Definitions of Indefinable Things

I love the way the author handled the subject of depression with these characters. The characters are refreshingly unique and memorable, and the writing was emotional yet funny at times.

First of all, Whitney Taylor is a good writer with an ear for funny dialogue and she clearly did her research about this topic, which is important to humanize and normalize for all people but especially teens. If you are looking for a realistic fiction YA novel about depression this is a good one. My three-star rating is incredibly biased and based solely on my experience with this book in terms of personal taste because it does something that I couldn't get over and something that colored my experience with it. It's something that shouldnt be taken as a personal criticism against Ms Taylor, but more about the publishing industry.I am really, supremely tired of inauthentic and cliched/passe sartorial and lifestyle trappings for characters in YA. It is so indicative of how out of touch the people who make these calls are. I understand that Ms Taylor might have wrote it in and for a specific time and maybe she is just attempting to capture a specific moment in the pop culture zeitgeist, but the two leads in this book embody 100% what someone in 2001 might have considered an "edgy" teenager. Reggie and Snake, though great characters with great scenes who deal with a very modern and complex issue involving paternity and another girl, are wrapped up in identifiably "emo" trappings, which has not existed since the MySpace era. They are alternative edgy white kids who wear Chucks and have dumb tattoos and listen to obscure 80's music that is clearly an idealization of the author.Look, this is objectively a very good book - "It's painful to have a passion. You care so much it hurts" is one of my favorite quotes ever. And I hate to seem unfair, like I'm singling out this book when I'm just using it as a straw man to illustrate a bigger problem, but we really need to stop having so much YA be about "kids" who are just who we were if we could go back to high school with our adult brains intact. I'm just really tired of YA being so stuck in certain themes and motifs, like theyre all still from a Joss Whedon show circa 2002. This isnt Bella Swan, I'm supposed to be 16 years old but I read Wuthering Heights for fun bad, but people, please remember these books are supposed to be, first and foremost, about the actual young people, the ones who go to Coachella and worship Kylie and Kendall and listen to rap and wear neo-90's looks mixed with urban streetwear. The actual Reggie and Snake do not even know what the crap emo is.Stop trying to make fetch happen, people. It's not going to happen.

In many ways this is a difficult read. If you love anyone who suffers from depression, it can scare the bejesus out of you! Whitney's descriptive account of depression took me on a journey of a loved one's life that conjured up fears of death and loneliness that are all to real. I loved Snake. I found him to be complex, yet genuine; romantic yet dorky, and real yet flawed. At first Reggie got on my nerves. I just wanted to smack her and tell her to "get over herself," but that is the point, there is no true way to see any person the way they really see themselves. Depression is a hidden monster and each person fights their own battle in their own way, in the meantime leaving loved ones confused, conflicted and sometimes terrified. I kept holding my breath; I just knew someone was going to die, because that is the ultimate fear of those of us on the outside.The unsung hero for me was the therapist. She added validity to the story line and provided hope and realism to Reggie's experiences. This is not a "woe is me" tale, this is a struggle, a journey, a trek, a slogging through the mud of an all too real phenomena plaguing our young people of today. Taylor's writing is smart, ripe with commentary to which a younger generation can relate - I missed a few of the references, however it did not detract from the overall conversation. I particularly loved the way Taylor used definitions (snarky retorts) throughout the book, weaving a continuity that provided comic relief and witty banter to very serious subject matter.I highly recommend this book! It is a journey of pain, resilience, humor, and truth.

Poignantly heartfelt look at teen depression. The utter wasteland that depression leaves in its wake. An individuals fear to feel and to hope.As a secondary teacher this book was hard for me to read and actually finish. I have worked with Reggie's and Snake's daily in my classroom; I witness the disinterest and hopelessness they project. The often disrespect and painfully honest words they say and the angst the feel about life in general.Ms. Taylor's book made me laugh and cry; feel despair and hope. It made me see depression from a teens perspective the inside and not just some vain attempt to understand the undefinable. I look to reading more from this talented author. A most read for teens, parents and educators.

Well-written, unique debut! I don't read a lot of young adult books, and there was a little bit more language than what I was expecting, but I do believe it gives the dialogue authenticity in the midst of some very serious discussions about depression and the struggle to find understanding. One thing I really liked about this one was the tie-in between the title and the writing style. It helped me keep up with the lingo and it gave the book verve (see: passion, exuberance... did I do that right?). I am looking forward to Whitney's next book.

I was lucky enough to read an early version of this story. THIS BOOK, YOU GUYS. It caught my attention from the first page and never let go. It's emotional, smart, and the way Taylor was able to make depression SO relatable was brilliant. So much talent in these pages. You won't want to miss this one!!!I can't wait to hold it in my hands <333

Its a really good book does not go in my list of favorites. Its really heartwarming but there was nothing that wowed me in the book. Pretty predictable.

This was a decent read but it had a tendency to drone one and make you scream "Okay we get it! You're depressed and you like each other." The relationships between the three character was really uncomfortable at times and I still don't know If I like Snake very much. Still it was a great plot idea and very funny and well written