“A haunting psychological thriller that will stick with you long past the final chapter.” – Best Thrillers Sometimes that little voice in your head isn’t always yours.What if the only friend you have isn’t real? When the voices in his head begin to make sense, high school senior Branson Kovac turns to the one friend he’s still got… only to discover he’s not really there.
I give A Divided Mind by Mary Billiter, 4 stars.
High school senior Branson finally has to admit that he hears voices. He knows what people will think, so he’s kept it hidden. But after an incident at school, he knows things will have to change. But what will this mean? Can’t he just be normal again? Meanwhile his mother has to come to terms with this. Her little boy is not perfect. What exactly is wrong with him? What will it all mean? What can she do to make it better? She’s his mother, she can fix it. Right?
This was an interesting book. It read to me more like a book of discovery and coping with mental illness than a thriller book in my personal opinion. Written as different viewpoints, it’s interesting to see how each person sees what is going on and how they deal with it. It is a very interesting book and I liked the progression of not only Branson, but of the whole family. This would be a great introduction to a new series, too.
Wow.
I am always amazed when people are willing to share their stories about struggles with mental health issues, and even though this is a novel, that amazement still applies because of the author’s note at the opening which indicates that it’s based on her experiences with her son. The author does a marvelous job exploring the panoply of highs and lows that accompany complex mental health conditions like schizophrenia.
I really enjoyed the shifts in perspective and think that narrative style will really help readers connect with the story. Branson’s battle affected the entire family, and giving the various members a voice in the telling made the read even more poignant and powerful.
And I LOVED the ending – it threw me for a loop (in a great way) and helped maintain the dark yet snarky tone that was sprinkled throughout. This was an emotional and difficult read but well worth the effort!
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Book Sirens for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review of the book. All opinions are my own.
While A Divided Mind is in no way a Psychological Thriller as it is listed everywhere, it is a heart felt book about teenager Branson and his dealing with mental illness. It shows what his mother Tara is willing to do to protect her son, no matter what it costs her. The only reason I gave this book 4 vs 5 stars is because I found Tara a bit annoying to the point it took away from her character.
If you’re looking for a good family drama with mental illness, A Divided Mind is for you. Looking forward to the June release of the follow up The Divided Twin.
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter is a story that I would keep a box of tissues close. When I saw the cover I knew I needed to read this book. M. Billiter did an amazing job with her story about schizophrenic patients. I never had the experience of knowing someone with this disability, but I can just imagine how difficult it may be. This story is about Branson who deals with the voices in his head. It hard at times to distinguish who is in Branson’s head or in the flesh. The struggle is real and the journey you go with Branson is a difficult one. Will this book open your eyes or keep you in the dark? Will Branson story touch your heart? This story is an emotional roller coaster ride that may stick with you awhile.
I loved this. Really, truly loved this. I am always interested in mental health novels, especially ones about schizophrenia and ones that contain dark undertones. This book delivered on every front and exceeded extremely well in one aspect, it’s based on experience and was very heartfelt. This author really drags you through the emotional upheaval someone can go through when diagnosed with a life altering mental illness. It’s written beautifully and you can really feel the connections in this book. There was nothing at all I disliked about this. It was a little creepy and dark at times as well as informative and touching. I would recommend this book to nearly anyone as I think it has a little something for every person to take a way with them.
A Divided Mind
By: M. Billiter
5 out of 5 stars
The story A Divided Mind by M. Billiter is a book that is thought-provoking. The story pulled me in from the very beginning and I found myself not able to put it down until I had read the final page. The book revolves around a high school senior, Branson Kovac. He has a friend that he turns to. What happens when he discovers that friend really isn’t there? Read this book to find out. The story is emotional. There are some heartbreaking moments as well as moments of clarity. Branson is a likable character and I found myself caring what happens to him. The book packs a powerful punch and I found myself thinking about it even after I had finished reading it. It is a story that I would recommend others to read.
“Please. We have to fix him. There’s got to be something.”
An account of one family’s struggles as a high schooler descends into mental illness. It is told in dual POV – the son’s perspective and the mother’s perspective. Not only does the son have to come to grips with what is happening to him, but also the entire family and friends. Not only does he want his dreams and goals back, his family wants their son and brother back. A difficult subject that It is written very well with emotional honesty and understanding.
I was nervous picking up this book. Mental illness is a tough subject to tackle and is often dramatized to the point of being inaccurate. That was not the case with A Divided Mind.
As someone who actually suffers with the illness written about in A Divided Mind, Billiter did a great job of crafting a realistic portrayal of the illness. The symptoms exhibited by Branson sometimes made the reader question what was real, but I loved that in doing so it helps the reader get further into the mind of someone suffering from a mental illness.
Some of the characters made decisions that had me mentally screaming at them, but that’s life – and it makes the characters more life-like. I loved the relationships between Tara and her children, and how her daughter seems to have a wisdom way beyond her years.
Tara went so far to protect her children, and remained loving throughout everything that happened – one can only hope to become as loving a mother as Tara.
Beyond relating to the mental illness portion, the conversations were very similar to conversations I’ve had with my own mother in the past. Billiter made it easy for the reader to step into the minds and shoes of each character narrating.
Recommendation:
A Divided Mind was so well written that I couldn’t put it down, and finished it in one sitting. It is a book I would refer people to if they were interested in learning more about mental illness from a more personal perspective, or for people like me who want to feel understood and less alone.
I highly recommend this book, and give it five stars. I will be eagerly awaiting any potential sequel, especially if it is anywhere near as good as A Divided Mind was.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from LibraryThing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Wow! This story grabbed me from the beginning. It also really hit home for me. The realness and raw emotion in this book is amazing. I can’t tell tell you how many times I clasped my hand over my mouth and cried while reading this book. The love and thoughts that go through Tara’s mind are very relatable and so real. Reading about Branson gives such an understanding about mental illness that most people never see. I so recommend this book! I cannot wait to read the next one and will devour all books by this author!
A divided mind is a book about a young man’s spiral into mental illness. His psychotic break and how he and his family process his schizophrenia. This was a raw, well written story. It was family oriented so you were able to see all sides and how they handled it. This books makes you feel his frustration and his pleading to make it just stop. I felt so much for Branson and all he was going through. I thought he books subject matter was intriguing as someone who has first hand experience with mental illness but I think it would appeal to others as well. I look forward to reading book # 2!
This book wasn’t really what I was expecting. I typically read mostly psychological thrillers, and thought this would fall into that genre. I would classify it more as a contemporary novel about mental illness. I can still appreciate it for what it was, and overall enjoyed the novel. I love when books are told from different perspectives, however I found the mother hard to relate to and therefore didn’t enjoy her chapters as much. Overall I would recommend this book if you have an interest in psychological disorders.
I wasn’t sure what I would think about this book when I first picked it up.
Turns out, I had a lot to learn.
Reading Branson’s inner thoughts while he was dealing with his inner demons was a true eye-opening experience.
I really enjoyed getting two experiences through this book. Branson and Tara’s separate but same journey throughout this book had me reading this in one setting. One cannot assume or fathom what the other is feeling and why.
Turns our hind sight can really change the outcome of a story.
I hope to read the next installment of this story really soon.
M. Billiter’s first book of The Divided Series, A Divided Mind, explores one family’s journey with mental health diagnosis. Branson finally admits to hearing voices after blacking out and coming to with bloody knuckles. A Divided Mind looks at mental illness from the perspective of the individual with the illness (Branson) as well as the perspective of those around him (his mother and siblings). Based off the author’s own personal journey, and that of her son, this book delves deep into the roller coaster ride of diagnosing and treating mental illnesses. A Divided Mind has me smiling, frowning, and crying (lots of crying). Not only were the characters realistic, right down to a dramatic mother, but the back and forth narrative from Branson to Tara (his mother) allowed me to see how others view mental illness. I am looking forward to reading Book 2 in this series!
This story is told from two POV’s- the mother, Tara, and the son, Branson. You can feel the struggle of the mother to find out and handle when Branson says he’s been hearing voices.
I really struggled to get with Tara. I felt she was super dramatic. I struggle saying that honestly because I haven’t been in those shoes. Just felt her character was little on drama-overdrive.
My heart went out to Branson.
Overall I cant say that I felt this was a “thriller” as it was a bit slow-moving or maybe slower than I anticipated but overall I liked the storyline and the realness it brought to mental illness and its effect on people and their families.
A Divided Mind (The Divided Series Book 1) by M. Billiter – Review by Krista Vaughan
This is a book that will stick with me for a long time. As a person living with mental illness the view into Branson’s world and how it affects the people around him was super intriguing. There was the anguish and denial of his mother, the ignorance of his father and the realization of Branson himself that there was something wrong. Mental illness can be horribly debilitating, and it is referring to have a novel step into the depths to try to show what it can be like to have an issue like this. This is one to read.
This story will speak to you in a way you were not expecting. Tara is single mom with 4 beautiful kids and 2 bad marriages under her belt (one with DV.) She works at Wyoming University admissions office, and has based her life upon her children and their futures. When her son Branson confesses that he is hearing voices, and then at school blacks out she immediately is unsure what to make of the situation. As the story progresses we watch as Branson begins therapy and slowly opens up about the shadows he sees and voices he hears, and that this isnt something new. When Tara starts to get more information about Branson’s schizophrenia she slowly starts to breakdown. She becomes engulfed with emotions of not wanting it to be true, thinking what could have done differently, or where can his life go now it becomes heartbreaking as she reimagines that little boy she adored to now. With her other children providing moral support and the threat of without medication and help Branson will get worse she slowly begins processing and coming to terms. Branson, Tara, and the rest of the family tell this amazing story of loving someone with mental illness and the importance of family.
When I began reading this book I was completely unprepared for the journey that it lead me upon. Mental illness can be a difficult subject, and unfortunately not enough light is shed upon the issue. As a mother I can 100% relate to Tara and the emotions she felt because there is nothing scarier then watching your child go thru something you know nothing about , that you can’t change, or that can effect their quality of life. This book was very raw, real, and emotional, but nonetheless a complete hidden gem. M. Billiter indicated that its somewhat based upon her life with her son, and I truly appreciate the shared experience, and the beautiful way it was told.
This amazing book was so well written. I started off not sure how I would feel about it because mental illness touches very close to home for me. But the way the character Tara talks about her emotions while dealing with the news from Branson is so raw and emotional. And then Branson’s side of his emotions is heartbreaking and true to how so many young adults feel. I laughed and cried as I sped through the chapters. I highly recommend this book and commend M. Billiter for writing such a beautiful story.
A Divided Mind was a different kind of read for me, knowing some people that suffer from mental illness. But this book is written very wonderfully as you go through a young mans diagnosis and you really see the struggles that his family faces, in trying to help him cope with his diagnosis. While this book isn’t too long it’s 322 pages and 39 chapters it definitely sucks you in from the start. But upon reading this book I definitely will say that you need to read it with an open mind, Ms. Billiter really captures how real and raw mental illness is, and gives us a plot and characters that deliver it and it’s consequences brilliantly.
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter is the first book in her Divided Series, and let me say, I am so glad it’s only the first book. This is seriously one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Experiencing this story through the eyes of Branson and his family makes for a page-turner. This book addresses mental illness as it affects an entire family and is actually believable. Watching Branson’s character change and develop through the book kept me interested and on the edge of my seat. This isn’t your typical “run-of-the-mill” story of mental illness. The way that this author puts such a unique voice into her characters makes them pop off the page. Oh, and don’t forget to read the epilogue. This book is “good till the last drop.” 5 stars.
A Divided Mind tells the story of a mother whose son, Branson, is mentally ill. The story is told from her perspective, her son’s perspective, and some other character’s perspectives. It was fascinating reading about Branson’s illness and how it progresses. While reading, I suspected that some things he experiences may not have been real. I also grieved alongside his mother, Tara. What a difficult road. This was a phenomenal, in-your-head read, but I hated the epilogue. Well worth the time to read as I have continued to think about Branson and Tara since I finished the story.