Side Effects May Vary

Reviewing a book that captures a huge part of your heart and mind, that hits all your right buttons, that speaks on so many levels to you, is sometimes impossible to do. How do you really convey everything amazing about this book, without being able to give needed details due to spoilers? That's where I'm at with this one. I feel like I should say, I know Julie. But that in no way influences my intense love of this book. Honestly, I'd almost wish we weren't friends so maybe people would believe me that much more when I say this is one of those books you must read. No matter what. (But I love Julie, thus the almost).But this book. I connected so hard to Alice. I love this prickly girl who flat out gets revenge on people because she thinks she's dying, and she's angry, and hey she won't be around to handle the fall out. No, she's not a nice person in a lot of ways. But she goes through so much growth. I love the girl she becomes, the change in how she views the world. And, oh, god, the sweetness and connection between her and Harvey. I can see why readers might not like Alice. She does some awful things. But I rooted hard for her. And if I'm being totally honest, I saw part of myself in her. I think whether people want to admit it or not, everyone at least imagines what it'd be like to do what you want, regardless of the consequences. Then there's Alice, who really does it. I admire that. Even if it's in part because she won't have to handle the fallout. But I also just admire how take life by the horns she is, how determined she is. There is an immense strength in this girl, and I can't help but love her.And Harvey. Oh, sweet, sweet Harvey. I love this boy. To pieces. He is so stunningly different than a lot of guys in YA. At the start, he and Alice haven't talked in way too long, despite the friendship that used to be between them. There is such palpable pain there, and it drew me right in. Then comes Alice's diagnosis, and he's back in her life. He knows she's using him, but he doesn't care. And maybe to some that makes him weak, but to me, it just melted me for this boy, this person who cares about someone so much they take the time they can get, do what they can to help that person in what is likely their final months. Yes, she treats him really crappy at times, and yet, I could never hate her for it, or hate him for taking it. Something about these two, both apart and together, enamored me and broke me. For all the ways he's possibly weak, he's got this huge strength, and a breaking point of his own. He challenges Alice, and he challenges himself. And these two just... break me. There's no other word for it. Harvey is amazing. He's that solid thing you can fall back on, yet he's also that thing that will let you fall when it's best for you int he end.The pure brilliance of this book to me is not only the stunning concept, but how amazingly its executed. Told in dual POV between Harvey and Alice, but also in a nonlinear fashion, with the past mixed into the present on both sides. It's a style that I sometimes can't wrap my head around trying to do, and Julie does it so, so, so well. I followed the overall storyline so well, adding these pieces of the past to the here and now, combining the stories and constantly feeling my emotions shift and change. The voice is distinct and easy to fall into. Everything about this book sang to me. From the not so easy to swallow choices Alice makes to the raw yet sweet friendship and romance to the roller coaster of emotions throughout.I'm calling it now. This is my best book of 2014.

I actually wanted to read this after reading some of the reviews. I thought it would be great to read a book about a dying character who wasn't serenely trying to make peace with it. Even Alice points out that what she really wants is the last word. I thought that could be a great read and incredibly honest.But the fact is it's not just about getting the last word. She's just mean and she knows it. There's one part where she actually blames it on drugs and Harvey tells her it wasn't even real drugs that she took- it's just her. You feel sorry for her at some points through the story but it's really, really hard to like someone who knows they're being awful but can't or won't stop. You do however feel sorry for pretty much everyone else whose been trying to take care of and help her even as she makes them miserable.However that aside in the end I did enjoy the book. I did feel like Alice, Harvey and pretty much everyone else dealt with their stuff and moved forward appropriately and honestly. I even appreciated Alice. So if you can stomach a miserable (but brutally honest) main character then I'd recommend this one for a different kind of kids with cancer book.

This book was recommended for me based off others i had read.I read the blurb and just had to buy it. It sounded amazing.There's been about 3 books in the past 5 years that I almost didn't finish, and this is one of those. I just could not connect and get into the story. I gobble books up and usually finish a good book within a day, 2 tops. This one took me a good week or so.I hate that. The writing is great, the story is fine. I don't know what it is.

I don't see how someone can go as far as compare this story to one written by John Green. A girl has cancer yes tragic but she keeps using it as an excuse for her outrageous behaviour! Harvey has never been nothing but amazing to her and has never hurt her , yet she can't return anything to him but keeps luring him on , she doesn't deserve him at all. She wanting the " last word" was extremely selfish and her whole character was drenched in toxicity and a terrible personality. I looked forward to reading this but if find myself saying that's so messed up over and over again. The fact that Alice couldn't even say i love you to Harvey was just so wrong.I recommend this if you love dealing with selfish and just all round terrible people .

This is a book that pisses me off amd makes me really happy. Harvey isn't a super well-rounded character, but his story is truly believable, largely due to him being so normal. Most high schoolers have no clue what they like, who they are, or what they expect for themselves. He could've been a little bit less flat with more personality. Alice was really well written. She's very unlikable and sooooooo frustrating. I love that the girl wasn't obsessed with some closed off manipulative guy. I liked that the girl was the one all cold and selfish; it's so rare to find a girl in a romance novel thats her own person. Alice is her own person...she just sucks. The way the story was written was so addictive.I hated the ending.

I was always on the edge of my seat with this book. It was generally really good and I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for the fact that I got no closure whatsoever. The way this book ends is just plain wrong. Yes, Alice is a bitch and everyone hates her but having her point of view and Harvey's at the same time really helps to understand the book, the characters, their feelings, and the events that take place. I'm not even mad at the writing and how it switches back and forth. That's the problem for most people, the way this is written can be confusing if you don't keep track of the times you're reading about but I still enjoyed it. That ending though, not even going to lie I'm still a little bitter about it.

Side Effects May Vary is a story between two very different protagonists. First you have sixteen year old Alice that is diagnosed with cancer and because her days are suddenly numbered, she decides to enlist the help of her long-time friend Harvey to revenge on those who did her wrong. However, a year later, when she finds herself in remission, she’s not only forced to deal with her new reality but also the consequences of her decisions. She has lived the last year of her life knowing it was her last---including doing some terrible things. The other half is Harvey, Alice’s best friend. They have lived their lives next to each other, their parents are best friends, and Harvey and Alice have grown up alongside each other. And Harvey is completely in love with Alice.I think Murphy did a great job with the dual point of view. Alice is selfish, mean and treats people like crap and is terrified. She could be considered the protagonist and the antagonist, and she’s a character you love to hate, with good reason. Harvey is sweet and charming, a character that deserved so much more. I rooted for his relationship with Alice though Alice wasn’t always deserving of the love Harvey had to give.It revolves around Alice’s second chances, the harsh realities of high school, and about friendships that can either define you or destroy you. Overall, a very witty novel that was really interesting to read.

I really really wanted to sympathise with Alice the heroine (anti-heroine?) of this novel, but even making allowances for the suffering she had endured I found it impossible. The pranks she plays on the other kids who have got on the wrong side of her are horrible - particularly the one on Celeste, it suggests a sick mind as well as a sick body. I also found it really distasteful the way she taunted Celeste about her weight, when it was obvious that she wasn't overweight, just not skinny enough for ballet. To make things worse, it's not only her enemies she torments, the way she treats Harvey, a sweet boy who would do anything for her, is pretty appalling too. To be fair the author doesn't make allowances for Alice or sugarcoat the consequences she faces for actions she thought she would never have to face up to because of her illness. My problem was I found it impossible to root for Alice to end up with Harvey because frankly he deserves a lot better and she would end up making him miserable.The ending wasn't great for me as it didn't offer enough closure - the book just suddenly stopped, but having said that the writing is pretty sharp and it kept me gripped the whole way through, so I decided to up my rating from 3 to 4 stars. Also have to give her credit for not making Alice the typical sickly sweet cancer sufferer we often find in romantic novels.

Beautiful writing questioning the big things in life through real, heartfelt characters. Alice has cancer but we are never made to pity her, and I love the exploration of her relationship with childhood friend, Harvey.

Sooo great

I enjoyed this book. I really felt like I knew the characters and was willing for a happy ending. I would recommended this book.