A review by readingrobin
Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O'Neal

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I know that the representation, specifically with Priya's Tamil heritage, within this book is a hot topic as it is given by a white author and really has no significance to the story as a whole. There's no discussion of how this aspect of her identity interacts with her chronic illness or really any effect it has on her life. As a white person who is not chronically ill, I'm not really the person to give the rep a gold stamp of approval or anything. I think some things could have been handled better, but, for the most part, I think that the discussion and experiences surrounding chronic illness in this book can be validating for a lot of people.

I loved the support group dynamic that Priya and Bridget find in their community. Finding validation through other's experiences is so important when trying to tackle your own issues and I'm glad that the book bolstered that. 

It's a book that knows how to toe the line between silly and serious, balancing the fatigue of living with potentially lifelong illnesses and finding comfort in others like you. Priya and Bridget's relationships was so ride or die and It was great to see a strong friendship survive after so many challenges and hurdles.

I picked up the audiobook, which probably isn't the best way to read this story, as there are a lot of chats, texts, emojis, image files, etc. shared and it can be a bit overbearing through audio. 

While the books has its bumps, I think it may be worth reading if you're looking for werewolf shenanigans mixed with interesting perspectives on living with a chronic illness.