Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses

by Kristen O'Neal

“Your next favorite horror-comedy.”—Syfy Fangrrls

Teen Wolf meets Emergency Contact in this sharply observed, hilarious, and heartwarming debut young adult novel about friendship, chronic illness, and . . . werewolves.

Priya worked hard to pursue her premed dreams at Stanford, but the fallout from undiagnosed Lyme disease sends her back to her childhood home in New Jersey during her sophomore year—and leaves her wondering if she’ll ever be able to return to the way things were.

Thankfully she has her online pen pal, Brigid, and the rest of the members of “oof ouch my bones,” a virtual support group that meets on Discord to crack jokes and vent about their own chronic illnesses.

When Brigid suddenly goes offline, Priya does something out of character: she steals the family car and drives to Pennsylvania to check on Brigid. Priya isn’t sure what to expect, but it isn’t the horrifying creature that's shut in the basement.

With Brigid nowhere to be found, Priya begins to puzzle together an impossible but obvious truth: the creature might be a werewolf—and the werewolf might be Brigid. As Brigid's unique condition worsens, their friendship will be deepened and challenged in unexpected ways, forcing them to reckon with their own ideas of what it means to be normal.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Contemporary, Disability, Fiction, Werewolves, Paranormal

382 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2021

Reviews

[Aparna R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a chronically ill, disabled Desi reader and writer. I'm also Indian American and Tamil, like the MC. I've been deeply troubled by the cultural appropriation, premise, and racist cover since I first heard of this book last November and shared my concerns on Twitter. While I haven't read this book (I didn't want to subject myself to more harm, as just seeing the cover and description was upsetting enough to my mental health), the subject, the premise, cultural appropriation, and racist justifications from the author and her friend regarding this book compels me to leave a review.

Let's start with the cover. Juxtaposing a dark-skinned brown character opposite a furry canine in the same pose is incredibly racist and hurtful. The idea of hairy brown people is also a historically racist stereotype, and using this on a cover by a white author who characterized this book as ownvoices is basically brownface.

Second, writing a book with a disabled POC MC when you are a white disabled author is NOT ownvoices, as the author claimed. It is cultural appropriation, and calling it ownvoices shows you think disabled POC and disabled white characters are interchangeable. They are not. As disabled POC, we are multiply marginalized and our identities intersect in unique ways. Moreover, inequities in publishing make our voices the least heard as both disabled and POC writers. This does not mean you can speak over us or "give us a voice" (as the author's friend inappropriately claimed was the author's intent) by appropriating our identities. That is white saviorism, not allyship. We have our own voices.

I am also uncomfortable with a white author writing about a Desi MC's family being "overbearing" surrounding disability or chronic illness. It's far more nuanced than that, and you cannot capture those nuances and intersections in a non-racist, culturally sensitive way without being from that culture and having that lived experience. As a disabled Indian American woman, my life has been shaped by ableism as well as South Asian culture and the model minority myth. My family has been overbearing at times, yes, but also very interdependent & supportive in a way individualistic white American culture frowns on. Racism & ableism on the other hand have compounded to keep me out of many spaces.

Finally, Tamil rep is deeply underrepresented in publishing, even among Desi and Indian American rep, and has its own unique language, history, and cultural markers. It is not interchangeable with other Desi identities. I’ve literally had convos with other Tamil writers about how people only want Bollywood/North Indian stories. And how we don’t know if anyone would want ours. Let alone spoonie Tamil Desi OV stories. By appropriating an underrepresented identity within an underrepresented POC identity, you are compounding harm and making it much more difficult for disabled Tamil & Desi writers to be published because publishers will say they "already have one", and if it fails, won't bother with this rep from actual ownvoices authors at all.

Here are some additional resources/threads for more information:
-Excellent article on the many shades and complexities of South Asian rep and how we are not interchangeable: https://diversebooks.org/why-we-need-...
-My thread on the intersections of disabled Desi identity and how our voices are underrepresented in publishing in multiple ways: https://twitter.com/aparna_r_writer/s...
-Thread by Desi author Priyanka Taslim breaking down how racist & appropriative it is for white authors to write MCs with BIPOC, Desi, and especially disabled Tamil rep specifically, in response to the author's friend defending her in an email to a negative reviewer saying she meant to "give us a voice": https://twitter.com/bhootbabe/status/...

[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*UPDATE 3/22* Yeah I'm seeing a lot of people jumping on this book for having a cover that "compares POC to animals" and I am begging you to stop jumping to the worst conclusions possible in the names of purity policing and actually wait and read the book. Lycanthropy is not used as a metaphor for race here at all. The cover isn't even showing a POC werewolf, the werewolf is a white girl.

-----

I received a DRC from Edelweiss
TW: mention of a cat being eaten, suicidal thoughts
4.2

Priya's whole life changed from one tick bite- now she has Chronic Lymes, something that makes it so hard to function some days that she had to drop out of school and come back home. The only bright part of her day is talking to her close online friend, Brigid, and the chronic illness online support chat they're both a part of. But then Brigid disappears offline for days, and when Priya determines to check up on her in person, she finds herself in the middle of an illness she's not entirely prepared to deal with.

So this book was incredibly fun and cute. The basic premise of two people meeting online who both have chronic illnesses, and one of which being lycanthropy, is honestly gold, and the storyline has a nice mix of genuine support and realistic conversations about chronic illnesses as well as more off the walls dramatic (and off the walls comedic) parts.

I'm usually really, really judgey about characters that were obviously made by someone who spends a lot of time on tumblr, and who spout off memes and slang that are just there to either show off how cool and fun they are or dropped in like an easter egg for tumblr people. But here it's different, and I actually really like these characters and their conversations! For one thing, these are all people who met via tumblr, so their meme references make sense within the context, and it never feels inorganic when they make those references. I still have some concerns about dating it, since memes have pretty short shelf lives, but the ones picked should hold up for a few more years at least, so.
These characters all feel really real too, especially Brigid, which helps you care about them more than just a Meme Machine. I actually caught myself wondering if this was an actual group chat someone had, because they all felt so genuine. It's nice to be able to both laugh at dialogue and also genuinely care about the people saying it.

Because these characters felt so real and because they were funny and vivid while also talking about heavier things like their illnesses or the pitfalls and prejudice of the health industry, their friendships feel solid and genuine too. I was reading this book thinking "yeah, I want to be part of Priya and Brigid's friend group too!", which is exactly the kind of feeling you want when the center of a book is the amazing friendship, like it is in this one.

"Sometimes you just look at a person in that moment and think yes, they're going to be important to me. They're going to change the shape my life takes. We're going to mean something to each other.
This is the feeling I get as I watch Brigid try to fold an entire meat-lover's pizza in half, give up, and stack four slices directly on top of one another to shove them into her mouth."

I love the framing of lycanthropy as a chronic illness, and I love the conversations that it sparks. The fear of and distance from one's own body is a big thing in what people tend to call "feminist horror", and I've never seen it done so well in something that isn't a horror piece.
I don't have a chronic illness, but from the things I've heard from people I know who do, everything said in this book also seems well described. I'm glad there's more representation for chronic illnesses, because it's something that's gotten so little! I also really appreciate that this book has a POC as the main character, as well as plenty of queer rep including a trans side character who talks about HRT on page.

I also really appreciate that there's no romance in this book. There could have been, and I was bracing for it, but it never happens and I'm so glad. Instead the narrative is completely focused on Brigid dealing with her illness, and the friendship between her and Priya.

For me, I think that the group chat got to be too much. It cluttered up the storyline at times, and broke the tension when that tension was really needed. Had there been less chat happening, or if it was trimmed more to fit a flow instead of feeling kind of all over the place, I think I'd have had way less issues.

"She said that being a woman means everyone hates your body, and your body hates you."

I really enjoyed this book! It's a wonderful story of friendship blossoming both online and offline, and a great story of coming to terms with an illness. Not only was this a really quick read, but one I had a lot of fun reading.

[nitya · Rating 1 out of 5]

*exhales* I want south indian rep but not in a racist way please

Let us tell our stories. We deserve THAT at the very least.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was extremely contemporary (a group of Tumblr friends start a discord server to talk about and support each other through their aches, pains and feelings - one of them is a werewolf) and absolutely lovely. Lycanthropy and chronic illness wasn't an intersection I knew I wanted, until now, but it's perfect. Would love to see this made into a film or a series.

[SusanG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update:
This book is about chronic illness not race. The vast majority of people who actually read this book state in reviews that it is a well written book that benefits people with chronic illness. Because the author is white and the MC is a POC some in own voices movement have co-opted the discussion to be about race. In the process I am concerned they are marginalizing disabled people.

The vast majority of negative reviews state they haven’t read the book and don’t intend to read it. The number one review @Aparta states:
“While I haven’t read this book (I didn’t want to subject myself to more harm, as just seeing the cover and description was upsetting enough to my mental health).” If she and others like her feel reading this book will harm her - by all means don’t read it. Prioritize your mental and physical health! But i believe it is unprofessional to disparage someone else’s work without even reading it and presumptive to tell others they shouldn’t read it.

Most negative reviews state as @Aparna does it is “racist and appropriative for white writers to write MCs with BIPOC” but then later in the comments @Aparna instructs others to “Include POC in your cast. You can and should avoid tokenism by including multiple POC not just one.”

If these reviewers had read the book, they would know the characters include the MC, her family, the wear wolf and the animal control officer. If we assume Oneal had made the MC and her family white as own voices advocates say she should have, and we all agree the were wolf should not have been cast as a POC. That leaves only one character, Spencer the animal control officer, who could have been a POC. Thus tokenism. So, the author would have been damned no matter what she did.

I support own voices, but I also believe a writer can and should be able to write other races if they do research and a diversity read which ONeal states she has done. Extremists in the own voices movement express a desire that whites write only white characters. This would create literature that portrays a segregated world and would be a major step backward in the fight to end racism.

According to Webster racism is:
“The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
n. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
n. The belief that each race has distinct and intrinsic attributes.”

Own voices extremists state in reviews that Oneal is not fit to write about a POC simply because of the color of her skin. I’m concerned that this is the very definition of racism. They are in fact doing to Oneal just what Martin Luther King Jr. urged us not to do. They are judging her by the color of her skin not the content of her character (or her work).

To all those who haven’t read the book and are so quick to hurl the insult of “racism” against the author, do you really want to be a part of a virtual lynch mob based on the color of a persons skin? We are better than this.

I hope for all our sakes we can show each other more kindness and grace and less judgement and hatred.

Original Review:

This was a great book wrestling with deep subjects like chronic illness, isolation, depression, loss and disappointment while incorporating humor, suspense, true friendships, an internet support group, and loving tender family relationships.

I am an able bodied person. I felt this book offers a candid view of the very real costs that accompany chronic illness emotionally, physically, relationally and mentally, many of which able bodied people may not inherently be aware of. Able bodied people many times see someone who has a chronic illness and can't understand the pain that is underneath his/her seemingly healthy exterior. Chronic illness is such an important topic to wrestle with especially for teens and young adults who may not know many chronically ill individuals. The current generation of teens and young adults have a more acute desire to be sensitive of others and I believe this book will help them do so. It helped me have more empathy for those struggling with all types of chronic illness. I liked that the support group included individuals with all types of illnesses.

The author's portrayal of the main character was complex showing the many emotions that accompany chronic illness. From the frustration with her physical limitations, to the disappointment of career plan uncertainty, to the selflessness of showing a strong front to protect her family from the pain of seeing her suffer. I also thought the love between this close knit family was very sweet and it felt very authentic, especially with the main character's brother.

This book feels very timely as it handled the difficult topics of isolation, depression, loss of independence from moving back with parents which are all so pertinent for us today with covid. I liked the depiction of authenticity of the support group through discord.

Most importantly I think this book depicts true friendship between Pryia and Bridgit. At its heart this book is about being there for your friend and accepting them for who they are, teeth and all.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept telling myself I was going to rate this book four stars. You know, it had some really great parts, but also a few parts that irritated me, and overall that probably balanced out to four stars, right?

By the end, I just couldn't bring myself to knock off a full star. Yeah, there were a few bits I didn't like, but that doesn't change the fact that I really LOVED most of this book. Recommended if you have a chronic illness, want to know what it's like to have a chronic illness, or really enjoy friendship stories.

There's a bit of blood and medical related stuff, but it's not overdone. (For reference, the bit where a character got foam from her mouth matted in her hair grossed me out WAY more than anything else in the book.) Language is sprinkled throughout the book, mostly blasphemy, and there are a few references to the occult. A number of side characters are lesbian, trans, etc--it's never a main focus of the story.

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.50 Stars. A unique read about a serious subject, but done in a more uplifting way. A mix of realism and complete fantasy, this book was easily unlike anything I have read before. I thought this was a good solid story, and I really liked the fact it was different, but I wasn’t blown away by it. I’ve been stuck in this pattern of reading a lot of average to good stories that just don’t make it into the great column and unfortunately that is where this book lands.

I’ve really dreaded writing this review, and my anxiety has been too high for my liking. I did not realize, until I was almost finished reading the book, that this book had a lot of controversy surrounding it. I’m all for pointing out when authors behave badly, but I have to admit I was surprised that this book was so controversial. I could see why the old cover, which has been changed, could be triggering to someone. I’m glad the publishers did the right thing and changed it since it was their fault to begin with. But in my opinion, which I don’t think counts for much as a white woman in this situation, I did not see the very problematic issues with the story that people were talking about. I don’t know if their feelings would change if they read the book, but I can also understand people thinking the book would be too triggering to read. So I think the best I can do as a reviewer is to point out that while I did not see the triggers people upset with the book were speaking about, I’ll still give the warning that this could book could be triggering to some readers.

This paragraph and the next will have light spoilers, although not much more than what the book blurb already gives you. I don’t normally summarize books in my reviews, but because of the serious concerns of this book, I thought I should in this case. While the main character is a young Indian American (Tamil) woman named Priya, this story is really about coping with a new diagnosis of a chronic illness and chronic pain, and how important it is to find support with people that can truly understand what you are going through. While, I can’t speak to the chronic illness rep, I do deal with some chronic pain and I thought O'Neal did quite well in writing about it. People almost never talk about chronic pain in books, and chronic illness too for that matter, so while some of it was sad to read about, I was glad to be reading about it.

While the book has realism with chronic pain, the main storyline is actual complete fantasy. There is a white woman named Bridget, who is in Priya’s Discord chronic illness support group. Bridget and Priya, form this beautiful bond that the word “friendship” almost doesn’t do what they have justice, so imagine Priya’s surprise when she finds out that Bridget is a werewolf! As you might assume, some lighthearted hijinks commence, especially when Bridget’s friend, an animal control officer, is brought into their circle. But as interesting as being a werewolf is, it is hurting Bridget to keep turning into one. And because Priya loves Bridget so much, she wants to help find a cure for Lycanthropy. Can Priya save her best friend?

I do have to mention one pretty big issue for me. While I enjoyed most of the book, I had trouble with reading the chat of the discord server. I thought the chat itself was well written, but the way it was written in red ink color, was really hard on the eyes. Every time the red would change back to black, it messed up my eyes sight and I could not see for a few seconds. This was in the advanced review copy I received, so I really hope this was changed for the books release yesterday. I think I might have actually liked the book better if it wasn’t blinding me so much:)

I would recommend this book to people looking for books that take the subject of chronic illness and pain seriously, but also in an uplifting way. I would also recommend this for people that like werewolves and are interested in reading a fantasy book that looks at weres in a totally different way. This book has controversy that follows it and I’m just going to end by saying that I think this is the kind of book that people should read and from their own opinions about, unless you are worried that it might be too triggering for you. I’m personally glad I got to read this really unique book. It was not the wow book I always hope I’m going to read, but it was a good debut and I enjoyed the different werewolf take.

A copy was given to me for a honest review.

[Rosamund Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you pick up the right book at the right time. This book absolutely nails chronic illness, especially developing a chronic when you are young, and I had no idea how much I needed to read about that experience. Priya is a promising student, a soccer player, and hopes to become a doctor, but she has to return home in the middle of her second year at college. She has developed Lyme disease, and needs IV antibiotics, but even when the Lyme leaves her system, the impact on her body is permanent. Priya is trying to adjust to a new reality: being home with her family again, being unable to trust her body, and struggling to know what her future will hold. Her main solace is the support she finds online, particularly a Discord group for chronic illness sufferers, and her best online friend, Brigid. But Brigid has a secret that Priya gradually uncovers: it's not a spoiler to say that Brigid is a werewolf.

Using lycanthropy as a window into Lyme Disease, and Lyme Disease as a window into lycanthropy, is a really clever narrative trick. They are both problems that are treated with suspicion by medical professionals and people who don't understand them, and yet have a devastating impact on your life. They are both poorly understood. Neither of them are fixable by just "trying to be better", yet that's how people see them. Neither of them occur because of a lack of moral fibre, but it's hard not to internalise the idea that if you had just behaved in a different way, you wouldn't be sick. Within the narrative, lycanthropy functions as both a metaphor for chronic illness, and as a devastatingly real physical condition. As Brigid and Priya struggle to cope with their different illnesses, they grow closer together, and figure out what it's like to lead a different kind of life -- one that is defined by, and curtailed by, illness, but is not less important or less vital than any other life.

O'Neal is fantastic at capturing all the complexities surrounding chronic illness. I've had the experience of stepping out into the world and discovering myself as an adult, and then getting sick and coming home, and depending on my parents to take care of me. It's a strange and painful place to be: you desperately need the help, and are grateful that the support is there, but you also hate the loss of freedom. Priya loves her family and enjoys spending time with all of them, but is also desperately frustrated that she has to give up so much, and no longer feels like an adult. There is so much to navigate here, and no easy answers, and O'Neal does a great job of exploring that. I also loved the way she explores the Internet as a companion and support system, albeit a flawed one. Lockwood's "No One Is Talking About This" is a meditation on being online, but O'Neal really shows us what it's like to have the Internet as your primary social outlet, and they ways that it can be beneficial -- such as allowing you to talk to people who understand you -- as well as causing its own kinds of stress.

At times, I thought Brigid and Priya were going to fall in love, but I actually liked that their relationship was platonic, because this is a brilliant portrait of the importance of friendship, and how friendships can be just as meaningful and important as a romantic relationship. Priya and Brigid's lives are intertwined, and they understand each other in a way no one else can. It's sweet and believable to witness the way their relationship moves from an online friendship to an 'everything' friendship, and gets deeper and deeper. This book is not without its flaws, but I found it engaging, moving and deeply necessary. It showed up just when I'm in the middle of a fibromyalgia flare-up, and although I'm in a different place in my life from Priya, and have different problems, it was so helpful to see a character I could relate to so much. I've never read a book that truly gets it before, and it's such an amazing experience.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH BOY.

So, first, a (long) disclaimer: There are a lot of reviews written about this book that point out some issues with it, primarily that it’s a POC mc written by a white author, and that the cover could lead to some harmful comparisons. In my reading of the book and my understanding of how to be responsible writing characters that don’t have the same identities as us, I think it ends up okay- primarily because the book doesn’t to me seem to try to define the Indian-American experience, and the werewolf is the white best friend, not the Indian main character. THAT ALL BEING SAID, I am a white person, so I’m really not the expert here, and it’s not my place to tell people what is and isnt hurtful. I encourage other readers to read the informative reviews, read the book, and then decide, while keeping in mind that it’s not in the hands of white readers to pass final judgment here. My review from here on is based solely on my enjoyment of the book otherwise.

I LOVED THIS BOOK, OKAY? I laughed out loud a LOT. It felt exactly like the conversations I have with my best friends. I’m a little concerned for its longevity because it is so perfectly situated in the current moment, but I have faith that the merit of the book means it’ll stand as a testament to the time rather than seeming outdated. Even if not, it is PERFECT for right now. On top of the humor, the main character is a college kid forced to return home due to an illness. SOUND FAMILIAR? I do not have Lyme disease, but some of the descriptions are so eerily familiar to COVID... it’s actually quite cathartic.

The protagonist is so likable, and her friends and family are diverse in their personalities and what they bring to the table (as well as their identities). It’s a clever book, it’s a smart book, it tugs on your heart, it doesn’t shy away from emotion or complication. It has so much to say that I think is worth hearing. It’s a roller coaster ride, and I finished it VERY quickly because I wanted nothing else. I’m so grateful to have won an advanced reader copy!! My brain is going a little haywire with the ambiguity of the ending and the makeup of their little friend group- I don’t even know which interpretation I would prefer, but I SEE what the author did with the little reference she made on page 187. I cannot be more specific without spoilers and I want people who haven’t read it yet to read this review. So I’ll just say I have a sudden craving to go buck wild in an Olive Garden.

[Cynthia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF Really do not appreciate a white author writing the point of view of a chronically ill person of color. It felt poorly researched and inauthentic because it was. This was the case of including diversity for the sake of diversity, but not putting in the effort to make the characters culturally relevant. Do not recommend.

I suggest reading Aparna's review for more context: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Heather Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Quirk Books for giving me a free digital galley of this book in exchange for feedback.

I loved this book!

I picked it up on the strength of its cover and title, which is always risky, isn't it? But so rewarding when it pays off, like right now. I've never heard of Kristen O'Neal, and googling tells me that this is her first novel. I am prepared to preorder her second novel with no further information.

"Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses" is the story of Priya, who has recently contracted chronic Lyme disease. Priya is learning to live with weakness and pain that look like they might be a permanent part of her life now. She's rethinking her future. Priya joins Oof Ouch My Bones, an online support group for people with chronic illnesses. She meets good and helpful friends there, who can sympathize and give useful advice and help one another. It's exactly what she needs.

One of those friends is Brigid, who is a little bit vague about the exact nature of her chronic illness, but still a good friend to Priya. And what IS Brigid's chronic illness? It would be a spoiler to tell you, if it weren't the first word of the title: Brigid is a werewolf.

This book is so warm and fun to read and full of heart, and I'd enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who lives with chronic illness or who likes their horror character-driven and full of heart.

Gentle reader warning: Like many werewolf novels, this one does include a bad thing happening to an animal. But it isn't vividly described, and it isn't an animal you are emotionally attached to. You're probably okay to read this book.

[Manu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes. A lot of racism going on with the cover and presentation of main character. Sad that a book about chronic illness had to appropriate a Tamil MC to get published when it's one of the most marginalized South Asian communities. This character should be white like the author and not ruin what could have been a good thing. On another note, I had to DNF the arc because all the text of the online group kept blurring together and bothered my eyes.

[Ceyrone · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is terrible, from the cover to the highly cultural appropriative nature of this book. Playing upon racist stereotype. This reeks of white saviourism and quite frankly this book does more harm than good.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shapeshifting into a werewolf is HARD on the body.

I don’t know from experience. I am not a werewolf. But I can just imagine, ya know?

In Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses, Brigid is a bit obscure about what ails her when chatting in the online support group she and her internet buddy, Priya, are in. When Brigid is suddenly unresponsive to texts and does not join in for a group meeting, Priya takes a little road trip to her house to see if she is okay. Well, she’s not. She’s furry. And she is very hungry!

I had a lot of fun reading this book and that’s all there is to it.

Okay, maybe there is a little more to it than that.

It was quite entertaining, but it also had some sweet aspects. It’s a story about friendship more than anything else. It’s a story about authentic support. I loved that. And I related so much to the things that were expressed in the online group chats about chronic pain and illness, which was comforting. I felt less alone.

Plus, I love werewolves. Actually, love might not be the right word. I appreciate their existence. I mean, in fiction, of course. If I found out they really existed, I’d probably be less appreciative. In stories, I do find them to be intriguing creatures. And I feel like I learned more about werewolves from this book than I have from any other werewolf story I’ve encountered.

The witty banter between the characters was fantastic and it made me want to be friends with everyone in the book, except that I’m old enough to be their mother. I am pretty sure that officially means that I am not cool enough for them. At any rate, I was very amused and I adored the way they all encouraged and listened to one another.

Lycanthropy and Chronic Illnesses felt a bit like getting a warm hug and that was exactly what I hoped it would be. I closed out 2020 with one last five star read and I am very grateful for that! Whether it’s solace or laughter you seek, this book is sure to satisfy!

I was very fortunate to have this ARC passed onto me from a friend. All opinions are my own. Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses is due out in April 2021.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through NetGalley from Quirk Books for this YA contemporary fantasy. Priya is diagnosed with chronic Lyme’s disease. She has to leave medical school and move back home. Through social media she finds a virtual support group for people with chronic illnesses. In the group she meets her new best friend, Brigid, who lives nearby, but what Brigid isn’t telling her support group is that she has lycanthropy. As Brigid is faced with challenge after challenge, their relationship blooms and their friends support continues to not waiver.

This was a very satisfying and heartwarming read, made interesting by the fantasy elements infused with very real emotions over chronic illness. The chat dialogues, text messages and narrative story intertwined well and were realistically written. The story moved forward naturally and kept me invested in each character no matter how minor. A very well executed YA book that is readable and has a message. Highly recommended!

[Anna Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC!

I really really liked this book. Definitely a 4.5 star rounded up. I thought it was a fun and interesting take on the very serious issue of chronic illness. By including the lycanthropy as a "chronic illness" the author took a very serious subject and lightened the mood to make the story more accessible to teenagers.

As someone who has personally struggled with Lyme's disease (I was thankfully diagnosed early), I found myself nodding my head at almost every mention of symptoms - brain fog, tiredness, even the weirdly specific weight gain locations. The author handled all the different chronic illnesses with a reassuring voice that did not make any of them feel "less than", but rather empowered the characters despite their struggles. I loved the caring and supportive community that the author created and I sincerely hope that readers who face similar struggles will be encouraged to find community and support and help when needed. But even readers with no prior experience with chronic illness will still be drawn into the engaging storyline - I mean who doesn't like werewolves?? (Was that a spoiler? Does everyone know what lycanthropy is? Sorry...)

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a chronic illness, or anyone who would like to gain some empathy for people with chronic illnesses.

(My only *small* complaint about the book? It needed more Spencer! :D:D:D Totally underused character that probably deserves a spin-off...just sayin'. I mean, I'd read a novel about the hot animal control guy!)

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oof, ouch. O'Neal's YA debut yanked me in and I couldn't put it down. Oddly hilarious due to the personalities and most definitely heart-felt, this own voices story goes into the so-not-funny mental landscape of chronic illnesses, and brings werewolfism (henceforth a word) into the storyline. I LOVED Brigid's sense of humor and her and Priya's friendship is one we ALL need in our lives.

Highly recommend if you're looking for a YA friendship story. There is a smidge of romance but it stays in its place and doesn't affect the main focus-- how friends can get you through the hardest time. Whether it be Lyme disease that throws a complete wrench in your life, or developing a taste for raw meat and the neighbor's cat (she felt really bad about it, no judging).

[Rowen H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely charmed by the premise of this book the moment I saw it, and luckily, the book itself is equally charming. The characters are genuine and lovable, the plot is unique, and it takes an unflinching look at how complicated our relationships with our own bodies can be. It is also, as a bonus, extremely funny.

[Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edited to add: While I really did enjoy the chronic illness rep, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the uneasy feelings I had about the portrayal of race in the main character. Priya is Indian-American, and the author is white. Multiple South Asian readers have expressed concern about the book, and while I am not in a position to judge whether the portrayal was consistent with experiences of Indian American teens, I will say that it didn't sit quite right with me as I was reading.

I absolutely loved this book! I read contemporary here and there, and it was so nice to read one that portrayed the experiences of chronic illness and chronic pain. While I cannot speak for the specific portrayal of Lyme disease in the book, the author really nailed some of the general characteristics of having a chronic disorder (for me). I grew up with really bad asthma and today deal with chronic pain issues. It was amazing to read a book where I really felt seen, even if it was discussing my specific issue. On top of that, it had the fun (and sometimes not-so-fun) element of lycanthropy! Priya finds out that her friend is a werewolf, and goes on an adventure trying to help her friend. The book really dives into some of the lows of chronic illness, when it all seems like too much. I definitely related to the comment in the book of wishing your body could just take a month coma to turn off for a little bit. I imagine other readers with chronic illness/pain will come to this book with different perspectives, I highly recommend checking it out! It will serve well as both a window and a mirror I think. For someone experiencing chronic illness, it serves as a strong validation of the sometimes daily struggle just to keep being. And for someone on the outside, especially if they live with or know someone with chronic illness, I think it provides a look into how drastically different life with chronic illness can sometimes be.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Priya has moved all the way across the country from New Jersey to Stanford to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. But when she gets Lyme disease from a tick, everything is put on hold while she moves back home to deal with her chronic disease. She's in pain most of the time, but ends up finding solace in those with similar conditions online. One friend in particular, Brigid, she finds lives only about an hour away. So when Brigid disappears from the group online and stops answering texts, Priya steals the family car to go visit her. But what she finds isn't Brigid, but this enormous dog/wolf-like animal locked in the basement. She unknowingly let's it out, but manages to lock it in the bathroom. But when she calls animal control, all they find I the bathroom...is Brigid.

This was a fun story that also shed a light on how hard it is for people who have a chronic illness, but also the great friendships you can find if you're open to it. Definitely recommend!

[Shealea]

For your reference:
- Aparna's review
- Priyanka Taslim's thread

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this book sitting waiting to be read for a while now but finally when I got to it, I really enjoyed it! It had a lot of really good stuff in it. Not only was it really centered on people with chronic illnesses, it had the little bit extra with the werewolf in it. Parts of the story was done as a chat room. I really liked that, as I’ve always been a fan of stories told through emails, letters, instant messages, texts, etc. It was really interesting hearing the points of view from all different types illnesses.

While there were a lot of characters we knew just through the chat/discussion group, the family characters were awesome. And I loved Spencer! He was so funny! There was a point in the book where one of the characters was suffering from depression, but they told the rest that they hadn’t actually thought about killing themselves, but they had thoughts that they wished they were not alive anymore, that things would be better. That part hit home a lot. I’ve felt the same way. But because I never actually think about committing suicide, I never feel like it is that big of a deal to worry about. It definitely made me think a little. And I think that is something important for teens as well, if I as a grown-up didn’t feel it was that important, but I probably should have.

Definitely one I’ll be promoting and buying for my school library.

Review first published on Lisa Loves Literature.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Quirk Books for allowing me an ARC to review.

What a brilliant, unique take on a difficult subject. I learned so much from this book, not only about various chronic illnesses but also about coping with life when it gets hard. I loved Priya and Brigid, and as a chronic illness sufferer myself, though not as extreme as these cases, I could definitely empathise. This book is fascinating and heartwarming as well as exciting and there were some edge-of-your-seat moments which I didn’t expect! Really well researched and written. Just fantastic.

[Leah Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished the ARC! This book is perfect for those of us who loved The Fault in Our Stars but wish it was less sad and nobody died. It's the perfect combination of silly, heartwarming, and exciting. It is a celebration of platonic friendship in the digital age and an acknowledgement of how chronic illnesses affect even young people.

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here’s another American Dirt situation. A white author wrote a book featuring a Desi main character and of course, this book is full of racist stereotypes.

Please check out the own voices reviews of this book!

And miss me with the whole “I’ll read it for myself and make up my own mind”. If you’re not Desi, it’s not your lane.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very, very glad this book will be out in the world. More to come.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally published on Two Birds, One Blog on December 31, 2020: https://twobirds1blog.wordpress.com/2020/12/31/lycanthropy-recently-published-read-review-bookreview-arc-2/

I received this as an ARC from Quirk through NetGalley, and I am so glad I did. Immediately after finishing this book, I pre-ordered 3 copies. One for myself, one from my partner, and one for my chronically ill friend who is still in the midst of her fight for a diagnosis...and now I've just thought of a fourth person who I could get a copy for...on that note; here's my review:

I need to start off this review selfishly, this book made me feel seen. I’ll be 35 next month, but this book about 20 somethings spoke to my in a way a book hasn’t done in a long time. Anyone who knows me and my partner knows how much online communities have always and still mean to us, that’s how we met. The relationship between Priya and Brigid reminds me of her and I to the point that as I was reading this book I got to chapter 15 and the first paragraph was so on point that I immediately had to screenshot the page and send it to her.

"Sometimes you just know when you click with someone, when you realize the two of you were meant to find your way to each other. When they say something a little stupid when they introduce themselves, or make a joke about an obscure interest you have, too, or ask you a question so thoughtful it tilts the axis of your world, just a little. Sometimes you just look at someone in the moment and think, yes, they’re going to be important to me. They’re going to change the shape my life takes. We’re going to mean something to each other."
Kristen O’Neal, 2021

The world needs more representation of queerplatonic relationships. I want to thank the author (which I did, I DM’d her on Twitter) for shouting out her platonic life partner in the acknowledgements because the more people see these terms being used and these healthy and loving relationships described the more normal they become. Just because you meet a friend online doesn’t make them less of a real friend. Online friendship are just as important as those you make offline, and they can be life changing and life saving, as seen in this book. Like one of the characters, I went through a dark period in my late teens and early 20s and it was my online friendships, especially my relationship with my partner, that got me through it. So if you’ve ever had a friendship like that you’ll love this book. And if you’ve never had the experience of a relationship like that, then you need to read this book so that you can understand how powerful that experience is.

This book also made me realise that my PCOS is a chronic illness…I had never thought of it in those terms before and none of the other women I know who have it have either, but of course it is. Now I’m annoyed that it’s taken me this long to come to terms with that because society hates talking about anything that has to do with women’s reproductive systems, which also gets brought up in this book! For that reason, because of how GOOD this book is at talking about chronic illnesses, everyone should read this book. You can tell that O’Neal spent a lot of time talking to people and learning and reading to present accurate, sympathetic and compassionately humane portrayals of people with chronic illnesses. If you or someone you love is dealing with a chronic illness, this book can help you. If you’re not, or you don’t know someone who is then you need to read this book in order to humanize those who are. You’d think the inclusion of lycanthropy in there would kick it out of reality and make it a joke, but it does the exact opposite, it’s a little shot of magical realism that makes everything about all of the chronic illnesses that much more real and visceral.

This book was exactly the vibe I needed to end 2020 with, overall hopeful and uplifting. There are no magical fixes or happy endings here, there is reality that life is hard, but that you can get through anything with the right people in your life. That’s a lesson we all need to learn in 2021.

[Elysian Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lycanthropy and other Chronic Illnesses is a stunning story of well, lycanthropy and chronic illnesses, but also of people, love, hardships, friendships, and family. The story is beautifully told and highlights not only the isolation, feelings, and social issues that people living with chronic illnesses deal with, but also finding one’s place in life within the new and different world of illness.
I felt every moment of this story, not only did I feel seen and understood, but has also comforted me (it also made me want a support group this caring and wonderful to each other).

There are two distinct threads throughout this story: one of Priya and Brigid, their friendship and life with lycanthropy and one of the support group and dealing with more traditional chronic illnesses (and all the issues that implies). The way the author wove the two seemingly different issues together is stunning because they are really the same. The bond and friendship that all the characters within this story create for each other and themselves is breathtaking in and #lifegoals.

This is a very modern story with chats and internet speak and live links (how fun is that, that this story in interactive?) It makes this story come alive in a way where the reader feels a part of the support group. I was right there with the characters, feeling and hoping and supporting right along side them all. I loved the diversity in not only the characters but also the chronic illnesses.

I will admit as an older reader I did have to look up a few modern cultural references because they were out of my age range, but I think that it will be wonderful for the books main audience because it adds authenticity to the story. I did very much enjoy the literary references and the jokes added for lightness. One would not think of lycanthropy to lighten talk of chronic illnesses, but it works beautifully here.

This story deal with a profoundly serious and often heavy issue but it does it with grace, respect, and humor. I could not have loved this story more.

I have added it to my best of 2021 list and will be recommending this to all my friends, chronic illness sufferers or not.

This is a story for all. I would also encourage this as a discussion book for schools as it is both entertaining but also creates an amazing way to discuss important issues.

Here is the buy link to pre-order this amazing story!

https://www.amazon.com/Lycanthropy-Ot...

[Shae · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was sent this book from the publisher for promotion. All thoughts and opinions are not swayed because of this fact."
I want to start this review by saying that I can completely understand the criticism of the cover of this book, and how it may feel insensitive. I do hope that a cover change is in the future for this book. Please remember that publishers control covers, not authors. (Unless they are indie published typically)
Now, to the content inside the book. I honestly think this book did a lot of things right. At the core of this book, it's about a group of young people with various chronic illnesses having a Discord group together to help each other on bad days, or when they get bad news. I ADORED this aspect of the book. You see them discuss so many different facets of chronic illness, and in a way are educating those who are not ill how to be more sensitive to those who are.
The other plot we have going is that 2 online friends finally meet up because of this group. She goes silent, and has never been this silent. Priya, our main character, goes to find her and make sure she is safe, to discover her friend is a werewolf. There are shenanigans and things of course, but it's their friendship and companionship that is the main focus. They are both learning how to move forward.
I know that the author does have a chronic illness, and I think that shows well in the novel. They chose to have an Indian MC in Priya, even though they are white, so again, I can see why some may struggle with that. I want to say that this book isn't about her being Indian. It is about her and her chronic illness, so I don't think the author was trying to be insensitive. I do believe there should have been some more sensitivity reading to help with that.
All in all, I do think this book is worth picking up.

[Melissa Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: What if you never felt at home in your own body?

💭 Overall Thoughts:
Alright friends, this is the Breakfast Club meets Teen Wolf meets what the Red Band Society should have been.

My master’s thesis was on bibliotherapy and narrative medicine with adolescents with chronic and serious illnesses. When completing that project I read a TON of fiction books with characters with illnesses geared toward teenagers. I found a lot with serious illnesses (especially cancer— some done well, some not so much) but few with chronic illnesses. THIS is what I was looking for, and I was SO excited to read it.

This book is all about representation and validation of life with a chronic illness— but does so in a lighthearted way that I feel was still relatable to someone with an illness and those who have not experienced that life.

There is a definite metaphor of lycanthropy as a chronic illness that might bother some, but I feel like it’s valid. With a chronic illness you may feel like your body has been taken over, that you are no longer at home in your own skin— much like Brigid feels.

The book is also about the importance of support and camaraderie. It also touches a lot on adjusting to a new normal— how it can sometimes be a mixture of emotions— mourning, uncertainty, excitement, acceptance.

What I Liked:
👍 REPRESENTATION!! Diverse characters in terms of chronic illness and disability, race, sexual orientation, and gender.
👍 Character development and ability to connect to multiple characters

What I Didn’t Like:
👎 The support group was an online chat— and that format was a little difficult for me.

⚠️ Content Warnings: chronic illness, suicidal ideation