Gretchen Schreiber has written a beautiful story for readers to fall in love with. What a beautiful gem.

We follow along with Ellie's coming of age story, where we feel all of the angst and emotions that come along with thriving while living with a disability as a teenager. You can't help but fall in love with Ellie. The story is beautiful and heartfelt, and easy to immerse yourself in, so you feel those experiences alongside Ellie.

Easily a 5 star read for me, and I recommend to anyone who has a love for YA!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

At the beginning of Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal author Gretchen Schreiber has included a note explaining how Ellie’s medical story is based on her own experiences facing a mysterious illness.

She goes on to say “I made a vow to myself not to sugarcoat the hospital/medical experience…. That also means this book goes to some heavy places…. I know these things can be hard to read when you also have to deal with them in real life, so if you need to skip my book — that’s okay.”

It is advice readers should heed. As the sibling of someone who was sick my entire life, I also struggled reading Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal. There were times I had to walk away. Ultimately, I finished it, and I’m glad I did. It’s heavy and hard, empowering and beautiful. It’s honest and painful, too. You need to be in the right head space to read it.

At the heart of Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal is the theme of trust — trusting doctors to get things right; parents that they have your best interest at heart; friends who are going to be there for you no matter what; and yourself to do the same for others. Schreiber is thoughtful in her exploration of this and what “normal” really means. It’s a deeply personal book that stays with you long after completion.

The quick cut: A girl with a rare condition finds her school and hospital worlds colliding when she ends up in the hospital again.

A real review:
Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing the arc for an honest review.

Living with a disability can be difficult, but it's not the physical toll that can be the toughest part. Sometimes it's how others view or treat you differently that can be the worst. For Ellie, this is a reality she actively fights against.

Ellie Haycock is a girl with two separate worlds. In her school life, she's an average girl with amazing friends and a supportive boyfriend. In her hospital life, she's a girl with VACTERL and a mom whose blog has made her life public consumption. It's two worlds that have remained separate until she starts getting sick again and needs to have surgery. Is her life better in two separate pieces? Or should it remain combined instead?

There are pieces of this story I absolutely adore and thoroughly loathe. I'm a big believer in bringing unique stories to the table that allow others to get a view of what disability life truly looks like. Unfortunately, the main character Ellie ends up being hard to root for with how whiney and self centered she comes across as.

I never knew VACTERL as a condition that existed and reading this ARC made me want to learn more. It's when multiple parts of the body grow abnormally in the womb, including the vertebrae, anus, heart, trachea, esophagus, kidney and limbs. The cause is unknown and it's occurrence is sporadic, with many doctors theorizing it's a combination of genetics and environmental effects factors.

Due to her condition, Ellie has had multiple surgeries and hospital stays throughout her life. She hasn't had an easy go of it from the moment she was born, so it's understandable that she doesn't want to be known for her disability status. She wants to be able to be seen as a typical teenager and not her condition. It's a feeling I relate to so much.

So if Ellie's perspective is something I related to, then why the frustration? It took me some thinking but I figured out where the disconnect is: you read a lot about Ellie goes through and how she feels about. You never really hear about what's it's like from HER perspective though. Without really getting that needed component, it's hard to really 100% empathize with her.

I am happy this story told an important component of the disability journey though: the frustration we often have with the disability affected parents. I know they mean well, but often the ones who do the most advocacy are the ones who drown out our voices and perspective. Some of us want to share our experiences and others just want to live our lives unwatched. That choice of which to do should be ours alone. Not every parent reacts to that request well and seeing how that element works out in this story is very realistic.

A disability representation story that gets important elements of the experience right, but fails to create a likeable lead character.

My rating: 3.75 out of 5

Oh Ellie! This YA novel will capture your heart. Ellie's living with VATER, which puts her in the hospital and makes navigating her life more challenging than she would like, And her mom, her mom blogs about Ellie, which might be embarrassing for Ellie but helps her. This is a coming of age story and a relatable tale of a teen coping with a medical issue, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read for the YA crowd that will also be enjoyed as a cross over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for the eARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I liked this YA story but didn't love it. Shout out for representation of a disability. Also, the author does a good job of bringing Ellie's tribe to life. Her friends are the bomb. I also liked the subplot of her parent being a "mommy blogger" who reveals all on her website, which frustrates Ellie to no end.

However, even with these positives, Ellie is just not a likeable character. I'm not trying to discount or diminish her feelings, but her concerns felt more like whining. I also feel like the romance aspect of this book didn't work--no chemistry whatsoever. Also, so many topics were covered that overall, I felt the result was a watered-down attempt at a coming-of-age story.

Sadly, I only made it about 25% through.
I really tried to finish it because Ellie's story is engaging, and you can feel the author's emotions and passion pouring out of the pages, but I should have paid attention to the content warnings at the beginning. Schreiber mentions that she did her best to keep things as real as possible when it comes to the medical procedures and challenges Ellie faces because they're close to what she's experienced, and I admire her for that determination. However, she goes into detail on even the smallest thing, like taking a needle out of an arm, and it was too much for this poor reader who has passed out in several doctors' offices at the mere mention of a needle piercing the skin.
I tried skimming the parts that take part in the hospital, but it's almost the entire story and the most emotional and plot-relevant scenes take place there. By the fourth time I realized I had my head down and was trying hard not to pass out, I accepted that it was time to bow out.

Sorry to NetGalley and Wednesday Books who gave me an early copy in exchange for a review.

This one was just a smidge too jaded for me, it was so anti doctor and difficult to connect with. I just found this one to be too juvenile to follow along with.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this novel.

Ellie was born with a lot of physical challenges and has had countless surgeries during her young life. As a teenager, she tries to live her life as normally as possible, with a starring role on the debate team and a boyfriend. She tries to compartmentalize her life - normal Ellie doesn't talk about her illnesses, and hospital Ellie doesn't talk about her normal life that much. Ellie does not like her two worlds to mix. ]

When a persistent cough forces her into the hospital for tests, she discovers a group of friends who are insistent that she needs to open up, both for a say in her medical treatment but also in her personal life. Her friend Caitlin has a social media account about her life as a patient. Ellie's mom runs a popular blog where she shares (too much) about Ellie's illnesses. They also meet some new young hospital patients, including Ryan, who is new to being sick and has a Doctors Cure All attitude which he tries to bring Ellie into.

Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal but Grentchn Schreiber is an interesting book about growing up with chronic illnesses. I can't imagine having so many physical limitations in your every day life, and she does a good job at portraying one girl's viewpoint. Her personality is trying at times, but I think ultimately the story is effective.

There is nothing I love more than a coming of age story, and this one in particular was incredibly special. Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal focuses on Ellie - a teenager with VACTERLs - and delves into all facets of her life in and out of the hospital. I am grateful for the light that Gretchen Schreiber shed on VACTERLs and thought that the themes of autonomy and how disabilities impact one’s relationships were beautifully written.

Ellie and her friends (the self-proclaimed Tumor Squad) had the ragtag, found family vibes that I can’t get enough of in literature. The group scenes were by far my favorite and I enjoyed the banter between the characters. Their different backgrounds and stances heightened each exchange and felt realistic to teenagers today. The relationship between Ellie and her mom was quite intricate as well and there were many intense emotional sequences that showcased the complexities behind each of their decisions.

Ellie’s overall cynicism was a bit grating at times but she was dealing with circumstances beyond the norm, all while discovering who she is as a young woman. I wish there had been an additional chapter or two towards the end that displayed how her point of view shifted, but all in all the entire book left me feeling hopeful and inspired.

Thank you to Wednesday Books, St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ellie wants more than anything to be seen as normal. She has put great effort into proving to her classmates that she can do anything they can do. However, her physical appearance and multiple corrective surgery suggest otherwise. Add to that, her Mom regularly posts updates about her latest treatments or just life in general as a means to give to & receive support from other families dealing with similar conditions. As a result of her surgeries, she has made some hospital friends who get her in ways her school friends don’t. Can the two groups co-exist, or will she have to choose? Can she take control of her narrative or will she be trapped by her Mom’s words in her blog? Can anyone ever be totally normal, and would they want to be?
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest review.

This was a stunning read with great disability representation. It's YA, but tackled difficult topic with such care and skill. Ellie's group of "hospital" friends was such a beautiful representation of true friendship that fights for you no matter what, and their stories were all very well done, especially for being background stories. I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to read this and engage with Ellie's story, and learn about a new disability.

The disclaimer at the beginning of the book was also wonderful, more books should include these.

I listened to this on audio, and the narrator did a wonderful job! It had great pacing and the story really came to life!

This will be one I recommend to our local teachers to use in their classrooms for reading and discussion. Many opportunities for expanding out and having some great conversations. Nice peak inside the life of persons with this condition, and even better because it was written from someone who has experienced it first hand. Brings real world to the readers.

DNF - Just not the book for me. Could see it appealing to a younger audience. I love the premise, just couldn't get into it.

This is an awesome coming of age YA book, we have Ellie, who is living with a very unique disability, and she’s literally living 2 lives, one where she’s a normal teen and the other as a hospital teen. She never mixes the 2 or the two types of friends, this time she goes back to the hospital and there is now something else that has to be fixed, and she’s going through it. But this time her home life and hospital life come together and she doesn’t know how to handle it.

I love how throughout the book she has her hospital friends who are so supportive, there for her, and also how funny they are especially with their cancers, or disabilities. I loved also how her friends put her in place and show her that she does have to worry about people leaving her behind or judging her, her disability doesn’t define her.

This book was so enlightening, and very inspirational, what she goes through, what her family has gone through, what they do for the community, and these group of friends of hers were everything I needed and didn’t know it.

Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I think this storyline will give readers a lot to think about and connect with. I thought the author did a great job taking us on a coming of age journey as the FMC juggles balancing a Chronic Illness with the everyday challenges of growing up.

Overall "Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal" was an enjoyable read. I think that fans of Contemporary and YA Romance are really going to enjoy this story.

Thank you Gretchen Schreiber, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

As a person who lives with disabilities, I was hoping this was going to be a 5-star read for me. However, I kept getting really annoyed by the mom. If my mom talked in great detail about my surgeries and put pictures of me in the hospital online, I would be livid. (Although I have consiered doing some disability advocacy work on social media -- but I also probably wouldn't post pictures of me in the hospital). I felt sorry for Ellie. I thought it would be good to read books about characters with disabilities, but it's also possible it just hit too close to home. With that being said, this book in no way is a bad book. It is actually quite an enjoyable read. However, the mom really just turned me off. With that being said, I know how Ellie feels so I loved her as a character, and I also loved the romance (it reminded me of The Fault in Our Stars). It might be also important to note that I am 25, which is several years older than the character of Ellie. With that being said, I would consider reading other books by Gretchen Schreiber in the future.

if the mom hadn't been so high maintanence, this would've been a 5 star read for me.
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A beautifully written story about a rare disability and the many hospitalizations of Ellie Haycock and how it impacts Ellie's ability to life a typical ordinary teenage life.

The writing is blunt and honest showing the ugliness of life with a disability. It also is poignant as Ellie bonds with another character, also familiar with life in and out of hospitals.

Overall, I enjoyed the writing and the overall story. Ellie is a brave character and I felt for her so many times.

Thank you to netgalley and author Gretchen Schreiber for allowing me to read and rate this book.
Imagine being born with VATERs * Syndrome. Spending more than half your life in and out of hospitals having had hundreds of surgeries by the time you are able to drive. Welcome to Ellie Haycock’s life. Ellie likes to keep her life life: with best friend and boyfriend and her hospital life: with besties Caitlin and Luis separate. The only people who are allowed cross the imaginary line are her parents. Until Jack, (her boyfriend) decided to visit her in the hospital and finds out how serious her condition is and runs for the hills. The story follows Ellie in her quest to get better sooner so she can go to a party in her life life and get Jack back. Along the way we learn how the kids deal with the hand that has been dealt them and how to carry on. In the teen years where parents are the bad guys and the friends you thought were friends let you down it’s great to know that there’s always your tribe if you just open yourself up to them.
4⭐️ read for me.
*VATER’s is short for VACTERL (vertebrate, anus, heart, trachea, esophagus, kidney and limbs). The condition happens when organs and parts do not full form in the womb.
1 out of every 10k-40k babies are affected. With corrective surgeries and meds patients can live a full long life.

What a delight of a debut novel! I absolutely adored getting to know Ellie and her friends - both from home and the hospital. I loved getting to watch Ellie take charge of her life and her body, and really enjoyed the growth she experienced throughout. Also, the friendships! I loved seeing the friends go through everything they did together, supporting and encouraging each other through every up and down. Gretchen's writing was so accessible and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal Is a decent debut novel. I will be honest and say I'm giving a bit more favorable rating simply for the content and subject matter. Diversity and representation in books, especially children and young adult novels, is so important and critical. Being able to read about main characters that we can identify with is critical to self esteem, providing validation and support. And at the same time breaking down negativr stereotypes and creating compassion. Gretchen Schreiber brings to life a character with a disability, in particular VATER syndrome. You can tell Schreiber put her heart into this book. I just wished I enjoyed it more. Main character, Ellie was tough to like and therefore tough to root for. This book touched on a lot of different topics, spreading the plot thin and creating underdeveloped storylines. For example, Ellie has a huge chip on her shoulder basically the whole novel, there is mention of being let down in past by friends and this is the cause.. but the reader never fully understands what transpired so Ellie comes across as a petulant toddler when it comes to her friendships.

As I said a decent debut, with a much needed story to tell. I think Gretchen Schreiber has the potential to knock our socks off with her next one and I'll be looking for it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.