Title: Alone with You in the Ether

Author: Olivie Blake

Genre: Romance, Literary

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I’m not sure what goes on in Olivie Blake’s head, but it must be pretty freakin’ genius! I loved this book, and I’m not even sure why. I was hooked right from the beginning. I’m not sure if it was the fact that I didn’t understand all the “existential talk”, or if it was just so different from anything I’ve read, but I didn’t want to put it down.

I think this book explores a lot about mental health and toxic relationships from a very unique perspective. Both sides of this love story struggle with mental health, and both of them do it in very different ways. I’m not even sure if the way they deal with it is healthy or not. Regan and Aldo attach themselves to each other and seem to make each others’ lives so much better. But, is it really better if you risk losing your whole self and sanity if you somehow lose the other person? Also, the story seems to imply that Regan is “better” when she is not taking her medication, even though she is obviously manic and obsessive and impulsive. We are made to think her parents, who encourage her to take her medication, are the bad guys. I think it’s important to point out that, while Regan’s mental health care should have been better and the right medications needed to be found for her, she is not better off in a state where she doesn’t sleep for days and relies on one relationship to keep from sinking into depression.

On the other hand, though, this story emphasizes the power of finding your person and your passion. It shows us the beauty of neurodivergence and the way our realities bend around each other. I don’t really understand all the talk about the ether and the hexagonal shape of time and all of that, but it was really interesting to read and really elevated the story in some way. It kept me thinking for a long time and I really enjoyed reading it!