The Glass Girl: A Book Review

Kathleen Glasgow’s The Glass Girl is a beautifully written and painfully honest journey of adolescence, grief, and addiction. The story follows Isabella, or Bella as she prefers, who is a high school student carrying the weight of far more than most teens her age. Bella isn’t just worrying about grades, chores, and friendships; she’s also dealing with the fallout from her parent’s divorce, caring for her younger sister, and losing her grandmother. Her grandmother was the only person who ever cared to listen to her. Adding to everything, Bella is also confused by and heartbroken from a breakup with her ex, Dylan. The only explanation he gave her for why he couldn’t be with her anymore was that she was “too much.” Bella feels rejected, overwhelmed, and invisible, so she turns to alcohol to numb the pain and escape her reality. After all, she’s seen plenty of adults in her life do the same, how bad can it be?

What makes The Glass Girl so powerful is how deeply it dives into Bella’s emotions. She’s not just a character, she feels like someone you know. For someone whose struggles and pain are heartbreakingly real, it’s almost as if you experience every single emotion with her as well. Bella is trying so hard to hold everything together, but she’s also falling apart inside. Her decision to start drinking isn’t just about rebellion or recklessness, it’s about trying to find some way, any way, to feel less alone and not be “too much.” As readers, we see how alcohol becomes her coping mechanism and while we understand why she makes that choice, we also see how it pulls her more into isolation and self-destruction. I’ve always loved Kathleen Glasgow’s books, there is something about the way she writes. She paints her words for her readers in a perfect image waiting to be coloured by individual experiences. There’s something about how raw and unfiltered her words are. They’re not sugar-coated and she doesn’t try to skirt around her choice of words:

Every morning when I wake up, I don’t think I’m going to make it. Or maybe I think that I don’t want to make it. I’m heavy with what I did the night before and I’m heavy with everything inside me and sometimes it is just too goddamn much to carry around. (Glasgow 23)

One of the most important things about this book is how well it depicts the people in Bella’s life. Every relationship feels real and nuanced from her overwhelmed but loving mother to her younger sister who looks up to her. Bella’s ex, Dylan, isn’t painted as a villain but as someone who couldn’t handle her emotions or behaviour, adding another layer of heartbreak to the story. And then there’s Bella’s grandmother, whose death leaves a huge void in her life. The bond they shared was one of the few places Bella felt truly seen and understood, and losing that connection made everything else in her life feel even harder to bear even though the first sip of alcohol Bella ever took was with her grandma.

What stood out most to me about The Glass Girl was its honesty. This isn’t a story about a quick fix or an easy redemption. It’s about the messy, complicated process of healing. In rehab we see Bella struggling, failing, and getting back up. This book is about learning to love yourself or at least accept yourself, even when you feel broken. Bella’s journey is filled with setbacks and mistakes, but it’s also filled with moments of growth and self-discovery. She learns that it’s okay to ask for help, that she doesn’t have to carry everything on her own, and that being her with all her issues isn’t a flaw—it’s part of what makes her a person worth loving.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars without a doubt. It’s a book that you read not just to pass some time, but it makes you feel and think. Bella’s struggles and wins stayed with me, and I think this is a book that will help anyone who has ever felt like they were “too much” or not enough. It’s a reminder of the importance of compassion, both for others and for ourselves. For me, it humanizes the person behind the addiction and it gives them a voice. If you’re looking for a story that’s raw, emotional, but hopeful, The Glass Girl is a must-read. It’s about resilience, connection, and the strength it takes to face your pain. Kathleen Glasgow has created a character and a story that feels so real and so moving.

This book is a testament to the fact that even when life feels shattered, there’s always a chance to pick up the pieces and build something new.

In Bella’s own words, “I am not a watercolor I do not want to wash off or dry down, I am me, and I am just fine with that because I am fine with me” (Glasgow 427).