A truly beautiful, raw and heart-breaking novel - brutally honest and perfectly worded.

As someone who battles the 'M.E Monster' every single day, this novel was both upsetting and comforting to read. The though of Jessica, along with the millions of other people around the world, having to experience the life-changing effects of CFS/ME is utterly heart-breaking. However, what makes this book so special is the sense of relatability and support that is created for sufferers and carers alike. This illness touches the lives of millions of people around the world, and all of these people would be able to see themselves reflected throughout the entirety of this book, regardless of how severely ill they may be. Not only this, but this book is the perfect read for anyone who wants to learn about the harsh reality of life with this illness. The writing is inviting, eloquent, and completely addictive. I felt completely engrossed in Jessica's story from the first page, and found it extremely easy to connect to her. Her raw, honest way of communicating her experiences, thoughts and feelings is truly stunning, and helps to emphasise the horrible truths that CFS/ME patients are forced to face throughout their battle. It was truly an honour to be blessed with the opportunity to read this book. Utter perfection!

A beautifully written, brutally honest account of living with M.E. A book that everyone should read, whether you have M.E, a loved one with it or not. The author writes with such understanding of her illness, whilst also raising awareness for the millions of other people suffering. She wrote the good, the bad and the ugly, and didn’t hold back from showing how utterly soul destroying this illness can be. But despite that she also showed us that there’s hope, that your life isn’t over, and although you may have to change the way you do things, it doesn’t mean you can’t do them. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of this book for an honest review.

A Girl in One Room, by Jessica Taylor-Bearman follows the incredible Jessica and her life with M.E. It's an incredible book following her awe-inspiring story. This next book highlights how much pain she goes through yet manages to stay upbeat and positive throughout. I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend for anyone to understand how autoimmune diseases can affect peoples life.

An incredible true story of strength, honesty, and heartbreak that will hopefully bring awareness to an underfunded and ignored disease, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.)

I came across A Girl in One Room on Netgalley, not knowing it was actually a continuation from Jessica Taylor-Bearman debut, A Girl Behind Dark Glasses. I’m always looking for more memoirs having to do with chronic illness similar to mine, and the fact that her illness started at 14, I knew I had to go back and read her first book. Across two days, I finished both books back-to-back and Jessica’s story was all I could think about. It all hit so close to home—we’re the same age, dealing with illnesses in the same realm. Though my chronic pain is nowhere near as severe as the what she goes through, I felt such a kinship with her in how she felt on the inside.

After getting sick with an infection, Jessica could not seem to get any better—no energy, falling asleep in class, and body in constant pain. Next thing she knows, she is spending the next four years in the hospital. Her limbs have completely seized, she can't talk, move, open her eyes, or even eat—tubes are keeping her alive. Jessica is stuck inside a body that is failing her, screaming her way out. After developing a way to communicate with her family, she is able to document her thoughts into a journal she calls 'Bug'—a raw, first-person account of someone with such an extreme case as doctors try to understand and learn more about M.E. She doesn't hold back when recounting her frustrations with doctors, their treatment plans, or even her anger to her own body.

I swear, Jessica must have been a cat in another life because this girl has at least nine lives. Everything that could go wrong, does go wrong. From healthcare workers not believing her and her symptoms, to doctors supposedly well-versed not understanding the complexities of M.E. Her optimism and fight are astounding, She takes every hurdle in stride. Just when she would hit a major milestone, like sitting on the side of her bed, she'd faint and be out of commission for a day or two—two steps forward, one step back. Any little thing can send her back to the hospital for a few days or even a few months.

While her first book talked about the struggle of coming to terms with her illness and how severe it was especially in the beginning, A Girl in One Room talks about her desire to be a regular young woman. A friend convinces her to sign up for online dating where she meets Samuel. The two quickly fall in love and he becomes a support system separate from her incredible family that has been by her side from the beginning.

Jessica's authentic voice really shines through her writing. I felt like I was reading about a friend. I really hope she continues to write and bring awareness to M.E.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an advanced copy via Netgalley

We call it M.E. because most of us have only heard it being spoken about vaguely or read about it in a paper or magazine. We call it M.E. because most of us don’t know how to spell its name, let alone pronounce it. Its name is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or as Jessica Taylor-Bearman calls it “the M.E. Monster”.

M.E. is a neurological disease that is invisible and still widely misunderstood in the medical world. It is sometimes called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and in the eighties was bandied about as “yuppie flu”. There is no biomedical treatment for M.E.

“A Girl in One Room” is the sequel to the bestselling, award-winning memoir “A Girl Behind Dark Glasses” (2018) in which the author describes how in 2006 she is transformed from a happy, healthy fifteen-year-old to a prisoner of the severest form of this chronic illness.

She loses her voice and all ability to function, is completely bedridden and admitted into hospital for four continuous years: “... tubes were inserted to keep me alive and I faced a doctor who couldn’t pronounce the name of the damn condition, let alone treat it”.

Here, disabled and bed bound ninety-nine percent of the time — her symptoms often incapacitating her — Jessica returns home from hospital and faces new challenges. Although parts of her illness have improved, her health can fluctuate severely within a day and she can barely leave the confines of her room.

As I read the book I found myself quietly celebrating every time Jessica accomplished a goal she set herself: sitting in a chair for five seconds; standing up; being pushed around a shopping centre on an ambulance trolley; creating a song; hanging a bauble on a Christmas tree; founding her charity Share A Star which received a National Award; attending her brother Tom’s wedding; meeting Samuel Bearman, the man of her dreams, on a dating app, and marrying him. Jessica and Samuel welcomed Felicity, a beautiful daughter, into their family in 2019.

Jessica Taylor-Bearman writes with clarity, insight, unflinching honesty and without an iota of self-pity. “A Girl in One Room” is a testament to her patience, perseverance and passion for life in addition to the wonderful support network, including a large online community, by which she is surrounded.

I can’t think of anyone better to speak for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis sufferers across the world. She writes for “every person who hasn’t felt heard or represented, those who have sadly lost their lives to the disease and for those who are being institutionalised simply for becoming ill”. Everybody should read this book.

A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @HashtagPress for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance copy of, A Girl in One Room, by Jessica Taylor-Bearman. This is an amazing book, by an amazing woman. How Jessica continues with her sunny smiles and upbeat attitude is amazing. The pain she goes through every second is ridiculous, but she keeps on going. Getting married having a child, truly amazing.

Part two of the number 1 bestselling book A Girl Behind Dark Glasses. Jessica returns home after four years in hospital to a world changed beyond recognition. Her friends have grown up and gone to university, her baby sister is now 16. Everyone has moved on, but her battle with the M.E. Monster is far from over.
Jessica continues to face new challenges daily but wants to start experiencing life as a young adult; rather than being stuck in a hospital bed for years again. Her journey is far from easy, seemingly with more downs than ups but she starts to set herself goals, which until very recently where unachievable, she rises to the challenges and achieves these goals.
A moving memoir of someone who wants to show the world that she is more than they see.
I would recommend this book; it is difficult to read at times because of the contact and trigger points.
I would like to thank Netgalley for an advance review copy of A Girl in One Room in return for an honest review.