Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Title: Side Effects may Vary
Author: Julie Murphy
Pages: 336


What if you'd been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, who she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that's as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her archnemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger). But just when Alice's scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she's said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she caused irreparable damage to the people around her—and to the one person who matters most?


My Rating:
✰✰✰✰

Overall, this book was very good and I recommend it. My favorite thing about this book has to be the writing. I loved the way it was written in dual perspective and in Then and Now format. The story switches between the two main protagonist, Harvey and Alice, and also flashes back to an earlier time. 

I think Alice was a very realistic character. Although she seemed un-likeable, some teens are, so it made sense for her to act this way. Some of the rude things she does in this book isn't shocking, since it would be typical for a teen to do that. I liked how she wasn't like the normal expected sweet cancer patient but a more vivacious one. I think everyone has a little bit of Alice in themselves and would want to get back at some people before dying.
Alice did annoy me at some parts because she wouldn't commit herself to Harvey when he would for her. 


Harvey was a great character and he was so kind. I really liked his relationship was Alice and how much he cared for her. I only wish that he would stand up for himself more and not allow Alice to use him so much.

I do wish there was more to the story and more to the revenge sides of things. I did enjoy reading this book but I think a lot of things could've made it better. 

This book was still very enjoyable  and nice to read. I don't have much to say about it, other than the writing was great but I wish there was more to the story. The overall topic of this book was good though. 

Specific things I did not like (may contain spoilers)

I really did not like Eric and how Alice was just with him as a distraction. His character didn't seem that important and he was kind of random. 

There was some conclusion to the story, but I do wish the characters developed a little more. I would like to think that Alice has become a better person after this book.