Lisa Genova, the acclaimed neuroscientist and author of Still Alice, returns with another emotionally rich and scientifically grounded novel, More or Less Maddy. This time, she turns her compassionate lens toward bipolar disorder, crafting a story that is as illuminating as it is devastating. Through the eyes of 19-year-old Maddy Banks, Genova captures the turmoil, stigma, and resilience of living with a mental illness that often hides in plain sight.
Maddy seems like any other NYU freshman stressed, heartbroken, and trying to find her footing in the chaos of city life. When a crushing wave of depression leads to an antidepressant prescription, she begins to feel better. Too good, in fact. Her dazzling highs soon spiral into manic episodes, culminating in a life-altering diagnosis of bipolar disorder. What follows is a deeply human journey of acceptance, rebellion, and self-discovery.
At its heart, More or Less Maddy explores identity what happens when your mind betrays you, when the person you thought you were becomes unrecognizable. Maddy’s struggle to balance her illness with her dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian is both heartbreaking and empowering. Her newfound passion for comedy becomes a symbol of her fight for autonomy, even as her overprotective mother tries to confine her within the boundaries of “safety.” Through Maddy’s eyes, readers witness the tension between living freely and living carefully, between embracing joy and fearing relapse.
Nilufer Ozmekik described the book as “groundbreaking sensitive, honest, and deeply empathetic,” and it is easy to see why. Genova’s portrayal of mental illness is remarkably nuanced, avoiding stereotypes in favor of authenticity. Every manic rise and depressive fall feels real, not dramatized. The novel invites readers to sit inside Maddy’s mind and experience both her brilliance and her pain.
Reviewer JanB beautifully captured Genova’s mission: to bring empathy to conditions that are often ignored or misunderstood. As a neuroscientist, Genova knows the science, but it is her empathy that makes her storytelling extraordinary. Through Maddy’s eyes, we see how bipolar disorder affects not just the individual but also families, friendships, and romantic relationships. JanB, who has personally witnessed a loved one’s struggle with bipolar disorder, praised the book’s accuracy and emotional depth, noting that “no one chooses this illness, and the illness doesn’t define the person.”
Sandy from SandysBookaDay found the novel both painful and beautiful, drawing parallels between Maddy’s story and her own experience watching a friend deteriorate before receiving a diagnosis. Her review highlights how Genova’s unique combination of medical insight and storytelling empathy makes More or Less Maddy an unforgettable experience. She concluded that the novel “will do for bipolar disease what Still Alice did for dementia.”
One of the most moving aspects of the book is how Genova portrays Maddy’s shifting self-image. In one striking scene, Maddy stares at her reflection and wonders, Am I real? That haunting question encapsulates the identity crisis faced by so many living with mental illness. Genova never offers easy answers, but she does offer hope that even in the darkest moments, there is space for growth, understanding, and self-love.
More or Less Maddy is not just a story about illness; it is a story about humanity. It challenges the stigma surrounding mental health, encourages compassion, and reminds readers that the mind’s complexity is what makes us deeply, achingly human.
Lisa Genova has once again proven why she is one of the most important voices in contemporary fiction. With her keen scientific understanding and extraordinary empathy, she turns neurological and psychological conditions into narratives of resilience, love, and connection.
Whether you know someone living with bipolar disorder or simply want to better understand the human mind, More or Less Maddy is an essential read. It will make you cry, it will make you think, and it will make you care.
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