Anyone else feel like 'depressing' and 'recovery' are almost opposites in a book description? The ones that nail the feeling of depression often don't have tidy recoveries. 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara is the ultimate example—it's brutal, unrelenting trauma focused on mental health, but 'recovery' is a complicated word for that journey. It's more about endurance and the scars left behind.
I'd argue it's more about the exploration of suffering than a clear path out. The friendships are the only light, but they can't fix the damage. It's a book that sits with you for weeks, maybe months, after finishing. Not everyone can handle it, but it definitely focuses on the lifelong impact of trauma on mental health.