The Glass Girl
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the critically acclaimed author of Girl in Pieces comes a raw, heart-wrenching novel about a teenager facing down her struggles with alcohol—and the journey she must take to heal.
“A must-read.” —Laura Nowlin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of If He Had Been with Me
“Everyone needs this book.” —Sloan Harlow, New York Times bestselling author of Everything We Never Said
Everyone in fifteen-year-old Bella’s life needs something from her. Her mom needs her to help around the house, her dad needs her to not make waves, her ex needs her to not be so much. The only person who never needed anything from her was her grandmother—and now she’s dead.
There’s only one thing that dulls the pressure: alcohol. Vodka, beer, peppermint schnapps—alcohol smooths the sharp edges of Bella’s life. And what’s the big deal? Everyone drinks. Besides, Bella can stop whenever she wants. But after she gets blackout drunk at a Thanksgiving party and wakes up in the hospital, it’s time to face reality. And for Bella, reality means rehab.
Gorgeously written and deeply compassionate, Kathleen Glasgow’s The Glass Girl is a candid exploration of the forces pushing young women toward addiction—and what it really takes to help them get better.
“A must-read.” —Laura Nowlin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of If He Had Been with Me
“Everyone needs this book.” —Sloan Harlow, New York Times bestselling author of Everything We Never Said
Everyone in fifteen-year-old Bella’s life needs something from her. Her mom needs her to help around the house, her dad needs her to not make waves, her ex needs her to not be so much. The only person who never needed anything from her was her grandmother—and now she’s dead.
There’s only one thing that dulls the pressure: alcohol. Vodka, beer, peppermint schnapps—alcohol smooths the sharp edges of Bella’s life. And what’s the big deal? Everyone drinks. Besides, Bella can stop whenever she wants. But after she gets blackout drunk at a Thanksgiving party and wakes up in the hospital, it’s time to face reality. And for Bella, reality means rehab.
Gorgeously written and deeply compassionate, Kathleen Glasgow’s The Glass Girl is a candid exploration of the forces pushing young women toward addiction—and what it really takes to help them get better.
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Community Reviews
A raw and heart-wrenching novel about teenage addiction.
Bella, a 15-year-old dealing with school pressures, family issues, and the loss of her grandmother, turns to alcohol to cope. After a life-changing night, she ends up in rehab.
Bella's journey through rehab and her struggle to return to normal life are compelling and relatable. The characters are well-developed, especially Bella, who is vulnerable yet resilient.
A thought-provoking read that encourages important conversations about mental health and substance abuse.
The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow is a deeply moving and heart-wrenching exploration of addiction and the path to recovery. As I followed Bella's journey, I felt completely immersed in her world, witnessing her struggles, pain, and the overwhelming grip of her addiction. Glasgow does an incredible job of making Bella's internal conflict raw and real, there were moments when I genuinely felt distress, as though I was beside Bella as she struggled, and desperately wanted to help her.
What I appreciated most was how realistic the story of Bella's recovery process felt. It wasn’t a smooth or easy road, it wasn't romanticised. It felt like an honest and relatable portrayal of a destructive cycle, and the long road to healing.
The depth of the characters and the emotional weight of the narrative made it truly gripping. I couldn’t put the book down, constantly wanting to know what would happen next, how Bella would cope, and whether she would make it out. By the end, I felt like I had learned something meaningful about the complexities of addiction, the strength it takes to break free from it, and the painful but necessary steps towards recovery.
In short, The Glass Girl is a powerful read that stays with you long after you finish. It’s a book that not only captivated me but also taught me valuable lessons on resilience, addiction, and hope.
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