*Please note, this post contains spoilers for the book*

“I’m going to tell you something Wendy,’ she said. ‘People don’t like it when girls are a bit different because then they can’t fit them into the only image they have for them… But it’s important to always be yourself whether they like it or not because that’s the best person you can be. It’s a good thing to be weird – it doesn’t mean you’re autistic, or on the spectrum, or any of those other labels they’re constantly throwing about these days – it just means you’re not kowtowing to anybody else’s version of what it means to be a woman, always remember that.”

Ginger and Me, Elissa Soave. HQ, Harper Collins, 2022

When we meet Wendy in Elissa Soave’s Ginger and Me, she is dealing with the aftermath of her mother’s death. Her mum was hugely protective and loving to Wendy and embraced and championed her differences, instilling the importance of hard work and independence. At just 19 years old, Wendy is left alone in her flat and the toll of her mother’s death results in a significant deterioration in her mental health. This culminates in a four month stay in a psychiatric hospital. The book follows Wendy one year after her mum’s death. With the support of Saanvi , her support worker, she is encouraged to get back into a routine at home and work. We see Wendy making great progress with this as she joins a local writers group and forms a friendship with Ginger. This marks the “best summer ever” for Wendy as she forges close connections with Ginger and her favourite author Diane Weston. However, her relationship with Diane is not as it seems and Wendy’s stalking of Diane begins to escalate which culminates in tragedy at the climax of the novel, as Wendy also becomes embroiled in Ginger’s chaotic home life and family.

Wendy is a fascinating character, who is both incredibly robust and strong but at the same time very vulnerable. As readers we have the privilege of meeting her as she rebuilds herself in the aftermath of loss, forging new connections both successfully and unsuccessfully, through the streets of Uddingston on the 255 bus. The case formulation below is an attempt to explore the events that shape Wendy throughout Ginger and Me.

Ginger and Me – A Case Formulation