“Your next favorite horror-comedy.”—Syfy FangrrlsTeen Wolf meets Emergency Contact in this sharply observed, hilarious, and heartwarming debut young adult novel about friendship, chronic illness, and . . . werewolves.Priya worked hard to pursue her premed dreams at Stanford, but the fallout from undiagnosed Lyme disease sends her back to her childhood home in New Jersey during her sophomore … in New Jersey during her sophomore year—and leaves her wondering if she’ll ever be able to return to the way things were.
Thankfully she has her online pen pal, Brigid, and the rest of the members of “oof ouch my bones,” a virtual support group that meets on Discord to crack jokes and vent about their own chronic illnesses.
When Brigid suddenly goes offline, Priya does something out of character: she steals the family car and drives to Pennsylvania to check on Brigid. Priya isn’t sure what to expect, but it isn’t the horrifying creature that’s shut in the basement.
With Brigid nowhere to be found, Priya begins to puzzle together an impossible but obvious truth: the creature might be a werewolf—and the werewolf might be Brigid. As Brigid’s unique condition worsens, their friendship will be deepened and challenged in unexpected ways, forcing them to reckon with their own ideas of what it means to be normal.
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What I really appreciated about this book is that Kristen O’Neal captured what it feels like to have a chronic illness. I felt understood, and I could tell she’s gone through it herself. I could’ve done without all the swearing though. This book affected me deeply, and I felt it!
A group of people bond over the internet in a group chat for people with chronic illnesses. When Priya and Brigid realize they live close together, they meet in person. Brigid’s illness spirals out of control and Priya sets about trying to help her.
Opinion
The more I read this book, the more I liked it. Priya has Lyme disease, something that I got when I was younger. Reading about what she went through made me thankful I caught mine early on. Brigids disease is the main focus but the relationships are the stars of this book. Learning to trust others when you have the cards stacked against you is hard.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I’ve had this book sitting waiting to be read for a while now but finally when I got to it, I really enjoyed it! It had a lot of really good stuff in it. Not only was it really centered on people with chronic illnesses, it had the little bit extra with the werewolf in it. Parts of the story was done as a chat room. I really liked that, as I’ve always been a fan of stories told through emails, letters, instant messages, texts, etc. It was really interesting hearing the points of view from all different types illnesses.
While there were a lot of characters we knew just through the chat/discussion group, the family characters were awesome. And I loved Spencer! He was so funny! There was a point in the book where one of the characters was suffering from depression, but they told the rest that they hadn’t actually thought about killing themselves, but they had thoughts that they wished they were not alive anymore, that things would be better. That part hit home a lot. I’ve felt the same way. But because I never actually think about committing suicide, I never feel like it is that big of a deal to worry about. It definitely made me think a little. And I think that is something important for teens as well, if I as a grown-up didn’t feel it was that important, but I probably should have.
Definitely one I’ll be promoting and buying for my school library.
Lycanthropy and other Chronic Illnesses is a stunning story of well, lycanthropy and chronic illnesses, but also of people, love, hardships, friendships, and family. The story is beautifully told and highlights not only the isolation, feelings, and social issues that people living with chronic illnesses deal with, but also finding one’s place in life within the new and different world of illness.
I felt every moment of this story, not only did I feel seen and understood, but has also comforted me (it also made me want a support group this caring and wonderful to each other).
There are two distinct threads throughout this story: one of Priya and Brigid, their friendship and life with lycanthropy and one of the support group and dealing with more traditional chronic illnesses (and all the issues that implies). The way the author wove the two seemingly different issues together is stunning because they are really the same. The bond and friendship that all the characters within this story create for each other and themselves is breathtaking in and #lifegoals.
This is a very modern story with chats and internet speak and live links (how fun is that, that this story in interactive?) It makes this story come alive in a way where the reader feels a part of the support group. I was right there with the characters, feeling and hoping and supporting right along side them all. I loved the diversity in not only the characters but also the chronic illnesses.
I will admit as an older reader I did have to look up a few modern cultural references because they were out of my age range, but I think that it will be wonderful for the books main audience because it adds authenticity to the story. I did very much enjoy the literary references and the jokes added for lightness. One would not think of lycanthropy to lighten talk of chronic illnesses, but it works beautifully here.
This story deal with a profoundly serious and often heavy issue but it does it with grace, respect, and humor. I could not have loved this story more.
I have added it to my best of 2021 list and will be recommending this to all my friends, chronic illness sufferers or not.
This is a story for all. I would also encourage this as a discussion book for schools as it is both entertaining but also creates an amazing way to discuss important issues.
Here is the buy link to pre-order this amazing story!
https://www.amazon.com/Lycanthropy-Other-Chronic-Illnesses-Novel/dp/1683692349/ref=sr_1_1?crid=K31KC7CNDT0&dchild=1&keywords=lycanthropy+and+other+chronic+illnesses&qid=1613162543&sprefix=lycanthropy%2Caps%2C251&sr=8-1
Oof, ouch. O’Neal’s YA debut yanked me in and I couldn’t put it down. Oddly hilarious due to the personalities and most definitely heart-felt, this own voices story goes into the so-not-funny mental landscape of chronic illnesses, and brings werewolfism (henceforth a word) into the storyline. I LOVED Brigid’s sense of humor and her and Priya’s friendship is one we ALL need in our lives.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a YA friendship story. There is a smidge of romance but it stays in its place and doesn’t affect the main focus– how friends can get you through the hardest time. Whether it be Lyme disease that throws a complete wrench in your life, or developing a taste for raw meat and the neighbor’s cat (she felt really bad about it, no judging).