Some reviews capture the heart of Upside Down in a single sentence, and Jill Rey’s insight is one of those rare, powerful summaries. Her reflection. “Even those who appear whole on the surface may be hiding their upside down selves from the world”, cuts directly to the emotional core of the story.
In Upside Down, the shadow world beneath reality isn’t just a surreal setting, it is the embodiment of the private struggles people carry, the pain we bury beneath functionality, and the invisible fractures that shape how we move through life. Jill’s observation speaks to the book’s central truth: every character, no matter how composed they appear, is fighting a battle that exists just beneath the visible world.
Caleb’s grief, Maddy’s emotional scars, and the hidden trauma residing within their families all mirror the real world experience of masking pain. The Upside Down brings these suppressed truths into full view, exposing the parts of ourselves that society often encourages us to ignore. Jill’s review resonates because it reflects what readers often feel while exploring the book’s inverted reality.
Her concise praise acknowledges not just the story’s premise but its psychological depth. Upside Down isn’t simply a work of speculative fiction, it’s an intimate exploration of emotional duality, showing how the parts of ourselves we try hardest to suppress are often the ones that require the most healing. Jill’s line is a perfect encapsulation of the novel’s message and the reason the story lingers long after it ends.
ISBN: 979-8296073051
