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.

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.

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

Helena Fox

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Overview

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How It Feels To Float Summary and Study Guide

Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Pages 1-76

How It Feels To Float Pages 1-76 Summary & Analysis

Pages 77-153

How It Feels To Float Pages 77-153 Summary & Analysis

Pages 154-226

How It Feels To Float Pages 154-226 Summary & Analysis

Pages 227-291

How It Feels To Float Pages 227-291 Summary & Analysis

Pages 292-370

How It Feels To Float Pages 292-370 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

How It Feels To Float Character Analysis

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How It Feels To Float

Before You Read

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