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More or Less Maddy: A Novel
A breathless, riveting novel about a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder who rejects the stability and approval found in a traditionally “normal� life for a career in stand-up comedy.
Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out freshman at NYU. Between schoolwork, exams, navigating life in the city, and a recent breakup, it’s normal to be feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that she’s always felt like the odd one out in her picture-perfect Connecticut family. But Maddy’s latest low is devastatingly low, and she goes on an antidepressant. She begins to feel good, dazzling in fact, and she soon spirals high into a wild and terrifying mania that culminates in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dreams, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.
With her signature “deep empathy and insight� (Booklist), Harvard-trained neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova has crafted another profoundly moving novel that makes complicated mental health issues accessible and human. More or Less Maddy is destined to become another classic like Still Alice.
Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out freshman at NYU. Between schoolwork, exams, navigating life in the city, and a recent breakup, it’s normal to be feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that she’s always felt like the odd one out in her picture-perfect Connecticut family. But Maddy’s latest low is devastatingly low, and she goes on an antidepressant. She begins to feel good, dazzling in fact, and she soon spirals high into a wild and terrifying mania that culminates in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dreams, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.
With her signature “deep empathy and insight� (Booklist), Harvard-trained neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova has crafted another profoundly moving novel that makes complicated mental health issues accessible and human. More or Less Maddy is destined to become another classic like Still Alice.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2025
1,274 people are currently reading
35k people want to read
About the author
Lisa Genova
18books10.9kfollowersLisa Genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bates College with a degree inBiopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.
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Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, Lisa has captured a special place in contemporary fiction, writing stories that are equally inspired by neurological conditions and our shared human condition. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels STILL ALICE, LEFT NEGLECTED, LOVE ANTHONY, INSIDE THE O'BRIENS, and EVERY NOTE PLAYED.
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Her first work of nonfiction, REMEMBER: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting, published March 2021, became an instant New York Times bestseller.
�
STILL ALICE was adapted into a film starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and
Hunter Parrish. Julianne Moore won the 2015Best Actress Oscar for her role as Alice Howland. Film adaptations for INSIDE THE O'BRIENS, EVERY NOTE PLAYED, and LEFT NEGLECTED are in development.
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STILL ALICE was adapted for the stage by Christine Mary Dunford and premiered at the Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago in April 2013. It has since toured worldwide.
�
In 2015, Lisa was named one of the U.S. Top 50 Influencers in Aging by Next Avenue. She has appeared on Live with Kelly &Ryan, the TODAY show, CNN, PBS Newshour, Dr. Oz, and NPR and has been featured in the PBS specials Build a Better Memory Through Science and Supercharge Your Brain, as well as the documentary films To Not Fade Away and Have You Heard About Greg.
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Her first TED talk, "What You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer's" has been viewed over eight million times. Her most recent TED talk, "How Memory Works--and Why Forgetting is Totally OK" was the sixth most watched TED talk of 2021. A sought-after speaker/edutainer, she has headlined in speaker series alongside Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Gloria Steinem, Jay Leno, Malala Yousafzai, and Goldie Hawn.
She received The Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square, for "distinguished storytelling that has enriched the public dialogue," The Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award, The Global Genes RARE Champions of Hope Award, and The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Media Award for "informing the public about treatment and ongoing research in medical illness."
She has received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Bates College, The Alzheimer's Association's Rita Hayworth Award, The Huntington’s Disease Society of America Community Awareness Award, and the Grubby Award for literary excellence.
�
She serves on the Advisory Boards for TheWomen's Alzheimer's Movement, HFC (Hilarity for Charity), and Compassionate Care ALS.
�
Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, Lisa has captured a special place in contemporary fiction, writing stories that are equally inspired by neurological conditions and our shared human condition. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels STILL ALICE, LEFT NEGLECTED, LOVE ANTHONY, INSIDE THE O'BRIENS, and EVERY NOTE PLAYED.
�
Her first work of nonfiction, REMEMBER: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting, published March 2021, became an instant New York Times bestseller.
�
STILL ALICE was adapted into a film starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and
Hunter Parrish. Julianne Moore won the 2015Best Actress Oscar for her role as Alice Howland. Film adaptations for INSIDE THE O'BRIENS, EVERY NOTE PLAYED, and LEFT NEGLECTED are in development.
�
STILL ALICE was adapted for the stage by Christine Mary Dunford and premiered at the Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago in April 2013. It has since toured worldwide.
�
In 2015, Lisa was named one of the U.S. Top 50 Influencers in Aging by Next Avenue. She has appeared on Live with Kelly &Ryan, the TODAY show, CNN, PBS Newshour, Dr. Oz, and NPR and has been featured in the PBS specials Build a Better Memory Through Science and Supercharge Your Brain, as well as the documentary films To Not Fade Away and Have You Heard About Greg.
�
Her first TED talk, "What You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer's" has been viewed over eight million times. Her most recent TED talk, "How Memory Works--and Why Forgetting is Totally OK" was the sixth most watched TED talk of 2021. A sought-after speaker/edutainer, she has headlined in speaker series alongside Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Gloria Steinem, Jay Leno, Malala Yousafzai, and Goldie Hawn.
She received The Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square, for "distinguished storytelling that has enriched the public dialogue," The Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award, The Global Genes RARE Champions of Hope Award, and The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Media Award for "informing the public about treatment and ongoing research in medical illness."
She has received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Bates College, The Alzheimer's Association's Rita Hayworth Award, The Huntington’s Disease Society of America Community Awareness Award, and the Grubby Award for literary excellence.
�
She serves on the Advisory Boards for TheWomen's Alzheimer's Movement, HFC (Hilarity for Charity), and Compassionate Care ALS.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,937 reviews
March 5, 2025
As 2025 approaches, I’ve decided to implement a new grading system to distinguish exceptional five-star reads from others. Some books are so mind-blowing they deserve a special ten-star rating and a prominent spot in your personal library to revisit time and again. Lisa Genova’s More or Less Maddy is one such book—offering hope that 2025 will be a groundbreaking year for literature. Not only is it one of the best books of the year, but it also deserves a place among the all-time greats.
This novel’s treatment of bipolar disorder is groundbreaking—sensitive, honest, and deeply empathetic. It captures the struggles, emotional shifts, and survival mechanisms with striking authenticity. You’ll find yourself stepping into Maddy’s shoes, feeling her pain and uncertainty, and wondering how you’d cope if faced with a life-altering diagnosis at such a young age, with your whole life ahead of you. Would you deny it and try to carry on as normal, or follow the strict rules imposed by protective parents? What would become of your dreams? Your future?
The story follows 19-year-old NYU student Maddy Banks, who learns of her bipolar diagnosis after being prescribed a stimulant for her depression at the university health center. The stimulant triggers manic episodes, leading to her discovery. The treatment process—complete with new medications that leave her drowsy, dizzy, and emotionally drained—is especially challenging for Maddy, who lives in a family obsessed with appearances. Her mother, in particular, enforces strict rules to prevent a recurrence of Maddy’s earlier manic episode, further complicating her adjustment process.
Maddy’s journey takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a passion for comedy. After being encouraged to share her writings on stage, she begins exploring stand-up comedy—despite her mother’s protests, who views this newfound passion as a symptom of her illness. Her mother equates it to Maddy’s past delusional belief that she could be best friends with Taylor Swift.
Determined to break free from her mother’s control, Maddy defies the rules, sneaks out, and lies about her whereabouts to pursue her dream of becoming a comedian. Her journey is fraught with challenges, including mental struggles and societal expectations. Can she carve out her place in the world, embrace her true self, and live beyond the limitations of her diagnosis?
Overall:
It’s been a long time since a book shook me to my core and took my emotions on such a powerful ride. I wholeheartedly loved Maddy’s journey and deeply admire the author’s creativity and thoughtful approach to mental health awareness. I cannot recommend this book enough—just read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Scout Press for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this remarkable book in exchange for my honest opinions.
This novel’s treatment of bipolar disorder is groundbreaking—sensitive, honest, and deeply empathetic. It captures the struggles, emotional shifts, and survival mechanisms with striking authenticity. You’ll find yourself stepping into Maddy’s shoes, feeling her pain and uncertainty, and wondering how you’d cope if faced with a life-altering diagnosis at such a young age, with your whole life ahead of you. Would you deny it and try to carry on as normal, or follow the strict rules imposed by protective parents? What would become of your dreams? Your future?
The story follows 19-year-old NYU student Maddy Banks, who learns of her bipolar diagnosis after being prescribed a stimulant for her depression at the university health center. The stimulant triggers manic episodes, leading to her discovery. The treatment process—complete with new medications that leave her drowsy, dizzy, and emotionally drained—is especially challenging for Maddy, who lives in a family obsessed with appearances. Her mother, in particular, enforces strict rules to prevent a recurrence of Maddy’s earlier manic episode, further complicating her adjustment process.
Maddy’s journey takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a passion for comedy. After being encouraged to share her writings on stage, she begins exploring stand-up comedy—despite her mother’s protests, who views this newfound passion as a symptom of her illness. Her mother equates it to Maddy’s past delusional belief that she could be best friends with Taylor Swift.
Determined to break free from her mother’s control, Maddy defies the rules, sneaks out, and lies about her whereabouts to pursue her dream of becoming a comedian. Her journey is fraught with challenges, including mental struggles and societal expectations. Can she carve out her place in the world, embrace her true self, and live beyond the limitations of her diagnosis?
Overall:
It’s been a long time since a book shook me to my core and took my emotions on such a powerful ride. I wholeheartedly loved Maddy’s journey and deeply admire the author’s creativity and thoughtful approach to mental health awareness. I cannot recommend this book enough—just read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Scout Press for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this remarkable book in exchange for my honest opinions.
March 12, 2025
Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist whose mission is to write compelling fiction that brings understanding and empathy for the diseases she writes about, has won many well-deserved awards for her efforts. In this book, she provides a window into the world of bipolar disorder.
Marialyce and I read this and we were both touched by Maddy’s story and impressed, once again, with Lisa Genova’s talent.
One of my very good friends had a son with bipolar, and I can say Lisa Genova did a phenomenal job of highlighting the challenges on both the person who has bipolar and on their family and loved ones.
Maddy suffers the hallmark cyclical symptoms, with extreme mood swings ranging from the depths of depression when she can barely get out of bed, to the reckless behavior during her manic phases. No one chooses this illness, and the illness doesn’t define the person. Maddy desperately wants to go back to who she was before.
In the author’s own words she chooses to “write about people who tend to be ignored, feared, and misunderstood because of what’s going on inside of their brains�. She’s tackled ALS, Huntington’s chores, Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injury, and autism. But this is the first time she’s written about mental illness, which carries the additional burden of shame, stigma, and judgment.
As a neuroscientist, the author knows about what she writes, and it’s clear in the acknowledgments she does extensive research from people who are living it.
It’s not an easy read. It’s heart wrenching to see Maddy experience the lows of depression, and the delusions of grandeur during manic episodes. The disease onset usually strikes young adults, an already uncertain, often tumultuous, time of their lives. Maddy must come to terms with her new normal at a time in life when young adults just want to fit in. It’s typical for sufferers to stop taking their medication during a calm phase, which of course leads to a manic episode. The disease causes behaviors that leads others to label them as “weird� or unlikable.
Being so close to a family whose son suffered with this disorder made this a difficult read. Many of the scenarios were all all too familiar. Unfortunately, our friend’s son, a brilliant, kind young man with a loving family and a promising future, did not survive this devastating illness, despite access to treatment. We have a long way to go.
I hope that readers will gain much understanding and empathy toward those who live with bipolar, a disorder that, according to the author’s note, has 47 million sufferers worldwide, 7 million of those who live in the U.S.
Marialyce and I read this and we were both touched by Maddy’s story and impressed, once again, with Lisa Genova’s talent.
One of my very good friends had a son with bipolar, and I can say Lisa Genova did a phenomenal job of highlighting the challenges on both the person who has bipolar and on their family and loved ones.
Maddy suffers the hallmark cyclical symptoms, with extreme mood swings ranging from the depths of depression when she can barely get out of bed, to the reckless behavior during her manic phases. No one chooses this illness, and the illness doesn’t define the person. Maddy desperately wants to go back to who she was before.
In the author’s own words she chooses to “write about people who tend to be ignored, feared, and misunderstood because of what’s going on inside of their brains�. She’s tackled ALS, Huntington’s chores, Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injury, and autism. But this is the first time she’s written about mental illness, which carries the additional burden of shame, stigma, and judgment.
As a neuroscientist, the author knows about what she writes, and it’s clear in the acknowledgments she does extensive research from people who are living it.
It’s not an easy read. It’s heart wrenching to see Maddy experience the lows of depression, and the delusions of grandeur during manic episodes. The disease onset usually strikes young adults, an already uncertain, often tumultuous, time of their lives. Maddy must come to terms with her new normal at a time in life when young adults just want to fit in. It’s typical for sufferers to stop taking their medication during a calm phase, which of course leads to a manic episode. The disease causes behaviors that leads others to label them as “weird� or unlikable.
Being so close to a family whose son suffered with this disorder made this a difficult read. Many of the scenarios were all all too familiar. Unfortunately, our friend’s son, a brilliant, kind young man with a loving family and a promising future, did not survive this devastating illness, despite access to treatment. We have a long way to go.
I hope that readers will gain much understanding and empathy toward those who live with bipolar, a disorder that, according to the author’s note, has 47 million sufferers worldwide, 7 million of those who live in the U.S.
February 9, 2025
5 INCREDIBLE stars!
All Time Favourites List! 🏆
Bipolar disorder. A mental health illness that carries a lot of stigma, fear and judgement.
Lisa Genova introduces us to an unforgettable young woman named Maddy who is just starting her life in college. Through Maddy’s endearing character, we experience the shocking highs and lows of someone experiencing the initial symptoms and eventual diagnosis of bipolar disorder. An immensely impactful and memorable read.
Maddy got to my heart from page one. Throughout these well-written pages I cared for her, worried for her, hoped for her, rooted for her. I was 100% invested, inhaling every word, longing for answers and a positive outcome. We meet Maddy’s family and friends who offer various forms of support throughout her diagnosis. Each character adding a new layer to this tedious and never ending process of learning to properly navigate the behaviours of this disorder.
This book is raw, heavy, informative and written with unflinching honesty. It is one to be read only when you feel ready to absorb the ugly, intricate, intimate details of this life changing disorder. A truly unforgettable read.
Lisa Genova is an author like no other. I’ve read and loved every one of her books. She is willing to examine and share the often hidden and forbidden details of suffering that people go through with diseases and disorders many of us will be lucky enough to never encounter personally. Through her beautiful and unique characters, Lisa Genova teaches her readers to gain empathy for those suffering these diseases and disorders. Her books make the world a better place.
Equally fascinating and haunting, this book gets my highest recommendation.
All Time Favourites List! 🏆
Bipolar disorder. A mental health illness that carries a lot of stigma, fear and judgement.
Lisa Genova introduces us to an unforgettable young woman named Maddy who is just starting her life in college. Through Maddy’s endearing character, we experience the shocking highs and lows of someone experiencing the initial symptoms and eventual diagnosis of bipolar disorder. An immensely impactful and memorable read.
Maddy got to my heart from page one. Throughout these well-written pages I cared for her, worried for her, hoped for her, rooted for her. I was 100% invested, inhaling every word, longing for answers and a positive outcome. We meet Maddy’s family and friends who offer various forms of support throughout her diagnosis. Each character adding a new layer to this tedious and never ending process of learning to properly navigate the behaviours of this disorder.
This book is raw, heavy, informative and written with unflinching honesty. It is one to be read only when you feel ready to absorb the ugly, intricate, intimate details of this life changing disorder. A truly unforgettable read.
Lisa Genova is an author like no other. I’ve read and loved every one of her books. She is willing to examine and share the often hidden and forbidden details of suffering that people go through with diseases and disorders many of us will be lucky enough to never encounter personally. Through her beautiful and unique characters, Lisa Genova teaches her readers to gain empathy for those suffering these diseases and disorders. Her books make the world a better place.
Equally fascinating and haunting, this book gets my highest recommendation.
March 19, 2025
More or less...my thoughts.
Genova takes on an exploratory story deep into mental illness and gives us front row seats to witness it.
Maddy is a young adult. One day, she’s fine or at least holding it together. The next, she is unravelling and cutting to soothe the constant unease. Then a manic episode that lasts for weeks. She is diagnosed as being bipolar. A disease of instability with severe highs followed by deep lows.
What I didn’t like was the character in particular. I’m also not a fan of female standups - it all becomes about sex or body parts. No thanks.
Genova’s writing is rather prescriptive - if you’ve read one, you have more or less have read them all.
For me, it lacked lustre and the Taylor Swift references became annoying.
While I remain a Still Alice fan, this one was a disappointment.
Genova takes on an exploratory story deep into mental illness and gives us front row seats to witness it.
Maddy is a young adult. One day, she’s fine or at least holding it together. The next, she is unravelling and cutting to soothe the constant unease. Then a manic episode that lasts for weeks. She is diagnosed as being bipolar. A disease of instability with severe highs followed by deep lows.
What I didn’t like was the character in particular. I’m also not a fan of female standups - it all becomes about sex or body parts. No thanks.
Genova’s writing is rather prescriptive - if you’ve read one, you have more or less have read them all.
For me, it lacked lustre and the Taylor Swift references became annoying.
While I remain a Still Alice fan, this one was a disappointment.
February 25, 2025
With beautiful prose, a deep understand of the human mind and intelligence Genova had written another five star book. Having bipolar myself I felt so understood and hopeful after reading it. It does not minimize the suffering we experience or the hurt it can cause for families and friends, and it shows the very real process from denial to acceptance. This was truly wonderful and enlightening, and had an engaging plot and believable characters as well.
January 22, 2025
If you’ve ever picked up a Lisa Genova book, you know her stories just hit differently. Lisa Genova doesn’t just write books; she opens windows into lives we might not fully understand.
In More or Less Maddy, Lisa Genova focuses on bipolar disorder with her usual blend of heart, empathy, and just enough science to pull you in. It’s raw, emotional, informative, and leaves you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page.
Maddy’s Journey for Normalcy
Maddy’s story is one of highs and lows—literally. She’s just a college kid trying to figure life out. She just wants what we all want: a normal, happy life to follow her passion but her life has taken a turn making it hard for her to pursue her passion.
Genova doesn’t shy away from the raw, realities of Maddy’s Biopolar condition. I could feel every moment—her confusion, vulnerabilities, her euphoria, and her despair. Maddy’s longing for a normal life, stability, and the freedom to follow her passions is so palpable it aches. I felt right there with her, wanting nothing more than for her to find stability in a life that felt like it was spinning out of control.
Family Dynamics: Heartbreak and Hope
The story delves into how Maddy’s condition impacts her family, grappling with shame, fear, and helplessness, and evokes a whirlwind of emotions—anger, sadness, empathy—while also showing how these struggles affect Maddy. Genova captures the tension, heartbreak, and moments of hope that come with living alongside bipolar disorder. She doesn’t just tell a story; she makes you feel every bit of it.
A Story That Stays With You
You not only connect with the characters you come away understanding more about bipolar and the effect it has on families.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
In More or Less Maddy, Lisa Genova focuses on bipolar disorder with her usual blend of heart, empathy, and just enough science to pull you in. It’s raw, emotional, informative, and leaves you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page.
Maddy’s Journey for Normalcy
Maddy’s story is one of highs and lows—literally. She’s just a college kid trying to figure life out. She just wants what we all want: a normal, happy life to follow her passion but her life has taken a turn making it hard for her to pursue her passion.
Genova doesn’t shy away from the raw, realities of Maddy’s Biopolar condition. I could feel every moment—her confusion, vulnerabilities, her euphoria, and her despair. Maddy’s longing for a normal life, stability, and the freedom to follow her passions is so palpable it aches. I felt right there with her, wanting nothing more than for her to find stability in a life that felt like it was spinning out of control.
Family Dynamics: Heartbreak and Hope
The story delves into how Maddy’s condition impacts her family, grappling with shame, fear, and helplessness, and evokes a whirlwind of emotions—anger, sadness, empathy—while also showing how these struggles affect Maddy. Genova captures the tension, heartbreak, and moments of hope that come with living alongside bipolar disorder. She doesn’t just tell a story; she makes you feel every bit of it.
A Story That Stays With You
You not only connect with the characters you come away understanding more about bipolar and the effect it has on families.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
January 28, 2025
EXCERPT: She looks in the mirror. The girl she sees has sunken, drunk eyes, greasy hair plastered to her big head, and a hollow face. The girl is joyless. Lifeless. She thinks back to summer, especially near the end, only a little over a month ago, when she was an energetic girl who rode her bike to and from work every day, so happy to be back together with her boyfriend. End-of-summer Maddy had her shit together. Now look at her. Fall Maddy is a total mess. She's like an over-chewed piece of gum - what was once supple, enjoyable, and minty fresh is now hard and flavorless. She wants to spit herself out.
How could she be both of those people? Which is the real her? She examines the face she sees in the mirror.
Am I real?
ABOUT 'MORE OR LESS MADDY': Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out freshman at NYU. Between schoolwork, exams, navigating life in the city, and a recent breakup, it’s normal to be feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that she’s always felt like the odd one out in her picture-perfect Connecticut family. But Maddy’s latest low is devastatingly low, and she goes on an antidepressant. She begins to feel good, dazzling in fact, and she soon spirals high into a wild and terrifying mania that culminates in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dreams, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.
MY THOUGHTS: More or Less Maddy was an especially poignant read for me having, over the previous year, watched a close friend become totally unstable, just like Maddy, and eventually be diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. Unfortunately for him, help was not as easily come by as it was for Maddy, despite our best efforts.
Reading More or Less Maddy was both a beautiful and a painful experience. I kept thinking, 'Oh, that is SO X!' I cried a lot during this book, and I laughed - especially at the bag of marbles 🤣🤣. It also made me realise that muted symptoms had always been there, but we thought that was 'just X'. It took a personal crisis to destabilise him and unleash the full spectrum of symptoms and behaviors.
The author's medical experience as a neuroscientist combined with her innate empathy and insight combine to make More or Less Maddy an outstanding read. This book will do for bipolar disease what Still Alice did for Dementia.
Lisa Genova explores the effects of this disease on family relationships, friendships, love interests and employment.
A must read for everyone, whether you know someone with bipolar or not - and you probably do, even if you don't yet realise it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#MoreorLessMaddy #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.
Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, Lisa has captured a special place in contemporary fiction, writing stories that are equally inspired by neurological conditions and our shared human condition.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Allen & Unwin via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
How could she be both of those people? Which is the real her? She examines the face she sees in the mirror.
Am I real?
ABOUT 'MORE OR LESS MADDY': Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out freshman at NYU. Between schoolwork, exams, navigating life in the city, and a recent breakup, it’s normal to be feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that she’s always felt like the odd one out in her picture-perfect Connecticut family. But Maddy’s latest low is devastatingly low, and she goes on an antidepressant. She begins to feel good, dazzling in fact, and she soon spirals high into a wild and terrifying mania that culminates in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dreams, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.
MY THOUGHTS: More or Less Maddy was an especially poignant read for me having, over the previous year, watched a close friend become totally unstable, just like Maddy, and eventually be diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. Unfortunately for him, help was not as easily come by as it was for Maddy, despite our best efforts.
Reading More or Less Maddy was both a beautiful and a painful experience. I kept thinking, 'Oh, that is SO X!' I cried a lot during this book, and I laughed - especially at the bag of marbles 🤣🤣. It also made me realise that muted symptoms had always been there, but we thought that was 'just X'. It took a personal crisis to destabilise him and unleash the full spectrum of symptoms and behaviors.
The author's medical experience as a neuroscientist combined with her innate empathy and insight combine to make More or Less Maddy an outstanding read. This book will do for bipolar disease what Still Alice did for Dementia.
Lisa Genova explores the effects of this disease on family relationships, friendships, love interests and employment.
A must read for everyone, whether you know someone with bipolar or not - and you probably do, even if you don't yet realise it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#MoreorLessMaddy #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.
Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, Lisa has captured a special place in contemporary fiction, writing stories that are equally inspired by neurological conditions and our shared human condition.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Allen & Unwin via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
September 14, 2024
I always look forward to reading Lisa Genova books as she covers such fascinating topics. Her latest effort, More or Less Maddy is amazing. She sheds light on bipolar disorder mental illness characterized by high and low mood changes. So interesting, beautifully written and I learned a lot.
March 12, 2025
I learned so much. Always do with Lisa Genova’s books.
Most of us have heard of bipolar disorder and perhaps we have someone we know or love experiencing this mental illness. It's a horrible existence when one goes from times of mania , hypomania, and depression. These symptoms affect your daily life with a plethora of things one feels compelled to do. Things like having unprotected sex, drinking and drug use, impulsiveness, and buying expensive items begin a list for those who experience this illness. Sadness, hopelessness, little of no energy, thoughts of suicide, and excessive or little sleep do often accompany the depressive state.
All this above, is what the main protagonist, Maddy, suffers from in Lisa Genova's newest book. Maddy's condition is not only difficult for her but her family members as well as thy try with the help of doctors and drugs to aid Maddy struggles.
Maddy is a young woman ready to tackle the world but this illness limits her in many ways. After finally leaving NYU, she discovers that she likes to perform comedy and tries to do that onstage. One of the things she does is write copiously filling notebook after notebook with her thoughts, often rambling, and her obsession with Taylor Swift. Thinking herself "recovered", she comes off the drugs and of course the result is life threatening for her.
About one in one hundred fifty people have bipolar, and if a parent has it, the rate increases up to 50% that a child will inherit this illness. Lithium is the main drug prescribed while other antidepressants and antipsychotics are also used.
One can't help but feel sorrow for a person who has this, as they are on a lifelong journey to fight this illness. There is no cure but it can be managed with the love and care of family and friends, and drugs.
As mentioned above Lisa Genova has made me realize what exactly this illness is and how to become a more understanding adult with regards to this illness. A very good thing when an author teaches you how to be a better person.
Jan an I loved the authenticity and research that went into the formation of this book.
Most of us have heard of bipolar disorder and perhaps we have someone we know or love experiencing this mental illness. It's a horrible existence when one goes from times of mania , hypomania, and depression. These symptoms affect your daily life with a plethora of things one feels compelled to do. Things like having unprotected sex, drinking and drug use, impulsiveness, and buying expensive items begin a list for those who experience this illness. Sadness, hopelessness, little of no energy, thoughts of suicide, and excessive or little sleep do often accompany the depressive state.
All this above, is what the main protagonist, Maddy, suffers from in Lisa Genova's newest book. Maddy's condition is not only difficult for her but her family members as well as thy try with the help of doctors and drugs to aid Maddy struggles.
Maddy is a young woman ready to tackle the world but this illness limits her in many ways. After finally leaving NYU, she discovers that she likes to perform comedy and tries to do that onstage. One of the things she does is write copiously filling notebook after notebook with her thoughts, often rambling, and her obsession with Taylor Swift. Thinking herself "recovered", she comes off the drugs and of course the result is life threatening for her.
About one in one hundred fifty people have bipolar, and if a parent has it, the rate increases up to 50% that a child will inherit this illness. Lithium is the main drug prescribed while other antidepressants and antipsychotics are also used.
One can't help but feel sorrow for a person who has this, as they are on a lifelong journey to fight this illness. There is no cure but it can be managed with the love and care of family and friends, and drugs.
As mentioned above Lisa Genova has made me realize what exactly this illness is and how to become a more understanding adult with regards to this illness. A very good thing when an author teaches you how to be a better person.
Jan an I loved the authenticity and research that went into the formation of this book.
January 18, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up - Amazing & maybe Genova’s best (even better than “Still Alice�), I couldn’t put this one down & flew through it. My heart broke several times for young Maddy. There is a lot of really good info here on Bipolar as one would expect from this author & I also found her note at the end very informative.
March 19, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Raw, heartfelt, and deeply moving!
LISA GENOVA completely swept me away with her stunning new novel More or Less Maddy. From the very first page, I was fully immersed in Maddy Banks� world, her struggles, her dreams, her sharp humor, and her aching need to belong. There was something so compelling about her journey, something that felt so real and intimate, like I was living every moment alongside her.
The emotional pull of this story was undeniable. Maddy’s highs were electrifying, full of dazzling energy and endless possibilities, and her lows were crushing, pulling me into the depths of her pain and uncertainty. Her diagnosis of bipolar disorder shifts everything, her sense of self, her relationships, her future, and watching her navigate this new reality was utterly gripping and deeply affecting.
LISA GENOVA masterfully crafts a story that is as insightful as it is emotional, capturing the complexity of mental health with such honesty and care. The writing is raw and powerful, and I felt every moment, Maddy’s excitement, her confusion, her heartbreak, and her resilience. The humor woven throughout made me smile even in the heaviest moments, reminding me just how vibrant and full of life Maddy is.
This was storytelling at its finest. More or Less Maddy was a completely engrossing, unforgettable read that held me captive from beginning to end. It was an experience, one that I know will stay with me for a long time.
LISA GENOVA completely swept me away with her stunning new novel More or Less Maddy. From the very first page, I was fully immersed in Maddy Banks� world, her struggles, her dreams, her sharp humor, and her aching need to belong. There was something so compelling about her journey, something that felt so real and intimate, like I was living every moment alongside her.
The emotional pull of this story was undeniable. Maddy’s highs were electrifying, full of dazzling energy and endless possibilities, and her lows were crushing, pulling me into the depths of her pain and uncertainty. Her diagnosis of bipolar disorder shifts everything, her sense of self, her relationships, her future, and watching her navigate this new reality was utterly gripping and deeply affecting.
LISA GENOVA masterfully crafts a story that is as insightful as it is emotional, capturing the complexity of mental health with such honesty and care. The writing is raw and powerful, and I felt every moment, Maddy’s excitement, her confusion, her heartbreak, and her resilience. The humor woven throughout made me smile even in the heaviest moments, reminding me just how vibrant and full of life Maddy is.
This was storytelling at its finest. More or Less Maddy was a completely engrossing, unforgettable read that held me captive from beginning to end. It was an experience, one that I know will stay with me for a long time.
January 23, 2025
3.5- I appreciate this book and the message it brings forth about living with bipolar disorder, but I just didn’t love this one. Maddy was not a very likeable character and coupled with the fact that this book was quite repetitive and the comedy storylines were so cringy, I just couldn’t get past it. I like this authors other books way more than this one.
September 29, 2024
I received a free copy of, More or Less Maddy, by Lisa Genova, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Maddy is a typical college freshman, except she has bipolar. Mental illness is still a major stigma in our society, its not talked about like it should be. Mental illness affects everyone in the family, not just the one with the mental illness, and some families have more than family member afflicted with mental illness. This was a good read.
March 25, 2025
A brilliant achievement! This book should be on everyone's reading list. Lisa Genova has a PhD in neuroscience and is an expert in disorders of the brain, tells the beautiful story of Maddy who gets diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 19 years old just as her adult life is beginning. It is told from her perspective and accurately shows how this affects her and everyone in her life. Genova tastefully and accurately takes the stigma out of mental health disorders. It's not something the person chose, just like a person doesn't choose to get cancer. It is a medical condition.
Maddy and her family members and friends are fully developed characters. You feel all of the emotions they go through as everyone learns to adjust to a new reality. This book is relevant for everyone today. Maddy's story is a similar story to those diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and more. Mental health disorders affect one in four adults today. This means that everyone has a family member or knows someone who is affected by a mental health disorder. Prevalence skyrocketed during the pandemic, and most are diagnosed in their late teens or early twenties. Just when they are trying to become independent, going to college and working. Please read this book - it will inform you, give you empathy, compassion, and understanding, and perhaps a few tools to help someone. All the stars for this fantastic, important book.
Maddy and her family members and friends are fully developed characters. You feel all of the emotions they go through as everyone learns to adjust to a new reality. This book is relevant for everyone today. Maddy's story is a similar story to those diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and more. Mental health disorders affect one in four adults today. This means that everyone has a family member or knows someone who is affected by a mental health disorder. Prevalence skyrocketed during the pandemic, and most are diagnosed in their late teens or early twenties. Just when they are trying to become independent, going to college and working. Please read this book - it will inform you, give you empathy, compassion, and understanding, and perhaps a few tools to help someone. All the stars for this fantastic, important book.
February 25, 2025
This is a fictional account of a young college age woman diagnosed with Bipolar disorder after a manic episode at a family gathering. The story takes us through police arriving, intake through the ER, psychiatric hospital care, and therapy and drug treatment/maintenance. It depicts what a family endures as they try to help the Bipolar individual. Since it's important for the Bipolar to take their prescribed medications, maintain a regular and satisfying sleep schedule, and stay away from alcoholic beverages, the family lives in fear of relapse if the patient does not comply. It's very sad, upsetting, and can cause much family upheaval.
While Maddy Banks navigates the complexities of this diagnosis, she is attending NYU and flirting with becoming a standup comic. It is up to Maddy to embrace her condition, listen to her doctors, while also listening to her heart and what brings her joy and satisfaction in life. It is also up to Maddy's family to not put her in a box, but let her be the woman she wants to be. This was at times tough to read, but very thought-provoking and instructive about people living with this diagnosis.
March 6, 2025
I always thought I would be a one and done with Lisa Genova because she clearly gets off on writing tragiporn novels centered around terminal or chronic illnesses. Like billions of others I read Still Alice, but then The O’Briens was once again about some sad debilitating disease with no hope so I was officially out. Never say never, though, because maybe a story about a young woman being diagnosed with bipolar disease might be up my alley and I thought I'd give it a go.
I thought I would quite possibly dig this one, but it pretty much lost me right away at the somehow weirdly recently overused "main character who wants to be a comedian." Dear Authors: Stop making unfunny characters have comedic aspirations. How did that even become such an overused career goal in books recently? If you’re going to make these characters be aspiring comics, they have to be FUNNY. Comedy isn’t just writing jokes and memorizing them - it’s people who are naturally hilarious. No one would want to sit through this chick’s ranty Ted Talk comedy special. And if the bizarre zero dollar an hour career choice wasn't odd enough, then the additional manic episodes featuring Taylor Swift related imaginings just put it over the edge. Then there’s the problem of Maddy having little to no developed personality outside of her illness and what glimpses we did get being so unlikeable and first world with a great support system (and great insurance to boot). So unrelatable.
This was as easy read, but I didn't think it was very good.
I thought I would quite possibly dig this one, but it pretty much lost me right away at the somehow weirdly recently overused "main character who wants to be a comedian." Dear Authors: Stop making unfunny characters have comedic aspirations. How did that even become such an overused career goal in books recently? If you’re going to make these characters be aspiring comics, they have to be FUNNY. Comedy isn’t just writing jokes and memorizing them - it’s people who are naturally hilarious. No one would want to sit through this chick’s ranty Ted Talk comedy special. And if the bizarre zero dollar an hour career choice wasn't odd enough, then the additional manic episodes featuring Taylor Swift related imaginings just put it over the edge. Then there’s the problem of Maddy having little to no developed personality outside of her illness and what glimpses we did get being so unlikeable and first world with a great support system (and great insurance to boot). So unrelatable.
This was as easy read, but I didn't think it was very good.
January 22, 2025
As a person living with a bipolar 2 diagnosis, I appreciate this book so much. The stigma that comes with the word, "bipolar", makes those of us living with it feel ashamed and embarrassed. I love that this book brings more awareness to the diagnosis and gives people a glimpse into what it is like to live with it day to day. I loved the main character, Maddy, and was rooting for her throughout the story. Well written and enjoyable!
December 29, 2024
"More or Less Maddy" is an absolutely captivating read that deserves more than five stars! Although it falls outside my usual genre—thrillers—I found it profoundly engaging because it explores the psyche and complexities of mental illness, a topic that has always intrigued me. You'll need to set aside any preconceptions you might have about bipolar disorder and open your mind to Maddie's emotions and perceptions.
Having spent nine years working behind the scenes at a mental health center primarily focused on paperwork, I gained insight into the harsh realities many individuals face. Countless patients discontinued their medication and encountered outcomes similar to Maddie's. As someone who deeply empathizes with others, I struggled with feelings of compassion after witnessing this repetitive cycle, especially since I wasn't family. That job sparked a passion in me to learn more about psychology and the intricacies of mental health while also forcing me to confront the issues my own family experienced.
Maddie is a college student grappling with her recent bipolar diagnosis, and the impact on her life is nothing short of heartbreaking. The author skillfully portrays Maddie's emotions, giving readers a rich understanding of her experience. While it's easy to relate to her mother's perspective, Maddie's voice adds depth that reshapes how we view this disorder. I can't help but sympathize with her desire for a "normal" life—who wouldn't feel suffocated under her mother's care and the side effects of the medication? This narrative offers powerful insight into the struggles many face, helping us understand why so many individuals battling mental illness also experience homelessness.
Having spent nine years working behind the scenes at a mental health center primarily focused on paperwork, I gained insight into the harsh realities many individuals face. Countless patients discontinued their medication and encountered outcomes similar to Maddie's. As someone who deeply empathizes with others, I struggled with feelings of compassion after witnessing this repetitive cycle, especially since I wasn't family. That job sparked a passion in me to learn more about psychology and the intricacies of mental health while also forcing me to confront the issues my own family experienced.
Maddie is a college student grappling with her recent bipolar diagnosis, and the impact on her life is nothing short of heartbreaking. The author skillfully portrays Maddie's emotions, giving readers a rich understanding of her experience. While it's easy to relate to her mother's perspective, Maddie's voice adds depth that reshapes how we view this disorder. I can't help but sympathize with her desire for a "normal" life—who wouldn't feel suffocated under her mother's care and the side effects of the medication? This narrative offers powerful insight into the struggles many face, helping us understand why so many individuals battling mental illness also experience homelessness.
January 1, 2025
More Or Less Maddy is a completely eye opening look into what it means to be bipolar (or have bipolar.) It's raw. It's real. As someone who has someone in their life with bipolar, I could see the similarities and it provided a true glimpse into the struggle of the disease.
As the reader, I desperately wanted to help Maddy succeed in her treatment. I felt her struggles as well as those of her loved ones. It is such an emotional story.
The intensity was balanced by a bit of levity as Maddy pursued a career as a stand up comic. I was fascinated by the process and the effort up and coming comedians need to put forth. So much grit!
As the reader, I desperately wanted to help Maddy succeed in her treatment. I felt her struggles as well as those of her loved ones. It is such an emotional story.
The intensity was balanced by a bit of levity as Maddy pursued a career as a stand up comic. I was fascinated by the process and the effort up and coming comedians need to put forth. So much grit!
February 11, 2025
Depression runs in my family and therefore this book was especially meaningful.
August 17, 2024
As expected, anything Lisa writes is gold! Beautifully written - and while you fall in love with the character - you learn about the disease - what an educational experience.
As someone who loves someone with bipolar disorder - this book helps make sense of the disease while hopefully eliminating the shame that bipolar disorder carries. It’s a disorder - it’s not who the person is. One of the last lines of the book is “She’s a comedian who has bipolar disorder living a full but not normal life…� I love this line. It perfectly describes someone with bipolar disorder.
Once again, Lisa brings the human connection to neurological conditions. What a gift we are given by having Lisa write these novels.
As someone who loves someone with bipolar disorder - this book helps make sense of the disease while hopefully eliminating the shame that bipolar disorder carries. It’s a disorder - it’s not who the person is. One of the last lines of the book is “She’s a comedian who has bipolar disorder living a full but not normal life…� I love this line. It perfectly describes someone with bipolar disorder.
Once again, Lisa brings the human connection to neurological conditions. What a gift we are given by having Lisa write these novels.
March 8, 2025
This book was amazing! Maddy is a brand new college student who is faced with the unexpected: a manic episode and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. As she tries to navigate the fear and uncertainty of what it means to become a “normal� adult, she must also learn to regulate her mental health. Genova’s writing truly made me feel like I was inside Maddy’s brain at times. For others who have read this, I must mention one scene in particular: the arm bar. OMG!!!!!!!! I also appreciated the acknowledgments and author’s note detailing the research performed in writing this novel, to include personal conversations with several people living with bipolar disorder. I couldn’t put this down and I will definitely be picking up Genova’s other books.
⚠️ Trigger warnings: self-harm, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, drug use
⚠️ Trigger warnings: self-harm, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, drug use
January 15, 2025
I absolutely loved this book and it is one of the best depictions of mental illness I have read.... maybe ever!
Maddy was a wonderful protagonist. I loved reading her story and learning of her struggles. Her experience with bipolar disorder felt so authentic and genuine and I appreciated the unfiltered honesty Genova pushed forward. I felt for Maddy as she grappled with questioning what was real, what was the bipolar disorder, and how she would navigate this new normal.
More or Less Maddy also raised really strong points about how we treat people with mental illness. I particularly liked Maddy's insight into having bipolar disorder, not being bipolar. Just because you have a disorder, it does not make you that disorder. The analogy to eating a mushroom pizza not making you a mushroom pizza hit home and will stick with me.
I also really loved the comedy aspect of this novel. Recently I've read some books about female comics that didn't quite make the mark for me. I loved learning of Maddy's process, hearing her jokes (the good and bad ones!), and seeing her gain her footing and grow her confidence in a male dominated industry.
This was a quick read and one that was very powerful. It felt well-researched and gave so much insight into the bipolar disorder. There is so much to digest and discuss - it would definitely make a great book club read.
Thank you to THE BUZZ for putting this one on my radar. Highly, highly recommend!
Maddy was a wonderful protagonist. I loved reading her story and learning of her struggles. Her experience with bipolar disorder felt so authentic and genuine and I appreciated the unfiltered honesty Genova pushed forward. I felt for Maddy as she grappled with questioning what was real, what was the bipolar disorder, and how she would navigate this new normal.
More or Less Maddy also raised really strong points about how we treat people with mental illness. I particularly liked Maddy's insight into having bipolar disorder, not being bipolar. Just because you have a disorder, it does not make you that disorder. The analogy to eating a mushroom pizza not making you a mushroom pizza hit home and will stick with me.
I also really loved the comedy aspect of this novel. Recently I've read some books about female comics that didn't quite make the mark for me. I loved learning of Maddy's process, hearing her jokes (the good and bad ones!), and seeing her gain her footing and grow her confidence in a male dominated industry.
This was a quick read and one that was very powerful. It felt well-researched and gave so much insight into the bipolar disorder. There is so much to digest and discuss - it would definitely make a great book club read.
Thank you to THE BUZZ for putting this one on my radar. Highly, highly recommend!
January 13, 2025
More or Less Maddy is Lisa Genova’s latest beautiful masterpiece. She is a brilliant author and this time she brings to light the stigma of bipolar disorder and we learn how Maddy learns to live with it. I love EVERYTHING Lisa writes and highly recommend all her books. This hooked me from the first page and I read it in 1 day. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. I know it will be a #1 best seller.
April 5, 2025
More Or Less Maddy is the sixth novel by award-winning, best-selling American neurosurgeon and author, Lisa Genova. Always a happy person, Madison Baker puts her deep depression during her first year at NYU down to the overwhelming pressure of schoolwork, the breakup with her boyfriend of four years, an annoying dorm roommate, and her difficulty making new friends. She does admit that the break up put her in a negative mindset: “She wanted to feel bad, as if she were honoring the death of their relationship, and the depth of her mourning needed to match the significance of their love.�
Over the summer break, Adam convinces her to hook up again, she’s working at Starbucks with the girl who used to be her best friend, Sophia, and she’s happy enough. But back at NYU, unlike Adam and Sophia, she still hasn’t settled on a major that will lead to a decent career. Meeting assignment deadlines, even going to classes, is exhausting and she spends more time in bed than ever before. Her grades suffer, and she starts cutting.
A visit to the student health clinic to get a medical extension on her assignment results in a diagnosis of depression, and a prescription for an SSRI. Very soon, Maddy has boundless energy, feels enervated about everything, and needs no sleep. Grandiose ideas that include writing for her idol, Taylor Swift, and becoming a comedian. Expected future wealth means she can spend big on things to enhance her image. She doesn’t know it, but Maddy is having her first manic episode.
Maddy’s lucky she has a wealthy step-father and a devoted family who see that she gets the best care, but the bipolar diagnosis is a shock. Medication, a stay in a private mental hospital: “Maddy stares into her expressionless brown eyes in the mirror and can’t see the normal Maddy she used to be. That girl is gone.� And the mania is prevented, but “She’s empty, a recycled cardboard cutout of a human, alive but also dead. She’s depressed with no signs of relief.�
There’s also the stigma attached to a mental condition and “Her diagnosis has changed the way her mother sees her, or rather doesn’t.� Amy Baker seems to only see potential problems that will trigger the next manic episode. Meanwhile, part of Maddy “feels dead, like a zombie or a robot or an actor in the world’s most boring play� Maddy imagines her own meds holding her together, an after-school crafting project of string, glue, and staples.� She wonders, too, if the side-effects aren’t worse than the illness?
The peek Genova gives us of the personal perspective of someone deep in a manic episode is wholly convincing and especially revelatory. It’s easy to see that during hypomania/mania, any insight that Maddy might have into her thought processes and mental stability disappears, replaced by delusions of grandeur. The initial denial is also understandable, such that a patient begins to doubt the diagnosis, and stops taking their medications to check if they’re right. Many patients probably wish they could access “hypomania, that glittery on-ramp to mania’s superhighway� at will.
As always, Genova’s professional expertise shines through on every page. Informative, moving and hopeful.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.
Over the summer break, Adam convinces her to hook up again, she’s working at Starbucks with the girl who used to be her best friend, Sophia, and she’s happy enough. But back at NYU, unlike Adam and Sophia, she still hasn’t settled on a major that will lead to a decent career. Meeting assignment deadlines, even going to classes, is exhausting and she spends more time in bed than ever before. Her grades suffer, and she starts cutting.
A visit to the student health clinic to get a medical extension on her assignment results in a diagnosis of depression, and a prescription for an SSRI. Very soon, Maddy has boundless energy, feels enervated about everything, and needs no sleep. Grandiose ideas that include writing for her idol, Taylor Swift, and becoming a comedian. Expected future wealth means she can spend big on things to enhance her image. She doesn’t know it, but Maddy is having her first manic episode.
Maddy’s lucky she has a wealthy step-father and a devoted family who see that she gets the best care, but the bipolar diagnosis is a shock. Medication, a stay in a private mental hospital: “Maddy stares into her expressionless brown eyes in the mirror and can’t see the normal Maddy she used to be. That girl is gone.� And the mania is prevented, but “She’s empty, a recycled cardboard cutout of a human, alive but also dead. She’s depressed with no signs of relief.�
There’s also the stigma attached to a mental condition and “Her diagnosis has changed the way her mother sees her, or rather doesn’t.� Amy Baker seems to only see potential problems that will trigger the next manic episode. Meanwhile, part of Maddy “feels dead, like a zombie or a robot or an actor in the world’s most boring play� Maddy imagines her own meds holding her together, an after-school crafting project of string, glue, and staples.� She wonders, too, if the side-effects aren’t worse than the illness?
The peek Genova gives us of the personal perspective of someone deep in a manic episode is wholly convincing and especially revelatory. It’s easy to see that during hypomania/mania, any insight that Maddy might have into her thought processes and mental stability disappears, replaced by delusions of grandeur. The initial denial is also understandable, such that a patient begins to doubt the diagnosis, and stops taking their medications to check if they’re right. Many patients probably wish they could access “hypomania, that glittery on-ramp to mania’s superhighway� at will.
As always, Genova’s professional expertise shines through on every page. Informative, moving and hopeful.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.
January 20, 2025
19 year old Maddy Banks is like any other pampered college student... except that she has a diagnosis of Bipolar Personality Disorder- Type I. She dreams of having a comedy special on Netflix and writing Taylor Swift's biography, but in periods of mania she is careless with both her mind and body. And she has delusions of grandeur. Maddy comes from a well off country club Connecticut family where she is the youngest of 3. Her oldest sister Emily is engaged to be married and will marry her college sweetheart from Vanderbilt. Maddy has a somewhat strained relationship with her mother, who she thinks infantilizes her, and who doesn't quite know how to control her disorder.
Lisa Genova is famous for having well researched character studies of neurodiverse people; she has really zeroed in on this micro-genre, having written about dementia, Huntington's, autism, and more. This is perhaps her most ambitious and best work yet.... getting inside the mind of Maddy in a way that helps the reader truly empathize. To a loved one of someone with this mental illness, the helplessness and anger is understandable. This book follows Maddy through a blue period in her freshman year to several periods of mania. It touches upon the way Maddy suffers and tries to understand, the people in her life and how they cope with how to be the best support.
No spoilers here, but the ending is realistic while being hopeful. It is heartwarming, although not Polly-Anna-ish. Bipolar Disorder is not something that can be cured, but something Maddy must take responsibility for managing. The journey is not an easy one, and it is not a cookie cutter solution.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a contemporary character study; but for those that love someone with a diagnosis of Bipolar disorder, I must insist you read this. No one is saying every journey is the same, but it helps us to accept and celebrate our differences.
I was gifted a free copy of this book from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
Lisa Genova is famous for having well researched character studies of neurodiverse people; she has really zeroed in on this micro-genre, having written about dementia, Huntington's, autism, and more. This is perhaps her most ambitious and best work yet.... getting inside the mind of Maddy in a way that helps the reader truly empathize. To a loved one of someone with this mental illness, the helplessness and anger is understandable. This book follows Maddy through a blue period in her freshman year to several periods of mania. It touches upon the way Maddy suffers and tries to understand, the people in her life and how they cope with how to be the best support.
No spoilers here, but the ending is realistic while being hopeful. It is heartwarming, although not Polly-Anna-ish. Bipolar Disorder is not something that can be cured, but something Maddy must take responsibility for managing. The journey is not an easy one, and it is not a cookie cutter solution.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a contemporary character study; but for those that love someone with a diagnosis of Bipolar disorder, I must insist you read this. No one is saying every journey is the same, but it helps us to accept and celebrate our differences.
I was gifted a free copy of this book from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
February 5, 2025
3.5 rounded down. A favorite author but this story did not resonate with me as much as Left Neglected and Still Alice. I found it hard to connect with the protagonist, Maddy, as she was not a likable character. I think the book was an honest look at bipolar disorder, but it was also very repetitive. When Maddy was in a depressed state, a lot of time was spent detailing how tired she was. How she couldn’t find the energy to get out of bed, shower, eat, etc. Repeat. Then repeat again. Maddy’s manic stages were extremely bizarre and certainly more interesting to read than the depressed stages were. I also had a hard time relating to her goal of being a stand up comic. It just didn’t interest me. I did like the underlying family dynamics and thought they were the best part of the story. This was a quick read and has received very high ratings. It was very readable but I felt like it was missing something.
January 24, 2025
Absolutely heart-wrenching, profoundly empathetic, and thoughtfully written, More or Less Maddy is a triumph. As someone who has a lifetime of experience with my own mental health struggles, I appreciated what a complete picture Lisa Genova paints of the complex impacts of mental illness on our loved ones and our own sense of self. I felt seen, and I'm sure so many others will too. As someone who has used humour to deal with tough times, I appreciated how funny this book also managed to be.
Read with care as this one isn't afraid to address the darkest of times, while also showing just how resilient the human spirit can be.
This is everything I love in a book. A story that makes you feel, laugh, challenges you and makes you truly understand the struggles of someone else better. This book takes its place as a new favourite on my shelf.
Read with care as this one isn't afraid to address the darkest of times, while also showing just how resilient the human spirit can be.
This is everything I love in a book. A story that makes you feel, laugh, challenges you and makes you truly understand the struggles of someone else better. This book takes its place as a new favourite on my shelf.
February 3, 2025
No one teaches me more about the brain (and all of its� glorious capabilities and dangers) than Lisa Genova. Just amazing.
July 26, 2024
Very, very good account of Maddy, a college student who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and its consequences. Genova is a neuroscientist as well as a gifted writer so I knew this book would be well researched and well written.I was drawn in by Maddy’s struggles and successes and I felt her mother’s pain too. Read this when it is released in 2025. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.
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