Title: Hello Me, It’s You
Author: Hannah Todd, Anonymous
Release date: October 10th 2016
Format: eBook
Rating: 
“Keep smiling and being you. Don’t let the world change you”
Hello Me, it’s You is a collection of letters by young adults aged 17-24 about their experiences with mental health issues. The letters are written to their 16-year-old selves, giving beautifully honest advice, insight and encouragement for all that lays ahead of them.
This book was produced by the Hello Me, it’s You charity, set up by the editor, Hannah. Hannah was diagnosed with depression and anxiety whilst at university and found comfort in talking to friends about their experiences, realising she was not alone in her situation. This inspired the idea for the charity and book. Through the creation of materials such as this, the charity aims to provide reassurance for young adults (and their families) who are experiencing mental health issues and give a voice to young adults on such an important topic. The result of that will hopefully be a reduction in the negative stigma surrounding mental health and an increase in awareness of young people’s experiences. All profits go the Hello Me, it’s You charity, for the production of future supportive books.
Trigger warning: Due to it’s nature, the content of this book may be triggering. Contains personal experiences of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, trichotillomania and other mental health issues, as well as issues such as assault.
“…both beautiful and necessary” Sarah Franklin
We all enjoy stories we can relate to. Stories that can put words on experience we have had, on emotions that have filled us at some point, on problems we never dared talking about, on weights that have burdened us. Stories make us feel like there’s someone out there who understands what we have been through, what we are going through. But stories are just that: stories. There is a limit to the solace we can find in them because in the end, we are the only ones who can find the right words to fill the pages of our own stories.
That is what makes Hello Me, It’s You different from everything I have read before on mental health. There is no professional giving you well-thought but inefficient miracle solutions to make you feel better, no author trying to portray something they never actually experienced themselves and fixing it all with the power of love. In this book, you will find letters. The truest letters you can write. Letters to your younger self. They are heart-breaking yet so full of hope.
A wide range of issues are discussed by an array of different people who know what they are talking about because they were on the front when it all happened. Bulimia, anxiety, depression. You name it, they survived it. They don’t hide, they don’t lecture. They understand, they look back at themselves with tolerance and admiration because they know what is ahead and the strength it takes to go through it. I think what moved me the most was the gentle voices I imagined while reading their letters. They stopped fighting themselves, they started fighting that part of them that kept pulling them down into those dark holes.
Even surrounded by people suffering from similar problems, I often find it difficult to listen to advice, as I feel I’m the only one who knows what it’s like to live in my shoes. Literally speaking, it’s true, but those letters reminded me the world doesn’t revolve around me and there’s nothing so special about my anxiety. The words they chose to talk to themselves resonated in me just as if I had been the one writing to myself. Like a good injection of reality, the reality that I’m no different, and I have the strength to make it too.
You’ll find quotes going along with every letter. I decided to leave them in the book for you to discover them as you go along. They made me smile, they pulled at those poor heartstrings, they enveloped me with a soft layer of joy. No, none of the mental health issues mentioned are okay, fun or easy to live with, but no matter what they did to those anonymous faces and hearts, each and every one of them found a way out. I think it is important to remember it. There’s a door. No, you won’t leave it all behind. But it gets better. Yes it does. That’s the message of this book. Some might find it stupid, but we too often forget that the hardest thing to hold on to when you’re exposed to mental issues is hope. Cheesy as it sounds, you won’t find a better word to spur you to keep on going when it’s raining in your head.
I would like to thank every brave participant of this project for reminding us who important it is to keep going, for letting us in on a part of their lives that hurt, might still hurt, for so openly saying things as they are, and for being alive.
This book is for everyone looking for a proof they is a brighter side.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This seems like such an important book, I think the format is perfect, because you sometimes don’t want a professional, but people like you that are living similar situations. Very honest and well-written review Donna!! :*
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Thank you! 😘 The format was perfect to convey the emotions and hardships every person has gone through. Professional can make it sound so bland and easy to overcome.
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This is a great review for what sounds like a great book tackling a really different subject.
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Thank you Marshie, I found the format to be perfect to tackle every aspect of life with mental health. I’m not a fan of letters, but it works so well here.
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Sorry, I meant difficult subject not different.
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It’s great to hear it’s such a ‘hopeful’ book. I think everyone will get something out of it, even if you don’t recognize yourself in one of these stories, it’s just as important to understand these disorders better. If we would understand them better, there wouldn’t be such a taboo resting on them either. PS I had to look up trichotillomania. I didn’t know it was the name for a compulsive disorder when you pull out your hair.
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You are totally right. Everyone can find something to get a better understanding of mental health issues with true stories and simple words that just speak the truth. I did the same! I was at a lost about the name, even though I knew about the disorder. I still can’t pronounce it!
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Wonderful review to what sounds like a wonderful and equally important book.
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Thank you so much. I could not resist requesting the book and I am so glad I did, despite me not being a fan of the letter format.
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I will read this when given the opportunity. I agree that it sounds like something we could all benefit from. I cannot lie and pretend like this chronic illness has not been without negative effects on my mental health. While I may be in a great place now, I think we have all searched for some solace at some point or at least cared for someone who has. I have longed for someone to connect with or understand on a more personal level at times, so I think this is an amazing and positive concept. I also love that this was done as part of the charity effort. I hope others will pick this up. Wonder review Donna ❤
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I can only imagine the effect of a chronic illness on mental health, it pushes you to the extremes *hugs* It is the search for people who understand and can connect to my issues that have spurred me to request this book despite my ban from NetGalley. It is a powerful book, I hope it helps you when you get the chance to read it ❤ Thank you so much.
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Thank you Donna ❤
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Now I really want to read this book. I’ll add it to my tbr.
It could preobably be trigging for me in some aspects , but still…
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It definitely can be triggering, but I think it is worth it 🙂 It’s a nice window into people’s lives and a fresh view on the issues.
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This sounds amazing, as a person who suffers from mental illness it is always nice to know that I am not alone. It’s so hard to find good mental illness books… I’m glad you reviewed this one it’s on my TBR now.
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I am sorry to hear you suffer from mental illness too. I have recently discovered talking and reading about it helps me get a new perspective on things and spurs me to try new things to learn how to live with it and overcome what can be. I hope this book gives you as much hope as it gave me. Those issues can make us feel so alone, it’s nice to be reminded others understand and feel similar things. If you ever need to talk, I’m right here 🙂
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Thank you!
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Great review, lady! 🙂 It’s told through letters. What an interesting concept. I’ve heard of doctors recommending this to their patients. I bet this one was painful in a way to read so many stories like that. But I like books about mental illness that don’t sugar coat what it’s really like for the people who suffer with it. Because they are suffering and it’s not easy. I hate when you read books that use a romance to make the person all better. That’s not realistic, but this is real. I like that.
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Thank you Jilly 😀 It was not an easy read. I took my time to appreciate each letter and yet I finished the book within an hour. It was so beautiful to read how people talk to their former selves, especially with such issues. I wish the “romance solves everything” concept would just disappear. It makes me want to puke!
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Wow! You finished a book in an hour? Marathon reader! Don’t puke. 😂 I can’t stand that cure all answer for everything in mental illness books. It makes me so annoyed. I roll my eyes every time and lose interest immediately.
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I was cheating, they were letters :p
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Wow! I need to read this 💞 This sounds real, raw and honest and I’m definitely adding it to my TBR! Thanks Donna for your brilliant review 😊
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Thank yo so much! 😘 It’s absolutely raw but definitely a good read!
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This honestly seems like an amazing book, and so unique as well in the way it has put together letters about mental health rather than writing a book or story about them you know?
Normally this wouldn’t be the kind of book I pick up but mental health has always been an important topic to me given I used to suffer from a form of mental health issues and know people who went through the same thing I did so I will definitely be picking this one up. I’m glad to see you enjoyed it so much as well Donna! 🙂
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I agree, it feels so personal and so true thanks to the format. I think that is why it moved me so much 🙂 I hope you like it as much as I did. It’s definitely a good book with stories and advice you can relate to.
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It’s great they managed to keep some of that personality in this book, because I think it’s a very personal subject isn’t it? I hope I enjoy it too, it certainly sounds like it will be an interesting read.
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omg I need to read this ASAP!!!!! I think this is so important to read with these type of topics. And I like how it’s a letter format which is even better and makes it way more personal. Thanks for your amazing review ❤
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Thank you for your kind words ❤ I wish everyone read the right books on the subject to fight and defeat the taboos and prejudices people suffering from mental issues face every day. It's important to be informed, even if you don't deal with it personally.
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Wow- this book sounds amazing! Just… wow! I really want to read this!
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I’d love for you to read it! It’s raw and so honest!
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Ahh awesome!!
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[…] Donna […]
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Such a wonderful review, for a book I might have not even noticed, so thank you for this! It seems like such an important book, and I really like the form of letters to talk about these difficult subjects. It doesn’t feel like an easy read – well it wouldn’t be too easy for me, I’m guessing, but it also seems powerful, and hopeful, and I love the sound of that 🙂
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Thank you my Sweechie ❤ It's absolutely not an easy read, it triggers emotions and tugs at the heartstrings, but I wish people would read it to understand and get that hope that someday it gets better.
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Thank you for this wonderful and personal review, Donna. The concept and format of the book are excellent for the subject matter and it seems that actually people writing letters about these issues has a more poignant impact than perhaps a novel would have. I’m glad this book resonated so much with you. I hope its messages reach the people who need to hear it most.
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Thank you for this. The format is perfect to share stories and avoid the “lesson” tone. It was personal and painful but it’s a needed read.
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Great review! It definitely sounds like an really interesting read with an important topic.
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Thank you 🙂 It’s a really good read with plenty of information and advice for everyone to get a better understanding of life with a mental issue. It should totally be handed out in high schools.
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Ooh I saw this on NG but always get a little worried when a book deals with MI because I’m not sure how it’s going to be portrayed. I’m so happy to hear this one had such a good message. I’ll definitely be adding it to my TBR. Lovely review, Donna ♥
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Thank you! ❤ Like you, I'm wary of books dealing with mental health because I am always afraid of the result, but this one does everything right and is full of information and stories and just people looking back and it's raw and beautiful.
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I like the format of the book and the fact that the letters are from people who have experienced the issues and not someone writing from a professional POV because it is never really the same. This does sound like a nice, powerful read. Wonderful review Donna.
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Thank you so much. I am glad I decided to look for books on the subject because there are some really good ones out there and they need more attention.
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[…] I just want to give a thanks to Donna from Chocolate n Waffles Blog who’s review of this book inspired me to request and read […]
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[…] Hello Me, It’s You, Hanna Todd and Anonymous 4/5 You can find the review here. […]
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