How do you come back from the depths of your own mind? Neal Shusterman is one of our favourite authors, so it was a no brainer for us to dive into a book he's written about an often stigmatised mental health disorder. Joined by Leah from YA Book Chat, we discuss the experiences of delusions and hallucinations; hospital-based treatments of mental health disorders; and the role of families in recovery. Spoiler review starts at 33:23. Find Novel Feelings via: Our website Instagram Twitter Goodreads. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph. Detailed show notes available on our website ..read more

In this episode, Priscilla interviews clinician-author Dr Sarah Sasson about the newly released Tidelines, a tender coming-of-age novel about growing up in the face of unimaginable loss. Tidelines examines the stories we subconsciously write for ourselves, and what remains later, when we have the courage to tear them apart. Discussion topics include substance use, ambiguous grief and loss, and burnout in the medical profession. Find Novel Feelings via: Our website Instagram Twitter Goodreads. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph. Detailed show notes available on our website ..read more

There are plenty of dates in this story, but Queenie is not about romance. Queenie Jenkins navigates life after a long-term relationship break-up. The premise sounds like a rom-com, but the story visits some dark places along the way. In this episode, we discuss themes such as trauma, racism, anxiety, relationship red flags, and consent. Listen to find out why we think Queenie is well worth a read. Spoiler review starts at 35:14. Find Novel Feelings via: Our website Instagram Twitter Goodreads. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph. Detailed show notes available on our website ..read more

Nobody said fifth grade was going to be easy, and Penny Lowry has a million questions going through her mind all the time. The Penny Draws series by Sara Shepard follows Penny as she navigates feelings, friendships, and all sorts of changes that life brings her way.  In turns sweet and hilarious, we adored the series, and we were delighted to chat to Sara about how she approaches writing themes of mental health and anxiety for a younger audience. Find Novel Feelings via: Our website Instagram Twitter Goodreads. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph. Detailed show notes avail ..read more

How do you pick up the pieces after life has served you enough trauma for a lifetime? Charlotte, aged 17, is trying to recover in a world that owes her nothing, but has taken so much. In our season 3 finale, we dive into Girl in Pieces' representations of self-harm, hospitalisation, and unhealthy relationships, and ask the big question: does this book risk doing more harm than good? Spoiler review starts at 31:34. Find Novel Feelings via: Our website Instagram Twitter Goodreads. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph. Detailed show notes available on our website. Note: We will goi ..read more

In our latest author interview, we talk with Anne Buist, author and psychiatrist. Anne recently published the fourth novel in the Natalie King Series, Locked Ward.  The novel follows forensic psychiatrist Natalie, as she stays in the mother-baby unit of a private psychiatric unit - only to find herself in the centre of a murder case. We chat about Anne's previous and upcoming work, refugee mental health, the stigma of mental illness (particularly within the mental health profession), and more. The first half of the episode is spoiler-free! You can find Anne via her website. Find Novel Fee ..read more

Life is pretty good for sixteen-year-old Abby.  When new girl Chloe arrives, Abby is pleased to be the one to show her around, to welcome her to the group. But Abby doesn’t imagine Chloe fitting in so well or quite so quickly. And before long Abby is feeling just a little left out, a little unsure of Ella’s friendship. In a moment of anger and confusion she wishes something bad would happen. When it does—with tragic consequences—everything shifts again. In this episode, we speak with the author of Let's Never Speak of this Again, Megan Williams, about the book, her characters, her writing ..read more

Is it possible to hibernate your problems away? Our main character - privileged, vain, and traumatised - chooses to sleep for a year to take a break from her life. In our spiciest review yet, we discuss self-medication, unlikable characters, and one of the worst mental heath professionals we’ve ever encountered in fiction. Spoiler review starts at 41:36 Find Novel Feelings via: Our website Instagram Twitter Goodreads. Join our 2023 Reading Challenge on The Storygraph. Detailed show notes available on our website ..read more

When Dale stumbles into a bedroom at a party and sees a drunk girl being undressed by a group of guys, he backs away and runs. He’s pretty drunk himself, but he knows what he saw. Why didn’t he stop them? Why did he run? We speak in-depth with author Robyn Dennison about how she approaches writing a character who struggles with passivity, representations of disordered eating, and her research. NOTE: Apologies for the audio issues in this episode. We were contending with new equipment and not everything went according to plan! Find Robyn via her website, Instagram, and Twitter. Find Novel Feeli ..read more

Everything we know about autism is wrong... or is it? In this special interview, we chat with Dr Jac den Houting, research psychologist and Autistic advocate working in pursuit of social justice. We chat about their autism research, Ted Talk and other advocacy work, and the power of media representation. You can find Jac via their twitter or website. Jac will appear at the All About Women Festival in Sydney on Sunday, March 12, on the Actually Autistic panel. Check out sydneyoperahouse.com for more info. Find Novel Feelings via: Our website Instagram Twitter The Storygraph Goodreads. Detaile ..read more