Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Side Effects May Include Everything: A Guide to Living and Thriving with Chronic Illness

Rate this book
When life hands you a diagnosis that upends everything, there’s no pamphlet that tells you how to keep living—and laughing—through the chaos.

In Side Effects May Include Everything, award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and lupus warrior Marisa Zeppieri offers the brutally honest, laugh-out-loud, and deeply compassionate guide she wishes she’d had twenty years ago. Drawing from two decades of hard-earned experience navigating autoimmune disease, she tackles every corner of life chronic illness touches—love, work, sex, friendship, self-worth, and the constant battle to be believed.

With empathy and wit, Zeppieri replaces medical jargon with real how to deal with dismissive doctors, set boundaries that protect your energy, and find joy in a body that’s still learning to cooperate. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, still searching for answers, or supporting someone who’s sick, this book is a lifeline—a reminder that even when it feels like your body is betraying you, laughter, love, and purpose are still possible.

Raw, funny, and fiercely hopeful, Side Effects May Include Everything is part survival guide, part sisterhood, and 100% proof that you can rebuild a beautiful life—no matter what your diagnosis says.

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2026

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Marisa Zeppieri

4 books13 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
18 (100%)
4 stars
0 (0%)
3 stars
0 (0%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Amanda Miller.
1 review
July 14, 2026
Marisa is an amazing author! This book helps those struggling with any mental and physical battle in my eyes! Her writing a book alone proves that you are not limited to what you can accomplish just because of a diagnoses! So inspired by her journey.
Profile Image for Joshua Rollins.
157 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2026
In Side Effects May Include Everything Marisa writes from a place of the experience of pain, the rejection of not being as heard from Doctors as a young ill child , learning self advocacy, perseverance, determination, living through the day to day to survive, relationships struggles, stigma, and an open raw heart ready to touch any topic with a witty twist. She is a true warrior and a great guide through this journey of the hard topics throughout this amazing Guide Book for Chronic Illness that provides hope, yet hits hard. Read with a reassurance of peace you are not the only person going through these struggles.

My Mother lives with Chronic Illness and has many limitations that have only grown in severity through the years and this guide book gave me more insight on ways to care for her from a different perspective, not that my perspective was wrong or bad but as if finger smudges were cleaned from my glasses. There is much to take away by reading from an outside perspective so I will take what I have read and apply the different forms of care and love in areas to better help my Mother and hopefully bring her more beautiful, brighter days.

I myself have struggled with my own Mental Health as early as 8 years old and was diagnosed with a Mental Health Illness categorized as Bipolar 1 Disorder - a Mental Health condition characterized by severe shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. Its defining feature is at least one full manic episode lasting at least seven days or requiring hospitalization. Most people with Bipolar I also experience major depressive episodes. I live with it to this day at 37 and so much of what I learned along the way I found between the pages of this book.
- Side Effects May Include Everything was written for Chronic Illness it can be applied to a person with a Mental Health Illness like my own as Bipolar I disorder is generally considered a Chronic ( long-term ) Mental Heath Condition and mental health is mentioned within the book along with other key important factors like sleep, boundaries, self advocacy and more.

Something I took away from this guide is to never give up. Never give in to the fight, do not throw in the towel, instead find smarter and more creative ways to survive through the pain and the struggle whether it be physical or mental or it may be both at once. Our Bodies, Minds and Souls are fighting daily to keep going, we haven’t been given up on yet because we are still here so pushing forward and that is a purpose to keep fighting.
Through the proper healthy relationships and support, boundaries and making day to day life as easy on ourselves as we need when we need too we set ourselves up to continue pushing through our darkest toughest times so we can conquer the big stuff when we are having our good days.

Side Effects May Include Everything has something for everyone.
•The person who needs guidance on areas of Relationship boundaries and understanding they people respond the way they do.
•Handling Intimacy when feeling ill, the pain is unbearable or the time isn’t right due to treatment and the hot topics surrounding that area life.
•Guidance in Healthy Parenting. Healthy and fun easy ways to connect with your children from infant, child, middle grade to teenager to keep them connected when you only have so much to give.
May Include so much more..

Marisa shares Her Heart and Soul poured into the pages of the struggle for survival of those facing Chronic Illness’s daily battles faced by the brave Warrior is inspiring and humbling. There are many lessons to be learned in this amazing guide book for someone living with a Chronic Illness, a Mental Health Illness or Someone who wants to Educate themselves on the topic to help someone they love or care about and want to support.

5 Stars to Side Effects May Include Everything: A Guide to Living and Thriving with Chronic Illness
By Marisa Zeppieri


Review by Joshua Rollins
112 reviews3 followers
August 12, 2026
Side Effects May Include Everything: A Guide to Living and Thriving with Chronic Illness is a candid, compassionate, and surprisingly joyful exploration of what it means to rebuild a meaningful life after a diagnosis changes nearly everything.

What immediately stands out is Marisa Zeppieri's willingness to address the realities of chronic illness beyond medical appointments and symptoms. She explores the ways illness can affect relationships, work, friendship, intimacy, self-worth, energy, and everyday independence, giving the subject a deeply human dimension.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its combination of honesty and humor. Rather than presenting chronic illness as a purely somber experience, Zeppieri acknowledges the absurd, frustrating, and sometimes laughable moments that can accompany life with an unpredictable body. That balance makes the book feel encouraging without minimizing the difficulties involved.

The emphasis on practical guidance is equally valuable. Discussions about communicating with dismissive doctors, establishing boundaries, protecting limited energy, maintaining relationships, and finding moments of happiness give readers ideas they can apply to the realities of everyday life.

I also appreciated the book's inclusive perspective. It speaks not only to people who have recently received a diagnosis or are still searching for answers, but also to friends, family members, partners, and other people trying to understand what chronic illness can actually look like from the inside.

Perhaps the most moving aspect is the book's underlying message that a diagnosis does not have to become the definition of an entire life. Zeppieri presents resilience not as pretending everything is fine, but as learning how to adapt, find support, protect one's well-being, and continue making room for love, laughter, purpose, and hope.

The book will particularly appeal to readers navigating chronic illness, people supporting loved ones with long-term health challenges, newly diagnosed readers, caregivers, and anyone looking for an honest and encouraging perspective on rebuilding life after a major diagnosis.

A warm, witty, and deeply human guide that transforms the difficult realities of chronic illness into a message of resilience, connection, and the possibility of living a meaningful life.
Profile Image for Melissa Flaherty.
Author 3 books11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 5, 2026
As someone living with lupus myself, I felt like Marisa Zeppieri had reached into my own life and somehow found the words I haven't always been able to say.
Living with a chronic illness can be incredibly lonely. Unless you've experienced it, it's hard to explain the exhaustion, the frustration of feeling misunderstood, or the emotional roller coaster that comes with trying to navigate a body that doesn't always cooperate. This book made me feel seen in a way very few books ever have.
Marisa writes with so much honesty, humor, and heart. She doesn't sugarcoat the difficult parts of chronic illness, but she also reminds you that your diagnosis doesn't get to define your entire life. I found myself laughing one minute and tearing up the next because so much of what she shared resonated with my own journey.
Even though Marisa's story centers around lupus, I truly believe this book is for every chronic illness warrior. Whether you're living with an autoimmune disease, another chronic condition, or you're supporting someone who is, the encouragement, validation, and practical wisdom in these pages are universal.
This isn't just a book about being sick, it's a book about continuing to live, hope, love, and find yourself again despite everything your body throws at you.
Thank you, Marisa, for writing the book so many of us didn't know we needed. I can't recommend it highly enough.
23 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
June 27, 2026
Witty and Raw describes this extremely helpful book on how to live and thrive with chronic illness! There were many times while reading that I felt like I was sitting and talking with my best friend about life and struggles. It’s so REAL and there is no sugar coating it with author Marisa! I love how she tells it how it is!!! She takes you through helpful areas of living with lupus and sex, friendship, work life, raising teenagers, etc. To think she was having symptoms at 8 with no diagnosis until her 20’s is crazy and so sad!!!

Though I do not suffer from Lupus, I was hospitalized with Covid in 2021 and have been suffering long haulers Covid since that time! My brain is a total fog and is not the same, my body is not the same and my relationships have not been the same! This book was a great insight that you are not alone in your journey and in your struggles!

I highly recommend picking up this book and laughing and crying along side this extremely talented author! I enjoyed her first book immensely but this new book seemed to take you to the next level.

5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️for me!
23 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
June 28, 2026
Witty and Raw describes this extremely helpful book on how to live and thrive with chronic illness! There were many times while reading that I felt like I was sitting and talking with my best friend about life and struggles. It’s so REAL and there is no sugar coating it with author Marisa! I love how she tells it how it is!!! She takes you through helpful areas of living with lupus and sex, friendship, work life, raising teenagers, etc. To think she was having symptoms at 8 with no diagnosis until her 20’s is crazy and so sad!!!

Though I do not suffer from Lupus, I was hospitalized with Covid in 2021 and have been suffering long haulers Covid since that time! My brain is a total fog and is not the same, my body is not the same and my relationships have not been the same! This book was a great insight that you are not alone in your journey and in your struggles!

I highly recommend picking up this book and laughing and crying along side this extremely talented author! I enjoyed her first book immensely but this new book seemed to take you to the next level.

5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️for me!
2 reviews
Want to Read
June 30, 2026
Marisa’s new book is the book every chronic illness warrior deserves to have in their hands. It feels like sitting across from a friend who truly gets it — someone who has walked through the mystery years, the diagnosis shock, the grief, the relationship changes, the medical trauma, and the fight to find yourself again.

What I love most is that Marisa doesn’t just talk about surviving chronic illness — she gently reminds us that joy, purpose, healing, and hope can still exist here too. Her words are honest, funny, raw, compassionate, and deeply validating.

This book makes you feel seen in the places most people don’t understand. It gives language to the emotions we often carry silently, and it offers encouragement for learning to love your body again, even when it has changed.

For anyone living with lupus, autoimmune disease, invisible illness, or still searching for answers — this book is a gift. Marisa reminds us we are not alone, we are not broken, and we are still worthy of a beautiful life.

I cannot wait for others to experience this.
1 review
Currently Reading
July 5, 2026
Reading the first couple chapters of this book you can hear Marisa reading it to you. It is like having your friend share with you the knowledge of what she has gone through to stay positive and up beat with Lupus. She tell you what it takes to not only live with a chronic illness but how to thrive with it because you will have days when you hit what you feel like is rock bottom and you don’t want to crawl out of that hole, but you have to keep going. Sometimes you feel there is no one around you that hears you, but in this book it is like Marisa is right there with you and she has heard you cause she has been there. She has picked her self up and carried on!

I can’t wait to continue reading when this book comes out because I need to have the knowledge that she has and the inner strength and determination that she has built!

This book is not only for the person with Lupus, this is for everyone with a Chronic Illness that needs to carryon, get through the day, that has a struggle, and that needs to be heard! Marisa knows how you feel day to day! She can truly relate!
3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 5, 2026
When you’re diagnosed with chronic illness there are so many changes to your life. I was diagnosed with lupus in 2020 out of nowhere and had no clue what it was or what it meant for me. I didn’t know anyone with it. I was on the computer constantly looking up different systems and suddenly went from never going to the doctor to having multiple specialists, an am/pm pill case, and having a million questions. Six years later, I still have a million questions but have found the right communities to ask. One of those people I found especially helpful in this journey was the Lupus Chick, Marisa Zeppieri, who had very helpful videos and an online group. She’s so candid about her own life and everyday struggles. This book is so helpful to help answer questions to someone newly diagnosed or even someone who doesn’t want to feel alone. It’s an easy read, full of humor, and easily relatable. A must have for anyone living with chronic illness or caring for someone.
4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
June 27, 2026
If you or someone you care about is diagnosed or getting diagnosed and lost at what to do next, get this book! Marisa has been through it - just like all the other chronic illness warriors who wait years for a diagnosis and are never appropriately prepared for what the road ahead look like. She has a warm yet direct approach (which as a fellow New Yorker, I love), and she digs into areas that may feel overwhelming or too private to talk about like sex and datig, career and finances, friendships and even how to truly advocate for yourself in the hospital ER or a doctor's visit.
I also enjoyed her Root & Bloom protocol, as it isn't a "do this and be cured" approach, but more of a "here are some paths you may want to travel down as you discover what tools can be put into your healing toolbox". This IS the chronic illness guide every needs and I am thrilled I got to read an advanced copy!
2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
July 5, 2026
Marisa balances the honesty of what it means to live and thrive with a chronic illness with a clarity that grabbed me from the very first chapter! I felt like she had been with me in my early days of cancer diagnosis. This book is a perfect balance of brutal honesty, hope with a Capital H, tangible ideas and guidance from a person I just felt was authentic immediately. I’m 15 years in to cancer and 4 years into a recurrence, and I took so much from Marissa’s approach. I wish I had this book when I was navigating my diagnosis 11 months into a new job in a new city. Marissa is sharing all the things no one told me then, or at my recurrence. This book is full of concrete ideas and suggestions without the ego and preachiness that some health books come with. Authentic, caring, hopeful and helpful.
4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
June 27, 2026
If you or someone you care about is diagnosed or getting diagnosed and lost at what to do next, get this book! Marisa has been through it - just like all the other chronic illness warriors who wait years for a diagnosis and are never appropriately prepared for what the road ahead look like. She has a warm yet direct approach (which as a fellow New Yorker, I love), and she digs into areas that may feel overwhelming or too private to talk about like sex and datig, career and finances, friendships and even how to truly advocate for yourself in the hospital ER or a doctor's visit.
I also enjoyed her Root & Bloom protocol, as it isn't a "do this and be cured" approach, but more of a "here are some paths you may want to travel down as you discover what tools can be put into your healing toolbox". This IS the chronic illness guide every needs and I am thrilled I got to read an advanced copy!
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 5, 2026
This is Marisa’s second book about life with lupus. It’s the book that anyone with lupus needs in order to navigate the first few years of diagnosis. Being diagnosed with lupus comes with a lot of relief and fear. Dynamic symptoms and lack of understanding from friends and family can often leave a person with lupus, feeling isolated and confused. This book is a great resource for navigating those first few years and realizing that their experience is not unique, and that there are resources and support out there to help them through the rough patches. The invoice is practical, and the text is written in a down to earth style, that feels like you’re talking to a best friend.
Profile Image for Kathy Hade.
2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
June 27, 2026
It's an unfortunate club to be in, but with endurance comes wisdom ... and this book is a plethora of helpful tips and tricks put together in a relatable story style for all ages.
At 58 years old, I can attest that you are never too old to learn, yet I am always amazed when things I already knew are presented in a new way that suddenly makes more sense and breathes new life into an ongoing challenge to thrive!
I will definitely encourage everyone I know to get this book for its insight and for saying the quiet stuff out loud!
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
June 29, 2026
If you are struggling with chronic illness and living your daily life with all the challenges that comes with the flaws causes by your illness, this book is a fantastic read. Marisa’s own life long personal expereince, research, partnerships and friendships have made her an expert in navigating life with chronic illness and creating a positive outlook on life, living it to the fullest of your ability each day! Her books have helped me imensely.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 3, 2026
I wish I had this book when my son was diagnosed with a rare disease 30 years ago. This book was very easy to read, and had some great insights on how to navigate the journey. It offered wonderful ideas on how to talk to your family, how to advocate, and how to walk the journey without feeling totally alone. I recommend this book to anyone living with a chronic, an autoimmune or a rare disease. It will help you navigate your new found life with a lot grace, faith, and humor.
Profile Image for Tabitha Yates.
Author 1 book17 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 5, 2026
If you’re going through a life changing diagnosis or chronic illness, Marisa Zeppieri is the friend you want in your corner, walking you through all the highs and lows of your experience. She has lived through the lows and still manages to fight for the highs with unswerving resilience. Whether you’ve been walking a chronic illness journey for a long time or have recently been diagnosed and wonder, “What now…” you’ll want to pickup this book!
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 5, 2026
Wow. To say I was blown away is an understatement. This book is not only for those battling chronic illness but I would say battling anything internal. Marisa shows so much strength and determination and courage in her hardest struggles. This book is for anyone going through any hurtle and seeing that if is possible to come out the other end. I can’t wait to read the rest of the book.
1 review
Want to Read
June 28, 2026
Living with autoimmune disease is a difficult journey that requires knowledge, compassion and grit to navigate through. "Side Effects" offers answers on how to manage the complex web of autoimmune disease roadblocks without relinquishing your joy, hope and peace. A must-read for all autoimmune warriors who want to thrive and live their best life.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
June 28, 2026
This book is incredibly empowering and insightful for anyone who has been diagnosed with lupus or an autoimmune disease or anyone who loves someone with the diagnosis. It is inspiring, insightful, heartfelt, and genuine. Having been diagnosed with lupus for over 17 years, Marissa inspires and empowers me to lead my best life! This is a must read!
1 review
July 15, 2026
Just dive in!!! You won't regret it. Lupus or not, it can hit home with plenty of illnesses.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews