45 pages • 1 hour read
How It Feels To Float
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Book Brief
384
Novel • Fiction
Australia • Contemporary
2019
YA
14-18 years
HL630L
Super Short Summary
Helena Fox's debut novel How It Feels to Float follows 16-year-old Biz, who struggles with grief, mental illness, and her sexual identity after losing her father at a young age. She navigates high school relationships, deepening her connection with new and old friends, while exploring photography and uncovering family secrets. The story delicately balances moments of despair and hope, ultimately leading Biz toward healing and self-discovery. This book contains profanity, descriptions of suicide, mental illness, and anti-LGBTQ+ language and behavior.
Melancholic
Emotional
Mysterious
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
19,761 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
How It Feels To Float by Helena Fox is praised for its poignant exploration of mental health, grief, and identity. Readers appreciate the lyrical prose and deep emotional resonance. Some critics find the pacing uneven and the narrative occasionally hard to follow. Overall, it is a deeply moving debut that sensitively addresses complex themes.
Who Should Read How It Feels To Float?
How It Feels To Float by Helena Fox is ideal for readers who appreciate profound contemporary YA fiction with themes of mental health and grief. Fans of Nina LaCour's We Are Okay or Adam Silvera's More Happy Than Not will find it particularly compelling.
19,761 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Jasper Alessio
Jasper Alessio
A new student at Biz's school and Sylvia's grandson, who becomes a supportive friend to Biz, sharing a mutual understanding of feeling out of place and helping her explore her father's past.
Sylvia
Sylvia
An elderly woman in Biz's photography class whose youthful spirit and empathy provide mentorship and unconditional support, becoming a comforting presence in Biz's life.
Stephen Grey
Stephen Grey
Biz's deceased father who appears as a ghost, serving as a source of both trauma and comfort as she navigates her memories and emotions connected to his death.
384
Novel • Fiction
Australia • Contemporary
2019
YA
14-18 years
HL630L
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