The Boy Between by Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley Book Tour with book review and author interview

 

Join us for this tour from Nov 2 to Nov 27, 2020!

Book Details:

Book Title: The Boy Between - A Mother and Son's Journey from a World Gone Grey by Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 286 pages
Genre:  Author Memoir, Family
Publisher:  Little A
Release date:  November 2020
Content Rating: R: 1. Infrequent use of F word in context (estimated 10 times in book), 2. Mildly questions religious faith during a testing time, 3. References to thoughts about suicide (not graphic)

"A candid, moving and inspirational book, I am blown away.” 
Jonny Benjamin MBE, award-winning mental health campaigner and author
of The Stranger on the Bridge

 

Book Description:
 

Josiah was nineteen with the world at his feet when things changed. Without warning, the new university student’s mental health deteriorated to the point that he planned his own death. His mother, bestselling author Amanda Prowse, found herself grappling for ways to help him, with no clear sense of where that could be found. This is the book they wish had been there for them during those dark times. Josiah’s situation is not unusual: the statistics on student mental health are terrifying. And he was not the only one suffering; his family was also hijacked by his illness, watching him struggle and fearing the day he might succeed in taking his life. In this book, Josiah and Amanda hope to give a voice to those who suffer, and to show them that help can be found. It is Josiah’s raw, at times bleak, sometimes humorous, but always honest account of what it is like to live with depression. It is Amanda’s heart-rending account of her pain at watching him suffer, speaking from the heart about a mother’s love for her child. For anyone with depression and anyone who loves someone with depression, Amanda and Josiah have a clear message—you are not alone, and there is hope.

 

Buy the Book:
Amazon.com
Amazon.com/Can ~ Amazon.com/UK ~ Amazon.com/AU
Add to Goodreads

My Review:

 

Living with depression for most of my life, and caring for another that suffers from depression, made this book difficult to read at times. Having gone through some of what both of the authors have gone through helped me understand both of their stories in a way that many people will not.

I did find myself getting a little weepy at times, but that is perfectly understandable and acceptable for anyone reading this book. Seriously, just the prologues themselves had me wanting to curl up and cry.

I am glad I read this book though. It is always a help to know that others struggle with some of what I struggle with daily. So, if you can handle reading a real-ife recounting of the struggles of depression, of feeling nothing, of wanting to end it all to get relief, as well as the experiences of the people that could only try to understand the person and keep him going, then I would definitely recommend this book. If you fight depression, either in yourself or in someone you care for, then this book is something I would suggest reading.

I know this isn't a traditional review. I am not even sure where to start. The writing is great. I felt like I was sitting with them, listening to them tell their story. The subject matter I have already covered, as well as my feelings about it. The only thing else I can think to talk about is that this book really shows you how much a teacher's words, anyone's words really, can affect someone. I am a firm believer that a teacher should never belittle anyone for struggling with anything. If a student isn't doing as well as they would like, maybe the teacher should take a look at themselves and how they are teaching the student. Everyone is different. Everyone learns differently. Everyone has their own strengths and weakness, both academically, physically, and emotionally. I feel that this book really shows this, as well as addressing depression and suicide.

Depression is an ongoing thing. It can be a daily struggle, or it can seem to go away for sometimes long periods of time, only to pounce on you when you least expect it. I hope that if more people would read books like The Boy Between, they would start understanding it a little more and become more accepting of it. It isn't a choice. It isn't something that anyone wants to deal with. It isn't something that someone is using as an excuse to get out of doing something or going somewhere. It is a real issue that people everywhere need to be made aware of and to stop stigmatizing. Perhaps if more people accepted it as a real illness then people that are suffering will be more able to come forward and admit that they are struggling. Perhaps more people would be able to get the help they need and fewer people would feel that there is no other path for them than suicide.

I have struggled with depression for as long as I can remember. There are days when just getting out of bed is more than I feel capable of. Sometimes I really wish I could just disappear. Other days I wish there was a magic pill that would turn me into the person I always wanted to be, happy and energetic. I am married to a wonderful man that also struggles. I worry constantly that today could be the day that I have to say goodbye to him. That he will disappear from this earth and leave me and my children heartbroken. We fight daily to keep going forward, to keep building our future, even when sometimes it can seem pointless to even try.

Am I glad I read this book? Yes. As I said earlier, it somehow helps to know that others go through similar struggles.

Would I recommend this book? Most definitely.

Would I read it again? Yes. I feel that this book will become something I pick up anytime I need something inspiring to help me see that I can make it through.

 

Guest Post “The Boy Between” by Amanda Prowse. 

I didn’t really know what to expect when I embarked on this venture with my son, Josh. I’m used to writing fiction where I get to craft the most pleasing situations for my characters, worrying about them so much that if something unpleasant or doom-laden has befallen them, I frequently write: “and then they woke up to find it was all a horrid dream and they were actually on a beach. With a cocktail – brought to them by George Clooney...” ridiculously this helps me sleep, knowing they are not left in a dark place. And whilst it hurts me to delete these lines when I pick up my laptop the next day, plunging my characters back into sadness, at least I know they have had a jolly eight or so hours in the company of George!

Writing non-fiction is of course entirely different. There was no fictionalizing of events too painful to endure. And no escape mechanism via which we could gloss over more troubling episodes. In fact it was the opposite. Josh and I, in the retelling of some of our most vulnerable moments, felt the impact greatly. We had shut a lot of these moments away, cloistered them in a box that was glued shut with love and the very best of intentions, too scary to open, but open it we did. And it took courage.

It was hard to rake over times in our life where I had often felt the phrase “least said soonest mended” was the best course of action. But this was really head in the sand stuff and would in the long run, do nothing to help either of us. Mentioning days when the outlook for Josh had felt uncertain and when I, as his mum, stumbled, not knowing where to get help and not even knowing what it was I was trying to fix – was exposing and no less painful, even after time had passed

Sitting opposite my boy while he described in detail his mood, his intention and his state of mind on the day he decided to take his life was harrowing, but I can now see, entirely necessary. We wrote his words and sat back, drained. And what happened next was as surprising as it was cathartic. Josh and I began to talk, really talk about what we had both been through and how during those darkest times we had visited some hellish places. The conversations left me feeling vulnerable and exposed, having to face my son’s mental health head on. We had at times during Josh’s mental health journey, gone to places where hope was lost. From these discussions however, came a strategy for growth, agreements on how to go forward and from Josh, promises that if and when he feels the dark mist of despair falling, he will reach out, he will ask for the help to get through it. This is something that was impossible for him when mired in the depression that closed him down. This note of hope, of optimism that if and when he needs help he will ask for it, is the very best thing I can think of. It gives me peace of mind.

I wouldn’t change one thing about Josh. He is remarkable and brave and brilliant. My greatest wish for his future is that he starts to believe this too.

Having written many books that have been described as “issue” fiction over the years, covering subjects as diverse as anorexia, alcoholism and postnatal psychosis, I am used to readers getting in touch to share their own personal stories and experiences on the topics covered. I consider it one of the greatest privileges of being a writer that someone wants to share with me such emotive messages that are often told in confidence and are nearly always heartrending. It means the world to me when the story I have written so closely mirrors someone’s real life experience. I take this as the highest compliment.

The experience of writing “The Boy Between” and the reaction from readers has been different to any other book I have written. Josh and I have been inundated with messages of love and support that have meant the absolute world. I can’t tell you what it means to open up my laptop and read words from people all over the world telling me that they are willing Josh on, offering words of advice or simply sending us love. I certainly feel that love! And trust me when I tell you it makes all the difference on the dark days. The dark days, which are getting less, but are still there.

One of the most consistent messages I receive is from mothers and others who are caring for someone with depression or whose mental health is suffering. Their words of kinship are uplifting and it really helps to know that I am not alone, as I struggle to know how best to help Josh and what to do or say that might make things better. I know it is not my fight, as Josh says in the book, “it is not your battle. It’s mine. I am the boy between…” and whilst this is the truth, that doesn’t mean I don’t take every step with him along the bumpy road to recovery.

“The Boy Between” is the book we hoped we would not have to write. I wish my son did not, like so many young men, suffer with a debilitating depression that lead to him to try and take his own life while a student at university. That said, I know it’s the book I wanted to reach for when I struggled not only to find ways to help him, but also to understand what had turned my outgoing son with the whole world at his feet into a sleeping shell of himself. And as Josh says, he might be a British boy, but sadly young male depression and suicide is a universal problem and for each young man like him suffering, there is a family like ours trying to make sense of it all. We hope this book brings comfort to the millions of people all over the world suffering from depression and those who care for them. Ours has been a tough, lonely and devastating journey, but we can finally, finally see small glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel.

Knowing that there are days when my beautiful boy would rather not exist is something I will never fully understand and I will never, ever accept. I will fight until my last breath to keep Josh here. To keep Josh with me. He is my heart. It really is that simple.

Meet the Author:
 

Amanda Prowse is an award winning international bestselling author best known for her contemporary fiction novels. A radio broadcaster and TV presenter renowned for her empathetic and emotional books, she is known in the UK as the 'Queen of family drama'. Her books have sold over 8 million copies in dozens of languages around the world.

connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 

 

Meet the Author:
 

Josiah (Josh) Hartley is the son of Amanda Prowse who has co-authored with his mother to tell the story of his journey through life so far. Born in the England, Josh was fortunate enough to attend one of the country's elite public schools from an early age and was awarded a place at one of the UK's top Universities where he planned to work towards a medical doctorate. But just at the moment when he should have been having the time of his life, he started feeling nagging tugs of self-doubt which spiralled into a depression during which time he planned his suicide. Luckily, his family intervened and after a roller coaster couple of years, he is alive and well and sharing his story to help other families who find themselves in the same position navigate their way through those difficult times.

 

Tour Schedule:
 

Nov 2 - Working Mommy Journal – book review / giveaway
Nov 2 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Nov 2 - Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / guest post / giveaway
Nov 3 – Literary Flits – book review / giveaway
Nov 3 - Asreadbydanielle  - book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 4 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 5 – meandmybooks – book review / guest post
Nov 6 – Olio By Marilyn - book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 6 - fundinmental - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 9 – Welcome To MLM Opinion's Reviews – book review
Nov 10 – Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview
Nov 10 - The Momma Spot - book review
Nov 11 – Books and Zebras @jypsylynn – book review / giveaway
Nov 12 – RebeccaReviewedIt – book review / giveaway
Nov 13 – Fur Everywhere – book review
Nov 16 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Nov 17 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 17 - Pick a Good Book - book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 18 – Rajiv's Reviews – book review
Nov 18 - My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews - book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 19 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Nov 20 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 23 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 24 – Corinne Rodrigues – book review / giveaway
Nov 24 - Lisa-Queen of Random - book review / giveaway
Nov 25 – Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 – My Fictional Oasis – book review / author interview
Nov 27 – Books for Books – book spotlight
 

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