“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.
This book right here is one of those that will mark you for life. If you have ever dealt with mental illness or had family/friends that do this book is definitely for you. It’s so raw and vulnerable. It gives you different perspectives as well. I love how the author made you feel like you were right there with her. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and just shout out loud why?!?!?!
A Divided Mind (The Divided Series #1) by M. Billiter
5-stars
Wow!! This was a truly emotional and phenomenal read, one that at times I had a hard time reading. This author did an exceptional job with these characters, they were dynamic, honest and real. I felt such strong empathy for them and felt so invested in their story, and I was not disappointed with how it all turned out.
This story had me feeling all kinds of emotions as I got further into the story of Branson and his mental health struggles. I believe stories like this one should be read by all, this is a really misunderstood mental illness and I feel as if I was able to learn and understand more about it in a real and relatable way.
I really look forward to reading more from this series asap!!
Wow. This was one emotional story that got me right in the heart over and over again. Billiter writes with such respect and such honesty, giving valuable and heartfelt insight into the difficulties faced by those who struggle with their mental health, and the difficulties faced by the people that love them. It showed that there is no easy fix and took the reader painstakingly through the long arduous journey of coming to grips with a diagnosis and everything that means.
It was by no means an easy book to read, but I think that anything that deals with this subject matter would never be particularly easy to read. Either way, I recommend this, you won’t regret it.
Wow. An amazing book. I could not put this book down. A Divided Mind is a book about Branson, a teenage twin, who has some mental health issues that he and his family are trying to decipher. His mother shows her unconditional love, but she and Branson have a hard time communicating during this period in his life. His twin brother Aaron can tell there is something wrong, but isn’t sure how to help. Branson is having a hard time finding who to talk to about the voices in his head because he doesn’t want people to think he’s crazy. Once he finally finds a friend, Trevor, his family isn’t sure he is the best influence on him. This book shows how important mental health is and how necessary family support is even when you feel like what you’re doing isn’t enough. If you enjoy haunting and exciting books that keep you on the edge of your seat, this is a great book for you.
“All these rough patches you’re going through right now are all the years you’re going to learn the most about yourself. During the happy times, you don’t learn anything.” For anybody who has read this book, they know just how much this one quote from the daughter of Tara, the mother of the main character of the book, sums it up. At the point in this novel in which this line is said, Tara has reached her wits end, no longer certain on how to help her son Branson, who has been struggling with visual and auditory hallucinations.
In M. Billiter’s A Divided Mind, the reader experiences first hand what it is like to no longer be certain of what is and isn’t reality, helping them experience schizophrenia on a first-hand basis. This is one of the best novels with a focus on mental illness that I have ever read, right up there with J.D. Spero’s Boy on Hold and Boy Released that I read earlier this month. I knew from the moment that I read the description of the novel that I would enjoy this book, and boy was I right! I’m excited to read more from this author, and hope that I find myself reading more books like this by them in the future.
Trigger warning of mental illnesses. I can relate to Branson with depression and ptsd. I also relate to Brandon’s mom, Tara because she just wants her child to be better and that’s my dad. I understand Branson not wanting to taint his twin Aaron with Branson’s demons. M. Billiter wrote this book expertly.
A Divided Mind (The Divided Series Book 1) by M. Billiter
5 of 5 Stars
Wow, this is an emotional and insightful story looking at mental illness from two perspectives, the person suffering with it and their family. Branson Kovac is a high school senior when he starts hearing voices in his head and then realises that his friend isn’t really there. Scared and confused Branson turns to his mother, Tara for help. Tara is a mother of four, and when one of her twin sons admits to her that he is hearing voices it is the start of her very worrying and harrowing journey into mental illness. This book really took me on an emotional rollercoaster whilst reading it, the storyline focuses on Branson and the people around him as he is diagnosed and treated with a form of schizophrenia. Told from two points of view that of Branson’s and Tara, his mother, this is a raw and honest story of mental illness and how it not only effects the one diagnosed but their family. A very difficult subject has been written about sensitively and honestly by the author. Although at times this was a difficult and upsetting book to read, I felt engaged with the main characters instantly and was completely immersed in their story.
Gripping and thought provoking
This intense, psychological thriller puts you through the wringer and spits you out with no apologies at the other end. I was so riveted to each page and felt so many emotions after each reveal. The turbulent journey left me breathless and the twists kept me guessing. Even after I finished the book the story kept going through my mind. The author really captured the multifaceted aspects of mental illness. So brilliantly written – a must read!
First of all, let me say that this book was so refreshing! I was at the edge of my seat and it was getting so good I did NOT want to put it down! The imagery of the author, the style of writing from the POV of the character, and the way that the story still haunts me after it is over are all breathtaking! I’m looking forward to the rest of this series. I think the best thing about the book is me forgetting the initial synopsis, and simply walking through the story with Branson and his entire family. This is one book that does not disappoint and shines a bright light on the state of mental health in this world.
As someone who lives with mental illness everyday I really liked that Billiter had the story in two points of view and then in three. Showing the story from the mother, Tara’s point of view and the son, Branson’s point of view, who actually has the mental illness. Then they throw in Trevor’s point of view which I think adds a lot more dimension to the story! Reading what Branson is going through and how tough it is on his mom really shows that when someone has mental illness they aren’t the only ones that it effects. Even though it might effect them the most it has an effect on everyone they love. As the story goes on it’s interesting to see how Branson’s mental illness develops and how he’s been dealing with it for so long. Also, the ending kind of reminded me of the movie Split, it was just the ending though the rest of the story was all it’s own it even talks about a different mental illness than Split. I think it’s important that more people are aware of mental illnesses, how many there actually are, and how it really effects the person and the people around them. I think this book is perfect for people to kind of know how it might effect peoples lives even though it’s fiction it’s a perfect book to kind of get an idea and kind of a stepping stone if you want to learn more.
Genre: Fiction, Psychological Thriller & Domestic
Pages: 322
This is a MUST read! This author has you hooked before you turn the first page.
The title is understatement of the year, A Divided Mind is a novel that encapsulates you in the world of mental health & denial that has you asking for more, more and more.
Trigger warning: be prepared, this book is a mental and emotional roller coaster that in the end proves how strong family and a mother’s love truly is.
How many “real” friends do you have?
Billiter has the right idea, engrossing us into the mind of a teenage boy named Branson.
Five stars to the detail within the words that transports you into every scene as if you are not reading but watching the book play out live.
A Divided Mind keeps you searching for the answer, wondering did I miss something? It is an OMG driven book that you cannot put down.
This book is what everyone needs in their collection, it highlights real issues perfectly wrapped into the world of fiction.
Bravo.
“The noise was a welcome relief, because for a minute, it shut out the static.”
A Divided Mind is a fictional story about a teenage boy facing worsening mental illness and schizophrenia. We also some deep insight into how such a diagnosis affects the loved ones around him, such as his Mother, twin brother, siblings, and girlfriend. I’ve always been intrigued by psychology and this book really took me on an unexpected journey of emotions. Having known people with schizophrenia, I found myself getting very attached to Branson throughout the book. I was really cheering for him and hoping he could still achieve at least part of him dreams of going to college, joining the armed forces, and even just being an average teenage boy. Some parts of this story really broke my heart, but I do feel it was a very realistic representation of what could happen to someone in a similar situation. I can’t stop thinking about the ending and how things end up for Branson. I hope we get a part 2!
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter is an interesting fictional story that gives the reader a deeper look into mental illness. I appreciate that the author took this story in a direction that makes us think more about mental illness. As I was reading this story, I could connect with how Branson was feeling and the emotional toll it takes no only on him but also on his family. This book takes us through the family’s emotions and situations in a way that made me feel like I could understand how Branson’s mother was feeling – overwhelmed and not having answers to help your child. I couldn’t put the book down once I started to connect with the characters. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m sure I’ll be reading the second installment.
This book hit my soul hard. M. Billiter takes you through a lifelike experience of a mother and her son as he battles mental illness.Branson is a teen who feels alone as he navigates his world. He hears noises that eventually turn into voices telling him what to do. Branson has to live his life in high school hiding the voices and appearing “normal” until he no longer can. M. Billiter did not hold back, exposing gritty scenes that no one wants to believe can happen. I thought I understood mental illness before this book, but now I feel my eyes are far more open. I am looking forward to reading book two. Thank you M. for sharing the “not so perfect” side of people!
Mental illness is always a hard one to describe and give it justice. The author did an amazing job doing so in The Divided Mind. I definitely felt the struggle that the family had to deal with along with the “patient”. The way that the author takes clinical terms and breaks them down through the character’s voices is so helpful in understanding this mental illness. Although I didn’t have much knowledge about the topic, I definitely felt like I ended the book having a lot more empathy and understanding for those who deal (family and patients) with mental illness of any kind. This is a very believable storyline, and I loved it.
What an amazing peek into the mind of someone with schizoaffective disorder. I loved this book, not only is the topic interesting and unique, but the writing is fantastic, and the character development is sensational. I loved that Billiter gave us this one from various points of view, allowing us to feel the confusion, heartbreak, and personal struggle of a mother parenting four children, including one whose mental health is rapidly changing, but we also get to hear from a teen who is rapidly questioning his own sanity and ability to believe himself and his memories. Watching the two of them come to terms with these developments, and also hearing from the rest of the family and see how their lives and understandings shift is awesome. Extremely well written, frank, and deeply empathetic, I loved this one from start to finish.
Wow, this book is definitely worth the read. Branson tells his mom, Tara, that he is hearing voices. The story evolves through raw feelings for his mom as she tries to deal with this. for a fiction story, the author did a lot of research into schizophrenia and depression. I have a child with this awful disease and I recognize these meds. The plot will get you just as you think every thing is fine (remember, this is book 1) . Not all is as it seems. What you perceive may not be. I highly recommend this one. Run over and read book 2 when you finish this one.
This book, it was a book I truly loved in more ways than one. The book was something more people should know about as well as understand. The book faced the elephant in the room, head on, that is what we call mental illness. The book was by far one of the best that I have ever read, that addresses issues such as this. It was very well written, as well as the emotions of the family! It was a by far amazing read.
The book centers on a family yes. More specifically, a boy that has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia Brandon, the boy whom had been diagnosed, was going through a lot, hearing voices and trying to understand and comprehend what was going on in his mind was not easy. His family took a till on this as well, wanting to help, but at times not knowing what the best approach or the method would be. I found the diagnosis affected all the family members differently. I feel truly that his mother had the greatest burden of all, and she had a lot of guilt and shame inside her heart..
The book was more than realistic to my eyed. I cried a lot reading this, as you truly felt the emotional wave the family was going through. And the acceptance and needing to be strong as a family to get through this hard time, but knowing its not the end, they will get through it, one day at a time. The author very much educated me with their writing on things of schizophrenia I was not aware of, and I found I was able to understand it better and knew more of the mental illness upon reading this boo. The author did amazing at this story and it was one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
The author did such an wonderful job. The story line, though complex, it really gave everything and more to us as the readers. I am so happy and touched that the author chose to write a book about something most would choose not to. In this growing world, its something more and more people need to be accepting was and talk about. Not just sweep it under a rug. The book is a must read. No questions asked. Its a read that really makes you feel what a family with this diagnosis would be feeling and its realistic in more ways than one. It is heart felt and real with every word on the page! A brilliant book of writing!
This book is a wonderful representation of mental illness, M Billiter really makes you think in this book and gives you a different side of mental illnesses that you don’t really think of.
From a patient side to someone looking in this book really shows you how a mind can work.
A Divided Mind (The Divided Series Book 1) by M. Billiter – Review by Allyson Ware
As a psychology major in college, I was obviously immediately interested in reading this novel. Keeping in mind that it is a novel, it has enhanced my original thoughts on mental health: that it is greatly underestimated.
As Branson learns to cope with his intrusive thoughts, his mother believes she has to take matters into her own hands and fix him. She is not a perfect mom by any means, but that’s what makes this story that much more realistic. Dealing with something alone, let alone something that society doesn’t deem “normal” can be incredibly difficult, and Branson has an amazing support system to help him out of that void. Not everyone is so lucky. You won’t be able to put this book down once you learn more about Branson and Tara. I can assure you of that.