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It's All in Your Head
A GOODREADS AND BOOK RIOT MOST ANTICIPATED ROMANCE OF 2026
A slow-burn romance about a woman with a rare neurological condition who agrees to fake-date the hot guy in her chronic pain support group—only to discover he’s an Olympic snowboarder whose career-ending injury is as infamous as his dating history.
“Sweet, poignant, and swoony ... from perfect setup to triumphant end—this book has its sights set on readers’ hearts, minds, and understanding of disability.” ―Gigi Griffis, author of The Empress
Your fake relationship shouldn’t come with chronic feelings.
Skylar is done with offline relationships—especially romantic ones. Living with chronic illness means she’s heard it all unreliable, high-maintenance, too much. She’d rather spend her free time in her online chronic pain support group, and lately, she can’t help but notice Pike, the hot new guy with a penchant for broody poetry. When a chaotic night in the group forces her to pose as his girlfriend, she reluctantly agrees to keep up the charade in real life. Surprisingly, he’s thoughtful, sweet, and—most importantly—doesn’t flinch at the things that have scared others away.
Fake dating gets a lot more complicated when she discovers Pike isn’t just some guy. He’s a professional snowboarder whose career-ending injury is as infamous as his playboy past. He won’t talk about that, though. He’s fine. Really. But pretending to be in love with Skylar turns out to be the least depressing thing he’s done in months. As they spend more time together, she starts to notice the cracks in his carefully crafted image, and for once, he doesn’t mind being seen.
After all the bed-sharing and late-night talks, it becomes harder for both of them to pretend. But just as things start turning real, the paparazzi catch on, wanting the scoop on how everyone’s favorite Olympic medalist is doing post-accident. Dating while disabled comes with challenges of its own, but public speculation and invasive questions are something else entirely. If their newfound feelings can’t survive the spotlight, their not-so-fake relationship may be over before it ever truly begins.
“[An] extremely slow burn that pays off exponentially. The sex is super hot.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“This debut romance gives members of the disability community the HEAs they deserve.” ―Book Riot
A slow-burn romance about a woman with a rare neurological condition who agrees to fake-date the hot guy in her chronic pain support group—only to discover he’s an Olympic snowboarder whose career-ending injury is as infamous as his dating history.
“Sweet, poignant, and swoony ... from perfect setup to triumphant end—this book has its sights set on readers’ hearts, minds, and understanding of disability.” ―Gigi Griffis, author of The Empress
Your fake relationship shouldn’t come with chronic feelings.
Skylar is done with offline relationships—especially romantic ones. Living with chronic illness means she’s heard it all unreliable, high-maintenance, too much. She’d rather spend her free time in her online chronic pain support group, and lately, she can’t help but notice Pike, the hot new guy with a penchant for broody poetry. When a chaotic night in the group forces her to pose as his girlfriend, she reluctantly agrees to keep up the charade in real life. Surprisingly, he’s thoughtful, sweet, and—most importantly—doesn’t flinch at the things that have scared others away.
Fake dating gets a lot more complicated when she discovers Pike isn’t just some guy. He’s a professional snowboarder whose career-ending injury is as infamous as his playboy past. He won’t talk about that, though. He’s fine. Really. But pretending to be in love with Skylar turns out to be the least depressing thing he’s done in months. As they spend more time together, she starts to notice the cracks in his carefully crafted image, and for once, he doesn’t mind being seen.
After all the bed-sharing and late-night talks, it becomes harder for both of them to pretend. But just as things start turning real, the paparazzi catch on, wanting the scoop on how everyone’s favorite Olympic medalist is doing post-accident. Dating while disabled comes with challenges of its own, but public speculation and invasive questions are something else entirely. If their newfound feelings can’t survive the spotlight, their not-so-fake relationship may be over before it ever truly begins.
“[An] extremely slow burn that pays off exponentially. The sex is super hot.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“This debut romance gives members of the disability community the HEAs they deserve.” ―Book Riot
Audible Audio
First published February 10, 2026
220 people are currently reading
16559 people want to read
About the author
Sabina Nordqvist
1 book121 followersSabina Nordqvist began writing as a way to distract herself from chronic pain and illness, and before long, she couldn’t stop creating imaginary worlds and swoony book boyfriends. When not immersed in her latest project, she’s likely doing physical therapy, reading, or searching for answers to her latest mystery symptom. A polyglot with three nationalities, she’s spent many years abroad and loves nerding out over intercultural communication and the languages she’s picked up along the way. It's All in Your Head is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
February 2, 2026
2/2/26: I think it's a sign of a truly good book when you enjoy it just as much on the third reread—if not more—as the first time you read it. IAIYH is one of those books.
IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD marks the introduction of a powerful new voice in the romance genre and literature as a whole. While Pike and Skylar's relationship is at the book's core, Nordqvist deftly tackles the pervasiveness of ableism in familial, platonic, and romantic relationships—even in the relationships the characters have with their own selves. Her writing is unflinching, funny, and heart wrenching. IAIYH is one of the first books I've ever read that accurately depicts what it is like to date, be in love, and navigate the world as a disabled woman, all without shying away from the parts of ourselves society has taught us to hide. And Pike is definitely my new fictional crush.
The week before I left for college, I promised my teenage-self that I wouldn't tell anyone that I was chronically ill, because, amongst other things, I believed no one would want to date a sick girl. I wish I had IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD to read then, to know that I could be the main character in a love story. But I can settle for having it now, a decade later, knowing that someday soon readers will have access to this beautiful book and their lives will be changed for the better.
IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD marks the introduction of a powerful new voice in the romance genre and literature as a whole. While Pike and Skylar's relationship is at the book's core, Nordqvist deftly tackles the pervasiveness of ableism in familial, platonic, and romantic relationships—even in the relationships the characters have with their own selves. Her writing is unflinching, funny, and heart wrenching. IAIYH is one of the first books I've ever read that accurately depicts what it is like to date, be in love, and navigate the world as a disabled woman, all without shying away from the parts of ourselves society has taught us to hide. And Pike is definitely my new fictional crush.
The week before I left for college, I promised my teenage-self that I wouldn't tell anyone that I was chronically ill, because, amongst other things, I believed no one would want to date a sick girl. I wish I had IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD to read then, to know that I could be the main character in a love story. But I can settle for having it now, a decade later, knowing that someday soon readers will have access to this beautiful book and their lives will be changed for the better.
January 4, 2026
Rep: FMC with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, tinnitus, dysautonomia/POTS, and aphasia; a MMC and FMC with chronic pain. MMC with depression and PTSD. SCs with hEDS, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, interstitial cystitis, and Epstein–Barr virus; a bedbound SC. MMC cane user and wheelchair user. SC rollator user. Plus-size FMC, asexual/ace SCs, LGBTQ+ characters, Persian and Mexican American SCs.
Thank you to @nordqvistbooks, @grandcentralpub, and @netgalley for the ARC. This romance novel was one of my favorite disability books of 2025 and is already one of my all-time favorites. This is the first book I’ve read that really captures the magic and found family that grows out of chronic pain and illness support groups alongside the grief that comes from being misunderstood by non-disabled family and friends. This would also be the very first book I’d hand to someone who is chronically ill and to someone who isn’t but genuinely wants to understand what it feels like when your life is turned completely upside down.
The story handles grief, pity, and ableism with so much care and precision. Nordqvist somehow manages to educate without sounding pedantic, while still affirming the messy, complex realities patients live with every day. I found myself nodding along and saying, “Yep, that is so true,” again and again while reading.
On top of all that, the romance delivers: fake dating, one bed, all the good stuff. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE PINING AND THE SIZZLING CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THESE TWO? *Whew.* Good lord. I loved seeing Nordqvist say a very clear no thank you to anyone who thinks disabled people can’t be sexy, desirable, or hot for one another.
I also appreciate how Skylar and Pike represent two different ways people can become disabled as adults—either suddenly due to an accident or sports injury, or gradually over time due to later-in-life conditions or a growing list of chronic illnesses. The grief of a former athlete mourning the loss of mobility and a sport they’d give anything to return to was palpable. The book also captures the massive gulf that can open up between us and the non-disabled world—even friends we were sure would be there forever—once life changes and their response becomes either pity or quiet avoidance.
I would obnoxiously quote this book nonstop if this weren’t an ARC, and I fully plan to highlight the hell out of my finished copy in purple highlighter when it comes out on February 10th. Sabina Nordqvist, this is one hell of a debut. So many moments felt like you were inside my head. I’ll be reading anything you write from here on out. 💜
CW: medical trauma, lumbar puncture, BMI weaponization, fatphobia, life-altering accident, online harassment, ableism, toxic relationships, parental abandonment, car accident, sexual content, discussion of forced psychiatric care, mentions of suicide and suicidal ideation, drinking, opioid use for pain management, divorce, toxic positivity, cannabis use, gambling addiction, bullying, privacy breaches
Thank you to @nordqvistbooks, @grandcentralpub, and @netgalley for the ARC. This romance novel was one of my favorite disability books of 2025 and is already one of my all-time favorites. This is the first book I’ve read that really captures the magic and found family that grows out of chronic pain and illness support groups alongside the grief that comes from being misunderstood by non-disabled family and friends. This would also be the very first book I’d hand to someone who is chronically ill and to someone who isn’t but genuinely wants to understand what it feels like when your life is turned completely upside down.
The story handles grief, pity, and ableism with so much care and precision. Nordqvist somehow manages to educate without sounding pedantic, while still affirming the messy, complex realities patients live with every day. I found myself nodding along and saying, “Yep, that is so true,” again and again while reading.
On top of all that, the romance delivers: fake dating, one bed, all the good stuff. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE PINING AND THE SIZZLING CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THESE TWO? *Whew.* Good lord. I loved seeing Nordqvist say a very clear no thank you to anyone who thinks disabled people can’t be sexy, desirable, or hot for one another.
I also appreciate how Skylar and Pike represent two different ways people can become disabled as adults—either suddenly due to an accident or sports injury, or gradually over time due to later-in-life conditions or a growing list of chronic illnesses. The grief of a former athlete mourning the loss of mobility and a sport they’d give anything to return to was palpable. The book also captures the massive gulf that can open up between us and the non-disabled world—even friends we were sure would be there forever—once life changes and their response becomes either pity or quiet avoidance.
I would obnoxiously quote this book nonstop if this weren’t an ARC, and I fully plan to highlight the hell out of my finished copy in purple highlighter when it comes out on February 10th. Sabina Nordqvist, this is one hell of a debut. So many moments felt like you were inside my head. I’ll be reading anything you write from here on out. 💜
CW: medical trauma, lumbar puncture, BMI weaponization, fatphobia, life-altering accident, online harassment, ableism, toxic relationships, parental abandonment, car accident, sexual content, discussion of forced psychiatric care, mentions of suicide and suicidal ideation, drinking, opioid use for pain management, divorce, toxic positivity, cannabis use, gambling addiction, bullying, privacy breaches
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 / 5 Stars
This was a really great debut. It is a poignant portrayal of characters living with chronic pain and disabilities mixed with a sweet and spicy romance. In “It’s All In Your Head,” Skylar has created an online support group for people living with chronic pain and illness. When Pike, a new, very attractive member, posts a poem that garners a lot of attention, Skylar is forced to act as his fake girlfriend (just go with it). She’ll pose as his fake girlfriend for two dates over the course of a few months, but things get complicated because 1) Pike is thoughtful and kind on top of being hot and 2) he is a former Olympic snowboarder who had a career ending injury. As things become more real and less fake, their feelings and his celebrity become even more complicated.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💘 Fake dating
💘 Only one bed
💘 Secret celebrity and reformed playboy
💘 Hurt / comfort
💘 Found family
💘 Representation of people with chronic pain and illness (IIH and POTs)
💘 Representation of people with physical disabilities (ambulatory wheelchair and cane use)
💘 Representation of mental health conditions (depression)
The portrayal of chronic pain and illness and physical disability was really comprehensive, nuanced, and unflinching. It portrays how pervasive and systemic ableism is and shows how two characters who are relatively privileged (have money, health insurance, access to doctors, are not dealing with medical racism) could have their symptoms dismissed or overlooked. I am really glad that we are getting more stories about characters who are disabled from authors with lived experience. I can’t say anything as well as the author had so here are some really beautiful words from her author’s note: “If chronic pain or illness upended your life, I hope you’ll hold onto the possibility of your own happy ending. Joy, romance, and belonging are not out of reach just because we are ill or disabled. We do not need to be cured or inspirational to find love, in whatever form it takes.”
I really fell in love with both Pike and Skylar. Skylar has felt and been told that she is too much and that is such a heartbreaking and relatable feeling. Pike is adjusting to a new reality that he isn’t sure how to process and grieving his past life which is also a heartbreaking and relatable feeling. The two of them made perfect sense together.
The romance itself was also fun. I haven’t read a ton of secret celebrity stories and I think that trope added a fun layer of external conflict to the story. The internal conflict came from the fact that neither of the characters had been in a healthy long-term relationship before so both are terrified of messing it up. Does that lead to miscommunication and assumptions? 100%. Was that a bit frustrating (though realistic)? Also 100%. I appreciated both of their growth though. And there was a fun, spicy microtrope that kind of came out of nowhere, but you know what, why not (iykyk)? Let’s go with it!
There were a few times that I had a bit of a hard time following some of the smaller details in the book. A few times I caught myself saying “when did this character, who is now talking, enter the scene?” or “wait, how are you laying down? I thought you were in the car.” These might get corrected before the publication date but it did take me out of the book a tad.
Overall, I am looking forward to reading more of Sabina Nordqvist’s work and am happy I got to read this ARC!
Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: February 10, 2026
_________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I am genuinely so excited to read this book. So happy I got this ARC.
This was a really great debut. It is a poignant portrayal of characters living with chronic pain and disabilities mixed with a sweet and spicy romance. In “It’s All In Your Head,” Skylar has created an online support group for people living with chronic pain and illness. When Pike, a new, very attractive member, posts a poem that garners a lot of attention, Skylar is forced to act as his fake girlfriend (just go with it). She’ll pose as his fake girlfriend for two dates over the course of a few months, but things get complicated because 1) Pike is thoughtful and kind on top of being hot and 2) he is a former Olympic snowboarder who had a career ending injury. As things become more real and less fake, their feelings and his celebrity become even more complicated.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💘 Fake dating
💘 Only one bed
💘 Secret celebrity and reformed playboy
💘 Hurt / comfort
💘 Found family
💘 Representation of people with chronic pain and illness (IIH and POTs)
💘 Representation of people with physical disabilities (ambulatory wheelchair and cane use)
💘 Representation of mental health conditions (depression)
The portrayal of chronic pain and illness and physical disability was really comprehensive, nuanced, and unflinching. It portrays how pervasive and systemic ableism is and shows how two characters who are relatively privileged (have money, health insurance, access to doctors, are not dealing with medical racism) could have their symptoms dismissed or overlooked. I am really glad that we are getting more stories about characters who are disabled from authors with lived experience. I can’t say anything as well as the author had so here are some really beautiful words from her author’s note: “If chronic pain or illness upended your life, I hope you’ll hold onto the possibility of your own happy ending. Joy, romance, and belonging are not out of reach just because we are ill or disabled. We do not need to be cured or inspirational to find love, in whatever form it takes.”
I really fell in love with both Pike and Skylar. Skylar has felt and been told that she is too much and that is such a heartbreaking and relatable feeling. Pike is adjusting to a new reality that he isn’t sure how to process and grieving his past life which is also a heartbreaking and relatable feeling. The two of them made perfect sense together.
The romance itself was also fun. I haven’t read a ton of secret celebrity stories and I think that trope added a fun layer of external conflict to the story. The internal conflict came from the fact that neither of the characters had been in a healthy long-term relationship before so both are terrified of messing it up. Does that lead to miscommunication and assumptions? 100%. Was that a bit frustrating (though realistic)? Also 100%. I appreciated both of their growth though. And there was a fun, spicy microtrope that kind of came out of nowhere, but you know what, why not (iykyk)? Let’s go with it!
There were a few times that I had a bit of a hard time following some of the smaller details in the book. A few times I caught myself saying “when did this character, who is now talking, enter the scene?” or “wait, how are you laying down? I thought you were in the car.” These might get corrected before the publication date but it did take me out of the book a tad.
Overall, I am looking forward to reading more of Sabina Nordqvist’s work and am happy I got to read this ARC!
Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: February 10, 2026
_________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I am genuinely so excited to read this book. So happy I got this ARC.
November 17, 2025
I was ABSOLUTELY blown away by debut contemporary romance author Sabina Nordqvist's upcoming 2026 It's all in your head!! This was the first romance book I've read where the author clearly knows what it's like to live with chronic pain and an invisible illness (in this case IIH - Idiopathic intracranial hypertension).
The dual POV story involves fake dating, hurt/comfort, an only one bed situation, awesome found family/disabled friend and community groups and SOO much more. It also doesn't shy away from discussions of ableism, parental abandonment, medical gaslighting, depression and worse.
But the heavy is balanced out by some of the steamiest and utterly swooniest moments too!! Brendon 'Pike' is a former Olympic gold medal snowboarder who has a career ending accident that leaves him with chronic pain and dependent on mobility aids (canes and at times a wheelchair), while the FMC, Skylar, has been struggling to figure out the cause of her IIH and lives with a host of symptoms and pain that often leaves her immobile and without the energy (aka 'spoons') to be social or do her job.
I could go on and on and ON about how much I loved this book but just trust me when I say you won't want to miss it! I'm already itching to get my hands on Skylar's two best friend's books (one of whom suspects she has hEDS and the other who is Autistic).
HUGE thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for getting an early digital copy and physical ARC in my hands! I can't recommend IAIYH enough, especially for fans of authors like Chloe Liese and Hannah Bonam-Young.
The dual POV story involves fake dating, hurt/comfort, an only one bed situation, awesome found family/disabled friend and community groups and SOO much more. It also doesn't shy away from discussions of ableism, parental abandonment, medical gaslighting, depression and worse.
But the heavy is balanced out by some of the steamiest and utterly swooniest moments too!! Brendon 'Pike' is a former Olympic gold medal snowboarder who has a career ending accident that leaves him with chronic pain and dependent on mobility aids (canes and at times a wheelchair), while the FMC, Skylar, has been struggling to figure out the cause of her IIH and lives with a host of symptoms and pain that often leaves her immobile and without the energy (aka 'spoons') to be social or do her job.
I could go on and on and ON about how much I loved this book but just trust me when I say you won't want to miss it! I'm already itching to get my hands on Skylar's two best friend's books (one of whom suspects she has hEDS and the other who is Autistic).
HUGE thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for getting an early digital copy and physical ARC in my hands! I can't recommend IAIYH enough, especially for fans of authors like Chloe Liese and Hannah Bonam-Young.
February 22, 2026
I wanted to love this. As a chronically ill, disabled human, I appreciate the intention and sentiment behind the book, and I’m so glad someone is writing romance in this way. There were parts that I did enjoy (like the disability representation — multiple of my conditions were represented in this book, and that felt super validating!). But overall, I did not love the story as a whole, nor did I love the two main characters.
While reading I was trying to check myself and see if it was my own internalized ableism that was coming up, but what I realized is that the characters have a LOT of b&w thinking and self-righteousness that just doesn’t really do it for me.
Trust me, I really get how infuriating the medical system is. I have quite a few disorders/diagnoses, but one is interstitial cystitis like one of the side characters in the book. When I was 24 and really suffering massive pain from this condition, I literally had 3 different doctors tell me that it was “all in my head” because I didn’t test for a UTI on yeast infection. So it’s not a lack of sympathy that I have towards these characters. But the main characters came off as constantly victimized. Like there was NO nuance . It was basically “all abled body people = bad” vs “all people with disabilities = always prejudiced against and therefore good.”
That sort of b&w thinking is annoying to me, and I didn’t really want to be friends with either of the main characters. It’s hard to read a book when you don’t really like the characters.
While reading I was trying to check myself and see if it was my own internalized ableism that was coming up, but what I realized is that the characters have a LOT of b&w thinking and self-righteousness that just doesn’t really do it for me.
Trust me, I really get how infuriating the medical system is. I have quite a few disorders/diagnoses, but one is interstitial cystitis like one of the side characters in the book. When I was 24 and really suffering massive pain from this condition, I literally had 3 different doctors tell me that it was “all in my head” because I didn’t test for a UTI on yeast infection. So it’s not a lack of sympathy that I have towards these characters. But the main characters came off as constantly victimized. Like there was NO nuance . It was basically “all abled body people = bad” vs “all people with disabilities = always prejudiced against and therefore good.”
That sort of b&w thinking is annoying to me, and I didn’t really want to be friends with either of the main characters. It’s hard to read a book when you don’t really like the characters.
February 16, 2026
This romance between a chronically ill protagonist and the newly-disabled Olympic snowboarder whose face she saves in their chronic pain support group by pretending to be in a relationship with him stole my heart quicker than you can say ‘fake dating’. It packs so much steam and tenderness, light-hearted funny banter and a deep, emotional connection between the characters. Absolutely loved it!!
January 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and to Grand Central Publishing for the e-arc!
I absolutely loved this book. I was diagnosed with IIH in 2022 and while I haven’t experienced every symptom that Skylar has (no diagnosed condition is the same) the pressure, headaches, aphasia, brain fog, and all the lovely side effects from the meds are no joke. It was truly refreshing to read a love story and to actually see myself in the main character, because I know what it feels like to exist in her body.
I really liked how the author wrote the love story and that their individual issues had room to exist in their relationship while they were also falling in love and dealing with their own disabilities together.
One of the books I was most excited to read this year, and I’m so grateful that I got the chance to read it early and to experience it before everyone else.
I absolutely loved this book. I was diagnosed with IIH in 2022 and while I haven’t experienced every symptom that Skylar has (no diagnosed condition is the same) the pressure, headaches, aphasia, brain fog, and all the lovely side effects from the meds are no joke. It was truly refreshing to read a love story and to actually see myself in the main character, because I know what it feels like to exist in her body.
I really liked how the author wrote the love story and that their individual issues had room to exist in their relationship while they were also falling in love and dealing with their own disabilities together.
One of the books I was most excited to read this year, and I’m so grateful that I got the chance to read it early and to experience it before everyone else.
January 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I struggled writing this review because I want to be respectful but honest. First off, I liked that this book had characters with disabilities and chronic illnesses - always love to see that represented! However, I think the title of this book doesn’t fit well, it seems off. It’s also clear that author really likes the word “ableist” - every time I see that word, I groan. I get it but it’s way overused in this book. I also thought the timeline is weird - it seems like we jump to another event/setting way too fast and it comes out of the blue. I think the characters had a great dialogue and worked well together but I think the way they were written was done poorly.
The first bit of the book also felt like the author was trying to do too much with disabilities and it honestly made the book a bit confusing at first and I really wanted to DNF it. Rounding up to 3 stars.
This did not factor in my rating but if you get the arc review, brace yourselves because the formatting is all off and it gave me a headache trying to figure out who was speaking.
The first bit of the book also felt like the author was trying to do too much with disabilities and it honestly made the book a bit confusing at first and I really wanted to DNF it. Rounding up to 3 stars.
This did not factor in my rating but if you get the arc review, brace yourselves because the formatting is all off and it gave me a headache trying to figure out who was speaking.
March 21, 2026
This was absolutely fantastic! Swoony romance, two chronic illness MCs and phenomenal audiobook.
This is a great book for chronic illness baddies who want to feel seen/represented but I think this would also make an amazing read for those who do not have chronic illness (but want to understand it)!
This book isn’t just chronic illness representation it’s also chronic illness education.
Im planning on recommending this read to a couple friends in my life who’ve expressed that they struggle to understand my disabilities. I truly feel this book will help bridge the gap between what I’ve been able to express and what is still missing for those in my life who want to understand better.
| IG | TikTok |
This is a great book for chronic illness baddies who want to feel seen/represented but I think this would also make an amazing read for those who do not have chronic illness (but want to understand it)!
This book isn’t just chronic illness representation it’s also chronic illness education.
Im planning on recommending this read to a couple friends in my life who’ve expressed that they struggle to understand my disabilities. I truly feel this book will help bridge the gap between what I’ve been able to express and what is still missing for those in my life who want to understand better.
| IG | TikTok |
December 12, 2025
I love finding a new all-time favorite book—especially when it's a 5-star prediction. Like, yes, I am psychic! And now I'm a prophet: you will also enjoy this book. Go preorder it now.
TW: Chronic pain; Depression; Medical trauma and gaslighting; On-page medical procedures, including spinal tap; Fatphobia; Ableism; Vomiting; Minor car accident (on page); Discussions about suicide; Toxic parents; Parent with gambling addiction; Medical information leaked
I would place this book in the same category as Torie Jean's books. There's a blend of well-loved tropes but starring disabled characters, and levity mixed with intense and accurate portrayals of chronic pain and medical gaslighting. If you were to see a Venn diagram with two circles labeled "swoony romance" and "shit gets real," those books would be solidly in the center. It's difficult to write books that balance both without sacrificing the humor or the nuanced identity searching. Those two authors are extremely capable.
Please see below for a full list of the representation included, which spans nine different disabilities and the use of multiple different mobility aids. I LOVE TO SEE IT!!!
I want to specifically rave about the caretaking and inclusion of internet friends. Oh, is Sydney talking about caretaking in a review again? YES I AM. And chronic pain caretaking is god tier. Chronic pain intimacy is on another level too. If you're not convinced, this book will change your mind.
Internet friends are not seen often in books, but in a book full of disabled characters I should have expected them. Online support groups have been a saving grace as I've navigated my own chronic illnesses. I love how Nordqvist incorporated the group and the different dynamics within it into every part of the story. It's there as a backdrop to the inciting incident between Pike and Skylar, it's the safe space for her to retreat to, it's complicit for a portion of the conflict, and it's the source for Skylar's entire support system.
I have zero complaints. This was the first book in MONTHS that has made me put screens aside, only wanting to read above anything else. Instant new favorite for me. <3
Set in northern New York, specifically near Rochester.
Sport included is snowboarding.
Rep:
Main character with idiopathic intracranial hypertension & POTS
Main character with chronic intractable pain and depression who uses a cane and a wheelchair
Gray ace side character with fibromyalgia, autism, & interstitial cystitis
Italian side character with hEDS who uses a rollater
Gay, Mexican-American side character with ME/CFS who uses a wheelchair
Persian, gay side character
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the arc copy in exchange for promotion and an early review. My opinions were not affected by the gift and remain my own.
TW: Chronic pain; Depression; Medical trauma and gaslighting; On-page medical procedures, including spinal tap; Fatphobia; Ableism; Vomiting; Minor car accident (on page); Discussions about suicide; Toxic parents; Parent with gambling addiction; Medical information leaked
I would place this book in the same category as Torie Jean's books. There's a blend of well-loved tropes but starring disabled characters, and levity mixed with intense and accurate portrayals of chronic pain and medical gaslighting. If you were to see a Venn diagram with two circles labeled "swoony romance" and "shit gets real," those books would be solidly in the center. It's difficult to write books that balance both without sacrificing the humor or the nuanced identity searching. Those two authors are extremely capable.
Please see below for a full list of the representation included, which spans nine different disabilities and the use of multiple different mobility aids. I LOVE TO SEE IT!!!
I want to specifically rave about the caretaking and inclusion of internet friends. Oh, is Sydney talking about caretaking in a review again? YES I AM. And chronic pain caretaking is god tier. Chronic pain intimacy is on another level too. If you're not convinced, this book will change your mind.
Internet friends are not seen often in books, but in a book full of disabled characters I should have expected them. Online support groups have been a saving grace as I've navigated my own chronic illnesses. I love how Nordqvist incorporated the group and the different dynamics within it into every part of the story. It's there as a backdrop to the inciting incident between Pike and Skylar, it's the safe space for her to retreat to, it's complicit for a portion of the conflict, and it's the source for Skylar's entire support system.
I have zero complaints. This was the first book in MONTHS that has made me put screens aside, only wanting to read above anything else. Instant new favorite for me. <3
Set in northern New York, specifically near Rochester.
Sport included is snowboarding.
Rep:
Main character with idiopathic intracranial hypertension & POTS
Main character with chronic intractable pain and depression who uses a cane and a wheelchair
Gray ace side character with fibromyalgia, autism, & interstitial cystitis
Italian side character with hEDS who uses a rollater
Gay, Mexican-American side character with ME/CFS who uses a wheelchair
Persian, gay side character
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the arc copy in exchange for promotion and an early review. My opinions were not affected by the gift and remain my own.
March 13, 2024
I love this book so much! With sparkling prose and characters that jump off the page, It’s All in Your Head by Sabina Nordqvist is a beautiful debut from a fresh new voice in contemporary fiction. Readers will root for main character Skylar, who lives with chronic pain from a rare neurological condition, as she grapples with developing feelings for swoony Pike, a celebrity-in-hiding who is newly disabled—and new to the very real struggles of ableism and medical gaslighting that Skylar faces every day. Nordqvist has penned an immersive love story that strikes exactly the right balance of sweetness and steam and provides authentic disability representation—filling a critically underrepresented literary need.
November 15, 2025
This book is a love letter to people with chronic illnesses. It battles ableism on all fronts and showcases people thriving WITH their illnesses, not just in spite of them. It takes these characters on a deep journey of self-worth, self-love, and finding your place in the world. Their stories are ones that so many chronically ill people battle with daily, and it felt so good to be seen by its pages.
February 11, 2026
Full disclosure: I have chronic, late-stage Lyme disease (neuro-Lyme). The “it’s all in your head” stigma of invisible illness has been a core issue throughout my life, so that representation hit me hard. Because the author also lives with an invisible disability, she nailed that aspect.
But overall this book was a like, not a love for me.
Positives:
➛The way the characters respected each other's limitations
➛The slow-building friendship to lovers
➛The honest look at life with an invisible disability
What I didn’t like:
➛An overused romance trope, which I won’t call out because it’s a mild spoiler
My major issues:
➛This is perhaps odd, since I’ve lived with other people’s biases every day of my life, but I grew weary of the way the characters talked about the general population of healthy people. I was ready to throw my Kindle across the room if I had to read the word “ableist” one more time (20 in my eARC). Advice can be misplaced but well meaning. Not every action or conversation needs to be plastered with the “ableist” label.
➛I also got tired of the constant focus on the MC’s health and limitations. No one wants to be consumed with someone else’s complaints all the time. I wouldn’t even want to be around myself if I behaved that way.
I’m curious as to how this book will land with readers who don’t have an invisible disability.
*Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*
But overall this book was a like, not a love for me.
Positives:
➛The way the characters respected each other's limitations
➛The slow-building friendship to lovers
➛The honest look at life with an invisible disability
What I didn’t like:
➛An overused romance trope, which I won’t call out because it’s a mild spoiler
My major issues:
➛This is perhaps odd, since I’ve lived with other people’s biases every day of my life, but I grew weary of the way the characters talked about the general population of healthy people. I was ready to throw my Kindle across the room if I had to read the word “ableist” one more time (20 in my eARC). Advice can be misplaced but well meaning. Not every action or conversation needs to be plastered with the “ableist” label.
➛I also got tired of the constant focus on the MC’s health and limitations. No one wants to be consumed with someone else’s complaints all the time. I wouldn’t even want to be around myself if I behaved that way.
I’m curious as to how this book will land with readers who don’t have an invisible disability.
*Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*
September 25, 2025
IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD is a breath of fresh air and an instant favorite. Skylar and Pike’s chemistry and tension is rewarded with the sexiest, most tender payoff, one that had me tearing up and blushing in equal measure. Simply put, this book feels like falling in love—with yourself and your disability, and with the one person who knows to bring you cake when you’ve existed on crumbs. Sabina Nordqvist just gets it.
September 29, 2025
As someone with hEDS, this book is super realistic about living with disability. I had all of the feelings. All of them.
February 18, 2026
This book was written with so much love and passion, it is FELT!
I was literally moved to near tears reading this, Pike and Skylar are one of a kind.
Truly one of the most amazing debuts I've ever read, the romance is so beautiful and the characters are incredible. You literally fall in love with every aspect of this book, I was anticipating this read, and to finally have read it! It's such an amazing feeling, I truly cannot wait for everyone to read this at some point in their lives because it is a MUST READ!
The conversations around chronic pain, chronic illness, and disabilities carry so much depth and love. It's admiring to know that a romance book with amazing portrayal exists! I cannot wait to read Sabina's future work because damn do they pack a beautiful big punch.
Skylar and Pike's love story is so honest and raw, you see these characters learning to love not only themselves but each other for who they are. I think it is so incredibly rare to find a vulnerable romance like this. Therefore I am in complete awe!
I will be recommending this book to everyone I know, I'm talking shouting on the rooftops like I'm Debby Ryan in Radio Rebel!
Stop what you're doing and without further thought purchase a copy of It's all in Your Head and read it NOW. Trust that you will not regret it. I listened to this via audio and it was ON POINT! You'll have a good time regardless of how you chose to read.
Like I already want to reread this so badly.
I was literally moved to near tears reading this, Pike and Skylar are one of a kind.
Truly one of the most amazing debuts I've ever read, the romance is so beautiful and the characters are incredible. You literally fall in love with every aspect of this book, I was anticipating this read, and to finally have read it! It's such an amazing feeling, I truly cannot wait for everyone to read this at some point in their lives because it is a MUST READ!
The conversations around chronic pain, chronic illness, and disabilities carry so much depth and love. It's admiring to know that a romance book with amazing portrayal exists! I cannot wait to read Sabina's future work because damn do they pack a beautiful big punch.
Skylar and Pike's love story is so honest and raw, you see these characters learning to love not only themselves but each other for who they are. I think it is so incredibly rare to find a vulnerable romance like this. Therefore I am in complete awe!
I will be recommending this book to everyone I know, I'm talking shouting on the rooftops like I'm Debby Ryan in Radio Rebel!
Stop what you're doing and without further thought purchase a copy of It's all in Your Head and read it NOW. Trust that you will not regret it. I listened to this via audio and it was ON POINT! You'll have a good time regardless of how you chose to read.
Like I already want to reread this so badly.
February 2, 2026
It’s All in Your Head is an emotional, romantic journey through chronic illness and the question of what it means to be “good enough” in a world that constantly insists you’re not.
This story offers insightful—often brutally honest—portrayals of living in America with disabilities, both seen and unseen. Our characters begin this tale jaded and guarded, carrying the weight of their experiences, and watching them slowly lower their walls felt deeply earned. Add in a gripping fake-dating setup, and I was completely hooked as their dynamic grew richer and more messy with every chapter.
As someone who struggles with depression, it was especially powerful to see a narrative that doesn’t shy away from the exhausting reality of being told to “pray more” or “just be happy” by people who have no understanding of the battles happening beneath the surface. This swoon-worthy debut is not only tender and romantic, but informative, unapologetically bold, and a true champion for people living with disabilities.
This story offers insightful—often brutally honest—portrayals of living in America with disabilities, both seen and unseen. Our characters begin this tale jaded and guarded, carrying the weight of their experiences, and watching them slowly lower their walls felt deeply earned. Add in a gripping fake-dating setup, and I was completely hooked as their dynamic grew richer and more messy with every chapter.
As someone who struggles with depression, it was especially powerful to see a narrative that doesn’t shy away from the exhausting reality of being told to “pray more” or “just be happy” by people who have no understanding of the battles happening beneath the surface. This swoon-worthy debut is not only tender and romantic, but informative, unapologetically bold, and a true champion for people living with disabilities.
March 15, 2024
I absolutely can’t wait to read this!
We’ll all become disabled if we live long enough — our only options are aging and getting disabled or dying — but our world isn’t built for disabled people and instead marginalizes us.
I hope this book contributes to getting people to care about disabled people and disability justice as much as media can — but I’m also really looking forward to reading a romance novel by someone who’s disabled and can write about life with disability well.
I love romance, and I’m looking forward to reading about two people navigating life and love.
We’ll all become disabled if we live long enough — our only options are aging and getting disabled or dying — but our world isn’t built for disabled people and instead marginalizes us.
I hope this book contributes to getting people to care about disabled people and disability justice as much as media can — but I’m also really looking forward to reading a romance novel by someone who’s disabled and can write about life with disability well.
I love romance, and I’m looking forward to reading about two people navigating life and love.
March 8, 2026
4.25 ⭐️ thank you GrandCentralPub and Sabina for the free early copy. All thoughts are my own.
I really enjoyed this book as a whole and loved getting to read about so many different chronic illnesses. Brandon and Skylar were great main characters and I loved their progression from strangers to fake dating to lovers. I also really enjoyed Sabina’s writing style and the use of text threads, blog posts, DMs, etc were so fun!
The chronic pain and illness representation was written with such care and compassion. The mentions and references of ableism from non-disabled and disabled people was also interesting to read and I had to admit that I never realized certain terms or phrases were considered ableist until reading this book.
My only reason for not rating this 5 stars was the emphasis on the miscommunication between our MC’s on multiple occasions. If they had just openly communicated instead of putting words in each other’s mouths or not saying anything at all, a lot of their major conflicts would have been resolved quicker.
But despite that, I really loved this book. The romance was so sweet, but had a spicy kick to it. It was so emotionally devastating at times that my heart was physically hurting for these characters. And the found family friendships were so healing and I felt so happy for both Skylar and Brandon (and all their loved ones) in the end!! Great book, and I can’t wait to see what Sabina writes next!
I really enjoyed this book as a whole and loved getting to read about so many different chronic illnesses. Brandon and Skylar were great main characters and I loved their progression from strangers to fake dating to lovers. I also really enjoyed Sabina’s writing style and the use of text threads, blog posts, DMs, etc were so fun!
The chronic pain and illness representation was written with such care and compassion. The mentions and references of ableism from non-disabled and disabled people was also interesting to read and I had to admit that I never realized certain terms or phrases were considered ableist until reading this book.
My only reason for not rating this 5 stars was the emphasis on the miscommunication between our MC’s on multiple occasions. If they had just openly communicated instead of putting words in each other’s mouths or not saying anything at all, a lot of their major conflicts would have been resolved quicker.
But despite that, I really loved this book. The romance was so sweet, but had a spicy kick to it. It was so emotionally devastating at times that my heart was physically hurting for these characters. And the found family friendships were so healing and I felt so happy for both Skylar and Brandon (and all their loved ones) in the end!! Great book, and I can’t wait to see what Sabina writes next!
March 12, 2026
“Skylar, you’re the kind of woman who could bring a man to his knees with a single look.”
I snort out a laugh. “You’re still sitting.”
“My knees hurt.”
Two strangers part of the same online disability group for locals and have to fake date for the most ridiculous yet believable reason: Pike, our hero, shared a poem about his chronic pain in the group but it turns out his mother is also a member and decided he must be suicidal so Skylar, our heroine and mod of the group, tries to de-escalte the situation. Pike’s fine, she assures his mother. How does she know? Well, he’s sleeping next to her, of course! I said it was ridiculous. But I also said it was plausible, especially with how invested Pike’s mother - who joined the same support group as her adult son to follow his posts - is with her son’s happiness. She had to meet Skylar!
I love a strangers to fake-dating plotline so I was already seated, but then Pike and Skylar meet and their chemistry is instantaneous. It’s coming off the page. What starts as two fake-dates and meeting Pike’s mother so she’ll leave him alone turns into a beautiful friendship and mutual understanding and respect that had me 🥺 before the romantic plot took off, and it does take a while because this is a proper slowburn of a romance. I’m talking no confession of feelings until the 75% mark despite everybody else knowing how Down Bad these two were for each other. God, the emotional depth here…the natural progression of their feelings. It was so good.
Both Skylar’s and Pike’s disabilities are major parts of their lives, and therefore the plot of the book, and to me Nordvist portrayed their conditions with respect, providing information when it was necessary to the story but never making it info-dumpy.
My one tiny quibble is with the Grand Gesture because it felt so very over the top and a smidge rushed to me. Pike, being a retired Olympic Snowboarder, has some notoriety associated with his past and the use of that to drive his journey but also bring him and Skylar together at times was believable (especially since I was reading this while the Winter Olympics were going on). That notoriety also plays into the Third Act Conflict, and while I didn’t LOVE it, it also made sense…? I just don’t really care who professional snowboarders are dating, even during the Olympics.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the writing quality because we are all swimming in slop when it comes to most new releases, and this was anything but that. A breath of fresh air. Proper sentence structure. What a delight on top of everything else.
….Please read this so I can have the companion romance with one of Skylar’s friends that Nordqvist was dropping crumbs to. Please. I deserve that, and you deserve a well-written Romance in your life! Which like I just said - this very much is!!
Edit: I read this a month ago and still think about it DAILY. It's gotta be 5 stars.
I snort out a laugh. “You’re still sitting.”
“My knees hurt.”
Two strangers part of the same online disability group for locals and have to fake date for the most ridiculous yet believable reason: Pike, our hero, shared a poem about his chronic pain in the group but it turns out his mother is also a member and decided he must be suicidal so Skylar, our heroine and mod of the group, tries to de-escalte the situation. Pike’s fine, she assures his mother. How does she know? Well, he’s sleeping next to her, of course! I said it was ridiculous. But I also said it was plausible, especially with how invested Pike’s mother - who joined the same support group as her adult son to follow his posts - is with her son’s happiness. She had to meet Skylar!
I love a strangers to fake-dating plotline so I was already seated, but then Pike and Skylar meet and their chemistry is instantaneous. It’s coming off the page. What starts as two fake-dates and meeting Pike’s mother so she’ll leave him alone turns into a beautiful friendship and mutual understanding and respect that had me 🥺 before the romantic plot took off, and it does take a while because this is a proper slowburn of a romance. I’m talking no confession of feelings until the 75% mark despite everybody else knowing how Down Bad these two were for each other. God, the emotional depth here…the natural progression of their feelings. It was so good.
Both Skylar’s and Pike’s disabilities are major parts of their lives, and therefore the plot of the book, and to me Nordvist portrayed their conditions with respect, providing information when it was necessary to the story but never making it info-dumpy.
My one tiny quibble is with the Grand Gesture because it felt so very over the top and a smidge rushed to me. Pike, being a retired Olympic Snowboarder, has some notoriety associated with his past and the use of that to drive his journey but also bring him and Skylar together at times was believable (especially since I was reading this while the Winter Olympics were going on). That notoriety also plays into the Third Act Conflict, and while I didn’t LOVE it, it also made sense…? I just don’t really care who professional snowboarders are dating, even during the Olympics.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the writing quality because we are all swimming in slop when it comes to most new releases, and this was anything but that. A breath of fresh air. Proper sentence structure. What a delight on top of everything else.
….Please read this so I can have the companion romance with one of Skylar’s friends that Nordqvist was dropping crumbs to. Please. I deserve that, and you deserve a well-written Romance in your life! Which like I just said - this very much is!!
Edit: I read this a month ago and still think about it DAILY. It's gotta be 5 stars.
March 13, 2026
Fake relationship romance tropes are not my typical style of reading, but I’m head over heels for this debut novel from Sabina Nordqvist. It’s All In Your Head defies typical characters and plot by centering a romance involving two people with disabilities. This book manages to feel light-hearted while discussing complicated issues of mental, emotional, and social health and accessibility. As someone who has been diagnosed with a chronic illness for nearly 20 years, I found a lot of validation in these pages.
[Lines I Love]
“Am I a sob story, or am I inspirational? I don’t want to be either.” (page 187)
“The truth is, chronic pain can be really lonely. It’s easier to pretend everything’s fine than to admit you have to reshape your entire sense of self. And that you have no idea where to begin.” (page 346)
[Lines I Love]
“Am I a sob story, or am I inspirational? I don’t want to be either.” (page 187)
“The truth is, chronic pain can be really lonely. It’s easier to pretend everything’s fine than to admit you have to reshape your entire sense of self. And that you have no idea where to begin.” (page 346)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The premise of this one definitely tugged at my heartstrings. I’m so glad to see chronically ill characters being represented in romance — it makes my heart so happy. Especially since my best friend has similar health issues as the FMC, it was wonderful to see someone like her authentically represented in a love story.
That said, this one wasn’t quite for me. But I can absolutely see it being the perfect fit for anyone who has a chronic illness and loves romance. The book features a wide range of characters with different chronic conditions, and the representation feels thoughtful and genuine. The author even joked about having “enough chronic illnesses to fill a whole book,” and she delivered — it’s clear she’s familiar with these experiences, giving the characters authenticity and depth.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
That said, this one wasn’t quite for me. But I can absolutely see it being the perfect fit for anyone who has a chronic illness and loves romance. The book features a wide range of characters with different chronic conditions, and the representation feels thoughtful and genuine. The author even joked about having “enough chronic illnesses to fill a whole book,” and she delivered — it’s clear she’s familiar with these experiences, giving the characters authenticity and depth.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2026
“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶.”
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC of It’s All in Your Head by Sabina Nordqvist!
WHAT A DEBUT. As a bookseller, I am extremely privileged in terms of getting early access to a wide array of books. I feel especially privileged whenever I dive into a debut I end up loving; getting to be one of the very first people to read a person’s debut novel is always such a cool feeling and I LOVE getting to hit the floor running with recommendations when the book ends up in-store.
Anyone who is a big fan of Chloe Liese and how she strives to write love stories inclusive of all people is going to enjoy this debut. Like Chloe, Sabina creates vivid, three-dimensional characters that leap off the page, not shying away from their disabilities while writing them through a tender-hearted love story that will have you falling in love with them while they fall for each other.
It’s All in Your Head never once tries to act like a cure-all or hides from the conditions that Pike and Skylar face on a day-to-day basis. Sabina painstakingly confronts so many aspects of ableism, including how it can present in all facets of life from doctors who refuse to listen to family members who think they know best.
One reason books are so important is because they require stepping into another person’s shoes, a way to develop empathy. A book like this is one of those gems that simultaneously provides a safe fictional haven for anyone who can relate in any form or fashion with the disabled characters on the page, while also providing an eye-opening reading experience for people fortunate enough to have no idea what it feels like when your body ends up your own worst enemy in a world built for able-bodied individuals.
I am crossing my fingers, hoping and praying that other characters in this book get love stories as well, because I am already deeply invested in Kal & Lennox. Regardless, I cannot wait to see what Sabina does next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC of It’s All in Your Head by Sabina Nordqvist!
WHAT A DEBUT. As a bookseller, I am extremely privileged in terms of getting early access to a wide array of books. I feel especially privileged whenever I dive into a debut I end up loving; getting to be one of the very first people to read a person’s debut novel is always such a cool feeling and I LOVE getting to hit the floor running with recommendations when the book ends up in-store.
Anyone who is a big fan of Chloe Liese and how she strives to write love stories inclusive of all people is going to enjoy this debut. Like Chloe, Sabina creates vivid, three-dimensional characters that leap off the page, not shying away from their disabilities while writing them through a tender-hearted love story that will have you falling in love with them while they fall for each other.
It’s All in Your Head never once tries to act like a cure-all or hides from the conditions that Pike and Skylar face on a day-to-day basis. Sabina painstakingly confronts so many aspects of ableism, including how it can present in all facets of life from doctors who refuse to listen to family members who think they know best.
One reason books are so important is because they require stepping into another person’s shoes, a way to develop empathy. A book like this is one of those gems that simultaneously provides a safe fictional haven for anyone who can relate in any form or fashion with the disabled characters on the page, while also providing an eye-opening reading experience for people fortunate enough to have no idea what it feels like when your body ends up your own worst enemy in a world built for able-bodied individuals.
I am crossing my fingers, hoping and praying that other characters in this book get love stories as well, because I am already deeply invested in Kal & Lennox. Regardless, I cannot wait to see what Sabina does next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
November 19, 2025
What an absolute stunner of a debut. Have you ever had someone say, out loud, something that you’ve only ever thought to yourself? And it’s like something unfurls in you and it feels a little bit like glee and a little bit like grief, because commiserating is a lot of things but it’s never lonely.
This book feels like that. Like sitting with friends who GET you, even if they don’t directly understand your lived experience. It is disabled joy that doesn’t undercut disabled reality to make it “more palatable”, because the two coexist as they do in real life. It is angry crying in doctor’s offices and then lying comfortably beside your friend without speaking because you’re just being together without expectations. It’s Pike figuring out what his same life looks like in this new version of his body each day, and Skylar discovering the delight of being seen back by someone - in more than one form - who loves you as you are.
If you’ve been around for awhile, you’ve seen me navigate the US medical system in real-time. You’ve seen my “I need to look presentable enough to be taken seriously but not so presentable that they think my pain isn’t real” appointment looks. You’ve seen the hoops I’ve jumped through and the walls I’ve hit and a handful of the bills I’ve wound up with. You’ve watched me establish a medical team that has stabilized and supported me, and then watched me fear insurance will take them away.
So to read a book where it’s all there on the table - the days when it’s just miserable and you can’t drag through it, or the ones where your tells are the only indication you’re struggling - and ALSO, there is laughter and intimacy and joy and care. It is not “I love you in spite of”, it is “I love you, and.”
This book feels like that. Like sitting with friends who GET you, even if they don’t directly understand your lived experience. It is disabled joy that doesn’t undercut disabled reality to make it “more palatable”, because the two coexist as they do in real life. It is angry crying in doctor’s offices and then lying comfortably beside your friend without speaking because you’re just being together without expectations. It’s Pike figuring out what his same life looks like in this new version of his body each day, and Skylar discovering the delight of being seen back by someone - in more than one form - who loves you as you are.
If you’ve been around for awhile, you’ve seen me navigate the US medical system in real-time. You’ve seen my “I need to look presentable enough to be taken seriously but not so presentable that they think my pain isn’t real” appointment looks. You’ve seen the hoops I’ve jumped through and the walls I’ve hit and a handful of the bills I’ve wound up with. You’ve watched me establish a medical team that has stabilized and supported me, and then watched me fear insurance will take them away.
So to read a book where it’s all there on the table - the days when it’s just miserable and you can’t drag through it, or the ones where your tells are the only indication you’re struggling - and ALSO, there is laughter and intimacy and joy and care. It is not “I love you in spite of”, it is “I love you, and.”
February 25, 2026
This book is long anticipated and truly worth every day of the wait!
How do I even begin my review for this book? I have looked forward to this book since I first asked a question in a Facebook book group. The question? Does anyone have any book recommendations with POTS rep? And one day I received a comment from Sabina that said, "I'm currently writing a book that has mention of POTS for the main FMC but focuses on more than just that condition and explores what it is like living with and finding love with chronic illness and pain." That quote is loose since it's been so long and I can't find her exact reply. Anyways, as a Spoonie myself, I knew then that I was going to need this book. Then, as time crept on, I started seeing quotes from the book. Gotta love teasers, right?! That further cemented my need to read this book.
This book tells a story about a woman (Skylar) who has and lives with chronic illness without a good support system and a man (Pike) that goes from the top of the mountain to the bottom and now lives with chronic pain after an unexpected accident without having the right type of support he needs as well. A chance, misunderstood, message in an online support group leads to fake dating. But more than that it leads to support, learning how to care for someone with chronic illness and chronic pain, and how to rely on more than just yourself and being okay with letting others care for and about you.
I love that this book doesn't shy away from the harsh realities that anyone living with chronic illness and chronic pain goes through on a daily basis. From being dismissed by physicians or told "it's all in your head" by physicians, loved ones, friends etc... to figuring out how to stop self isolating yourself and allow others into your life which can be scary at times for so many reasons.
I love the relationship building that took place over the course of this book. It was a slow burn but it is so realistically done that it touched me deeply. I love that the main characters were given the time and the space to develop their relationship and learn to navigate a relationship while also learning what they need from each other in regards to their health instead of just jumping right into an insta love scenario.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading:
Chronic Illness/Pain Rep
Mental Health Rep
Slow Burn
Fake Dating
One Bed
Hurt/Comfort
Pierced MMC
Thank you Sabine for writing a book that makes us feel seen, helps those without chronic illness/pain understand, and still giving us the love story and spice we all love when reading romance! I can't wait to see what you bring to us next!
How do I even begin my review for this book? I have looked forward to this book since I first asked a question in a Facebook book group. The question? Does anyone have any book recommendations with POTS rep? And one day I received a comment from Sabina that said, "I'm currently writing a book that has mention of POTS for the main FMC but focuses on more than just that condition and explores what it is like living with and finding love with chronic illness and pain." That quote is loose since it's been so long and I can't find her exact reply. Anyways, as a Spoonie myself, I knew then that I was going to need this book. Then, as time crept on, I started seeing quotes from the book. Gotta love teasers, right?! That further cemented my need to read this book.
This book tells a story about a woman (Skylar) who has and lives with chronic illness without a good support system and a man (Pike) that goes from the top of the mountain to the bottom and now lives with chronic pain after an unexpected accident without having the right type of support he needs as well. A chance, misunderstood, message in an online support group leads to fake dating. But more than that it leads to support, learning how to care for someone with chronic illness and chronic pain, and how to rely on more than just yourself and being okay with letting others care for and about you.
I love that this book doesn't shy away from the harsh realities that anyone living with chronic illness and chronic pain goes through on a daily basis. From being dismissed by physicians or told "it's all in your head" by physicians, loved ones, friends etc... to figuring out how to stop self isolating yourself and allow others into your life which can be scary at times for so many reasons.
I love the relationship building that took place over the course of this book. It was a slow burn but it is so realistically done that it touched me deeply. I love that the main characters were given the time and the space to develop their relationship and learn to navigate a relationship while also learning what they need from each other in regards to their health instead of just jumping right into an insta love scenario.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading:
Chronic Illness/Pain Rep
Mental Health Rep
Slow Burn
Fake Dating
One Bed
Hurt/Comfort
Pierced MMC
Thank you Sabine for writing a book that makes us feel seen, helps those without chronic illness/pain understand, and still giving us the love story and spice we all love when reading romance! I can't wait to see what you bring to us next!
January 27, 2026
Ever read contemporary romances and think, "come on, it can't be like that." As a person with chronic pain and anxiety, all these contemporary romances seem far-fetched. This one made me feel SEEN in so many ways.
What a DEBUT from Sabina Nordqvist, who has been penning this novel for quite some time and the effort shows. "It's All in Your Head" follows Skylar King, a woman with various chronic illnesses ( idiopathic intracranial hypertension, tinnitus, dysautonomia/POTS, to name a few), who finds her comfort in online relationships by developing a support group for those with chronic pain. When the handsome Pike shares some vulnerable thoughts, some confusion leads to Skylar and Pike to agree to fake-dating to help Pike wear the mask that he is okay. Little do they know that they understand each other so much more than they think, despite Skylar learning Pike is actually a famous snowboarder who called it quits after a debilitating injury. Through late-night chats and close moments, maybe these two ACTUALLY can do a relationship where they aren't too much with their chronic pain?
I have to say, the representation here is incredible. While I already mentioned Skylar's physical ailments, she also suffers from the ideology that she is someone that people have to "deal with" and that broke my heart because, who hasn't felt that way? Pike suffers from PTSD and depression after the one thing he knows he excels at (snowboarding) is so cruelly taken away. But don't just look at the main characters- some of the side characters include Emy, Analia, and Luis, who all have chronic pain on their own terms. Perhaps the most important characters are the families of these two main characters- Skylar's mom raised Skylar to believe she was too much and should just "get over" her pain, while Pike's mother is constantly trying to get Pike to reminisce on the good ole' days when all he wants to do is be accepted for who he is now.
The plot can get confusing sometimes but the characters really drive the point back home. There are so many quotable lines here that I highlighted perhaps the most I have ever done in a romance novel. You can tell the author understands and lives with chronic pain as everything here is well-researched and explained in such a way that cannot be done unless you've been through it yourself.
And the ROMANCE. That's right, people who are chronically ill or disabled can have hot sex too...and Nordqvist describes the sexual tension and stolen moments in such a way that will have your clutching your pearls in the airport (yes, I read this in public. Worth it.) Pike is not only a hot character but he is KIND and UNDERSTANDING and, oh my god, he better be a real human being. This is SPICY in the absolute best way.
If you feel like you're alone in your feelings and in this world, this is the book for you. Sabina Nordqvist drafted up a debut novel worthy of an ovation- standing or sitting. After all, enough with the ableism in society. This book makes you think about your own impressions of disabled people in this world and will turn that image right on its head.
Thank you for creating a beautiful book that represents what it means to feel broken and still have love all around, both platonic and romantic. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC of this book. I cannot wait to mark up my physical copy when it comes out 2/10/26!
What a DEBUT from Sabina Nordqvist, who has been penning this novel for quite some time and the effort shows. "It's All in Your Head" follows Skylar King, a woman with various chronic illnesses ( idiopathic intracranial hypertension, tinnitus, dysautonomia/POTS, to name a few), who finds her comfort in online relationships by developing a support group for those with chronic pain. When the handsome Pike shares some vulnerable thoughts, some confusion leads to Skylar and Pike to agree to fake-dating to help Pike wear the mask that he is okay. Little do they know that they understand each other so much more than they think, despite Skylar learning Pike is actually a famous snowboarder who called it quits after a debilitating injury. Through late-night chats and close moments, maybe these two ACTUALLY can do a relationship where they aren't too much with their chronic pain?
I have to say, the representation here is incredible. While I already mentioned Skylar's physical ailments, she also suffers from the ideology that she is someone that people have to "deal with" and that broke my heart because, who hasn't felt that way? Pike suffers from PTSD and depression after the one thing he knows he excels at (snowboarding) is so cruelly taken away. But don't just look at the main characters- some of the side characters include Emy, Analia, and Luis, who all have chronic pain on their own terms. Perhaps the most important characters are the families of these two main characters- Skylar's mom raised Skylar to believe she was too much and should just "get over" her pain, while Pike's mother is constantly trying to get Pike to reminisce on the good ole' days when all he wants to do is be accepted for who he is now.
The plot can get confusing sometimes but the characters really drive the point back home. There are so many quotable lines here that I highlighted perhaps the most I have ever done in a romance novel. You can tell the author understands and lives with chronic pain as everything here is well-researched and explained in such a way that cannot be done unless you've been through it yourself.
And the ROMANCE. That's right, people who are chronically ill or disabled can have hot sex too...and Nordqvist describes the sexual tension and stolen moments in such a way that will have your clutching your pearls in the airport (yes, I read this in public. Worth it.) Pike is not only a hot character but he is KIND and UNDERSTANDING and, oh my god, he better be a real human being. This is SPICY in the absolute best way.
If you feel like you're alone in your feelings and in this world, this is the book for you. Sabina Nordqvist drafted up a debut novel worthy of an ovation- standing or sitting. After all, enough with the ableism in society. This book makes you think about your own impressions of disabled people in this world and will turn that image right on its head.
Thank you for creating a beautiful book that represents what it means to feel broken and still have love all around, both platonic and romantic. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC of this book. I cannot wait to mark up my physical copy when it comes out 2/10/26!
February 23, 2026
I’ve been reading a lot of romance lately as it offers a lot of hope and joy in these dark times, but sometimes I can’t get into the characters if they fall too flat or lack reason. Happily, I can say I never had any issue with the believability of these well-rounded characters and I can’t wait for more I can foresee from some of the background personalities. An added bonus, this book educates you on how to be conscientious of any potential ableism you may not even be aware you possess and to be more intentional in inclusion.
March 6, 2026
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars!
As someone who is chronically ill with a disabled wife, it was beyond amazing to read a book where both the main characters are disabled. That's not something I have come across before, and seeing the unique challenges that come with both partners balancing health issues was incredible.
The disability and chronic illness rep in this book is perfect. So much is included:
- the importance of online friendships
- the isolation that comes with being sick
- the casual ableism and toxic positivity that comes from those around you
- the battle against internal ableism
- medical misogyny, fat phobia, and gaslighting
- the expertise you gain about your own body and health conditions
- spoon theory, pacing, and the inevitable crashes when you push too far
- frustration, anger, and grief
- and so much more...
But beyond all of that, this is just such a sweet (and sexy) fake dating to true romance novel. Skylar and Pike are perfect for each other, and whilst there were miscommunications and heartbreak along the way, it was obvious they were meant to be together.
I particularly appreciated that even when those miscommunications did take place, they weren't drawn out. Skylar and Pike still cared deeply for each other, and stepped back together with maturity and compassion each time. It was such a breath of fresh air for a reader like me who generally finds characters' inability to just talk things through frustrating.
All in all this was an incredible book and is immediately going into my "to be read again (and again)" pile.
As someone who is chronically ill with a disabled wife, it was beyond amazing to read a book where both the main characters are disabled. That's not something I have come across before, and seeing the unique challenges that come with both partners balancing health issues was incredible.
The disability and chronic illness rep in this book is perfect. So much is included:
- the importance of online friendships
- the isolation that comes with being sick
- the casual ableism and toxic positivity that comes from those around you
- the battle against internal ableism
- medical misogyny, fat phobia, and gaslighting
- the expertise you gain about your own body and health conditions
- spoon theory, pacing, and the inevitable crashes when you push too far
- frustration, anger, and grief
- and so much more...
But beyond all of that, this is just such a sweet (and sexy) fake dating to true romance novel. Skylar and Pike are perfect for each other, and whilst there were miscommunications and heartbreak along the way, it was obvious they were meant to be together.
I particularly appreciated that even when those miscommunications did take place, they weren't drawn out. Skylar and Pike still cared deeply for each other, and stepped back together with maturity and compassion each time. It was such a breath of fresh air for a reader like me who generally finds characters' inability to just talk things through frustrating.
All in all this was an incredible book and is immediately going into my "to be read again (and again)" pile.
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