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allibruns's review against another edition
2.0
Normally I love books with unlikeable main characters but I just couldn't with Alice. There was no depth to her she's a bitch for the sake of being bitch. I want a main character who's complex and flushed out not someone who's written with the sole purpose being for me not to like her.
doublearegee's review against another edition
4.0
This book reminded me of Paper Towns, with the revenging. I wish YA was like this when I was their intended demographic. It seems like when I was a kid it was all how to deal with difficult issues and less about how to deal with your feelings.
appifanie's review against another edition
5.0
I devoured this in 24 hours - SO GOOD, and not just because I have my own Harvey (no, seriously, his last name is Harvey and we're married now) from high school (though Alice I'm not).
Harvey is steadfast perfection. Alice is...Alice has...issues. But despite them, it's easy to like her and root for her.
"But when the girl you loved was dying, it was hard not to let yourself go with her."
Harvey is steadfast perfection. Alice is...Alice has...issues. But despite them, it's easy to like her and root for her.
"But when the girl you loved was dying, it was hard not to let yourself go with her."
aneeqah's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating: 3.5 Stars
Honestly, this book has really left me a bit confused. I both liked and disliked things about it.
Full review to come soon.
Honestly, this book has really left me a bit confused. I both liked and disliked things about it.
Full review to come soon.
lisamarie89's review against another edition
3.0
It was alright- nothing too exciting. Didn't like Alice at all but Harvey was a good character and deserved a girl who treated him better.
izumisano's review
3.0
The end of this book was its redeeming grace as Alice at least attempted to make things right. If she didn't try to do that, I probably would've wanted to burn this book too.
tammy216's review against another edition
4.0
Side Effects May Vary is not a typical cancer story about making sure your loved ones are okay when or doing all of the things you wanted to do before you die. Alice wants to makes sure she gets her revenge. She uses her best friend Harvey to help her with her revenge plots and her final to do list. When Alice goes into remission she then has to deal with all the damage she's done and the people she's hurt.
The main character Alice is bitter, angry, and manipulative. She is not using her cancer as a way to think about all the great things she wants to do in her life. Most of what she wants to do is cruel. Alice is a hard character to like, but I love her anyway. She is no where near perfect and has a hard time seeing past her own wants and needs. She spends most of the book using and manipulating everyone around her. I love Alice because she's real, she has flaws and can be selfish and that's okay. I found myself rooting for her. For her to really look at the decisions she's been making and the person she was and decide if she wanted to change or continue on the path she's on.
Harvey is Alice's best friend who has been in love with her for years. He spends a lot of time being Alice's doormat and dropping everything when she calls. Harvey is such a nice guy and it's hard not to feel sorry for him and also frustrated that he continues to let himself be used by Alice. All he wants is for her to love him the way he loves her and at some points that just seems impossible. Alice's cancer makes this even harder because then Harvey has to face the thought that he might lose the only girl he's ever loved.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Alice and Harvey and the dual points of view. The book also tells the story in two points of time, "Then" when Alice was first diagnosed and "Now" when Alice goes into remission. I loved the struggle that Alice has with her second chance at life. Everyone around her is happy and relieved but she's just scared and waiting for the cancer to come back. It was hard for her to adjust back to thinking about the future when she thought she didn't have one.
Overall, this is a wonderful story about a girl trying to get her life back and grow up after going through a battle with cancer. She is not always likable and can be frustrating at times, but that is what make the story so interesting. Her best friend Harvey, also goes through his own struggle about whether or not he can continue to be Alice's friend and deal with her manipulations or just let her go.
The main character Alice is bitter, angry, and manipulative. She is not using her cancer as a way to think about all the great things she wants to do in her life. Most of what she wants to do is cruel. Alice is a hard character to like, but I love her anyway. She is no where near perfect and has a hard time seeing past her own wants and needs. She spends most of the book using and manipulating everyone around her. I love Alice because she's real, she has flaws and can be selfish and that's okay. I found myself rooting for her. For her to really look at the decisions she's been making and the person she was and decide if she wanted to change or continue on the path she's on.
Harvey is Alice's best friend who has been in love with her for years. He spends a lot of time being Alice's doormat and dropping everything when she calls. Harvey is such a nice guy and it's hard not to feel sorry for him and also frustrated that he continues to let himself be used by Alice. All he wants is for her to love him the way he loves her and at some points that just seems impossible. Alice's cancer makes this even harder because then Harvey has to face the thought that he might lose the only girl he's ever loved.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Alice and Harvey and the dual points of view. The book also tells the story in two points of time, "Then" when Alice was first diagnosed and "Now" when Alice goes into remission. I loved the struggle that Alice has with her second chance at life. Everyone around her is happy and relieved but she's just scared and waiting for the cancer to come back. It was hard for her to adjust back to thinking about the future when she thought she didn't have one.
Overall, this is a wonderful story about a girl trying to get her life back and grow up after going through a battle with cancer. She is not always likable and can be frustrating at times, but that is what make the story so interesting. Her best friend Harvey, also goes through his own struggle about whether or not he can continue to be Alice's friend and deal with her manipulations or just let her go.
davin_christensen's review against another edition
3.0
This book definitely isn't for everyone. Although there are many flaws in the story I really enjoyed my time reading this book. This book is about a girl from when she was diagnosed with cancer to when she came into remission and what her life is like after cancer. The main problem I had in this book is the fact that they used everyone for what they want. Another problem I had with the story is how Harvey changes so quickly like he is two different characters.
jmk1217's review against another edition
4.0
The characters in this book will make you love it or hate it. At times they are really unlikeable, off-putting, or infuriating, but they are very real, not whitewashed protagonists. Their journey was worth it to me, though.
amandawije's review against another edition
3.0
Cute book. Not the best thing I've ever read and not necessarily what I was expecting from this book but I did enjoy it :) Loved the ending!