I always appreciate authors who take the time to do their research when writing novels about mental illnesses, and Sagit Schwartz certainly knew what she was doing when she went to research and write Beatrice, the protagonist of Since She’s Been Gone. Beatrice has anorexia, which grew inside of her like a possessive demon in the wake of her mother’s death when she was a teenager. Like an alcohol or drug addiction, you’re always in recovery from an eating disorder, and that’s a very important part of this novel. Schwartz’s research and sensitivity to the subject is evident in every page and it’s deeply appreciated by me. Not because I have dealt with an eating disorder but because I deeply appreciate any and all authors who endeavor to appropriately research and depict mental illnesses in literature. 

The story as a whole is a little less impressive because it seems pretty standard and I didn’t really buy the emotional and sentimental ties between Beatrice and her mother. Maybe I was missing something, but I wasn’t buying into the story. I didn’t feel invested or connected. 

It’s a decent story, but not a great one. I’d check it out, though. 

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.