This past weekend I reread Breathless by Jessica Warman. I read it for the first time freshman year, and while it definitely was written for young adults, I think it’s a good enough read for people older than the targeted age group. It follows the story of Katie Kirtel, who is sent to boarding school her sophomore year after her home life becomes too difficult.

The book initially sounds like the stereotypical young adult novel that I used to devour when I was in eighth and ninth grade, because they were so simple to read and really offered no substance. But in Breathless, Katie’s brother Will is diagnosed with drug-induced schizophrenia and Warman’s portrayal of the problems it causes Katie and her parents is eerily real.

Besides Katie’s relationship with her brother, my other favorite part of the novel is the friendships she develops while at the school. Each friendship is completely genuine, and not always necessarily in a good way. My favorite character in the book was Katie’s roommate Madeline Moon, who has to be based off a real person; her characterization is that authentic.

I’ve read another book by Warman and she’s definitely not going to be winning a Pulitizer any time soon, but she seemed to have an unexpected success with Breathless. In an interview she said the book was 80 to 90 percent autobiographical, so I’m guessing she’s a decent writer but not good at coming up with super original stories, seeing as her other book I read is also about a girl at a boarding school.

I would recommend Breathless as an intense quick read. It’s not necessarily a happy story by any means, but sometimes reading a depressing book about a difficult situation is a lot more satisfying than with a joyous tale where everything works out perfectly.