We Are All So Good At Smiling

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

A Lyrical YA Novel in Verse About Depression, Healing, and the Magic That Lives Within Us
Perfect for fans of They Both Die at the End, The Bell Jar, and Long Way Down, this emotionally charged story blends fantasy, poetry, and mental health with unforgettable power.

Whimsy has always known the darkness of depression. When she returns to the hospital for treatment, she meets Faerry, a boy who, like her, seems to hold magic in his bones—a kind of knowing that runs deeper than words. Their connection is immediate, almost otherworldly.

Soon, Whimsy and Faerry discover they’ve moved to the same street. But something strange surrounds Marsh Creek Lane—especially the forest at its end, a place both of them instinctively fear. The Forest whispers. It remembers. It holds stories, monsters, and truths they’ve both been running from since childhood.

As the two teens confront their traumas, We Are All So Good at Smiling unravels a rich tapestry of fairy tale symbolism, poetic verse, and raw emotional honesty, showing that healing often lies in facing what we fear most—and embracing the power of our true names.

🌙 A National Book Award Finalist delivers a poetic exploration of mental health and identity
🌙 Tackles clinical depression, childhood trauma, and Black girl magic with lyrical brilliance
🌙 Perfect for readers of Clap When You Land, Blood Water Paint, and Every Body Looking

Format:  Paperback 
Genre: YA Contemporary Fantasy, Novel in Verse, Mental Health Fiction
Themes: Depression, Trauma, Identity, Friendship, Fairy Tales, Magical Realism
Audience: Teens and young adults seeking beautifully written, emotionally resonant books that explore mental illness and healing

✨ We Are All So Good at Smiling is a haunting, heart-healing YA fantasy that reminds us the path to joy often winds through the forest of our pain—and that we are never as alone as we think.