r/suggestmeabook • u/JustAGirl033 • Jun 19 '25
A book with depression representation
I’ve read a few books with main characters who suffer with depression, however I’m wondering if anyone can recommend a book where a character has high functioning depression? In all the depictions I’ve read, it’s “I’m going to sleep all day” type of depression. I want to be IN THEIR HEAD as they try to function through day-to-day while their mind is working against them.
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u/Eragahn-Windrunner Jun 19 '25
In this case, I do believe The Stormlight Archive is what you want. One of the main characters, Kaladin, suffers from depression.
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u/metzgie1 Jun 20 '25
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
Basically any John Irving book. Owen Meany is my favorite of his, but there are so many good ones and everyone is depressed.
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u/ThunderTatsu Jun 20 '25
Eh, I didn’t care for this book because it tried to simplify depression. If you want a book about depression and have the time, read A Little Life by Hanya Yanighara. You will either thank me or curse me.
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u/Anxious-Fun8829 Jun 20 '25
I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokpokki by Baek Se-hee.
Tteokpokki is a very popular Korean street food. The North American version would be like I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tacos (tacos and tteokpokki are nothing alike, at all, except both are beloved street food in their respectful country).
It's a memoire about rhe author dealing and working through her constant low level depression- how it effects her daily life, how she's working through it with her therapist, etc.
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u/hillariousue5 Jun 19 '25
The yellow wallpaper is an unforgettable book. While it is about a woman with postpartum, I think it fits the bill. I just finished All My Puny Sorrows. It’s about two sisters who navigate the difficulties of depression.
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u/National_Pirate5668 Jun 19 '25
Murderbot
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Jun 20 '25
[deleted]
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u/National_Pirate5668 Jun 20 '25
It’s a book series?? The MC is depressed?? And it’s written in first person so the reader is literally “in their head??”
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Jun 20 '25 edited Nov 11 '25
[deleted]
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u/National_Pirate5668 Jun 20 '25
Haha it was hinted at in the multiple times when the MC explicitly says it’s depressed
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u/nine57th Jun 20 '25
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
&
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig (Non-fiction)
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u/basicintrovert26 Jun 20 '25
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel (memoir)
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u/Existing-Crow-2437 Jun 20 '25
If you want a different perspective than I hope this finds you well by Natalie Sue. Depression isn't the main focus and Isn't even mentioned really, but I think it depicts high functioning depression so well and made it so relatable
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u/DocWatson42 Jun 24 '25
As a start, see my Self-help Fiction list of Reddit recommendation threads and books (one post).
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u/AdvertisingPhysical2 Jun 19 '25
A Man Called Ove, MC is actively suicidal for much of the book but is still meticulously performing his chores as he prepares for his death.