Invisibly Unwell

by Paige Lavell

Ambitious women hit deadlines, hold it together, and make it look easy-even when it isn't.

An unflinchingly honest memoir about what's hidden beneath the polished multiple autoimmune conditions, an eating disorder, perfectionism, and the relentless pressure to be "the capable one."

For decades, Paige believed her struggles made her alone. They didn't.

When she finally cracked her armor, other women did too-and what poured out was a quiet epidemic of exhaustion, shame, and invisible pain.

Invisibly Unwell is not a story of breaking down; it's a story of breaking open. It's a mirror for every woman who looks fine but isn't-and a reminder that healing begins where pretending ends.

Genres: Disability

166 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2026

Reviews

[Andrea Pang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invisibly Unwell is an insightful piece about overcoming your own obstacles and finding your true self beneath all else. Lavell speaks to her own experience with invisible illness, and the expectations she began placing on herself at a young age.

As a people-pleasing perfectionist with invisible illness myself, I found Lavell’s work highly relatable. I enjoyed her writing about the #wellness movement and the pitfalls of trying to fit into it. She speaks about being a “chameleon” throughout life and social circles, which I think is particularly poignant given today’s standards of fitting in and being well-liked.

Overall I enjoyed how easy it was to read this book. It’s not flowery, it’s not complicated - it’s just honest. I would recommend this memoir to any other woman/female identifying reader who’s struggling (or has known the struggle) of balancing their mental and physical health in a society that begs us to be perfect.

Final rating: 3.75⭐️
(Full rating breakdown available on Fable)

[Gold Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brave and honest memoir tackling perfectionism, chronic illness and disordered eating. The title I found slightly misleading because the majority of the book discussed other aspects of life whereas the title suggests to me that chronic illness would be the main focus. The author still manages to set a good example to other people, especially high-achieving women, for opening up and sharing their struggles. It was a fast-paced quick read that I couldn't put down but I would've liked some more depth in certain situations. However, it's a relatable and tragic story that many will recognise only too well in themselves.

The book sums itself up in these quotes:
"A stranger stared back at me, pleading to be seen"
"One day I'd have it all and be happy"

Thank you to NetGalley, Paige Lavell and Life to Paper Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Catie Duckworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paige Lowell's memoir, Invisibly Unwell, is a quick read. While not a prerequisite for reading a memoir, I strongly related to Lowell's story, which made me feel connected to the work. Beyond that, it was Lowell's writing itself that drew me in. She is an artist, and words are her medium.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir that is surprisingly relatable for your type A/overachiever young adult female.

I could relate to a lot of the things Paige went through and even things I haven’t experienced yet can see a lot of myself in the pages.

I think this is a great read for any woman in early adulthood

[Jessica Milliner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir shows Paige's life living with multiple autoimmune conditions, an eating disorder, and other issues. This book demonstrates that there is a reflection beyond what is visible throughout a woman's life. This book is a great read, particularly for those who have experienced something.

[Courtney Stearns · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

Plot & Vibe Summary
Invisibly Unwell is an intimate, raw look behind the curtain of the modern "superwoman" archetype. The memoir details the author's grueling balancing act of chasing professional deadlines and maintaining a perfectly polished exterior while secretly navigating disordered eating, intense perfectionism, and multiple autoimmune conditions. The overarching vibe is like a late night, deeply vulnerable conversation with a close friend simultaneously exhausting, incredibly validating, and fiercely liberating.

What I Liked / What Worked
Validating Emotional Resonance: Having a history of Trigeminal Neuralgia and Lupus, the psychological toll of masquerading as "perfectly fine" while your body is actively attacking itself resonated deeply with my own lived experience.
Deconstruction of the "Capable One": Lavell beautifully deconstructs the societal praise given to high-achieving women for their "resilience," exposing how this praise often traps people into suffering in absolute silence.
Raw and Authentic Narrative: The book successfully cracks open the armor of shame and isolation surrounding invisible illnesses, serving as a powerful mirror for anyone who feels forced to perform wellness.

What I Didn't Like / What Didn't Work
Slight Shift in Focus: The primary narrative focus frequently veered away from the daily realities of navigating a chronic invisible illness, choosing instead to heavily prioritize discussions around work productivity, perfectionism, and disordered eating.
Desire for More Medical Depth: As someone managing complex conditions like Lupus and Trigeminal Neuralgia, I personally hoped for more depth regarding the intricate medical gaslighting, diagnostic hurdles, and physical adaptation strategies involved in chronic illness management.

Final Thoughts
Despite the narrative shifting focus away from chronic illness at times, this memoir remains an essential, eye opening read for anyone hiding behind a polished surface. It reminds us that true healing only begins when we stop pretending.

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the outside, Lavell knew that her life looked cushy: a stable marriage, a stimulating job with wardrobe to match, a house and a mortgage. On the inside, she was barely hanging on—and she knew it was time for a change.

This is framed largely around Lavell's experience with autoimmune disorders, which took her a great deal of time and money and energy to get properly diagnosed and treated. As much as that, though, it's a story about a particular type of perfectionism and a desire to get it "right", even when "right" means doing things that are popular rather than things that work for you specifically. I don't (to the best of my knowledge) have any autoimmune disorders, but I'm not sure how much I'd take away from this if I did, other than solidarity and a reminder that it's important to find doctors who will listen to the full story.

That's not so much a bad thing; part of Lavell's experience involved getting sucked into wellness culture and chasing cures that did not, in fact, cure, and it's much better for her to tell her story in a nonprescriptive way than to assume that the exact things that eventually worked for her will work for others! With that in mind, though, I'd probably look at this more for the story of trying to fit into the wrong size and shape of box before realizing that it's okay to look for something that does fit rather than continuing to try to make yourself fit.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige Lavell’s Invisibly Unwell is a quick, engaging read that many women living with chronic illness will find deeply relatable. Written as a memoir, the book follows Paige’s life story, offering honest reflections and moments that feel validating and familiar. While the title suggests a strong focus on coping with chronic illness, her conditions sometimes feel more like a background thread than the central theme. Despite this, it remains an enjoyable and well-written book that leaves readers feeling seen and understood.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeni Enjaian]

(I do not rate memoirs.)
Lavell writes well. She engages the reader in the narrative, the story of her life. I found myself engaged the whole time yet at the end, I questioned the overall purpose of the memoir. This book is incredibly short for a memoir, especially one that covers as much time as this one does and deals with significant issues like chronic, invisible illness and abusive romantic relationships. Lavell leaves a lot out of this narrative which forces the reader to fill in the blanks with little information to do so. This is not a bad book; it’s just not one I would recommend.