But Inside I'm Screaming

But Inside I'm Screaming by Elizabeth Flock

After a meltdown on live TV, Isabel Murphy checks herself into the place she least wants to be - a mental institution. At Three Breezes (aka: the Nut Hut), Isabel finds herself wondering why she is there, among all the "freaks"; but once she starts accepting the help and guidance of the nurses and therapists there, she understands how desperately she needed to take a break from life, and her insane desire to be perfect.

This novel brings to light the issue of mental illness and society's stereotype of mental institutions and the kind of people who reside there. While I did enjoy the book, I must be honest in that I expected much more, having previously read "Me & Emma" - another novel by Elizabeth Flock. It was a fairly light read and a good plot created around the idea of mental illness and mental institutions. I managed to read this book in about a day and a half (reading bits here and there as time allowed), so I do need to note that despite that I was able to fly through this novel, it was mainly because I wanted to know what would happen to Isabel in the end.

I would definitely recommend this book as a quick, light read which I think would be great to bring along while travelling. However, I was so impressed by "Me & Emma" that I would recommend that novel more. Needless to say I will definitely be reading other works by Elizabeth Flock, and I hope others will enjoy this novel, and her others, as well!