The Electric Life of Lavender Lewis

by Kara Storti

At seventeen, Lavender Lewis has had epilepsy for most of her life. Convulsions, hallucinations, you name it—she’s experienced them all, more times than she can count. No medication, therapy, or diet has helped. Forget surgery—no one is scooping out a chunk of her brain.

Her mom used to say epilepsy was magic, but how could it be, when all it’s ever brought is suffering? But after her mom’s death, Ven hallucinates a boy too real to be an illusion. Every time she seizes, he appears. Has her brain finally broken? Or is this the magic her mom always talked about?

All she knows is this boy needs her help. With her aunt, she road trips to Salem, MA, where Ven feels closer than ever to her mom's spirit. All signs point to her mom guiding her from beyond the grave. After all, Ven couldn't save her mom, but maybe she can save this boy, who truly sees the girl beyond her seizures.

As their journey winds deeper into New England, a tender romance blooms—all while Ven’s health worsens. She can’t help what if the person she needs to save was never him?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Magical Realism, Grief, Disability

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2026

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC to review.

I don’t have epilepsy, but I was a teenager once with hearing loss and a decision to get a permanent cochlear BAHA. I identified with Ven and the choice she needs to make to get life changing surgery. There’s something that is so tough about that as a teenager - who will you be after that? Will you be the same? Will people see you the same? Is it even what you want? Ven’s attitude toward that made complete sense to me and is something that I think so many people could relate to.

I also think there’s something about disability or chronic illness that makes magical realism a natural fit for a genre. It allows an author to explore deeper themes of loss, longing, and identity with the right amount of distance. There’s something inherently disbelieving in disability or chronic illness that makes you naturally wonder “Is this really happening to me? Why am I not normal? I feel normal sometimes.” The magical realism lens lets readers into that feeling. Poe and his epilepsy room were wonderfully uncanny valley without feeling too out there.

Tammy and Ven’s relationship was also wonderful to explore. As you get older, you experience the depth of family members. Trying to figure out adult relationships with someone who knew you as a baby is tough. The ups and downs of their interactions were well-handled.

I can’t wait for others to read this one!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly moving YA speculative fiction story about a teen girl with epilepsy coming to terms with the death of her mother from early onset Multiple Sclerosis and her own debilitating condition as she continues to have multiple seizures daily. Grieving and resenting the reappearance of the Aunt who ghosted her family when her mother was diagnosed, Lavender finds herself meeting another epileptic boy in a dream state during her seizures. Determined to find out who he is, she enlists the help of her tarot reading, crystal loving mystical aunt Tammy. The disability rep in this book was top notch, no doubt because the author writes from her own experience with epilepsy. It's relatable, heartfelt and deals with important topics of self-acceptance, loss, depression, anxiety and agency regarding one's condition and medical options. Highly recommended for readers of books like Never seen the stars by Kate Korsh, Sick kids in love by Hannah Moskowitz or Breathing under water by Abbey Lee Nash.A

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The death of Lavender's mother is deeply affecting her as it does the father who has stood by her side. The father is also calm when his sister in law seemingly abandoned her sister when she got sick but reappears after her death. The trauma of losing a mother is compounded by Lavender's own illness- epilepsy which is explained in pretty great detail for a reader who doesn't know much about it including how Lavender deals with it on a daily basis and opportunities to mitigate or get better that she can choose or not.

Yet an odd event has started happening when a seizure takes place-- she meets a teenaged boy during these episodes and they're working to figure out who he is and why he appears inside of these seizures especially because Lavender's mother also seems to be providing help from the after life or maybe the crystals or maybe something else entirely but that is the unfolding mystery that buds into a romance- how are they connected and how can a negative, like this disability, turn into hopefulness for her future.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is full of magic and magical realism, it truly felt like a peek into what a teenager with epilepsy might experience. Lavender has lost her mother to MS, but her mother always told her that her seizures were linked to magic. When she meets a boy within her own seizure zone-out state, Lavender starts to think her mom might have been right.

The book is an excellent representation of living with a disability and of emotionally exploring themes of grief, self-acceptance, mental health, medical agency, and even finding love. I liked Lavender’s character; she’s strong, spunky, and she felt realistic even among all the magic. As far as the magical component, it fits well when you think that there’s so much about our brains we don’t understand.

Thank you | gifted| author @kara_storti

[Devon Deery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I don't usually read YA, but The Lightning Life of Lavender Lewis completely won me over. This story has it all.

The characters feel genuine and easy to care about, especially Ven. Just like a real teenage heroine, she's hilarious, moody, stubborn, and capable of holding a truly epic grudge. I found myself laughing at her snarky moments one minute and tearing up over her losses the next.

The writing is vivid, original, and beautifully descriptive, while the fast-paced plot kept me turning pages and wondering what would happen next even when I wasn't reading.

I highly recommend this book to YA fans and anyone looking for a fresh, heartfelt story with unforgettable characters. It was such a refreshing read, and I'm already looking forward to whatever this author writes next!

[Aster Greenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really loved the complicated relationship ven had with her aunt. the way grief and disability define her life, and the way the two of them interact is messy and complicated but very real. they love each other, but they can't find themselves on the same page. i liked how hard they worked together and how the connection ven has with her mystery boy doesn't stop being frightening just because it's also magical. it's a really fascinating premise, and i think it does well at showing a kinder side of epilepsy while also not downplaying the danger the disorder puts someone in

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing story!

[Laurin Holzinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was so good that I didn’t want to finish the last 20 pages! At no point did I know what would happen next. 100% recommend for anyone’s next read.

[Amelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kicking my feet realizing that this book had representation for not one but TWO (!!) neurological disorders <3