This book was so fun to listen to. I loved the narration so much. I will definitely be picking up other works by this author in the future.

The Breakfast Club meets Five Feet Apart in this big-hearted novel from debut author Gretchen Schreiber.


Thank you Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for sending me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was reading this book and I decided to DNF it at 63%. This book is written from the perspective of Ellie Haycock and I don’t like her. I don’t want to spend any more time inside her head.

"Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal" by Gretchen Schreiber is a delightful and relatable coming-of-age novel that captures the trials and tribulations of adolescence with humor and authenticity. The story follows Ellie, a high school student navigating the ups and downs of teenage life, including friendships, crushes, and the pressures of fitting in.

Schreiber's writing is engaging and sharp, filled with witty dialogue and relatable scenarios that resonate with readers of all ages. Ellie is a wonderfully crafted protagonist, and her journey of self-discovery is both heartwarming and entertaining. Through her experiences, Schreiber explores themes of identity, belonging, and the importance of embracing one’s uniqueness.

The secondary characters are also well-developed, each contributing to the richness of Ellie’s world. Their interactions add depth to the narrative, showcasing the complexities of friendships and the challenges of growing up. The humor is both light and poignant, striking a perfect balance that keeps the story enjoyable while also addressing the more serious aspects of adolescence.

Overall, "Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal" is a charming and insightful read that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the pressure to conform. Gretchen Schreiber has crafted a delightful story that captures the essence of being a teenager, making it a must-read for young adults and anyone looking for a nostalgic reflection on their own teenage years. This novel is a celebration of individuality and the beauty of embracing who you truly are!

What a great coming-of-age story, that felt so relatable!

Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal captured the essence of being a teen, from the ups and downs of learning who you are, navigating friendship and young love, and gaining independence. Ellie isr eady to live her life, but is compromised due to chronic illness. It was refreshing to have a disability rep in Ellie, who was such a great character, and an overall heartfelt story.

I paired the book with audio, and really enjoyed the narration!

*many thanks to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Ellie Haycock has two lives: the one at the hospital and the one at home. Keeping the two parts of her life separate has always worked for her, but this time things are different. With a new group of friends at the hospital, can Ellie let them into her life in a real way? Can she do the same with her friends from home? Will Ellie continue to allow her mother to write about their lives?

Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal had promise, but the whole novel just becomes a story about teenage angst. The audio version of the novel is well narrated by Natalie Naudus, who gives Ellie life. The story is better performed, in my opinion. I could see this book become a teenage movie of the week, as I feel that Ellie is mainly relatable to her target audience. Though Ellie has limitations and medical issues, she is, at her core, a young woman who wants to have a normal life. She wants her hospital life to stay away from her regular life, so that Ellie can feel like a regular teenager. Teens often have issues with how they see themselves and I feel that they will be able to understand Ellie as a result.

Overall, though I found that the story did not live up to the premise, Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal would have an audience in the teen set. The audio version of the book would be the one I would recommend, as the narrator made the story come to life.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Audio Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to review this book was entirely my own.

Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal by Gretchen Schreiber is a delightful and relatable coming-of-age novel that captures the trials and triumphs of adolescence with humor and sensitivity. The story follows Ellie Haycock, a high school student navigating the ups and downs of teenage life, from friendship and romance to self-discovery and family dynamics.

Schreiber’s writing is engaging and authentic, making Ellie’s journey feel both genuine and captivating. The characters are well-drawn, and Ellie’s voice is refreshingly honest and endearing. The novel skillfully balances humor and emotional depth, capturing the essence of what it means to grow up and find one’s place in the world.

While the storyline might follow some familiar coming-of-age tropes, it does so with a unique charm and a fresh perspective that makes it stand out. The pacing is solid, and the resolution feels satisfying and true to the characters’ development.

Overall, Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal is a heartfelt and enjoyable read that will resonate with anyone who has ever navigated the complexities of being a teenager. It’s a great choice for readers looking for a book that combines humor, heart, and a touch of nostalgia.

Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal by Gretchen Schreiber

Ellie Haylock is Totally Normal is a ya story of a teenage girl suffering from chronic medical problems that wants to just be normal. Elly is a typical teenager. She loves spending time with her friends and has a boyfriend. But when she gets sick again, you discover that parts of her life is anything but typical.

I loved the way the author portrayed the characters as regular kids, dealing with problems the way kids do. While their problems are much bigger than just who likes who, at the end of the day, they were just teenagers. Ellie tried to keep the two sides of her world come together, but this latest illness has made them collide. I enjoyed the characters. The author did a great job creating a wonderful group of characters that you love. This book definitely shines a light into parts of chronic illness that most people don’t know about. This book will make you go through a range of emotions.

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator Natalie Naudus.

Yes. Just yes. This book discusses difficult topics but is still full of heart and love. It’s relatable and sweet, eye opening and remarkable. A fantastic read.

I loved that this book had a disability rep, there aren’t that many books out there like this one and I loved it. The message bet was wonderful. My heart really went out for Ellie. I absolutely loved seeing her sanding up for herself. The narrator did a great job and really enjoyed her.

Disability representation has been lacking in the publishing world for so long so I was so excited to dive into Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal. A story about a girl who doesn't want to be a poster child for inspiration, I can relate to Ellie in so many ways as a childhood cancer survivor. I really enjoyed Gretchen Schreiber's choice to write the rough and raw edges as Ellie comforts peer conflicts, complex and difficult medical decisions, bodily autonomy and family drama. A must read!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC. I thought narrator Natalie Naudus did a fabulous job at expressing the emotions of the characters in the story.

This book had to get me at the right time - I tried a few times but when it was finally the right time, I loved this book and how it spoke to the parent/child relationship, patient/doctor relationships, finding autonomy, who has permission to do different things and the culture that is hospital living. It was a look from the side of a patient or person with a persistent health issue how words, phrases, and actions intended to be harmless and helpful to someone who is well or able-bodied can do harm and/or show ignorance but also how much it means to have someone reach into that world. It was a lovely look at relationships and how they can be bonded, broken and repaired.

#netgalley
#elliehaycockistotallynormal

There's been an increase, recently, in books about characters with chronic illnesses. These books show us "sick" kids who are realistic and complex. They don't soldier bravely through and teach us a lesson about strength and dignity or whatever. They're kids. Ellie, in this book, is in many ways a normal teen. She cares about what her peers think. She wants to ignore distasteful things. She's self-centered and stubborn. She's also atypical. Her history informs her view of everything she encounters. Being chronically ill changes everything in her life. And that's the central struggle here, finding a balance between these two views. She isn't always a likable character but that's okay. It's very human. While the plot is predictable the characters and their interactions are dynamic enough to make for compelling reading.

Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal is a quick YA read (or listen, as I did). The audiobook starts off with an author's note stating that this story is based on her own life story. Having that kind of knowledge going into this book allowed me a different perspective as I began. Ellie is living with a disability and has spent nearly her whole life in the hospital, going to appoitments or in surgery.
As a teenager, she is ready to live her own life her own way. And to do that, she thinks she needs to keep her school/home life separate from her hospital life. Meaning, her school friends have zero idea about her extensive medical history and she wants to keep it that way. While I feel for her and her desire to be a "normal" kid, it's hard to feel sorry for her because she's incredibly stubborn and sometimes really mean to the people who want to get to know her better.
However, knowing how this runs close to the author's life, it's easier to sympathize and understand the course of events. It can't be easy when you are seen as different and it was a great prespective to allow the ability for more understanding.

I really enjoyed this book as someone who also struggles with chronic illnesses in a daily basis. I love watching as Ellie started a shy meek young girl and blossom into herself and become a beautiful young woman. It was such a sweet moving story about Ellie finding her place in the world.

I really felt for Ellie, and I liked the story that was told using the medical diagnoses she'd been dealing with as a child and her sanding up for herself. I felt for the mom and ultimately I liked how the story played out.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal.

I obviously started this book with a little bias toward liking our main character Ellie- having the kinship of sharing a first name. But as I read on, I just fell in love with her. Like many that have read this book I am a woman with several chronic illnesses (nothing to the degree of Ellie though). Watching her grow into a strong young woman over the course of this book felt so special. The Ellie we start with tends on more shy, just trying to survive to get back to her school friends and boyfriend who she has largely kept separate from this part (the sick part) of her life.

Ellie also struggles with her mother and her blog which details every little thing that Ellie goes through medically for the entire world to see, which makes Ellie feel almost like a character in her own story. This seems like a very timely subplot as the number of mommy bloggers, instagram and YouTube influences have blown up- showing the reverse uno of how it feels to have a mother detailing their life on the internet and how it affects relationships within the family structure.

Like all teens and adults, there comes a time in your life where you start to realize that some of your friends are significantly better friends to you than others. When Ellie's two separate worlds collide, she starts making some observations on how her friends treat others and what type of people she cares to surround herself with and make her feel better, rather than worse.

The chronic illness medical side also cannot be ignored in this book. Schreiber did an excellent job with the ins and out of what it is like to have a chronic illness, as she has the one which Ellie struggles with in this book. Ellie's medical struggles are in fact largely based on what Schreiber herself has gone through. This book definitely provides a voice to those experiencing serious illnesses, especially those which are invisible.

This book was a 10 out of 10 for me. I loved every second of it.

As for the narrator (I received the audiobook version), Natalie Naudus did an excellent job. I felt like her voice perfectly matched Ellie's personality. I will definitely be looking into more books narrated by her.

5 stars for making me sob 😭 and then making me smile 😊
This book definitely deals with some heavy topics regarding health, chronic illness and disability. It’s also a coming of age story about a girl who just wants to be normal. There are fights with friends and family and then making up with friends and family. Overall, it was a great story.

This was a great YA story that introduces us to Ellie Haycock, who is a medically complex kid. As an occupational therapist myself, I’m always on the look out for books that my pediatric clients or their parents may relate to or give them something of value. I also enjoy reading things that may give me a new perspective. I enjoyed this quick read, also available on audio (5 stars for the narrator who made this an engaging audiobook). The story was a little redundant at times and you felt like the main character and her mom were having the same argument and that it was teenage things that happened. As an adult reading it, it was still a valuable and good read. As a teen reading it, I think would be even better! I give props to the author for taking her own experience and turning it into something wonderful other kids can turn to as a comfort to know they aren’t alone! All that being said it’s a fun, cute story with a medically complex main character that spends time in the hospital and in school. She has friend groups in both places and has to navigate a world in which dealing with medical issues is the norm. 4 stars! Well worth reading and a fun and engaging writing style!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC copy of the audiobook in exchange for my review!

Ellie Haycock was born with a litany of genetic abnormalities that have necessitated regular stays at the children's hospital for treatments. She wants to keep her "normal" life and her "medically fragile" lives separate, and largely ghosts the friends in whichever group she isn't with at the time. Ellie has to learn that she cannot separate the two parts of her life - that it is one big whole. She also needs to confront her mother's constant and invasive blogging about her medical journey and the affect on her privacy.

This was a moving glimpse into the life of kids who consistently require medical interventions, their treatment by their peers, the support system of kids in a similar position, and their hopes for a normal life. It was told with both optimism and realism about the devastating toll on the kids and their families.

Natalie Naudus was chef's kiss perfection as always.

This was a cute but also sad coming into her own story. As a fairly healthy person, it is nice to see more stories of those who suffer from chronic conditions in mainstream books. And to the characters be written as fully-fleshed out humans (as they are in real-life) as opposed to their illness/disability being their only "personality" trait. I love that Ellie could get through to her mother about how much her blog was hurting her and her mother actually listened! My favorite part of this whole book was that her friends were not going to allow Ellie to hide half of herself and they were not going to be left behind in some misguided attempt to protect them.