How It Feels To Float by Helena Fox is praised for its poignant exploration of mental health, grief, and identity. Readers appreciate the lyrical prose and deep emotional resonance. Some critics find the pacing uneven and the narrative occasionally hard to follow. Overall, it is a deeply moving debut that sensitively addresses complex themes.

How It Feels To Float by Helena Fox is ideal for readers who appreciate profound contemporary YA fiction with themes of mental health and grief. Fans of Nina LaCour's We Are Okay or Adam Silvera's More Happy Than Not will find it particularly compelling.

Helena Fox's debut novel How It Feels to Float follows 16-year-old Biz, who struggles with grief, mental illness, and her sexual identity after losing her father at a young age. She navigates high school relationships, deepening her connection with new and old friends, while exploring photography and uncovering family secrets. The story delicately balances moments of despair and hope, ultimately leading Biz toward healing and self-discovery. This book contains profanity, descriptions of suicide, mental illness, and anti-LGBTQ+ language and behavior.

Helena Fox

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore How It Feels To Float reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read How It Feels To Float | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore How It Feels To Float and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

How It Feels To Float Summary and Study Guide

Background

How It Feels To Float Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Pages 1-76

How It Feels To Float Pages 1-76 Summary & Analysis

Pages 77-153

How It Feels To Float Pages 77-153 Summary & Analysis

Pages 154-226

How It Feels To Float Pages 154-226 Summary & Analysis

Pages 227-291

How It Feels To Float Pages 227-291 Summary & Analysis

Pages 292-370

How It Feels To Float Pages 292-370 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

How It Feels To Float Character Analysis

theme

Themes

How It Feels To Float Themes

Symbols & Motifs

How It Feels To Float Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

How It Feels To Float Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

How It Feels To Float Essay Topics

How It Feels To Float

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read How It Feels To Float?

Reading Age

Book Details