To hide her illness from her family, Lia's obsessive and destructive behavior worsens and recovery seems impossible.

Lia finds it difficult to get close to her father and step-mother because they previously brought her to a hospital to recover.

In an act of desperation, Lia goes to the motel room where Cassie died and swallows a handful of sleeping pills in an attempt to block out her voice and get some rest.

[1] While in 2010 Wintergirls made the YALSA list, as well as received recognition from the Chicago Tribune as one of the top ten influential books of the decade.

Writing for The Guardian, Melvin Burgess notes that the novel is "an exhausting novel to read: brilliant, intoxication, full of drama, love, and like all the best books of this kind, hope.

"[6] Common Sense Media rated the novel five stars, noting that the novel's writing style is innovative and that Lia's references to fairy tale imagery makes it appealing to young adult female readers.

[7] However, some critics have expressed concerned that Wintergirls could serve as a "trigger" novel, encouraging eating disorders in young girls rather than dissuading them.