"We Weren’t Looking to Be Found," by Stephanie Kuehn

The book We Weren't Looking To Be Found by Stephanie Kuehn tells a story exploring mental health, addiction and recovery. It tells a story about diverse teenagers who grew up completely differently who meet in a treatment facility in Georgia called Peach Tree Hills. Together the two girls Camilla and Dani bond and heal by discovering and solving a mystery about a former patient. The novel takes place at a treatment facility in Georgia where everybody may have grown up differently and are there because of different reasons they are there to heal and get better. Camilla is a dancer and her life revolves around dance and trying to get into her dream dance academy. Once she gets an acceptance letter and then finds out she can't go because her parents spend the money on house renovations she tries to commit suiside by jumping off a bridge. That's how Camilla ended up at Peach Tree Hills. Dani comes from a political family in Texas. Despite having wealth Dani struggles with addiction. After embarrassing her political mother after being seen drunk she is sent away to Peach Tree Hills. Throughout the novel Stephanie Kuehn shows us readers how much mental health affects people on a day to day basis. Stephanie Kuehn is an author and a psychologist. Her novel “Charm and Strange” was the winner of 2014 YA award. Stephanie Kuehn writes dark physiological; thrillers and literary fiction for young adults. Stephanie Kuehn was born in Berkeley California. This is according to https://www.wi.edu/psyd-faculty-stephanie-kuehn. Stephanie Kuehn’s novels keep readers eager about what is to come next. 

In We Weren't Looking To Be Found by Stephanie Kuehn the conflict is introduced at the start of the book. The conflict shows Camilla's recent suicide attempt and her downfall. Additionally, the conflict shows Dani being sent to Peach Tree hills after partying and getting drunk. At first we see that neither girl likes each other but deals with each other anyways. Then throughout the book we see them starting to get along and get better, kind of like trauma bonding. We also see another conflict in the middle of the book where Dani and Camila run away and go partying and Camila gets hurt. This hurts the girl's friendship but also helps it by showing how much Dani actually cares for Camila. The outcome of this conflict shows how much Dani and Camila help each other heal and care for each other rather than not liking each other like in the beginning of the book. Dani is characterised throughout the book as she is defined by her wealthy background and also trying to heal and have more self awareness. Dani likes to be in charge and be rebellious. She struggles with addiction and is learning ways on how to cope and heal. Camila is characterised throughout the book as passionate and ambitious but also very fragile. Camila tried to commit suicide and she struggles with self harm and bottling up her emotions. At the end of the book Dani ends in a much happier and better state and a better individual then she was before. Camila does not have a happier ending but she is learning how to cope and how to better control her emotions and realises that healing takes time. The two girls have a good friendship with each other and deeply care for each other at the end of the book.

Personally, I really enjoyed We Weren’t Looking To Be Found by Stephanie Kuehn and it is probably my favorite book we have read all year. I felt like the book was really interesting and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen to Dani and Camilla. The story was very suspenseful and relatable. This book made me realise everyone's struggles are different and everyone heals differently. I would recommend this book to young adults who love suspenseful and relatable story lines. Overall, I think this is a book worth reading because it is suspenseful and relatable to young adults. This book teaches readers that everyone struggles and heals differently. Therefore, I highly recommend We Weren’t Looking To Be Found by Stephanie Kuehn.