Side Effects May Vary

When sixteen-year-old Alice receives a leukemia diagnosis, she creates a bucket list that includes getting revenge on those who have wronged her. Her childhood friend Harvey agrees to help her complete the list, which includes both acts of revenge and meaningful experiences from her past. Just as Alice finishes carrying out her plans, she learns she is in remission and must face the consequences of her actions. She struggles to navigate the aftermath of her choices while also confronting her complex relationship with Harvey, who harbors deep feelings for her. The story alternates between "then" and "now" timelines, showing Alice's journey through illness and recovery. The dual narrative structure reveals how her choices during cancer treatment impact her life and relationships after remission. Side Effects May Vary explores themes of mortality, accountability, and the complicated nature of love and friendship. The novel raises questions about whether desperate circumstances can justify harmful actions, and what it means to truly face oneself.

Readers found this book challenging due to the main character Alice's unlikeable personality and manipulative actions. Many reviews note that while her anger and difficult behavior make sense given her cancer diagnosis, her treatment of others, especially Harvey, feels cruel and hard to empathize with. What readers liked: - Raw, realistic portrayal of teenage emotions - Strong writing style and pacing - Complex relationship dynamics - Cancer storyline avoids common YA tropes What readers disliked: - Alice's mean-spirited behavior - Toxic relationship elements - Dual timeline structure creates confusion - Lack of character growth - Unresolved plot threads Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (16,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (80+ reviews) Common reader quotes mention "wanting to shake Alice" and feeling frustrated by her choices. Several reviews praise Murphy's writing while struggling with the protagonist: "Well-written but hard to root for Alice" appears in multiple variations across review sites.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green A teenage cancer patient falls in love while grappling with mortality, hope, and the meaning of life.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews A high school student reluctantly befriends a classmate with leukemia while making amateur films with his best friend.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven Two teens struggling with grief and mental health find connection through a school project about their state's landmarks.

The F-It List by Julie Halpern A girl helps her best friend with cancer complete her bucket list while dealing with her own loss and relationships.

Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor Two best friends face the changes in their relationship when one receives a life-altering medical diagnosis during their senior year.

🌟 Julie Murphy made her YA debut with "Side Effects May Vary" in 2014, but later gained even wider recognition with her novel "Dumplin'," which became a Netflix film starring Jennifer Aniston. 🌟 The author drew inspiration from her own experience working at a library and connecting with teenage readers, helping her craft authentic young adult voices. 🌟 Leukemia survival rates in teenagers have improved dramatically since the 1960s, with current five-year survival rates reaching about 90% for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type in young people. 🌟 The book's dual timeline structure (Then and Now) was revolutionary for YA contemporary fiction at the time of publication, inspiring similar narrative approaches in subsequent novels. 🌟 "Side Effects May Vary" challenged the typical "sick lit" genre conventions by creating a protagonist who isn't always likable or noble in her choices, marking a shift toward more complex character representations in YA literature.