"This book deals with complex issues but with sensitivity and a deeply descriptive narrative I could not put down. One of my favourite books this year."
Charlotte Bug
Amazon UK purchaser
"The author's writing is descriptive and engaging, pulling you into the story and making you feel every emotion. The way the author blended all the sensitive themes and mental health issues was done in such a respectful manner and beautifully, it all blended and worked together incredibly to make a fantastic novel."
Book.lover1486
Amazon UK purchaser
"Thoughtful, immersive, and often darkly humorous. An intelligent and timely novel that raises important questions about therapy, technology, and identity, but also keeps us entertained along the way."
Readers’ Favorite magazine
"... a compelling read that tackles important themes with sensitivity and depth. It is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in contemporary fiction."
Alex's Book Blog
"A rare gem. Clever, inventive, and profoundly moving, all while grappling with the ethics of AI and mental health."
Rachel T
Amazon USA purchaser
"… very interesting characters and adult insights that will inspire readers."
IndieReader Magazine
"Brio is such a compelling character. I laughed, cringed and cried with him. The mix of adventure, therapy and big-data conspiracy is wild but somehow works, and RA Ruegg's writing makes everything feel natural and immersive."
Maria Fernanda Hevia
Amazon USA purchaser
"WOW what a ride! The story weaves between Brio’s real life and a fantasy he writes. It’s quirky, introspective, sometimes confusing, but once you’re in, you feel Brio’s world. It's fantastic.
Kayleigh Panton
Amazon USA purchaser
"A sensitive and deep exploration of important themes, with a unique perspective on healing and self-discovery, and a contribution to the discussion on mental health."
RJ
Amazon Australia purchaser
"A completely different take on the topic of dealing with grief and mental health issues. It’s deeply compelling and has likeable characters!"
Roberta Kime
Amazon UK purchaser
... a very good book that looks at how AI could eventually become the way that treatment of mental health is handled."
Wendy L
Amazon USA purchaser
"In a world increasingly driven by social media and AI, this is a timely examination of the impacts these technologies can have on one person's mental health. Highly recommended."
James Evans
Amazon purchaser
"Brio's journey is unlike anything I've ever read before. I loved how it dived into grief, identity and mental health while still being adventurous and fun. The narrative therapy scenes were wild but fascinating. This book deserves all the praise it can get."
LD Clarke
Amazon USA purchaser
"Absolutely breathtaking. As someone who struggles with mental health and gender issues, I truly felt as if I was seeing myself represented within the pages of this novel."
H Buttery
Beta Reader
"This was difficult to read at times and had me laughing and sobbing sometimes within pages of each other. Even though I have not been through some of the things that Brio goes through I connected with him in a way that I sometimes find hard with this type of story. I can not wait to see the film adaptation of this when it comes out."
Kintara
Amazon UK purchaser
The author's vivid, emotive, whimsical and imaginative writing drags you in to Brio's world where you see, hear and feel everything he does. You're on a journey with him and rooting for him to find himself and happiness. I've never come across anything like this in a book or film previously.
Bookworm86
Amazon UK purchaser
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time meets Life of Pi
The Making of BRIO McPRIDE is a debut novel by R.A.Ruegg and the inspiration for two upcoming films. The story explores themes around gender, mental health, spirituality and AI.
No matter how many shrinks they throw at him, fifteen-year-old Brio’s going to prove to his beloved Izzy that it’s not him who’s mentally ill, it’s the rest of the world.
Logie’s a different kind of psychotherapist, though, and a despairing Brio thinks that maybe this weird ‘narrative therapy’ actually could help him find the father he never knew. It might even stop him grieving for his mum and worrying he’s gay.
But behind Logie lurks a big-data giant that’ll stop at nothing to win approval for its AI-driven mental health platform, and all Brio really knows as he disappears into the hypnotic haze of his ‘Powermind Fable’ is that it’s going to be a life-or-death mission like no other story he’s ever written.
Book Reviews
The final draft of The Making of BRIO McPRIDE was read by thirty-seven paid beta and sensitivity readers from eleven different countries.
Author Q&A
Reader questions answered as fully as possible—without spoilers!
Book Club
Resources for book clubs and reading circles.
Discover ‘Spiked’
The Making of BRIO McPRIDE is about a teenage boy who’s guided by an unconventional therapist to heal himself by telling a story through which he can understand both the people in his life and his own emotional challenges. The therapy story he tells in the book has become a story in its own right and made into a film (formerly working titled Tally Ho!) that will be released under the name SPIKED.
Purchase Book
Paperback
On demand
Worldwide
$11.99
Paperback
Quality trade print
Available in the UK at
£12.99
Kindle
Worldwide
$6.99
Audiobook
Worldwide
$9.99
30% of royalties go directly to mental health charities, helping to provide support for those who need it most.
Audiobook available on all major audiobook platforms.
Message R.A.Ruegg
Have a question or want to share your thoughts on The Making of BRIO McPRIDE? Message direct to R.A.Ruegg and connect with the author behind the story.
