I don't even know what to say about this book (it was that good) besides I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to see how mental illness can be firsthand. It is such an inspiring story and I admired how the author (also the husband) accepted his wife's mental illness and did everything and anything in his power to stick with her through it all. I will say even though it is a fantastic book it is emotionally heavy. It might be hard to read if you are currently dealing with mental illness yourself, however I found this book to bounce back with optimism and positivity when parts felt too much. Overall, I highly recommend it and think a book like this would be a good eyeopener for those who are fortunate enough to say they've never battled mental illness.

Oml, this book ENRAGED me. I kept listening to it thinking at some point this extremely privileged white cis man has got to get some perspective and recognize his extreme level of entitlement, but it never happened. There were times when he off-handedly expressed gratitude for his privilege or a modicum of responsibility for the death-grip control he had over any and every thing to do with her treatment and their lives.

I kept thinking about this poor woman who had lived through three psychotic episodes, then had to read an entire book about how shitty and exhausting the experience had been for her husband, which she was 100% responsible for. And then someday their kid will read it and see how great his dad thought he was compared to his mother. He kept talking about how his son only wanted him, was so joyful towards him and so apprehensive towards his mother.

I know that everything is relative and pain is pain, but I found it almost impossible to empathize with someone with money, with access to excellent healthcare, with parents and in-laws willing(and able to afford) to come help, with the ability to take leave from jobs and return to them fairly easily who then would rave about how he had to wait until visiting hours to see his wife and would call the overworked doctors dozens of times a day. I wanted to take him on rounds at the psychiatric ward of Bellevue Hospital to show him how lucky they were.

I’m sorry they all had to go through it, I’m happy they’ve figured out how to cope and I hope they have a wonderful, healthy future, but I wish I hadn’t read this book.

Do NOT try and read this book in public.
There are just way too many gut wrenching moments.

I don't know that I particularly find this uplifting as promised in the blurb. I am heartbroken for Mark, that he's genuinely not gotten the support he needs to get through this. Heartbroken for Giulia to be going through this, and the disconnection she has clearly suffered from her son due to her illness. Heartbroken for wee Jonas, because they won't be able to keep hiding this illness from him if she continues to relapse.

So well done. This is why I read memoirs.

Very well written for what it was. I did also find it hard to listen to and found that both the author and the way he portrayed his wife was overall quite depressing, but what they went through maybe sets the tone to come off that way. I appreciated how raw and open he was about his feelings and his wife's throughout every psychotic break.

As someone who suffered a year of medical hell myself, it was hard and humbling to hear the caretaker's narrative when trying their best, watching someone they love suffer. I was also very strangely relieved and simultaneously disappointed at his wife's experience at both the hospital and the psych ward. I have yet to hear about a good experience and that leaves a conflicted, unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I probably wouldn't re-read this one, but I would definitely recommend it for those looking for a raw, realistic look at the medical system, mental health support (and current treatment), and just what a real relationship looks like when they say, "through sickness and in health."

it feels a little weird to give a 5 star rating to a book that just made me feel so sad, but this story is too important to warrant anything else. it will rip your heart out multiple times over, but I think it should be required reading for anyone in a committed relationship. the author does an amazing job of presenting & sympathizing the viewpoints of as many people as possible, especially himself as the partner of an mentally ill person, & it's just really important. amazing.

It’s okay, if one-sided. Some of his experiences resonated with me, and I felt for him, having been through some similar situations. But parts of it felt completely foreign, like his constant support system of friends and family, and the more mainstream aspects of their lives. He seemed to mention several times how good-looking he and his wife are, and how fit he is. They also seemed to have a considerable amount of money, freedom to travel, and never had trouble finding good jobs. The grouchy cynic in me wondered what the narrator left out or embellished, and noted when he seemed overly concerned with casting his character in a particular light. It seemed like he often portrayed himself as a humble superhero, while his wife came across as less than three-dimensional. Mostly I just hoped they would be all right. I guess that’s a sign I cared about these people and their well-being.

I cannot imagine how difficult this book was to write, much less to live it. I'm in awe of Mark's capacity to love.