnes is a shorter book, at just over 30000 words.  However, it didn’t feel short to me, and definitely not too short.  If anything, I think the sparseness and compactness of the writing really helped to avoid any potential melodrama.  And the ending was perfect—hopeful and sweet without being unrealistic.

When I read the synopsis I thought why would a young girl want t

When I read the synopsis I thought why would a young girl want to end her life when it’s just beginning. Reading the account of how she decided to kill herself was quite disturbing and reading on from this got even more disturbing. It was very heart wrenching and now I know the reasons why she wanted to end her life.

The book was very well written from a teens prospective. It is a book that you can get lost in because you do not learn the reason why she wanted to commit suicide until later on in the book and before you know it you have read the whole book in one sitting.

I just wanted to give Lilly a great big hug and help her through everything.

A fantastic and insightful read!

Chapter by Chapter's review of The Truth About Lilly Barnes

What a powerful read! I didn’t even realize how quickly I was reading this book. One minute I had just started, and the next minute I was done. I will admit that the opening scene in the book captured my attention, and the rest of the book held it.

The Truth About Lilly Barnes by Kimberly Russell follows the struggles of, you guessed it, Lilly Barnes. Lilly has been planning her death. She has completely made up her mind, has found the way in which she wants to go, and plans on executing it after dinner…her last supper.

But life throws a curve ball, and Lilly’s plans of death fall through. Instead of being dead, Lilly finds herself in a hospital, stomach pumped, and ready to be shipped off of to a treatment centre. It is at this centre that Lilly finally finds it in herself to come to grips with the reasons for her suicidal tendencies, and to lift her dark past off her shoulders and start to live.

The Truth About Lilly Barnes was a wonderfully written book. Raw and to the point. The character of Lilly is one that I found to be so strong and brave, and extremely loveable. I wanted to gather her up in my arms and hug the crap out of her. She is truly an inspirational character…one that I am so glad to have been able to have had a chance to read about.

Author, Kimberly Russell, does an amazing job of building the background of Lilly’s troubled life, as well as showing us this beautiful friendship that Lilly has with Buddy. I absolutely adored Buddy. My favorite part in the book was the description of how Lilly and Buddy study…where Lilly would study her books, and Buddy would study Lilly’s hair. It was so sweet and adorable, and made me smile. I was so glad that Lilly had someone like Buddy in her life.

Although I pretty much figured out the reason for Lilly’s attempted suicide, it still didn’t deter me from reading this story, and watching everything unfold. I would make note that this is not a story for the faint of heart, or for the very young as there is descriptions of sexual assault. But aside from that, this is a story of strength, courage, and perseverance. It’s about accepting the cards life has drawn for you, and becoming a stronger individual because of it.

I recommend this book for fans of a darker Contemporary read, for those looking for a quick read, and for those who are looking for stories that may change your life…or the way you look at life.

A Very Powerful Read

This is a very powerful novel that looks into the life of a teenage girl facing a dark secret that leaves her feeling helpless and alone, choosing death over facing her fears day in and day out. With such heavy topics at hand, it feels almost wrong to say this is a great novel, but it is; it touches on topics that makes people uncomfortable, it deals with sadness and abuse, love and hate, redemption and, of course, suicide, and I think it’s one of those novels that could do more than just touch a life, but possibly change one too.

Lilly has had it rough, but if you meet her on the street, or sit with her is school, you wouldn’t necessarily know it, because she’s hidden her deep secret, but it’s eating her up inside. Now, for the reader it’s obvious what’s happening, but those around Lilly don’t see it because it’s not something she alludes to, it’s only the text that does that. Thankfully, Lilly does have a constant in her life, Buddy and his wonderful family, who have always been there for her and who are able to positively influence her, especially after everything comes to the forefront and the secret is out. And, while this is a heavy read, full of heartache and sadness, it does have a happy ending, proving that we can get through anything with the right amount of support and love. Definitely check this one out.

From the book description, I can already see and thought that th

From the book description, I can already see and thought that this was most likely going to be an emotional, pulling type read. Even before I read the first page, I felt for Lilly...

This story starts out with Lilly, a 17 year old girl, who attempts to end her life, and does she actually go with it? Well, she ends up going to a facility, I suppose an institution, to get better, and Lilly will have a difficult time of opening up, telling her story, her truth on why she wanted to kill herself, but does she go through it? She has never opened up her raw feelings, a deep secret, to anyone, not even to her best friend, Buddy, whose a sweetheart, a friend you perhaps wish to have. And it does not help that she has a hectic family or can you even call it a family? She has a Father that abandoned her, a Mother that Lilly thinks does not care for her or perhaps anything, but her love of drinking, and Lilly has a Step Father that she tries to avoid as much as possible. Ultimately, can Lilly go through with this treatment as if she does get better and all, who will she go home to? Does she even have the strength anymore to fight an internal battle within herself? Well, you will have to read for yourself and find out...

I think Lilly's situation, as I was reading the story, was just heart tugging and there were some personal relatable traits I found I had with Lilly. As I have mentioned before, I do in ways like to connect with the characters, and here and there, throughout the story, there were some things I felt I connected with Lilly. To me, this was a really good story, and one I found myself I could not put down. This is Lilly's journey to her ultimate truth, on wanting to take her life. I found and know that the issue of opening up is difficult, something hard to handle. That keeping something inside of you is the best thing, but it's hurting you even more, and for Lilly, it's best for her to open up, to open up her soul, to tell her full story on why she wanted to do something unchangeable.

At some point in the story, there's a situation revealed that made me say out loud, 'Oh Snap!', very true by the way. I guess it's something that I was not expecting, I mean it could have been a possibility, but as it is being explained, it was just sorta surprising! The situation is a truth that is hard to even write, but it's something or some things that can never be taken back, and again I felt for Lilly.

I liked that there were two POVs, Lilly's primarily, but glad Buddy's voice was read; he was a great developed character, and saw how he and Lilly just have this great friendship that can never be broken when it could have been. There was a good pace; really nice writing, that had a great flow. I will definitely be reading more of this Author's work in the future. Ultimately, this is a story that I feel must be read as you will find great and important messages :)

I read this book while working on film set. I honestly got peeve

I read this book while working on film set. I honestly got peeved if someone called me to do something while I was getting into it! Great book breaching a tough subject. I hope this helps any child, or adult w/the similar problems to get through them!

Lily wants to die. That’s the only thing I could be sure a

Lily wants to die. That’s the only thing I could be sure at the beginning. Why? Maybe because of her alcoholic mother? It doesn’t matter. She just takes all the pills she can see and drinks a cup of wood polisher. "At least when I die they can say I had lemony fresh breath."
…But she gets saved of course. Asked in the hospital if she’d do it again, she says “yes”.
Why?

Lily is one of my favorite heroines in books. Ever. Also, she is so easy to relate to! I know, not everyone tried to commit a suicide. I hope you didn’t, but I was suicidal for years. I can say that this book is true, simply true. All those emotions that go through Lily and people she meets are real.

At the treatment, she gets to know an anorectic girl and I liked her even more than Lily, even though she was just a small character in the whole book (which had only 95 pages). I’m still struggling with my eating disorder (I know. I’m pretty messed up person) and Headley was so believable too. Even the fact of cheating when they were trying to control her weight.

This book is about serious topics, but it’s still so easy to read. It’s written as Lily’s diary and we can easily see how she handles everything that happens to her, but a few chapters are from her best friend’s point of view. It makes you realize how different people see the same thing and it’s really important in the issue books.

I was so full of emotions that I forgot I started reading this book to find out the truth about Lily’s problems. Then it just happened. And I was so shocked that I almost fell of the chair.

After reading the story I’m wondering why aren’t all bloggers hyper about Kimberly. She is definitely a perfect writer. I’m sad it was so short, and I wish I could read it forever. It is a must-read for everyone. For real.

This novel is fantastic!!! After reading Between Balloons I coul

This novel is fantastic!!! After reading Between Balloons I could not wait for the second novel from the author! I can say it was worth waiting for! I just wish I could buy a hard copy at the store!!!

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No text was provided for this review.