The Morbids By Ewa Ramsey

Kylie H

The Morbids is a therapy group of people with a fear of death. They meet every Tuesday and talk about the terrible ways they may die. Cait is a member of this group and attends but appears to be more of an observer. She works hard at her job as a barista/bar tender at a trendy Sydney restaurant and works equally hard at stopping anyone get close to her including her family and her best friend Lina. Cait is on a path set to disaster and a lot of the book has the affect of making the reader feel almost as anxious as Cait herself. If you chose to read this book ensure you are in the right frame of mind to deal with this.
The book takes you on a journey that is heart-breaking, funny, sad, joyous and somewhat morbid. I shed a few tears along the way and made me realise that I too am an anxious person. It certainly helps to acknowledge it and explore it.
I can highly recommend this book but can understand that it will not be for everyone. The author has done a magnificent job of dealing with mental health issues in a very human and compassionate way.
Thank you Allen & Unwin for the copy of the book that I won, it was a wonderful gift!

Mandy White (mandylovestoread)

The Morbids by Ewa Ramsey was beautiful and heart breaking story. It is not an easy read at times, there is alot of talk of suicide, death, depression and anxiety. And yet despite all of that, this book was wonderful. I felt for the main character, Caitlin so much. She was such a broken character, with a good heart. Sometime as I was reading I felt like I was reading about myself. As somebody who has struggled with depression and anxiety for years I know what it is like to feel so unhappy, like there is is nothing left for you. And it is awful, truly horrible. I want to thank Ewa Ramsey for writing about such a tough subject with so much respect and truth.

Meet Caitlin. Until 2 years ago she was a young girl with everything ahead of her, planning to travel the world. And then she is involved in a fatal car accident and comes away from it believing that she survived by accident. She truly believes that she was meant to die. Ever since then she has waited for death to take her. She goes to a support group for people that death related anxiety issues every week. She throws everything into working, drinking and pushing everybody that loves her away. Luckily for her, they keep trying. Her best friend since forever announces that she is getting married in Bali and she is terrified. And then she meets the handsome doctor Tom and she has to find away to start living again. But can she stop the thoughts?

It is a beautiful story of friendships, relationships and learning to let people in. Caitlin's honesty and fears are part of all of us in one way or another and I think everybody will take something away from this book. It made me laugh and it made me cry. Most of all it made me think.

Thank you so much to Allen and Unwin for sending me this surprise book mail. The Morbids was the book that I didn't know that I needed.

April (Aprilius Maximus)

Ooooof this one hit close to home

Michael Livingston

Sometimes funny, sometimes painfully vivid portrait of mental illness, friendship and making a life. Caitlin is a wonderful main character and I find myself hoping for the best for her, despite her fictional status.

Liv

It always makes me nervous posting a ‘negative’ review, especially when it is a book that seems to be universally loved, however The Morbids by Ewa Ramsey was a book I really struggled to finish.

The Morbids tells the story of Caitlin, a 28-year-old woman who is convinced she is going to die after suffering a traumatic car accident two years ago. When her friend Lina asks her to be her maid of honour at her wedding in Bali, Caitlin must find a way to finally deal with her trauma.

First of all, the cover is amazing & is one of my favourite covers of the year. I also found parts of the depiction of anxiety to be realistic & I really enjoyed that it didn’t romanticise it at all. I loved the way Cait’s friends & family care about her & in particular her best friend Lina.

However, it wasn’t overly memorable & I found myself forcing myself to sit down & read it - it never really hooked me in & I felt like the reveal of Caitlin’s back story went on for too long. I am not trying to be dismissive of her experience, & I understand why that would be incredibly traumatic, but I found the reveal slow & instead of making me want to read to find out more, I just don’t think I cared enough in the end. I also thought the writing style to was repetitive & I found myself skim reading pages towards the end.

The most interesting part of this book to me was the actual group of people that met every Tuesday, & I wanted to learn more about them & their backstories, but it was solely focused on Caitlin, who I found a bit insufferable & repetitive. This may sound harsh, especially when you consider my review of a Lonely Girl where I said I didn’t need to like a character like Jena, or I didn’t need her to ‘grow’ - but I found myself getting frustrated with Caitlin’s self-sabotaging & the way she treated the people around her. I also didn’t love how neat the ending was when I felt like perhaps she hadn’t done the necessary work to justify this.

This review may sound harsh! Because it’s not a bad book, it was fine, but I just want to share what I didn’t love about it because I have seen overwhelmingly positive reviews!

Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews

*
https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com

4.5 stars

A powerful story defined by moments of light and dark, The Morbids is written by Newcastle based author Ewa Ramsey. Emphasising the impact of mental illness, anxiety, fear and trauma on an individual and their loved ones, The Morbids is meditative piece of fiction.

The complex but highly engaging central character of Ewa Ramey’s The Morbids reminds us of the importance of long-standing friendships, acts of kindness and the spirit of being alive. Caitlin is a woman haunted by a traumatic event in her recent past and the fallout from this incident has directly impacted Caitlin’s overall wellbeing. The lasting reminder of this life changing incident has left Caitlin with a fixation on death. This obsession has wreaked havoc with all facets of Caitlin’s life – from her family relationships, friendships, career choices, living arrangements, to her health. With the help of a support group named the Morbids, Caitlin manages to keep her head above water, but the creeping thoughts of death continue to infiltrate her world. Caitlin must confront some difficult adjustments in her life when her best friend makes plans to marry overseas and an irresistible man helps Caitlin see the world from a different lens. But what happens when the creeping thoughts return?

The Morbids is a novel that is largely unmatched to anything I have read before. The focus on a lead character who has a difficult relationship and obsession with imminent death was a highly original storyline focus to follow. I really appreciated Ewa Ramsey’s intentions with her debut novel. I have to admit that my first impression of this book was no where near what it actually turned out to be. Based on the cover art, I assumed this would be a breezy tale of friendship and perhaps a holiday escape. Instead, I was presented with a very heartbreaking and sensitive tale of a young woman living with serious mental health issues. For this fact, I feel that The Morbids is a brave and essential read, tapping into modern day issues.

Our lead for the duration of Ewa Ramey’s The Morbids is Caitlin. Ramsey releases Caitlin’s back story bit by bit, so we are intrigued enough to flick page after page until we get to the bottom of Caitlin’s true cause of concern. This sets a strong sense of intrigue to the tale at hand and it definitely sustained my attention to this book. Despite the fact that Caitlin does have a lot of issues, she is a relatable character and you can’t help but develop a great deal of sympathy for her. I know I just wanted Caitlin to seek help, heal properly and achieve a sense of enjoyment in life again. But Ramsey makes us see that it isn’t easy at all for those who suffer from mental illness and trauma such as Caitlin. In Caitlin’s case, she does try to overcome her problems, but they come back, at almost double the strength. It is a hard and trying process to constantly deal with anxiety, fear and death. At all times, I was amazed by the level of respect and sensitivity Ramsey applied to her Caitlin’s story.

In terms of the support cast, Ewa Ramsey should be applauded for her efforts in this area of the book. I loved the side protagonists, they were quite the unforgettable set. The wonderful support cast in this tale includes Caitlin’s best friend, family members, love interest, boss, coworkers, support group members and leaders. Ramsey has made sure the periphery cast are dynamic and intriguing. I really enjoyed the interactions between Caitlin and the various characters that fill the pages of The Morbids. With elements of humour, love, understanding, semblance, kindness, appreciation and despair, these actions make for a highly engaging read. Caitlin’s journey is an eventful one and be warned – it is quite the rollercoaster of emotions at times. However, The Morbids will make you want to hold your head in your hands, smile with Caitlin and hug her. Although Caitlin’s road is a tough one to travel at times, The Morbids is well worth the investment.

The heavy weight of dealing with mental illness and anxiety following a life shattering incident is explored with a firm and understanding hand in Ewa Ramsey’s The Morbids. I highly recommend this moving title to all readers.

*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.

The Morbids is book #2 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge

Sarah

The Morbids is a powerful and fascinating, albeit sometimes gruelling to read, tale of a young woman's experience of PTSD and anxiety disorder.
Via a timeframe that shifts backwards and forth between chapters, we follow a period of just over two years in Caitlyn's life, during which she tries to recover from the psychological effects of an unexpected traumatic event. Her daily struggles are punctuated by her visits on Tuesday nights to a support group for people with death-related anxiety, colloquially known as "The Morbids". By the conclusion,
The Morbids offers an uplifting message about the power of unconditional human support, and accepting help to find the courage and resilience to go on in spite of the challenges we face.
Much of the power of the story comes from the way
Ewa Ramsey cleverly structures the narrative to delay the reader's knowledge of aspects of Caitlyn's personal history and more recent experiences. For this reason, I won't go any further into the plot of the novel.

The Morbids features a small cast of three-dimensional, mostly somewhat flawed, characters. As the book is told in the first-person from Caitlyn's perspective, much of the narrative is comprised of her internal monologue. As an occasional sufferer of low-grade depressive illness myself, I found
Ewa Ramsey's insights into the individual's experience of mental illness really compelling. While mental illnesses of the type from which Caitlyn suffers are sometimes prone to being misunderstood as self-indulgent by ignorant observers (“Why can’t she just snap herself out of it.”), her level of self-recrimination is heartrendingly realistic. This is a woman who desperately wants to get better, but frequently finds herself caught in a vicious cycle of self-protective behaviours which ultimately become self-sabotaging.
Her best friend Lina initially comes across as rather smug and self-absorbed, an effect perhaps amplified by the fact that we see her only through Caitlyn's wounded perspective. However, over the course of the novel, we learn more about Caitlyn and Lina's shared past, one past traumatic experience in particular. In the second half of the book, we begin to see her from what seems to be a more objective standpoint, and through her behaviour and our greater understanding, she redeems herself.
The third major character is Caitlyn's on-again, off-again love interest, emergency physician Tom. For a man of his personal background and professional status, he comes across as almost ludicrously accommodating and patient - but perhaps I'm overly cynical! I found my own inner voice wanting to scream at Caitlyn at times, to appreciate him more and not to sabotage this one positive aspect of her life. But perhaps that's part of the message of
The Morbids - just how hard it is to break out of the skewed mindset that we're not deserving or shouldn't accept help when it's freely offered.
We have three completely separate casts of supporting characters, all realistically portrayed. Caitlyn's workmates at Sawyer's restaurant offer her day-to-day stability and reinforcement, and provide the baseline of normalcy against which we can chart her deteriorating mental health. Meanwhile, her family have difficulty in understanding what she's battling, not helped by the degree to which Caitlyn is hiding the nature and seriousness of her illness from them. Finally, her support group, "The Morbids" of the title, to whom Caitlyn traipses each Tuesday in fading hopes of an ephiphany. I wonder whether
Ewa Ramsey managed to sit in on such a group as part of her research for the novel, as her depiction of the group dynamic is astonishingly true to life. The group provides the literary mechanism for Caitlyn to view her condition from a more objective standpoint, and ultimately provides the impetus for her nascent recovery, although not perhaps in the way we would expect.
I found
The Morbids a compelling and fascinating read, although it's taken me several days' contemplation to settle on my rating and the contents of my review. I've come to the conclusion that this is due to the confronting nature of the subject matter for a reader, who like myself, has had some personal experience, whether first- or second-hand of neurotic illness. Ramsey's description of the final stages of Caitlyn's descent into psychological breakdown is particularly visceral. At times, I found it an uncomfortable read and had to put it down and read something lighter. However, I'm really glad I persevered, and would encourage other readers to do the same, as the narrative considered as a whole really carries some positive messages and lovely subplots around new love and enduring friendship.
My thanks to the author,
Ewa Ramsey and publishers Allen & Unwin Australia, from whom I received a complimentary copy of this title as part of their Summer 2021 Reading Competition.

Madelon North

3.5 stars rounded to 4.
I appreciate the raw depictions of anxiety in this, that there wasn’t sugar coating. But I found it a bit predictable. Also if the group was enough to name the book after, why weren’t The Morbids a bigger part? I liked it, but I didn’t love it.

Bec

“Everybody dies and that’s the end of the story. The bit after the happy ending”

Triumphant story about friendship, love, severe anxiety and finding yourself and what it means to actually live your life. Caitlin believes she is going to die. She’s consumed with the idea and has explored every option, assesses every situation and some days cannot go on.

Two years ago she was a normal girl living a careful life, she was looking forward to travelling to New York with her best friend until a terrible car accident changes her life life. Caitlin believes she should have died and is responsible for the accident.

This book joins Caitlin on the journey though friendship, self medication, hiding her anxiety from everyone, interesting family dynamics, support groups and trying to fill the void yet not wanting to get attached to anyone and genuinely feel, because she’s dying.

Sometimes you’ve got to hit rock bottom a few times before you get the support and desire to truly live. I loved every page of this book.

This book first crossed my shelf in 2020 and instantly became one of my top 3 reads for the year, I’ve been constantly craving novels like this and when this new cover was printed I decided it was time for a reread. Instantly consumed by @missewa writing and the way Caitlin’s character mirrors elements of my life. It still hit the same as it did 2 years ago.

Winsome

*sigh*

I read a review of this in The Guardian and immediately bought it.
Maybe my expectations were too high?

It’s not a terrible book... but I really didn’t like it.
Something about it really set off my “first novel” alert.
The author is talented, but the writing has an immaturity about it, which I’m sure will improve over time.
I was annoyed at the repetition, even though I fully understand and appreciate why it was there.
I didn’t like any of the characters, and thought the story was too drawn out. I wasn’t intrigued to find out what the issues hinted at were, I just wanted to get it over and done with. Instead of drawing me in, it irritated me and was actually quite predictable.
The romantic plot line was just .... too nice? Too perfect, and too boring.
The whole book was too boring and I considered dropping it a third of the way in, but re-read the review that inspired me to buy it and kept going. I did speed it up to 1.3x normal to get through it faster.

Is it a YA novel? I don’t know, but I’d classify it as such.

Sheree | Keeping Up With The Penguins

The Morbids is a strange, sparkly novel (literally, the cover is pink glitter!). Even though it’s heavy on trigger-warning-worthy content (depression, self-destructive behaviour, death), it’s also a romantic comedy, with a charming leading man and an evil ex to boot. I loved the Sydney setting, as Caitlin spent a lot of time walking streets I know well. It would be a great pick for fans of Georgina Young’s Loner, released earlier this year.

My full review can be found on
Keeping Up With The Penguins.

Krystelle Fitzpatrick

I struggle to exist in the minutiae of the lives of others, specifically when those others are in love and out of love and in love again. It just doesn't do it for me- I have zero love for the fact that there's so much in here that is so darn lacking. The book took me an age to get through (for me) as I kept putting it down, picking it back up, putting it down, hoping it had gotten better...the endless cycle of agonising tedium.

Is it an effective book about depression and trauma? Kind of...but at the same time, it doesn't carry across how things are in reality as much as it could. The main character is very fortunate to have so much understanding around her, but it is perhaps too much understanding- to a point the book becomes an unreality. I understand this is a debut, but I don't think I'll be picking this author up again in the near future.

Jennifer (JC-S)

‘I think about dying all the time.’

Two years ago, Caitlin was planning an overseas trip with her best friend. Two years ago, Caitlin was enjoying her career. Two years ago, an accident changed everything.

And now?

Every week, Caitlin attends a weekly support group. She and the other members of the group suffer from profound anxiety about imminent death. The group nicknamed ‘The Morbids’, talk about the many and varied ways, times and places in which death might await them. Their fear is disabling and paralysing, making ‘normal life’ almost impossible. The leadership of the group has changed: once a psychiatrist led discussion, now a series of different nurses attends and takes notes. It is almost as if the professionals have given up: the group is essentially facilitated by one of the participants.

’Everything had been perfect and now it wasn’t and nothing was ever going to fix it.’

Caitlin is convinced that she is going to die. She tries to manage her overwhelming anxiety by keeping busy, self-medicating with alcohol and keeping those who might care at arm’s length.
How can Caitlin possibly attend her best friend’s wedding in Bali? And when Tom, a handsome doctor, takes an interest in her, will she be able to overcome her fear of death and restart her life?

Anyone who has ever experienced anxiety will be able to relate to Caitlin’s story. Sure, anxiety is often only temporary for most of us, but it is the oppressive feeling of anxiety that Ms Ramsay captures in this novel. Anxiety: an overwhelming fear that often has a logical starting point but can grow into monstrous proportions and take over a life. I wanted Caitlin to succeed, to reclaim her life but could feel that monstrous weight pressing down on her.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Mell Schmeider

"Sometimes you need to give up on death…to have the time of your life"

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this gorgeous book from the amazing team at @allenandunwin - thank you so much for sending this one over to me guys!

The Morbids is the stunning debut novel by Australian Ewa Ramsey. The story follows a young woman names Caitlin who suffers from severe anxiety of death following an accident in her past. She has shut herself off from the world and from her loved ones as she spirals down a dark path stemmed from the constant feeling of death approaching. The Morbids follows Caitlin's journey as she begins to realise it might be time to start living again.

The book had me feeling an absolute rollercoaster of emotions & I was fully invested in Caitlin's story. It is a story focusing heavily on mental health but not in a glamourized way - it is a real & raw depiction of what it is like to be haunted by your demons daily. Although it has a strong focus on mental health, it also tackles issues such as friendships, family & love.

I found Caitlin to be a very interesting character - at times I empathised with her & her struggles but at other times I found myself frustrated by her constant self sabotage. But I think this just really added to the realness of the story & made her a very relatable character. She was a troubled & broken character but as the book went on her good heart became more obvious as she learnt to open up to others who love and care for her.

Ewa is an incredible writer, she very clearly showed the chaos going on inside Caitlin's head through her writing all while creating a story that is easy to follow & utterly absorbing. Through Caitlin's highs & lows you can feel her emotions with her - I often found myself feeling her pain & panic through her hard times simply through the flow of Ewa's writing.

The Morbids is a real insight into what living with mental illness is really like. I think it is super important for authors to discuss topics like this in their true sense which Ewa did so very well. It had me laughing at times & it had me crying at others. This is a beautifully written debut & the perfect advocate for mental health awareness. I am so excited to see where Ewa goes next.

Thank you Ewa & Allen and Unwin

Liz Hobson

A brave debut book by Author Eva Ramsey, I initially only picked it up because it was short listed for a major literary prize. In other words, the title, and the cover would certainly never have attracted me - I wonder if I am alone in that? Why would anyone pick up a book entitled 'the Morbids'.

In fact, it was only because I too am interested in the same literary competition AND because of some of the wonderful reviews written here on goodreads that I continued with the book beyond the first few chapters. I'm not sure where I went wrong, or the author, but I found the first few chapters depressing and boring ... having absolutely no interest in the group, the Morbids, or any of the characters in it, beyond our heroine, Cait. (Again, I found it interesting that in some of the reviews I read, the reviewers actually said they wanted to know more about other members of the Morbids, the self help group of people discussing how and why they are going to die soon. I skip read every chapter dealing with a group session from beginning to end of the book.)

So - I got through, with the help of this reviews page, and I am glad I did. I found myself reading the book faster and faster to see if she could get herself out of the mess she was in - if she would find the help she needed, if she was brave enough to even admit she had a problem. And I am glad I saw it through - Eva has an amazing ability with language which makes you feel as anxious as Eva, thus bringing you entirely into her world. The other main characters in the book: Lina, Nic and Tom are beautifully portrayed and all play super support roles.

I loved the ending, although I still don't get one of the postcards which formed the last chapter, even after re-reading it several times - can anyone help with this? I won't say which because that might be a spoiler but if you had the same problem I'd love to know.

In the end I gave it 4 stars, losing the fifth becuase of its slow beginning and poor title (at least from my point of view)

Jessica M

http://jessjustreads.com

Ewa Ramsey’s literary novel The Morbids captures the crippling fear of death, and explores mental illness and anxiety and the powerful hold they have over their captives.

Caitlin walked away from a car accident completely unscathed, whilst the driver was killed instantly. Ever since, she’s felt death’s presence hovering over her — she’s convinced she’s going to die. And every Tuesday, she attends a community group called The Morbids, where she communicates with other people who also fear an untimely demise.

When we meet her, one might be fooled into thinking she’s coping. She regularly attends these therapy meetings, but the therapists aren’t overly helpful or directive, and it feels like being around other people constantly anxious about death might actually be stopping Caitlin from healing and moving forward with her life.

And whilst she successfully holds down a job as a waitress at a restaurant, she’s got a strained relationship with her family — who don’t sympathise for her situation, nor do they approve of her job — and she’s been slowly distancing herself away from her best friend, Lina. Her best friend’s getting married in Bali and Caitlin can’t bring herself to organise the flights or accommodation, let alone ask her boss for the time off. She’s a ticking time bomb.

“There was nothing wrong with me, nothing wrong with not believing in fairytales or happily-ever-afters; nothing wrong with not needing anyone else to make you happy. I was just being careful. The thought startled me, unsettled me.”

Structurally, the chapters move between past and present, but so does the prose within each chapter. Caitlin’s mind is scattered, a little uneven and also unreliable. Ewa has cleverly constructed this novel to embody the chaos going on in Caitlin’s head, whilst also threading a story that is easy to follow and absorbing to read.

Ewa explores mental illness and anxiety with great care and compassion; Caitlin’s state of mind fluctuates as we progress through the novel. The impending wedding in Bali, and her budding romance with a handsome doctor propels forward her day-to-day and when everything reaches a head, Caitlin is forced to confront her illness.

Caitlin’s friendship with Lina is an interesting one; Caitlin hides herself away from her best friend, even though she’s probably the one person who can help Caitlin at this time in her life. Perhaps Caitlin feels like a burden, perhaps she struggles to articulate her own thoughts and feelings — perhaps she feels like she can fix herself. Readers will recognise parts of themselves in Caitlin, but they may also recognise a friend or family member. Mental illness is complex and at times, all-encompassing. This book might be a comforting read for some, and perhaps uplifting for others.

“In the year or so I’d been coming, there had been a lot of new faces. Most only came once. They were sent by doctors or shrinks or their local mental health service, but you didn’t need a referral and it was free, right down to the tea and coffee, so occasionally we’d get tourists…Death was huge on Facebook, if you knew where to look.”

I do think this book is suited to seasoned readers, not reluctant ones. This is not the book you pick up for a beach read, or an aeroplane read. It’s literary fiction and tough going in parts. At times, the pacing is quite slow and the plot a little non-existent. I suspect reluctant adult readers may pick this up and then put it down a third of the way through.

But for fans of literary fiction? Slow-burn character-driven stories? Debut novel The Morbids is a welcome addition to your bookshelf.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emily

Wow Ewa Ramsey did not disappoint

I found the first 1/3 a little difficult to get into, but once I was in...wow. I loved this book.

Caitlin is a character you want to help, you want her to help herself. I enjoyed her story, and the development of her as a character... sure I found her frustrating, but I think that’s part of her charm.

Tom reminded me so much of my partner and I loved that 🥰

I think this book highlights mental health in a non stereotypical way, it delves deeper. This book is easy to read.. it also tugs at your heartstrings.

Ramsey’s writing is flawless, I can’t read more from her!

Camille

I chose The Morbids after popping in to my local bookstore for the first time since April. I was initially going in only to browse, but when I saw how bare the shelves were due to the impacts of Victoria's COVID restrictions, I had to buy something to support the storeowners. I had briefly seen something about The Morbids either on GoodReads or Kindle, but hadn't read the blurb. The positive bits of the blurb "learn to start living again" and "life is an adventure..." piqued my interest, and the deal was sealed by the fabulous double cover with the letters of the title cut out on the cover to revealing a great vintage beach holiday photo on the next page.

I'm not sure I have started reading a book immediately, and even less likely such a new release that was only published this month by a debut author. I am so glad I did. I loved The Morbids.

While the novel is a lot about how trauma left untreated can manifest as mental illness, it is also about how there are turning points in our lives and it can be so hard to hold onto the threads of our former lives when dealing with the new. At chapter 24 it gets quite dark and confusing as Caitlin, the main character, heads for another turning point in her life. Like I guess Caitlin must feel, we are left wondering if things will ever become clear again.

It's about friendship, and how bad thoughts can eat away at it, but how your friends who truly love you unconditionally will be the ones you can rely on when you desperately need a friend.

The ominous title contrasted by such a delightful cover depicts the opposing sides of the story. It covers the territory of the spiral downwards to rock bottom and the start of the spiral back out.

Reading The Morbids is a brilliant reminder that kindness counts and gives a gentle nudge towards being kinder to others, and most importantly, kinder to yourself.

Kelly Anderson

I loved this book. Some of Caitlin’s story resonated with me and I found myself laughing and crying along with her.

Kat - bedsidebookshelf

A beautiful debut novel that swept me off my feet.

In the realm of my own struggles with mental health, this book spoke to so many of my own anxieties and gave me a sense of comfort.

As a character, Caitlin was real and relatable. There was no dancing around what she was going through and how it seeped into all parts of her life. It was an authentic depiction of mental health and it’s sporadic and complex nature.

While I did like the flow and structure of the book, there were some parts of the narrative I would’ve liked fleshed out a little more. Things like Caitlin’s relationship with Lina’s mother and the whole scene around the accident are the main ones I wish there was more depth behind. But in saying that, the lack of both didn’t impact on my experience reading the book, let it be clear I still loved it! Also, in the buddy read I read this book as a part of, there was a discussion around the ending being too ‘perfect’, but I think it was the exact ending a book like this needed.

I wish everyone going through mental health struggles had their own Lina in their corner, I think it would radically change mental health outcomes for many people. The fact that despite Caitlin pushing her way throughout the book, when it really mattered Lina was completely there and was unafraid to be the support and love that Caitlin needed. I loved how in this book, unlike in others focus on mental health, her circle of support wrapped their arms around her during the real storm instead of distancing themselves because what she was going through was too difficult.

And finally, agreed Ewa - brains are strange, and as someone who feels their own brain is exceptionally strange sometimes, your story brought me comfort. I look forward to reading many more books from you in the future.

Sanch Writes

20-something Caitlin is convinced she‘a going to die. After surviving a car accident a couple of years ago, she has constant thoughts about dying in different ways. To cope, she smoke, drinks, throws herself into work, & attends a support group for people with death-related anxiety known as The Morbids. Her best friend Lina announces she is getting married in Bali & Caitlin is paralysed by fear. Then she meets handsome doctor Tom & Caitlin has to learn to overcome her fear of death.

I’ll begin this review by stating I was really looking forward to this book. Death & death-anxiety fascinate me professionally & I’ve seen clients with the same & read a fair bit on the topic.I was keen to see how this would be tackled in a fictional space. Long-story short, I was very disappointed. I was trying to figure out the whys about this & could narrow it down to a few things: the fact that her anxious thoughts suddenly disappear when she starts dating Tom {unrealistic AF}, she finally sleeps well after having sex with him {treatment option should be researched!}, the frustration around the Morbids & no mental health professional actually intervening & telling them how unhelpful it was or referring them for further therapy {ethics!}, everyone’s response to ‘I’m going to die’ being ‘No you’re not’ when it should be ‘Yeah, you are, as are we all’, mindfulness portrayed as distraction, & the biggest thing - apparently a wedding is the only reason your best friend will suddenly make more of an effort to help you with your mental health.

I liked the bits about therapy {finally!} & the narrative style when anxiety started spinning out of control. I also liked that Ramsey could show the protagonist in therapy will still face stumbling blocks because in the end it’s not about never feeling anxious but rather, managing it & doing what needs to be done despite it.

I really, really disliked what I perceived to be an emphasis on ‘meeting someone, buying a house, getting engaged, getting married, having babies’ - basically ticking boxes we’ve always been pressured to tick- even though Caitlin is initially portrayed differently. There is an entire section where she talks about “happy endings” and refers to just ticking these boxes.

Overall though this book left me frustrated and raging for a few days after. 1.5 stars.

queenofthedeep (Hannah King)

You know those eyes that watch you after you turn off all the lights in the house? That’s a murderer.
That faint crackling sound you hear while you’re lying in bed waiting for sleep to take you? That’s the candle you don’t remember lighting, you must’ve left it burning because now the curtains are engulfed.
You know that car accident you were in a few years ago, where the driver was killed? That was your fault, and you should’ve died as well.

We all have those anxious Thoughts that we just dispel because they’re silly or unreasonable but for The Morbids, they’ve got them on repeat with back up Thoughts to go with our Thoughts. And then extra features for those Thoughts.

This incredibly vivid and Thought-provoking book revolves around Caitlin, who was convinced that, after being involved in a fatal car accident that had her miraculously walk away basically unscathed, she was marked for death. Can see it’s inevitability in every move she makes. Deems everything as meaningless and ‘only temporary’, because what’s to live for if you’re only going to die?
But does this make you afraid of death, or afraid to truly live?

Ewa Ramsey’s beautifully gritty, confronting masterpiece puts you in the driver’s seat of a hopelessly anxious brain, and takes away the steering wheel.

Pauline

This novel follows Caitlin, a 20-something who tries to continue on living following a traumatic accident. Caitlin’s life turns completely upside down after the event that took place 2 years ago. She now turns to alcohol, struggles to deal with maintaining relationships in her life, and clings onto predictable routine - all while constantly fearing for her death.

It’s a heartbreaking story that looks at what could possibly happen if a significant trauma is left untreated. I really enjoyed Ramsey’s writing and her exploration of friendship, mental illness and hope. However, I did find some parts a little repetitive towards the end and was left wanting more from other parts of the story - especially on ‘The Morbids’. It’s a group of people/support network who meets weekly, AA-style. It consists of those who, just like Caitlin, have death-related thoughts and anxieties. The idea of this group itself was what originally drew me to the book and I was hoping that there would be more of a story around them.

I would recommend picking this up if you want a story that depicts life with mental illness realistically that also touches on the tender subjects of female friendships, love and longing.
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Many thanks to Allen & Unwin for gifting me this review copy! 🌟

Donna

Perfect debut novel, @missewa I loved this story; Funny, moving & real.

Caitlin is convinced she is going to die, I'm convinced she’s also a warrior. Fighting a battle for so long until she couldn’t any longer. It’s a story not only about mental health but of friendships, trust and understanding.

You get a sense this has been written by someone with lived experienced of mental illness in some form whether it be from themselves, a loved one or perhaps their job…it can’t be made up, not like this.

I felt every emotion throughout the book; the nightmares, racing heart, shortness of breath that comes with PTSD, anxiety and panic attacks.

“Sometimes you need to give up on death…to have the time of your life”

I’m not sure if now was the right or wrong time for me to read this book. Either way, I’ve seen it from both sides, from a sufferer of mental illness and from one that’s getting help.

It’s out in September 2020 – it needs to be read.

Steph Field

This book!! It had me feeling a rollercoaster of emotions and I simply did not want to stop reading Caitlin's story. This is a beautiful book of hope, friendship and love, highlighting that with persistence and courage anything can be overcome. Morbids is a stunning debute from a beautiful Aussie author and I am excited to see where Ewa goes next. Following Caitlin's journey to recovery after she was in a fatal car accident left me in awe. Her strength and courage when running on nothing was genuinely moving. I cried and laughed with her, feeling her pain and struggles and the many surprising twists left me captivated. Ewa Ramsey's voice is powerful and much needed in our contemporary world. Morbids is raw and real - a beautiful advocate for mental health awareness. This is a book I'm excited to recommend!

Ellen McMahon

A dreary, anxiety-riddled romp through a 20-something's stagnant life (this seems to be a common theme for my reading choices lately and serves to reaffirm my gratitude that my twenties are behind me!)
There were elements of the characters and situations that I found palpably relatable. Hiding in a 'going nowhere' hospitality job is something I also did as a twenty-something, and a lot of the details rang true for me. Perhaps even hit a little unsettlingly close to home. And I just love any books set in Sydney. I feel drawn into the story by the familiarity of the streets and suburbs I know and love.
But this was also just one example of how the first person narrator really just didn't cut it for me. I feel like first person style can run the risk of becoming whiny, repetitive and dull, so I drifted off towards the end.

Reannon Bowen

Gorgeous book that had me hooked at the start, started for lose me for a little bit but then pulled me right back in. I am a Morbid & to read about people like me, to read thoughts that I have but can’t speak about was new. I once heard that having depression is like living in the past & anxiety is living in the future. The bottom of page 348 articles most my own anxiety (just add in the fear if something happening to my family & it’d be pretty spot on) & I’d never seen that written, or spoken, about in a way so precisely. It took my breath away & bought tears to my eyes. It felt like i understood my anxiety for the first time. Huh. Books hey, they really are some kind of magic.

Leanne Mellon

There is something about a mental health themed book and this one was no exception. I have had this book on my shelf for so long and I don't know what I didn't pick it up sooner!

I can't exactly put my finger on why I loved this one so much, but the way Ewa depicted this sensitive topic was brilliant. I wasn't exactly sure where it was going at first when then it delved right in.

It was honest, raw and very eye opening. I loved the writing style and how each chapter was able to capture the characters completely. Jumping between the two story lines kept me engaged throughout.

This one was a real tear jerker and really hit home. Also love when a book is set in my old home now, it actually makes you feel like you are there with the characters when you recognise suburbs and places.

Great read this year, up there with my top.

Jeanine

Despite the title, it’s less about the group and more about this woman living through what she’s living through.. never cheesy and seems very realistic. I thought it was a great book. Redemptive but not Hollywoodish at the end. Recommended.

Title	:	The Morbids
Author	:	Ewa Ramsey
Rating	:
ISBN	:	-
ISBN-10	:	9781760877538
Language	:	English
Format Type	:	Paperback
Number of Pages	:	368
Publication	:	First published September 1, 2020

The Morbids Reviews

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