Flash Review: Alice and the Fly

5/10 for Alice and the Fly by James Rice

A spellbinding debut novel by an exceptional new young British talent. 

This is a book about phobias and obsessions, isolation and dark corners. It's about families, friendships, and carefully preserved secrets. But above everything else it's about love. Finding love - in any of its forms - and nurturing it. 

Miss Hayes has a new theory. She thinks my condition's caused by some traumatic incident from my past I keep deep-rooted in my mind. As soon as I come clean I'll flood out all these tears and it'll all be ok and I won't be scared of Them anymore. The truth is I can't think of any single traumatic childhood incident to tell her. I mean, there are plenty of bad memories - Herb's death, or the time I bit the hole in my tongue, or Finners Island, out on the boat with Sarah - but none of these are what caused the phobia. I've always had it. It's Them. I'm just scared of Them. It's that simple. 

Source: Goodreads

I was given a review copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I find it hard to judge this book  because it was so far off what I usually read. I love stepping out of my comfort zone when it comes to reading and coming across stories like this. But I'm not sure I was prepared for what it would give to me.
First of all the title threw me off.
Starting this I assumed that Alice was the main character. Only to find that it wasn't Alice but it was a boy named Greg. Total

The way this book was written was absolutely brilliant. Seeing through the eyes of the main character, following its thoughts and the way he perceived the world was spot on!

But I struggled to connect with the story. And for me that is the most important thing a book should be able to do.

Having said that, the world needs more books like this. Especially if they address a side of humanity that involves mental illness.