A book for teens now, who have lived through the height of the pandemic and are still processing the trauma and isolation from the last three years, I’m Good and Other Lies by Bev Katz Rosenbaum is a book that will help young people gain a better understanding of the ways in which we have all been affected by this global event.

Kelsey is a teenager struggling at a new high school. Her mother is a famous comedienne and also an addict. Her father is only ever present to fight with her mother and to top it all off, Kelsey’s best friend has moved to California to be with her own dysfunctional mother. To keep out of the house, she starts a part time job and then COVID hits throwing her already tumultuous life into even more upheaval.

Bev Katz Rosenbaum has gifted readers with a story set in this moment. We are all continuing to experience the pandemic in our own unique ways. It’s really important to remember that for everyone who was able to embrace family closeness, there are so many more people who’s families are not their safe place. People who were and still remain very isolated from their communities. Kelsey’s story, although fiction, has threads to real experiences and will be of comfort to many readers who found and continue to find themselves in similar circumstances as well as a reminder to us all about the importance of community and checking in on those around us.

I really liked how this story was told in prose and through text messages. Although the subject matter was heavy at times, there was humour in the darkness. Bev Katz Rosenbaum expertly navigated the difficult subject matter with well timed humour and lightness. In the end, I’m Good and Other Lies is a story of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. Although set with COVID as the backdrop, it's a reminder that hardship can be overcome, it just takes time and effort and at times a humbling of one’s self. 

This was an incredibly engaging read and I had a hard time putting it down.