This was a very quick and easy read. I can see it being relatable for its target audience and beyond. Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal will definitely make the reader laugh and smile and feel a plethora of emotions. It really captures how it feels to grow up and going through those awkward and hard parts of growing pains whilst finding yourself.

I enjoyed this book and the message it delivered. It certainly put into perspective and opens the eyes to the emotions a sick child and their parents go through, all while still trying to navigate being a teenager in high school. I thought the characters were intelligent, compassionate and heartbreaking. They were so well written they sucked you in and kept you reading their stories, cheering for their health and well being.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Ellie and really enjoyed reading about her. I enjoyed seeing her interactions with the people in the house with her and her family. I liked seeing her grow and learn. I enjoyed seeing her begin to trust and actually open up.

"Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal" by Gretchen Schreiber is a poignant and honest exploration of a teenager navigating life with a chronic illness. The story follows Ellie, a high school student who separates her life into "normal" and "hospital" worlds, as she struggles to balance her passions like debate team with frequent hospital stays.

Schreiber's writing is raw and unflinching, drawing from her own experiences with a mysterious illness. The novel tackles heavy themes like medical gaslighting, the strain on family relationships, and learning to trust doctors and oneself again. Ellie's relationships with her mother and new friends at the hospital, including a romantic interest named Ryan, are portrayed with depth and authenticity.

While the subject matter is heavy, Schreiber avoids sugarcoating the realities of chronic illness. She includes a note at the beginning advising readers that the book "goes to some heavy places" and that it's okay to skip it if needed. The ending is thoughtful and impactful, focusing on the importance of trust and redefining what "normal" means.

"Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal" will resonate with readers looking for an honest, character-driven story about illness, friendship, and growing up. Schreiber's debut novel is a promising start, and her personal connection to the subject matter lends the story an extra layer of authenticity and heart.

I really really enjoyed this book! My library system has it in the running for our Mock Morris award, it's just that good! It talks about chronic illness in a way that makes it easier to understand if you're unfamiliar with any of the illnesses mentioned. The relationships between the characters is fun and funny, and sad at times. It was interesting to see the effect of social media on a kid, especially since we see a lot of small children being filed by their parents these days, so it really makes you think. To be honest, I sometimes struggled to read about the more medical parts, but that's just me. I think it's necessary for those parts to be included. I also loved hearing about the author's connection to these characters and the experiences that informed this book. I think it's an important book, and I think it's a good book. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC!

I found this to be very well written and the characters completely believable. I thought the medical stuff was explained well and presented in a manner that didn't make it bigger than what it was but showed how it affected her daily life.

Great YA coming of age debut about a girl who just wants to be a normal teenager. This story is full of heart and has a sweet enemies to lovers romance. Ellie’s mom is such a relatable character too. You want Ellie to have privacy and autonomy of the information shared but her mom is looking for support and a way to cope with her daughter’s health issues.

Such a good story that brings awareness to differences amongst eachother! i throughly enjoyed reading this book and can’t recommend it enough to people!

I really appreciated this novel. The main character felt so authentic. I've seen a few reviews saying oh she complains about X or X too much. Have you MET a teenager? I know we've certainly all been one. And the emotions she feels and the way she processes as she experiences different situations arising in her life are exactly how I'd imagine one reacting. Through wonderfully written words I felt her pain, her embarrassment, her frustration and her joy. I highly recommend reading this one.

While I enjoyed some aspects of this book as a disabled woman myself, the main character was hard for me to like, and it really took away from the story.

As someone with a family member with childhood cancer, I greatly appreciated the story this book told. I thought it was very thought out and enjoyed the character development of the MC. She was navigating illness, school and friends, and not many stories share these stories that are important. great read!

Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal is a heartwarming and poignant adult novel that masterfully explores the journey of growing up. The characters are portrayed with such depth and authenticity that they almost leap off the page as real individuals.

The narrative spotlights Ellie's friendships within the hospital setting, where she and her peers are navigating their own challenges. These relationships are depicted with a rich tapestry of compassion and understanding, enriching the story with layers of heartfelt interactions.

While the book features a romantic subplot, it smartly focuses more on Ellie's personal development. Watching her learn to accept help and support from those around her adds a powerful layer to her story, highlighting the strength found in vulnerability.

This novel entertains and resonates deeply, reminding us of the incredible value of steadfast friends who stand by us through life's rollercoaster moments. It's a celebration of friendship and self-discovery that leaves a lasting impression.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the eARC!

This was a good book that I think many young readers would enjoy! Also, I can see this being adapted into a movie, maybe a series. I enjoyed the depth that the author incorporated into this story.

I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved Ellie, and all of her friends. Make sure to read the author’s note at the beginning of the novel - it adds another layer to the story. I appreciated the grit, honesty and respect this novel was written with. I think it would be a great read for all teens and parents.

I found the premise intriguing, but the medical discussions and medical gaslighting were just a little too much for me, sorry!

Book Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gretchen Schreiber was inspired to write, Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal, when she noticed a gaping hole in literature. In an effort to create a character that both she and others could identify with, she used her medical journey as a jumping off point. While this is not an autobiographical story, her first hand accounts provide readers with a unique look into a teenager struggling to be taken seriously by medical professionals, well-meaning family members, and society as a whole.

Yes, there have been a handful of recent YA books chronicling teens navigating life, love, and medical illnesses. Some of the more popular ones have even been turned into movies (6 Feet Apart and The Fault in our Stars). However, none of them have been written by an author who has lived it. Schrieber’s first hand experience made for an eye opening read.

Ellie is not your ideal protagonist. I often found myself annoyed or upset with her choices. In her effort to suppress her expectations she blames hospitals and doctors for not being able to cure her. In addition she compartmentalizes her life into two categories: ‘life-life’ and ‘hospital-life’, never wanting to mix the two. This results in her cutting people out when they step over one of her boundaries. This form of self-sabotage was both heartbreaking and infuriating. But if I am being honest with myself I would probably handle things the same way.

While I usually prefer a HEA, I loved how Schrieber chose to close this story. Ellie’s friendships and relationship with her mother was perfectly handled. This was a terrific debut novel that brought much needed awareness to the book community. I look forward to following Schrieber’s career.

Special thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Gretchen Scrieber for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I think this had a lot of potential and will resonate with some but I don’t think it worked for me! Ellie was super jaded and it was hard to read about some times. I didn’t really buy the romance and I was beyond frustrated by the mom. I would definitely read another book by this author!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was such a heartwarming story! The story follows a young lady with a disability throu ought her daily struggles. As someone with chronic illness and disabilities I could definitely relate. The author did a wonderful job!

📖My Thoughts📖

Sometimes you find yourself reading a book that you can really relate to, but from the other side of the fence. While reading said book, you are able to see things from a completely different perspective. This was one of those books. While it was hard to read at times, it opened my eyes to a lot of things, but I also felt a huge connection to Ellie. See, I work in healthcare. I have for over half of my life actually. I started out as a caregiver in a group home. From a caretaker, to an LNA and now a surgical technologist. Not only have I been the caregiver, but I’ve also been the patient myself. While my times as the patient weren’t the same as Ellie, it allowed me get a better idea of what other patients experience. I think the author did an amazing job portraying all the emotions that someone goes through while going through this. I know that she stated that this story is very similar to her own, but sometimes it’s difficult to put things into words. The writing was raw and filled with emotion, allowing the reader to get a better understanding of all that encompasses being a patient. I think the pacing was perfect and the writing was very descriptive and very articulated. While it’s a very heavy story, it’s definitely worth reading.
Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Gretchen Schreiber for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This was a fun young adult romance novel! I loved the story in this book! The main characters disability felt very realistic and I loved getting to explore a disease I didn't know very much about before reading this book. The main character herself was hard for me to connect to than some of the secondary characters like her friends. I also struggled a lot with feeling the romance between the characters. Overall though it was a fun read that explored a topic I wasn't previously familiar with. Definitely recommend if you enjoy ya romance novels with disabilities representation in them.