A GIRL BEHIND DARK GLASSES

From a darkened world, bound by four walls, a young woman called Jessica tells the tale of her battle against the M.E Monster. The severest form of a neuro immune disease called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis went to war with her at just 15 years old. From beneath her dark glasses, Jessica glimpses a world far different from the one she remembers as a teenage school girl. This true story follows her path as she ends up living in hospital for years with tubes keeping her alive. This harrowing story follows the highs and lows of the disease and being hospitalised, captured through her voice activated technology diary called ‘Bug’ that enables her to fulfil her dream of one day becoming an author. It provides a raw, real-time honesty to the story that would be impossible to capture in hindsight.

book information

Award

Winner of The Best Non-Fiction People's Book Prize 2019/2020

Bestseller

Number 1 bestseller Amazon.co.uk

Publication date

3 July 2018

Publisher

Hashtag Press

A Girl Behind Dark Glasses

Also available in other formats including Amazon Audible, Apple Books & E-book

Jessica Taylor-Bearman

Jessica Taylor-Bearman shares her inner-most thoughts and real-time emotions – adapted from her diary growing up as a teenager in South-East England – as she experiences the terrifying discovery that, aged 15, instead of partying, studying and socialising, she would rapidly become bed-ridden, ultimately unable to move, speak, eat…Despite the odds, Jessica never gave up. Her dream was to become an author, to be able to marry, leave the hospital, enjoy life. In July 2018, her first book, A Girl Behind Dark Glasses, was published by Hashtag Press. It won The People’s Book Prize for Best Non-Fiction 2020.

Part three of the number 1 bestselling series is being published in October 2023 by Hashtag Press.

READ MORE HERE

Reviews

It's clear from her writing style that this is Taylor-Bearman's first novel, but I don't think that matters here. Girl Behind Dark Glasses is a memoir that desperately needed to be told, and I am grateful that it has been shared with us. The book is a deeply moving account of life with severe ME. It does not flinch from discussing the horrors of ME, or the vulnerability of life as a dependent. I would recommend it to people with any chronic illness who feel lonely or invisible because of their condition. It made me feel seen. I think the ending is a little abrupt, but I suspect that a second book will be on the way eventually.

How can anyone even think about writing a book when they are so sick that they can't even speak or move? The fact that Jessica has written this book at all tells us that she is an incredible young lady. On top of this, she has the misfortune to suffer from ME, which many doctors still think isn't a real, physical disease. Despite all the reasons why writing a book would be too hard, Jessica has done it. She's written a book. On top of that, it is very well written. It describes Jessica's experiences, many of which are painful even to imagine, let alone go through. I found the book inspiring and could not put it down.

A Girl Behind Dark Glasses took me on an emotional journey, reading about a teenage girl trapped in her body, barely able to move or communicate, drifting in and out of consciousness. Most people have heard of M.E. (myalgic encephalomyelitis) but don’t realise how severe it can be. Jessica Taylor-Bearman was struck down by an unusually severe form of M.E. at the age of 15, the disease impacting on every aspect of her life. In her book, she writes from the heart about what was going on inside her mind as she lay motionless in hospital, her eyes protected from the light by dark sunglasses – all of her pain, frustrations, fears and confusion spilling out on to the pages of her digital diary, ‘Bug’.

A Girl Behind Dark Glasses is a remarkable true story about Jessica’s life with M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). In the space of weeks Jessica goes from being your regular teenager who loves going out with her friends, going on shopping trips and partying, to being bound to her bed. Jessica shares actual diary entries from that time. The book is an emotional rollercoaster and Jessica is so good at creating a vivid picture of her life in hospital. You really feel that you are there with her. I loved the way in which Jessica adapted her narrative voice, so that you see the way in which she matures through the progressive maturity in her writing style itself. I can’t wait for her second book!

This book is just incredibly inspiring. I've suffered from mild-moderate M.E. for a number of years now, and Jessica's zest for life is infectious within these pages. Her determination to continue fighting and use the strength she has to inspire others is beautiful. It has certainly inspired me! The narrator was a good choice for this audio book. Her voice suits the style and authorship well. Overall, I did not hesitate to give this audio book a 5* rating and thoroughly recommend giving it a listen.

This book is extremely important in highlighting the seriousness of ME and the incredibly difficult challenges people with the disease face in obtaining a diagnosis and receiving appropriate medical support. Jessica is so brave in her honesty about her experience of having ME but an inspiration, showing such determination and courage in her fight against this dreadful disease which is so often ignored or misunderstood. The subject matter is challenging but the narrator does an excellent job of bringing to life the thoughts of a teenage girl suddenly robbed of her dreams.

‘A fascinating and moving account’

The London Magazine

“I urge everyone to read “A Girl Behind Dark Glasses.” It’s not just a story about one person’s struggle with the “ME monster” – it’s far more than that. It’s a story of love, family, friends – of hope, strength and courage.”

the mighty - by Jo Moss

A Girl In One Room

Part two of the number 1 bestselling book A Girl Behind Dark Glasses. Jessica returns home after four years in hospital to a world changed beyond recognition. Her friends have grown up and gone to university, her baby sister is now 16. Everyone has moved on, but her battle with the M.E. Monster is far from over. Jessica faces new challenges daily but she wants to experience life as a young adult, and refuses to let her M.E keep her in hospital for years again. Jessica wants to show the world that she is more than what they see… and this time they will see her.

A Girl Beyond Closed Doors

Part three of the number 1 bestselling series. After twelve years of being trapped in the world of one room by the M.E. Monster, Jessica’s dreams start to come true. She’s pregnant! But Jessica has to adjust to being a disabled mum in an inaccessible world and face the critics who doubt her abilities. Balancing parenthood and chronic illness, expectations versus reality, Jessica discovers alternative fairytale endings are possible…