"A poignant story about living with a mental health condition, offering insight and hope."
Anne Buist, co-author of bestselling novel The Glass House & Chair of Women's Health, University of Melbourne
As Sydney gears up for the 2000 Olympics, Angelica Fletcher is ready to rewrite her life.
Dissatisfied with her conventional existence, she conjures up a feisty alter ego called Elena. But as Elena grows beyond Angie's control, the line between reality and imagination blurs, sending shockwaves through those around her.
Angie's husband, Jimmy, scrambles to keep up with her boundless exuberance. Her friend Sinéad is drawn to her spark, unaware of the darkness beneath. And for her mother, Norah, Angie's wild antics stir up long-buried ghosts.
Angie is making the most of her borrowed life, but how long can this last before she realises what Elena represents?
With intelligence and sensitivity, this award-winning novel explores the complexities of living with a mental health condition, the transformative power of healing, and the need for balance and authenticity in our lives.
About the Author :
el Vidal is the pen name of a Bolivian-Australian writer who since 1988 has called Sydney home.Her works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry have been widely published both in English and Spanish, under her pen name, her real name and other pseudonyms.Soon after arriving in Sydney, she was the recipient of an Australia Council (now Creative Australia) grant to publish a bilingual collection of poems and short stories, Arcoiris de Sueños / Rainbow of Dreams.An earlier draft of her novel Exuberance was short-listed for the Varuna-Harper Collins award for manuscript development, and was awarded the five-day Varuna Awards Residential Masterclass. It was independently published in 2023, followed by her collection short fiction and non-fiction stories, Tales of Suburban Castaways in 2024.Bel has a BA in Communications, Majoring in Creative Writing (UTS) and a Masters in writing for the Media (Macquarie University).She works in the not-for-profict sector as a communications and media professional, using her writing skills towards advocating for positive social change.Bel is also a mental health advocate, book lover, film buff, bush walking enthusiast, keen photographer / designer, adventurous traveller, blogger and firm believer it's never too late to start something new.
Review :
5 out of 5 - 'A wonderful journey of the power of the human mind'
I loved this book. It is full of real heart and feeling for the trauma of mental illness and how it touches a whole family in their struggle to recalibrate their lives after Angie (the book's heroine) is diagnosed with bi-polar. There is humour and warmth as well as the realistic darkness of the journey for Angie as a wife, daughter and friend. - Amazon customer
5 out of 5 - Uplifting and enthralling
From the first page to the last I loved this book. It's the story of highs and lows, struggles and ultimately triumph. The author takes the reader on a journey of twists and unexpected turns and leaves you feeling nothing but admiration for Angelica's determination in the face of setbacks along the way. I can't recommend this book highly enough; it is a narrative told with energy and sensitivity. - Amazon customer
5 out of 5 - Powerful story that spoke to me personally
I am not a fiction reader at all, but was drawn to this storyline and personally resonated with both the challenges and triumphs of Angie's journey. I love how the author was able to fictionally create a story that highlighted the stigma still surrounding mental health. I honestly feel this is a book that should be readily available for everyone to read, especially in these times. We all need to embrace the Angies of this broken world, as you can learn and grow so much by doing so. - Amazon customer
