“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.
A Divided Mind by Mary Billiter a dividing four-star read. This is a very well-done story on Mental Health the author has done it so well it really is true to life, you will feel for the characters and really get sucked into the story. I would have given this five-stars, but I found it a little confusing due to the POV’s, just as I was getting into one it changed. Tara was a good character but weirdly I enjoyed the chapters from her POV more than her as a person. Branson and Aaron just made me care and really feel them, the pain they felt was so palpable you could almost taste it. The family dynamics were hard to read at times, but overall very well done.
A Divided Mind
By M. Billiter
A Divided MInd is yet another great book by M. Billiter. I really do recommend that this book is read by everyone. What was hard reading this book was the struggle Mary’s son and family were going through in dealing with mental illness. A Divided MInd is based on this struggle that as a family they were going through. What was nice to read was that the son this book is based on had an input into the story which for me made me feel more and get pulled into the story further than I already was from the beginning. SO if you want a heartbreaking yet beautifully written book this is the one book you have to read this month. Thank you, Mary for sharing your story and this book definitely deserves more than five stars
A Divided Mind By Mary Billiter. This book really pulled me in. It was a welcome surprise to read something a bit different and about a subject that some can find difficult to understand. I was on an emotional roller coaster ride but truly enjoyed the storyline and the characters. It’s well written and paced nicely never feeling rushed or lacking anything. The characters are complex and truly unique. I’m giving this story a five star review and highly recommend it.
5 Star
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter is a emotional rollercoaster ride about the struggles of a family dealing with mental illness. Holy Cow what a ride , I found myself lost in the pages and couldn’t stop till I finished. This story had my emotions all over the place and at times my heart hurt for Branson and even his mom. Get ready to be taken on a journey with this family as they try to keep it together while dealing with mental illness. I’ve worked in healthcare for a long time and it simply breaks my heart to see patients struggling with day to day life imagine how difficult that task would be if you had multiple personalities? Hearing voices in your head can seem real even when it’s not. Find out what happens next in this book I highly recommend reading.
A Divided Mind
By M. Billiter
4 stars
A Divided Mind was a really interesting read, not my usual go to book but I had seen a few recommendations for the story so thought I would give it a go. The author kept me on my toes the whole way through the story and the alternating POV’s meant that I got the story from different angles which was great – there was a real depth to the story. I thought the author portrayed mental health really well in the story, there were no cliché’s which I have come across before it was a raw, emotional story of a young person’s struggles and how these struggles impact both him and his family around him.
This is definitely a story that makes you think and with mental health a subject now that is being talked about more and more I think this story really does have a place. I really enjoyed reading it even if hard at times and I think they author really did do a great job with the story as a whole. I definitely recommend it to others.
“I talk to myself, doesn’t everybody?”
POWERFUL POWERFUL POWERFUL
Did you know that the National Institution of Mental Health (NIMH) has a helpline you can call. If you are able to identify with certain portions of this book and aren’t seeing a therapist, feel free to call the helpline and ask them what they think. They can be reached at 866 415 8051
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter
5 Stars
This is the first book that I have read from this author and I was truly blown away. The story is about a boy who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and his family’s struggle to deal with it, especially his mother. It is a gripping and harrowing tale of what a schizophrenic goes through. The author describes in detail the delusions, confusion and sometimes terror of what they see and feel.
Someone I love is schizophrenic so this story hit close to home. I can fully understand what Tara was going through. The feelings of helplessness and longing to help the person yet knowing there is nothing that you can do. Watching a loved one fight their own mind and struggle for sanity.
This book is extremely well written. The author really hit the nail on its head. There are constant twists and turns. Forewarning: this is not a happy story but the bare reality of an agonizing disease. I was nervous about reading this book but I’m so glad that I did.
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter . This book was amazing. You know when you read a good book and you can’t stop thinking about it, this is that book . This book resonates with me because I suffer from depression. Its the story of Branson a high school student and his mother Tara. Branson has mental illness and and is coming to terms with it. Tara tries her best and isn’t always the best mom but she does everything in love. Branson’s family and friends don’t always understand his illness and they do and say very inappropriate things. This story delves into how mental illness doesn’t only effect the person but the whole family. Tara also has a high stress job while trying to help Branson the best she can and deal with family who doesn’t understand. This book will pull at your heart strings, make you furious and make you laugh. Its the best book on mental illness I’ve read. Its not just cookie cutter medicine. Read this story and you will love it and will think about it long after you have read it!
A Divided Mind is the first book by M.Billiter (the alter ego of the writer Mary Billliter and I have enjoyed many of her books). I know that the story is being promoted as psychological thriller and I can see how some people might get confused by this but I get why it is so hard to define it – yes it is contemporary, yes it is about mental illness but there are some aspects of thriller there as well when you are not sure if it truly is the mental illness or maybe it is something else …
A Divided Mind is the story of high schoolers Branson, Aron and their single mother Tara(there are also two younger siblings). The writer tells the story from Tara and Branson’s POV so we get deep into the mind and dynamics of the family members. The writer gives detailed insight into the Schizoaffective Disorder and how it affects the person suffering from it, the family members and the friends … you will cry and Branson will break your heart AND you will fall in love with Aron and the bond that the twins have.
If you like stories about mental illness then this is definitely a book for you!
I’m sitting here stunned and quite frankly a bit speechless. This book is brilliant. It is a brutally honest look at mental illness as dealt with by a teen. So often we tiptoe around this subject, in real life as well as screen or prose. This felt raw and honest. The multi-POV makes for an engaging and fast paced read. I was glued to the book as soon as I opened it. An absolute must read.
This book…..WOW!! I was rooting for Branson …his whole family.
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter
5 +++++++ Stars
Its been 4 days since I finished this book…I’m still not sure if I’m ready to review it but I have to so that maybe I can get some closure. I’ve read a lot of books in my life and I’ve almost met my challenge this year and I’ve got a handful of favorites so far this year in many different genres. I have to say that this book touched me in ways no other book ever has. I’ve read many of the reviews where so many said it wasn’t what they expected as they were looking for a thriller as it’s described.
LiteraryTerms.com defines thriller as
A thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television whose primary feature is that it induces strong feelings of excitement, anxiety, tension, suspense, fear, and other similar emotions in its readers or viewers—in other words, media that thrills the audience.
In my opinion this was every bit the Domestic Thriller I expected. As a Mom I was thoroughly invested in this story and felt every emotion described in the definition above. I can’t even imagine how I would have handled everything in this story but kind of feel like it would have been very similar to the actions of what this mother did and how she reacted. I could completely relate to it all. I finished reading this book and had to sit after crying and having a hard time reading the words to finish and I just sat and stared. My husband even asked me if I was ok at one point. I was in awe at how well this story was written and how real this author kept everything. The Mom in this book wasn’t perfect, she didn’t do what society deems right in every aspect but the one thing she did do was Love with her whole being.
I could probably sit here and write as many words for this review as there are in the book itself so I’m going to focus now on this author. I’ve read other books by her and genuinely loved them all, but this one has made me seriously want to meet her. I want this book in my hands physically and I know I will read it again and again.
My advice…Read from cover to cover..not just the story but the before and after the story then do what i did and go to her website and read her about me.
Thank you Miss Billiter for giving me this book, it will never leave my mind and no matter what I read in the future this book will always hold a special place with me and i saw a bit of a hint of another to possibly follow. Oh My Goodness I must start preparing for that.
Not exactly a thriller like I thought it would be but was a well written novel about a young man battling mental illness and also his mother’s side of it.
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter was a unique read that was a completely different then I thought it would be.
I went into this book thinking it was a thriller but, it was more like a life contemporary, about metal illness, and how this family had to face that life challenge. So it was a little off putting for me that this wasn’t the thriller I was hoping for, but overall I did like this story. You can tell a lot of care and research went into making the read as emotional and realistic as possible.
I will say that, the mother was not my fave, as this book was told in dual POV, you got a few different angles. She has expansive taste, but complained about the financial stress; seemed like she didn’t have her priorities all that straight. I just couldn’t connect all that well with her. Branson on the other hand, was a well written complex character, that drew me in, and really made this story for me. I love when it was his POV, and that’s what kept me reading.
Overall this book is a surprise, and it as a whole, is quite the multi-layered tale about a families journey through the effects that mental illness has on not only the MC, but his family circle as well. On that note this book gets my high recommendation and my stamp of approval
Happy Reading.
-E.A. Walsh
A Divided Mind by Mary Billiter was a really emotional read. I would give this book four out of five stars. Branson is your all american boy that hears voices. Only his self awareness and communication with his mom gets the ball rolling on dealing with the voices. This book really pulled at my heartstrings, as a mom of a young boy I could not imagine going through this scenario. Tara’s strength and determination to deal with what live as dealt her was admirable.
4 Stars
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter was a lot different to what I had expected- not really in a bad way but definitely not what I thought I’d be reading. I snapped this book up thinking I was getting a thrilling mystery with perhaps a psychological aspect to the story, but instead found a contemporary fiction story focusing on mental illness and how the individual, his family, and friends come to terms with it all. I may have been a little disappointed to begin with, but after reading the story I can honestly say that I don’t regret purchasing this book.
Branson’s story is quite emotive, and it made me think. It has an edgier rawness to the story, but it definitely isn’t a thriller. It was interesting- as the author shows the effects that mental illness can have not only on the individual, but also on their family, and all their other relationships. There is a definite adjustment period, a turbulent time full of struggles, that really tugged at my heartstrings. The author gives detailed insight into the Schizoaffective Disorder- as well as exploring the relationship between Branson and his mother, as well as his twin brother, and other siblings.
The story came across as really well planned, thought-out, and researched- it’s given me plenty to ponder, that’s for sure.
Thank you, Ms. Billiter!
Where do I begin??? This is the first book I have read by this author but it most certainly won’t be my last! I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book, and what I got was soooooo much more than I imagined! While it is a fictional story, it is so real and so packed full of emotions, you can’t help but feel the pain and sorrow these people are going through. I was crying by the end of the first chapter and could still feel the emotional impact of this book hours after finishing it. This story will stay with me for a long time.
Mental illness isn’t really something I think about much. It’s something you see on TV shows, or read about in books. A Divided Mind not only gives you insight into the seriousness of the disease and how it affects the person who has it, but also how painful it is for their family as well. How a parent can be in denial of what is happening to their child because it’s not something you feel they deserve to be going through, because you want to take it away and would do anything to make your child whole again. How it affects your siblings, friends, enemies, and everyone else you associate with throughout life.
I’m not sure I can even review this book in a way that will do it justice. It is a book that needs to be read. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down until I finished the last word (which will leave you gasping in surprise!). Branson and Tara touched my heart and mind as I’m sure they will yours. I highly recommend this one!
3.5 Stars
Branson Kovac hears voices in his head and when he finally opens up about what he is going through to his mom Tara Lafontisee they must work together to find out what is wrong with him.
But will Tara and Branson be able to accept the doctor’s diagnosis and deal with everything that is going to be ahead of them? How will Branson’s siblings deal with everything going on and will everyone be able to make it through?
This was an interesting book that was based on some of the author’s own experience with her own son. I couldn’t imagine going through some of the things in the book and my heart broke for Branson and the boy in real life that it was based on.
I thought Branson was a great character but that being said I struggled a little knowing some of it was based on a real life. His journals were so personal and it allowed us to look inside what he was going through and you could see he was struggling. As the book went on you were happy that he had Trevor and Dakota by his side but then at one point you are just at an OMG state with what you learn.
I really struggled with the character of Tara as I personally really hated all the name dropping of the brands she was wearing and had. I am a single mom who struggles to make ends meet and Tara just seemed so disconnected with her kids but we knew what kind of shoes she liked and she went on about them. I have gone through trying to figure out medical diagnosis for my one of my kids and I understand that anguish as well but I felt like Tara really had no idea what her priorities were and really needed everything to be perfect and follow a certain formula. I was impressed at the lengths she went to get back at those who did Branson wrong but it really cost her so much.
I admired Dr. Cordova and Clive Turina for really having Branson’s best interests and wanting the best for him and not backing down to his parents.
I was super proud of Branson for accepting the help and knowing he needed to do all of this for himself! – By Rebecca
Mind blown. This book surprised me and intrigued me from the beginning to the end. I will warn you that it does deal with mental health, but the author does it in a way that it doesn’t make fun of a disease or issue, but enlightens the reader. You not only see the struggle from the point of view of the patient, but of the family and friends as well. As someone who suffers from mental health issues (GAD and depression), I appreciate the story and the message. I firmly believe the more we talk about it, the less of a stigma mental health issues are, and this book brings it all to the forefront. Wonderfully written with great characters. The author did the research and wrote the story splendidly. I highly recommend that everyone pick up this book today. 4.5 stars and you need to one-click it today. It’s not an easy subject, but it is a beautiful story. Keep an open mind when reading.
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter is a fictional story but written from experience. It is well written and absolutely nothing like I expected. It is a realistic look at a mental disorder and the struggles that each one affected by it goes through. It is both sad and frustrating and I went through so many emotions reading it. How do you help someone with a mental illness? Having experienced a mental health problem myself, and watching a work friend go through this exact same situation with her son who has just been diagnosed with schizophrenia, that is a hard question to answer. Mary did a good job of but at times I wanted to smack the mother, she frustrated me no end at times but I also understand her point of view. It is told in several POV which gave us a greater insight into their states of mind.
Tara is a mother who is trying to help her son and come to understand what he is going through as they travel the diagnosis of being schizophrenic.
Branson is trying to adjust to a life that is filled with the unknown, and not knowing what is real and what is not.
Well done Mary and Kyle for sharing this with us. This is an emotional and at times difficult story but one that should be read.