Rose Garden – Book Review
by Yushiexy
A Tender, Heartbreaking Wake-Up Call
Yushiexy’s Rose Garden is an honest, unvarnished novel that makes you examine not only the characters but also the individuals in your own life who might be suffering in silence behind well-crafted smiles. It has some strong, positive messages throughout such as why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others and that you shouldn’t let people who do so little for you control so much of your life.
This story follows Caleb, an attractive 18-year-old who suffers from verbal and physical abuse that prevents him from seeing his true worth. He believes he is ugly, and despite how often friends or others in his life try to tell him otherwise, the abuse has traumatic consequences to his psyche.
Caleb Wright appears to be Luxville High’s golden boy – popular, athletic, endearing, and self-assured. In private, however, Caleb is disintegrating. His spirit has suffered from years of tragedy, emotional scars, and the burden of pretending. The friction between Caleb’s external persona and his internal conflict is expertly revealed by Yushiexy, which is what makes Rose Garden so captivating. You feel his struggle instead of just reading about it.
Something changes when Caleb meets Ella, the new pupil. She is able to see past his mask, and gradually Caleb begins to consider the possibility that he need not bear his suffering alone. They develop a delicate, cautious, and very human bond. Seeing one another is more important than “saving” one another. Their bond, which is based on silent comprehension and brittle hope, seems genuine.
The difficult subjects – panic episodes, therapy, suicidal thoughts, and the dreadful vulnerability of opening up – are not avoided by Yushiexy. These scenes are depicted with strength and sensitivity. By means of each therapy session and nocturnal confession, we observe Caleb’s bravery in facing the things he has been concealing from both the outside world and himself.
And just when you start to believe things might get better, a single moment changes everything.
The latter part of this novel is heartbreaking, but I won’t give anything away that spoils it. I was left reeling, heartbroken, yet oddly thankful. Because Rose Garden is a mirror, a lifeline, and a reminder that appearances never fully convey the story; it’s more than just a coming-of-age tale.
This book is for you if you’ve ever loved someone who concealed their suffering or if you’ve ever felt like you’re living your life rather than living it. Although parts are tough to read, the book has themes of resilience and transformation, self-acceptance and authenticity – all of which will bring you hope and encouragement that you can apply to your own life as well.
Final Thoughts:
Rose Garden is a must-read for readers who enjoy YA mental health literature, especially those who have related to works like All the Bright Places or It’s Kind of a Funny Story. It’s about loss, definitely, but it’s also about love, overcoming adversity, and the subtle ways that one life may affect thousands.
Remember, you are born an original, so don’t die a copy.
I can’t recommend it enough. Bring tissues. And maybe call a friend after.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A stunning, emotional, and important novel that will stay with you long after the final page.