One chronically ill girl. Fae who feed on pain. Being a snack just got a whole new meaning.
Sixteen-year-old Sedona “Seda” Gerard has one stay in school and on track for her future. But chronic heart issues and pain make it feel like she’s getting rotisserie chicken roasted from the inside out. School administrators are trying to force her into the hospital-homebound program because of all her absences, and her doctors are stumped, unable to diagnose what’s wrong.
Then, right as she’s made a plan to outfox the administrators and avoid being sent home, fae monsters masquerading as humans—beings who feed on pain—hunt her down at school. Someone told the monsters about her. They crave her chronic pain—and worse, they want her trapped at home too, helpless, so they can feed without anyone noticing just like they did with the last chronically ill girl.
Nikolai Shaw is probably human and definitely Seda’s only hope for protecting herself as the fae close in. Too bad he’s prickly as a bundle of IV needles, with a smile that does funny things to whatever is wrong with her heart. But he knows about a weapon that can destroy the monsters for good. While he has a secret agenda of his own, he’s willing to help Seda get it, but they have to hurry—before the fae make a meal out of Seda and erase her from existence forever.
Teen Wolf meets Legendborn in this heart-pounding, romantic, and bitingly funny YA contemporary fantasy debut featuring a chronically ill girl, the fae who want to turn her into a meal, and the secretive but annoyingly cute boy she needs to help her stop them. Perfect for fans of Holly Black.
Maisie M. Meyers writes YA fantasy that fuses humor, fairytale monsters, and chronic illness rep. Because feeling like you're getting rotisserie chicken roasted from the inside out every day doesn't mean you can't have your fairytale too.
Like all of her main characters, she lives with chronic health issues, including:
POTS (Standing up fast? Overrated.)
MCAS (When your body treats all food and air like potential enemies.)
hEDS (When your joints function more like a suggestion than a rule, and they do NOT like to stay in their assigned seats.)
Chronic pain (See above.)
And more! (Grimaces.)
She has an M.A. in English with a focus on fairytales and folktales, and when she’s not writing about characters facing terrible (but interesting) choices, she works as a technical writer, battles the Florida heat like a reluctant cryptid, and wonders why there aren’t more disabled and chronically ill characters in fantasy. Let’s fix that, yeah?
This was a YA treat. Thank you to author for the ARC.
This story follows a high schooler as she navigates the onset of chronic health conditions and what that means to her identity and her place in her community. Seda hasn’t been able to get a diagnosis and is getting gaslit by doctors and teachers alike. She is missing a lot of school and the school is trying to push her to home bound. The craziest part reading this was when I was in high school I think I experienced literally EVERYTHING she went through.
The twist of this book comes in when the magical are trying to eat people’s pain and take advantage of people’s suffering. Seda starts experiencing encounters with fae, werewolves, monsters, and other magical beings. She struggles with who to trust, and who in her life understands or empathizes with what she is experiencing.
The writing was on the very younger side of YA for me and at times felt middle grade. But overall this was really special and am excited to see this book release and find its audience!!
I truly wish I had nicer things to say about this book. I wanted to keep reading, out of respect for the ARC and support for a fellow chronically ill person, but the writing is truly that childish and poor.
This book follows a high school girl named Seda, who is just doing her best to stay in school despite having disabling chronic illness that has yet to be diagnosed. Seda is brash, immature, sarcastic and a very unlikeable voice. Despite having relatable health issues, she is truly not easy to read and I found myself turning page after page just hoping she would become likeable. Seda has a best friend, Esme, who fills the role of "Throwaway POC sidekick" to a "T". She is kind, patient, neverendingly compassionate, and one-dimensional, in the way these sidekicks tend to be. Its dissapointing, but not surprising.
The prose of this book feels like reading someone's first fanfiction: sassy to the point of annoying, constant analogies to remind you that this 16-year old (aka the author) is super witty and clever, and really meaningless side bars that make you question if an editor was involved.
Besides the gratuitous use of "Fricken" every other sentence as the book's main adjective, there was an uncomfortable sentence that felt not only unnecessary, but harmful as well:
**Spoiler, TW Eating Disorder talk**
When Seda passes out on the bathroom floor (as a result of Fae magic cast by "The Creep"), she wakes up to Esme bringing in an EMT to check on her. The EMT takes some vitals and confirms she passed out, following up the assessment with "When was the last time you ate or drank?" The author chooses to make a comment about eating disorders here: "It wasn't the paramedic's fault that he assumed a passed-out teenage girl in the school bathroom was the result of an eating disorder, but that at least wasn't one of my problems,"
I have... So many problems here. First off, that question is typically to rule out blood sugar issues or poor nutrition, the jump to "he must think I have an ED" is absurd and unnecessary from the author. Secondly, what do you want for not having an eating disorder? A prize? Going out of your way to highlight that an ED isn't one of your "problems" doesn't make you special. EDs are the reality for many people, myself included. Calling us out in your book had no meaning and no place.
I think this summarizes my main problems with the book. I don't like writing negative reviews, but I dislike poorly written books even more. This was not ready to be published. The middle schoolers and teenagers I know deserve better representation than confusing plots that won't budge and constant "sassy" (read: obnxious) one-liners.
A Little Less Invisible follows the story of Sedona “Seda” Gerard, a high school girl with big dreams and multiple chronic symptoms that make those dreams a lot more work than others.
The story centers on Seda’s goal of simply completing high school and getting on track for her future while managing chronic heart issues and constant pain. It feels like the world is staged against her. School administrators seem determined to force her into a hospital bound program and doctors are left dumbfounded by her condition, unable to reach a final diagnosis of what ails her. Survival itself becomes her baseline during her final weeks before spring break.
And just when that alone should be enough to carry, her story pivots.
A whirlwind of fantasy is thrown her way. Fae disguised in a world of humans, feeding on emotions and sensations. And for Seda, whose life is already saturated with pain, she becomes a target, less of a person and more of a feast. A buffet.
Layered into that chaos is an awkwardly wholesome love story. The kind that makes you pause and wonder, is he her only hope or does he have intentions of his own?
What makes this story resonate is not just the fantasy or the romance, but the honesty threaded through it. It shines a light on experiences that may be overlooked, chronic illness, and the quiet uncomfortable realities of existing in a body that does not cooperate. It also opens a window into a world of unseen medical conditions that many people do not realize or fully understand. It leans into the unpolished parts of life, the things stories tend to filter out. Because love stories and heroes are not always graceful. They have bad days. They struggle. They deal with things that are messy, human, and rarely spoken about.
Seda really takes you along her feelings and stressful moments, especially when dealing with adults and feeling at a loss when she is unable to take control of her own life.
That said, I did find myself skimming through some areas. It leans more on the younger side of YA.
There were moments where I was honestly frustrated with certain characters to the point where you just want to shake (*cough*or punch*cough*) them a little, and I even found myself hoping Seda would have that moment where she reveals she is actually fae and just kicks butt.
If you enjoy a light read with some fantasy elements and an underdog heroine navigating her own version of the hero’s journey, this is one to consider. It keeps you guessing who to trust and leaves you with a twist at the end.
The book has funny parts, a sense of urgency, especially with her being chased while balancing medical appointments, a sprinkle of awkward romance, and a whole lot of resilience.
On a personal note, I would love to see the secondary characters explored and fleshed out more, along with more time spent on the love story.
“Off-white paint faded into yellow on the walls, and the motivational posters tacked haphazardly around the space were curling at the edges. The one that said, 'The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow' caught my attention. What a load of BS. If pain made you stronger, I'd be a demigod by tomorrow at the rate I was going.”
In 2014, I self-diagnosed with Crohn's disease about a week after turning nineteen. Unfortunately, self-diagnosis wasn't a basis for treatment, and my gastroenterologist at the time had to be convinced to test me for it. He was confident I didn't have it. I will never forget his embarrassment when he had to face me in his office three days later to tell me I did, in fact, have Crohn's disease. Because of my mental health history, because of my age, because of a litany of things out of my control, he'd convinced himself my symptoms had manifested from anxiety.
I was already a veracious reader at the time, and yet, I had never seen anything like this experience reflected in the books I consumed. Twelve years later, in A LITTLE LESS INVISIBLE, I finally do. Maisie M. Meyers captures the catharsis of being believed, the relief of a diagnosis, and the struggle to exist in day-to-day life with an invisible illness, all against the backdrop of a fantastical story that allows a young, chronically ill girl to be the hero of her own novel. Add in a best friend who anticipates Seda's needs and a love interest who apologizes for when he says something insensitive and makes up for it by actually learning about Seda's limitations, and I was near tears at the end of this book thinking of all the disabled teenagers who will read these pages and know they are not alone in their experiences.
The disability rep is crucial to this story, but the magic, romance, and humor infused in each page turn it into a compelling narrative. Seda is a delightfully witty protagonist, and I enjoyed her journey in combating not only pain-hungry fae, but also her evil guidance counselor and the looming threat of the homebound program. Too, the romance between Seda and Nik followed a classic fantasy romance structure while also standing out due to the playful banter, Nik's obvious care, and Seda's inner monologue.
This is a story I hope many people read for many reasons. People like me and Seda, who will be able to see themselves in its pages, but also people like Nik and Esme, who will maybe understand a little bit more how they can best support their loved ones with chronic pain. Special shout out to Sabina Nordqvist for turning me on to all things Maisie M. Meyers. I can't wait for the next book.
I had the privilege of reading an early version of A Little Less Invisible through the Round Table Mentor program. I was caught up in this book since pretty much the first page. Not only does it have Spoonie topics that are immediately relatable to other people with chronic pain who have faced diagnosis limbo, but it’s just a really funny book. There are so many aspects of living with chronic pain that sometimes require a certain type of humor, and being able to laugh while commiserating over Seda’s problems in high school really engage you from the start. It’s witty, sharp, observant, and tender.
This is a story about a high school girl who’s trying really hard not to get sent on the homebound program because she keeps having to miss classes due to a mysterious set of chronic illness symptoms that nobody can figure out. While she’s committed to staying in school among her peers, she gets caught up in a fantastical scheme in involving Fae who feed off chronic pain. (Another reason I got drawn to this book-it’s such a clever concept!). Needless to say, a lot of shenanigans ensue, and our girl Seda has more than enough on her plate already with her chronic pain, so to add in magical elements and a hot boy who may or may not be fae himself (you’ll have to read it to find out just like Seda) is the last thing that’s going to help her get better. Which makes for a fun ride.
This young adult contemporary fantasy is fun, lighthearted, and really feels like it has a teenage voice and is meant for teens. It’s also got its swoony elements with our kind and grumpy but mysterious Nik, interesting world building (the author has a degree in folklore so she knows her stuff), and also some of the best disability representation I’ve seen in a young adult fantasy novel. I think anyone who is looking to feel more represented in that aspect will not be disappointed. What I love especially about this representation is that the chronic pain and chronic illness actually interrupts the plot and slows things down for the character despite her many attempts to push past it. It allows her to be a heroine on her own terms and doesn’t promote toxic positivity or inspiration. I love how much it acknowledges the realities of Spoonies while also allowing you to get lost in the mystery of how she’s going to outsmart these fae.
I’m definitely going to be encouraging everyone to read this book, and I’m so excited to see what Meyers writes next!
This novel follows a determined high school student, Seda, who is doing everything she can to avoid being placed on an at-home learning plan after repeated absences caused by baffling, ongoing health issues. She’s desperate to remain in the classroom with her friends, but her already complicated life takes a wild turn when she becomes entangled in a hidden world of faeries who draw strength from human suffering—specifically chronic pain. As if managing unpredictable symptoms weren’t exhausting enough, she now has to navigate dangerous magic and a frustratingly charming boy, Nik,who might not be entirely human. Chaos, secrets, and plenty of tension follow.
The book strikes a wonderful balance between contemporary teen life and enchanting fantasy. The voice feels authentically adolescent, capturing the humor, insecurity, and stubborn hopefulness of being young. There’s a slow-burn romantic thread with the brooding yet unexpectedly gentle love interest, Nik,that adds just the right amount of emotional spark. The folklore elements are thoughtfully crafted, clearly shaped by careful research, and they lend the story a rich mythic undertone without overwhelming the present-day setting.
What truly sets this story apart is its portrayal of chronic illness. Seda’s condition isn’t brushed aside for the sake of adventure. Her symptoms disrupt plans, stall progress, and force difficult choices. She doesn’t magically “power through” or become inspirational simply by enduring hardship. Instead, she’s allowed to be strong and vulnerable at the same time, succeeding on terms that respect her limits. The narrative recognizes the lived reality of managing ongoing pain while still delivering an imaginative, suspenseful plot.
This is an engaging, heartfelt read that offers meaningful representation alongside swoony romance and clever fantasy twists. I’ll absolutely be recommending it and can’t wait to see what the author creates next.
This book felt so special and different in the best way.
One of the things I loved most was the representation of chronic “invisible” illnesses and physical pain. You rarely see that in books, and it was handled so honestly. The way the story captured what it feels like to be dismissed, misunderstood, or quietly struggling while everyone assumes you’re fine? It hit hard and was deeply personal for me.
The friendship between the main character and her best friend was another highlight. Their loyalty, protectiveness, and unwavering support for each other was so heartwarming. It wasn’t dramatic or performative — it felt like true friendship, the kind where someone shows up for you even when they don’t fully understand what you’re going through.
I also loved how the plot blended the “real world” with fae characters and darker, secret magic. It gave the story this layered, almost eerie undertone while still being funny as well as also staying grounded in real emotional struggles. Such an interesting and unique take!!
And the writing? So easy to read. Witty, funny, descriptive without being overwhelming. It genuinely felt like the author was talking to me the way my best friend would. There’s such an authenticity to it. Also, you can easily tell that she truly understands chronic invisible pain herself and poured that lived experience into the story.
Overall, this book feels validating, magical, and heartfelt all at once — a story about wanting to be seen, while navigating pain that others can’t. I absolutely loved it and recommend!!
This book places you in the life of high school student Seda, a teen dealing with schoolwork, a cute boy, and parasitic fairies. Seda has a baffling combination of medical symptoms that cause her to be in pain daily. She faces supernatural creatures that say they want to help her relieve this pain…although they all have motives of their own. Overall I thought the setting and dialogue were engaging and appropriate for the story. I would recommend this book to middle school students, despite the main character being in high school. While her struggle to deal with a chronic illness is prevalent, the challenges Seda faces are never graphic or overly wretched (the story would have retained its integrity if Seda was in 8th grade). This is not a horror story or a gripping mystery, but rather reads as a character creating a unique world to cope with the unknown implications of her medical situation.
I appreciate this book for its representation of a student dealing with an unknown illness. That being said, I was not swept away by the secondary characters and felt that they could have been more rounded. I also never truly felt that any character was in serious peril (which reduced the tension of the story). As the climax built I was not at the edge of my seat, but I was very satisfied with the ending.
This book is meaningful and unique in its premise and would be a solid read for those struggling with illness or interested in fairy lore.
Is it a cringe tween book, or a proper YA contemporary romantasy? Who knows.
Now, I want to begin by establishing something: I did not enjoy this. However, I think there was potential in the concept, but the problem was in the execution. So, my main points of feedback are:
1. The target audience. This book was so cringy, that I at first assumed that it was aimed at 12 - 14 year olds (the youngest end of YA), and I was just beyond the target audience. I'm talking seeing words like 'frickin' and 'bish' on every single page, with the main character's inside joke with the love interest being 'toilet face'. But then we started actually swearing, and I mean a lot, which felt very jarring. Plus, our characters are meant to be sophomores? Juniors? In high school. If the endless swearing was removed, and it was set in middle school, I feel like it would have suited the cringiness more. As is, it's just an incredibly bizarre mix and felt like the author didn't genuinely think about who she was writing for.
2. The plot. The devil is in the details for a good plot, and this book had none of them. Heck, our main character decided that fairies are real because Google said so. And that's how the entire book was.
3. The chronic pain rep. Now, mostly this was very good, and I enjoyed that Seda's journey to try and get a diagnosis was a key secondary plot, without overtaking the main narrative. However, going back to the devil being in the details, despite Seda regularly fainting whenever things happen that raise her heart rate slightly, she's then constantly 'racing downstairs' and 'leaping out of bed', with no ill effects... If she's only suffering when it adds drama to the plot, it's not good representation.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc.
I think many people with chronic pain have had the thought that they’d do anything to make it stop. Seda discovers there may be a way to make that happen for her, but would she really do anything?
Emma Love did a fantastic job with the narration, each character distinct and the youthfulness of the main characters comes through. It really brought the story to life.
This story reads a little young, more new teen than YA. It offers representation for chronic pain and has a little bit of attitude correction for how we view and talk to folks with invisible and visible disabilities. Advocating for yourself to medical professionals when they can’t find the source is hard for anyone, I can’t imagine it as a child/teen. Seda definitely feels these slights and the disbelief and counters it as best she can.
Listening to Seda come to her eventual conclusions was lovely to follow. Her strength and resolution and care for her friends, was beautiful.
I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of A Little Less Invisible from the author! 🫶
It’s time to give a standing ovation to A Little Less Invisible made me feel so seen and that made this book so incredibly special to me! 🥹🩵🦓 It truly is such an incredible read that beautifully represents chronic illnesses and I will forever be recommending this to everyone I know! 🫶
This is YA fantasy at its finest and I am obsessed with the unique premise and how emotional and heartwarming it is. Seda is such an incredible FMC and I love her so much. I truly love her drive and determination. Something that is so beautiful is the fact that Maisie Meyers experiences chronic illness herself because the way she poured her heart and soul into the characters and the overall story is so authentic! 🫶
If you love YA fantasy then this is an absolute must-read! 🫶
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I ended up DNFing A Little Less Invisible around 20%.
I was really excited to read this one because I also live with a chronic illness and was looking forward to that representation. Unfortunately, while I typically read YA, the writing style felt younger than what I usually gravitate toward, which made it hard for me to fully connect with the story.
I don’t think I was the intended audience. I can see this resonating with younger, more middle grade readers. I think the book has a great story to tell but I’m just the wrong reader for it.
I requested this ARC knowing it was YA, and it definitely skews to the younger side.
I liked the invisible disability representation.
I completely understand going through testing and being told there is nothing wrong, but constantly being dizzy and in pain.
I liked that Seda didn't want to give up on maintaining her sense of normalcy by remaining at school, or give up a part of herself by allowing a monster to use her.
I found parts of the story clunky, and the adults felt like very flat characters.
As I'm in my 30's I am not the target audience for this one.
Some books refuse to stay in a single box—and this is one of them. Yes, it features a chronically ill protagonist, and yes, it is a story about how she rises above her disability to kick ass and take names. But it is also a suspenseful tale of good vs evil, a romantic fantasy of magic and werewolves, a fairy tale with a handsome prince coming to the rescue and a sassy, brave princess who rescues him right back. Witty dialogue and sly references drew me in from the first page and kept me riveted until the last one. I can’t wait to read more from this author – please write faster, Maisie Meyers!
Wow, not often do I ever see myself represented in a book that knows what it's talking about. This was incredible from start to finish. Hilarious and full of heart this book will have you screaming for more. This book will pull at all the emotions whilst still keeping you grounded. Maisie does an amazing job of balancing the empathy with the true grittiness of chronic pain sufferers. Author I applaud you. There's only one issue I have with this book. Not enough pages. I need another instalment from this series and fast. What an incredible debut book. MORE PLEASE!!!!!
Thank you NetGalley and author for an early review copy of this amazing book.As someone who is chronically ill herself and still hasn’t got a proper diagnosis this book validates everything a chronically ill person experiences the pain, anxiety,the feeling of being invisible while everyone is living their lives or thinks your fine when your not I know how seba feels all too well especially with school and don’t get me started on the gaslighting from doctors and teachers tho for me it is definitely doctors my professor is surprisingly understanding.I also loved the great support seba has from her friend chronically ill people need that more than people realize.This book did a good job at describing the feelings of being chronically ill while also adding its own twist with fae that feeds on pain .I absolutely enjoyed reading it and I can’t wait to get a physical copy of it.
I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because I’m probably not the intended audience, this feels very much like a teen book, and I’m an adult. If I had read this as a teen, I honestly think it would have been a 5-star read for me.
That said, the writing is beautiful, and I really enjoyed being in Seda’s head. The story felt original, and even though I wasn’t the target audience, I was still curious enough to keep reading and see how it would end.
I also appreciated that it felt like a true teen book, no unnecessary mature content, just a genuinely age-appropriate story, which feels a bit rare lately.
4⭐️ | This book impeccably blends humor with chronic illness representation in a contemporary fantasy setting.
Seda is a high schooler who finds herself in the crosshairs of fae who feed on pain. With the help of the mysterious and attractive Nik and her best friend Esme, Seda must take on the fae who are threatening her and her loved ones all while navigating an unknown chronic illness.
I appreciated the chronic illness and pain representation in this story and the intimate way the reader gets to experience Seda coming to terms with her new circumstances. The writing style pulls you in right away with humor and lots of creative imagery (“getting rotisserie chicken roasted from the inside out” is definitely one that will stay with me). While being humorous, the book does not shy away from important topics and the challenges of living with a chronic, invisible illness. The author also does a great job capturing the YA voice in Seda.
There were some places where I wanted more context and explanation of the magical creatures and magic system, but perhaps this will be addressed more in future books. I do hope this will be a series, as I’d love to read more about Seda and Nik and see Seda get her happy ending.
I’d highly recommend this book to young adult readers who love fantasy and want to feel seen and empowered, but there’s plenty for adults to enjoy here too.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
I'm struggling a bit to review this one. I absolutely loved the spoonie/disability rep. As someone who became disabled in middle school/high school, I related heavy to the struggle of becoming homebound. I also really enjoyed the humor that was brought in. I am not a big fantasy reader, but I was very intrigued with the idea of pain eating fae. I wanted more world/character building from the fantasy side of things. I also struggled with the plot.
I received an ALC of this book and loved it! Seda is dealing with a chronic illness, trying to stay in high school so she can accomplish her dreams, and fae who feed on pain. She’s determined and feisty but also has some really cute, awkward interactions. You want to see Seda succeed and feel for her with everything she goes through. Great YA story!
I’m grateful a book like this exists! Showing how hard it is to be a chronically ill teenage merged with awesome fantasy. And showing that you can still do cool things just maybe not in the normal standing way! And the drowned squirrel lines are awesome!
Although I like this story, my younger self will definitely love this. The writing is easy to follow and the story feels enchanting, funny and validating ( to feel seen and understood while “silently” experiencing pain). The strongest aspect of the story for me is the friendship between Seda and Esme.
Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for an early look at this fabulous YA fantasy with chronic illness representation based on the author’s personal experience with POTS, hEDS, MCAS, and chronic pain.
A LITTLE LESS INVISIBLE took me by surprise with its clever writing, relatable characters, and fun fantasy hijinks! I was totally absorbed in Seda’s journey and her perspective. Her first person narration blends searing disability representation with delightful humor and teenage realism. She’s hilarious but also extremely relatable.
You can really tell when a book with disability representation has been written by an author who gets it. Maisie M. Meyers 100% gets it! A LITTLE LESS INVISIBLE punches you in the gut and than makes you laugh. It gets real when it comes to the frustration and pain of chronic illness and ableism. Every page is threaded with disability justice (as opposed to just disability inclusion). It’s so refreshing to see a YA novel call out ableism and give a realistic portrayal of what chronically ill people experience every day.
The idea of a fae feeding on chronically ill person’s pain was simply genius! I had so much fun with this premise, but I’ll admit I was a little unsatisfied with how the fantasy plot wrapped up. Don’t worry, there isn’t a magical cure, but I just wanted a few more pages to wrap up the story! Honestly, my fingers are crossed for a sequel so we get more of Seda!
I’m so thrilled that chronically ill teens will be able to see themselves in this book! I’m now a forever fan of this author and I’ll be eagerly awaiting whatever she writes next. I highly recommend you run to buy your copy now (and maybe a few more for any teens in your life!)