This book was pure joy for me. I mean, I cried a lot but it had nothing to do with heartbreak or tragedy – as the tagline promises, nobody dies in this one.

While I don't share a diagnosis with Ibby or Sasha, I felt so very seen by this book. I saw my thoughts and experiences represented on the page. The scene when Ibby's test results came back and they looked "good" ... the disconnect when friends & family don't understand what you're going through ... minimizing your experience to not be a bother to your friends ... pushing yourself to do something fun but paying the price for the whole following week ... navigating invisible illnesses and "looking sick enough" and speaking up for yourself when you need help ... there was just so much here.

Pulling back from the chronic illness representation, there was so much else I loved about this book. The dialogue between Ibby & Sasha felt real and witty and funny. I didn't find it cheesy or grating at all (which is sometimes ... okay, maybe often the case in contemporary romance stories). They weren't annoying or overdramatic.

The theme of family was explored in a dynamic and layered way; we witnessed tough relationships and wholesome & supportive relationships and a whole lot of in between. I was particularly charmed by Sasha's sister, Nadia. And I thought Ibby's complicated relationship with her always-working father (especially because he is also a doctor) was handled thoughtfully.

Ibby & Sasha's friendship and then relationship felt natural and honest. They have flaws and stumbles and teenage selfishness, but built up their romance on trust and deep care for each other.

I really loved Ibby's question columns and the way they were integrated into the flow of the story. 

They're also both Jewish and that representation was included super casually (which I appreciated). Sasha is bisexual and mentions that once or twice as well. And there's a decently diverse set of supporting characters.

I felt healed by this book - I think it's beautiful that it's both written for those with chronic illnesses and opening up conversations in a healthy (no pun intended?) way, but it's also great representation and education for those with no experience of disability. 

A small criticism would be the "dead" character, Claire. I found her intriguing as a way for Isabel to basically self-reflect, but felt that she was underutilized and never quite resolved. 

CW: chronic illness, ableism, medical content/medical trauma, toxic friendship, vomit, emotional abuse