Side Effects May Vary

I picked up this book because I LOVED Dumplin'. I was excited to read another fun, flowing, powerful story by Julie Murphy. And maybe it's because she was still finding her voice, or maybe this was just the exact novel she wanted to write, but I didn't find what I was looking for in it. I found this book really disappointing in a few ways. The premise is that Alice has cancer. Alice is dying and she basically wants to complete her bucket list with the help of her childhood friend, Harvey. But then she goes in remission, so now what?

The first thing I didn't really understand or enjoy was the fact that her entire bucket list was just a list of revengeful acts. Alice wanted to get back at people that had wronged her instead of enjoying the little time she thought she had left. I didn't find this entirely realistic. I cannot claim to know what it feels like to have an expiration date, thankfully. So I don't know. Whatever.

To go along with that thought, I found Alice to be exceptionally selfish, bratty, and just a mean girl. Honestly, she used her best friend, played with his feelings, and tried to ruin multiple people's lives knowingly. She's a spoiled, mean girl and I don't feel she gets any redemption at all.

The last two pages saved this book for me. Harvey's character seemed real to me. He had a personality and a backstory that I felt was believable. The ending that he got was redeeming of the entire book, although I do have reservations. But I'm brushing them aside because I like Julie Murphy.

Would I recommend this book?
Put this book down and go read Dumplin' instead.