This book looks at the impact of a young man’s suicide. The author handles this with care and dignity. The story is told from multiple perspectives. An amazing book

Set in Canada, the story follows Jay's death and the video of the death goes viral. No one is certian of the reason for his death. In a age where people lead dual lives, the trauma, loneliness, anziety and the confusion following his death is captured eloquently by 4 people close to him and their struggles are eventually meshed together to reveal the entire truth.
However, the story isnt wholly without hope and isn't nihilistic. Go give it a read.

Such a wonderful and different book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, a proper page turner. Just sorry when I'd finished it.

Very well written novel on the difficult topic of suicide. very thought-provoking and impactful. the different point of views of different characters was extremely well done.

As an adult I read to escape the everyday stresses. This book contains every teenage difficulty including suicide, self harm, internet suicide games, peer pressure, broken families and drugs. If as a parent, you want to understand what teenagers witness and experience around them , then this book pretty much contains it all.
Be aware though, it is emotionally draining and lowers your mood. I could not recommend it to teenagers as I feel it will impact them in a negative way.

I adored this book. Written for all ages and relevant to all no matter whether you are a teenager finding life hard to navigate or a parent/aunt or uncle trying to understand how teenagers work this book reaches out.
Jay, a childhood friend of Ash commits suicide. The suicide was shared widely on social platforms, which seems to be so common. This story follows the point of view of 4 people who are left to deal wth the aftermath of his death and their journey of self discovery along the way.

This is a very raw book about suicide and the ripple effects of its impact. Very well written but a very very difficult topic. I recommend this book but would warn sensitive readers to use caution if they have difficulty reading about depression and suicide.

Help! I’m Alive is a portrayal of a suicide of a young man and how it affects four loved ones. The suicide was shared widely on social platforms, which seems to be so common. The book was very emotional but handled well by the author. There should be a warning that the book covers several mental health issues.

Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for this ARC.

Trigger warnings for depression, suicide, cutting, eating disorders, and trans-phobia. This is not a light read, but you undoubtedly picked up on that from the book's description.

Help! I'm Alive deals with the repercussions of the suicide of teenager Jacob (Jay) on his community. His death was captured on film and posted to social media. The story alternates between the POVs of four people showing the impacts to each of them.

Ash was Jay's best friend since grade school. They drifted apart a bit in high school as friends often do, but each had played a major role in the other's life. Winona, a troubled art student, was Jay's girlfriend. Anik is Ash's older brother, searching for meaning in life. Pavan, the mother of Ash and Anik, finds Jay's death riddles her with anxiety, and has her wondering about her role as a mother and if she's missing signs in her own sons.

All four of these individuals find themselves cast adrift, wondering if they (or anyone) could have prevented Jay's death, and trying to find purpose in their own lives moving forward. The book also examines social media and the large, often negative role it plays in our lives, particularly in the lives of youth.

While the main characters are developed well, particularly that of Anik, I found the supporting cast to be very flat and one-dimensional. Still a worthwhile read.

My thanks to ECW Press for allowing me to access an e-ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

This explores the impact of the death of a teen-Jay- on his friends and family. Set in Vancouver and told from their vantage, it's not especially surprising but it is sensitive and well written. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This book describes the lives of four people following the death by suicide of one of their friends - the confusion and depression and bewilderment is explored in a way that is compassionate and relatable. I have two teenagers and they are constantly bombarded online reading and viewing friends and strangers express a desperateness to end their pain and they each know multiple people who have attempted to end their lives. It’s a lot - understatement. I was nodding my head as I read about these four characters and the questions they had and the feelings they experienced. Thanks to ECW Press for the advanced copy.

Very exact representation of how self-centered and vacuous contemporary society can be in the face of tragedy. Based on how Canadian teenager Jacob McAlister's suicide impacts so many others, especially Pavan and Peter and their sons. Ash is 17 and used to be Jay's best friend back when they were in grade 5, his older brother Anik knew Jay through Ash. Ash and Anik's step-father Peter used to be their mom's divorce lawyer, and is now a success on the self-help-life-coach-writer circuit.

There is a strange disconnect between the preponderance of PC spirituality, well-being and self-care and observances like, "By the looks of her droopy tits, Ash figures (substitute teacher Mrs Kaye)'s probably a staunch feminist who burned her bra back in the day." The book is classified YA and rife with sensitive subject matter (suicide, cutting, illegal substances, anxiety, eating disorders, etc) but none of the characters handle any of these issues in a way that seems exemplary, making me feel it's gratuitous.

I didn't understand the point of having Pavan being the main character, or by far the most fleshed out character, in this story ostensibly about teenagers; even the descriptions of Pavan's sons tended to reflect on their own maternal relationships. And while I don't think it's a requirement that books about mixed race characters touch on aspects of multiculturalism, race, or discrimination, I do tend to note that there's no there there; made all the more glaring by instances like "Riley, the ringleader, the blond QB that all the girls fall over."

This is a new author me. This is a powerful and compelling yet difficult read, given the subject matter. I had to take a step back a few times. This is the kind of book that punches you right in the heart. I cried a lot reading this book because it touched me so much. This is an emotional rollercoaster. I liked the fact the book explores the impact of someone’s suicide on their surviving family and friends. I didn’t like the fact the characters except the main character were quite shallow and lacked the emotional depth you’d expect given the subject matter. This let the book down for me.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Trigger warnings - suicide, eating disorders, depression, self harm, transphobia, and drugs.

Help! I'm Alive is an interesting book written from four POV's after a teenager commits suicide. The story weaves between these four people to show the after effects of how a tragic death can affect so many people.

This novel explores the aftermath of a suicide, specifically how people question and find meaning in their lives.

The alternating points of view allow for different approaches to questions about life and purpose. It's an effective exploration of emotions and how we relate to one another.

Help! I’m Alive explores the aftermath through the eyes of four people all suddenly confronted with who they have been and how they should be in the wake of such loss. Jay’s former best friend, Ash, wonders what happened to their friendship and questions the relationships he has now; Winona, Jay’s troubled girlfriend struggles with guilt and abandonment; Anik, Ash’s older brother, is on a search for the meaning of life but hasn’t left his basement apartment in months; and Pavan, Ash and Anik’s mother, finds Jay’s death lays bare all her personal and maternal anxieties.

I’m so glad I stumbled across this book, it was a wonderful read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

I was given this book for free in return for an honest review. This was an emotionally difficult book to read, but it was written sensitively, with compassion. I took my time in places, needing to have a break and a good cry. It is so well written, I felt I was in the story and I thought it is a book that should come with a warning, it’s that well written. I’d recommend this to anyone who has an interest in mental health.

Help! I’m Alive is a book that explores the impact that a person's suicide can have on their loved ones. Jay's death is caught on camera and widely circulated, leaving those closest to him with more questions than answers. Help! I’m Alive is told in third person from the perspective of four people in alternating chapters, showing how grief impacts everyone differently and there is no set path to follow in order to heal and continue on with their own lives.

A well written quick but powerful read, Help! I'm Alive sends out a powerful message on pain, depression, anger, and the aftermath of suicide on those you leave behind.

I highly recommend this to YA fans and anyone who can mentally handle the topics touched on in this book. Your own mental health is the most important thing so please take into consideration the trigger warnings associated with this book and talk to those around you about the book and how you felt as you move along the story.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-copy for me to read and leave my honest opinion with everyone reading this. Its been a while since I've read any book that does a better job of handling such a tragedy as suicide.

Help! I'm Alive follows a cast of characters. Ash, who's former best friend, Jay, has died. Winona, Jay's girlfriend. Anik, Ash's brother. Pavan, Ash and Anik's mother. In the center of it all is Jay, who's death is shared on social media and there is no definite answer on whether or not his death was a suicide or an accident.

I love books with lots of point of views like this one. I was got into the books quickly and was thinking of my own theories on what happened.