9780062299888
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Side Effects May Vary audiobook

  • By: Julie Murphy
  • Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
  • Length: 9 hours 16 minutes
  • Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  • Publish date: March 18, 2014
  • Language: English
  • (12114 ratings)
(12114 ratings)
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Side Effects May Vary Audiobook Summary

The first book from Julie Murphy, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’now a Netflix feature film starring Danielle Macdonald and Jennifer Aniston, with a soundtrack by Dolly Parton!

For fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell comes this powerful novel about a girl with cancer who creates a take-no-prisoners bucket list that sets off a war at school–only to discover she’s gone into remission.

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs. So she convinces her best friend, Harvey, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge as it is about hope.

But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission, and now she must face the consequences of all she’s said and done.

Contemporary realistic fiction readers who love romantic stories featuring strong heroines will find much to savor in this standout debut.

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Side Effects May Vary Audiobook Narrator

Cassandra Campbell is the narrator of Side Effects May Vary audiobook that was written by Julie Murphy

Julie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her, her dog who adores her, and her cats who tolerate her. After several wonderful years in the library world, Julie now writes full-time. When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure. She is also the author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. You can visit Julie at www.juliemurphywrites.com.

About the Author(s) of Side Effects May Vary

Julie Murphy is the author of Side Effects May Vary

Side Effects May Vary Full Details

Narrator Cassandra Campbell
Length 9 hours 16 minutes
Author Julie Murphy
Publisher Balzer + Bray
Release date March 18, 2014
ISBN 9780062299888

Additional info

The publisher of the Side Effects May Vary is Balzer + Bray. The imprint is Balzer + Bray. It is supplied by Balzer + Bray. The ISBN-13 is 9780062299888.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Stacy

August 30, 2015

Julie Murphy, she has ruined me.People, this book is the type of book that makes you question your enthusiasm for the other books you've read, because this book is everything - voice, pacing, wit, characterizations, the infinite moments of memories, the ending. This non-linear book reminds me one of my favorite reads, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Not that the story is the same, it's that the feel of the story is the same. That both Alice and Arnold Spirit are learning to live with their present self - no matter what that present self is. And this learning, the journey that took Alice (& Arnold in TATDPTI) down an unfamiliar road will have you laughing, crying, offering hugs of support and waggling your eyebrows in dismay.Also, I'm starting the official #TeamHarvey and #TeamAlicecampaign. They are everything. And more.

Chelsea ✨Arielle’s Nebular Ally and Team Acrux✨

September 04, 2015

Karma was a bitch, but so was I. Once upon a time, there was a girl. This girl grew up with her best friend, her partner in crime, and they were inseparable. She was the ring-leader, and he'd follow her anywhere. He'd do anything for her, because he had fallen madly in love with her. They

Whitney

April 30, 2014

It literally took me like 3 minutes to snap out of this book's setting once i finished it*feels**hand gestures* *lays down*--- (old)I met the author at a book signing and she was completely awesome- I can't wait until this comes out!

Jeramey

August 31, 2013

Beautiful. Really, just beautiful. Side Effects May Vary is witty and raw and heartfelt, and above all, brutally, wonderfully honest. It's one of those books that creates a world and characters so engrossing that you feel like they become a part of you, and that you have a vested interest in their lives. You fall into the world of Alice and Harvey so completely that when you come up for air you realize it's 3am and you only meant to read a chapter or two before going to sleep. It'll leave you thinking about it for days afterward. I'm actually kind of bummed because I read this as a borrowed ARC (mailed across the state to me--it's that kind of book that makes you want to send it off to other people immediately after you finish it) because I'm the kind of reader who likes to underline and mark up passages I liked or found interesting or were just damned good writing. And I found myself wanting to do that over and over again here. I can't wait for this book to be released so I can share it with other people.

Jessica

July 25, 2013

I was lucky enough to read Side Effects early on and watch it grow, evolve, and basically burrow itself inside my heart.With subtle yet haunting prose, Julie Murphy weaves a non-linear tale about a dying girl named Alice and her childhood friend, Harvey, who can’t seem to let her go. Alice is the unlikable girl you can’t help but love. When Alice learns she has a second chance at life, she must confront those she wronged when it seemed her days were running out. As the novel progresses, we slowly learn why Alice wasn’t the let’s-go-to-Disneyland type of cancer patient. Alice is somehow the novel's protagonist as well as her own antagonist—a feat only a writer as skilled as Julie Murphy could master.Harvey—sweet, charming, sensitive Harvey—is hands down, the most realistic teenage boy I’ve ever had the privilege to read. My heart aches for him, skips for him, and sometimes bleeds for him. His love for Alice is so raw and deep, you find yourself rooting for their relationship even though Alice isn’t always so deserving of his love.As the layered past of Alice and Harvey is uncovered, you’ll be swept into their dizzying, sometimes volatile, and always beautiful relationship.This is a book about cancer that manages to not be a “cancer book.” It’s a book about second chances, the harsh realities of high school relationships, and the ever-evolving childhood friendship that defines Alice and almost destroys Harvey.

Britney

May 22, 2015

Absolutely loved this! Harvey is the best book boyfriend I have read this year. Alice rips my heart out just as she ripped Harvey's to shreds. Beautiful writing (I seriously wanted to quote a line from every other page) with characters that jump off the page. A must read!

Ashleigh

January 11, 2014

Read as digital ARC. This book, man...You're going to have to surrender a small chunk of your life to reading it and then another chunk of your life to sorting out your feelings about it. Julie's captured something really authentic here, and it might rip you apart a little bit. Basically, Alice doesn't know what she's doing, and I think that's something all of us can relate to. Sometimes she makes bad decisions, and you'll want to grab her by the shoulders and give her a shake. Sometimes she's some sort of criminal mastermind, and you'll want to give her a high-five and compliment her on her originality. But mostly you'll get sucked in, thinking about how love and health can change your priorities, plans and general outlook. It's the good stuff.

Chelsea

August 31, 2015

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would! I'm even more excited for Dumplin' after reading this. Weeeeee!

Jen

July 28, 2013

MYEYEBALLSAREBROKEN! Are there more than 5 stars to give? Loved loved loved. (more thoughtful review with proper vocab tk)

Snotchocheez

January 06, 2015

3.5 starsFor those of you that weren't exactly bowled over by John Green's The Fault in Our Stars (or if you were like me and enjoyed it but thought the dialogue was way too precious and unconvincingly age-appropriate), Julie Murphy's debut effort Side Effects May Vary just might provide a refreshing alternative.Yeah, it's another YA cancer story; the afflictee in question, Alice, a sophomore at Hughley High, was for a time an aspiring ballet dancer before she got sick with leukemia. Her loving boyfriend Harvey stood beside her every step of the way as her cancer progressed and her chemotherapy wracked her body. Then, amazingly, the leukemia went into remission and when Alice gets a new lease on life, she, somewhat predictably, turns into Queen Megabitch and turns her back on her long faithful boyfriend and others who love her.As you night surmise, Alice is (at least on the surface) completely unlikable (or at least her actions certainly are). In a way, it becomes something other than the stereotypical ailing teen drama and becomes more Harvey's unrequited love story. As Irritating as Alice gets, though, she still stays in the reader's sympathy, to an extent (I found myself rooting more for poor Harvey than her, anyway.) The dialogue was consistently fresh and believable, free from John Green's occasionally groan-worthy cutesiness. As this is Ms. Murphy's first novel, it's not perfect, but she kept me 'in it to the very end. Quite a promising debut.

Drew

July 12, 2017

This goes to show that authors can really surprise you.I read that Side Effects May Vary was about cancer, romance, and revenge, and grabbed it as quickly as I could off the library shelf. Then I saw the author's name on the cover and thought, "Oh great." The only other book I've read by Julie Murphy was Dumplin', which was one of my least favorite reads of 2015. But holy guacamole - I'm so glad I gave this a try.There's something I think people need to know about this book: it has an extremely unlikeable narrator. The main character, Alice, is one of the most cold-hearted people I've ever read about. And I say that as gleefully as possible while sitting here rubbing my hands together. Make no mistake, Alice is a horrible human being who did unforgivable things. I absolutely loathed her. But it was so much fun to hate her.What would you do if you were diagnosed with leukemia and only had a short while to live? Would you cherish the last few months with your friends and family - or would you wreck havoc on those who ruined your life and seek destructive, blood-thirsty revenge? After getting diagnosed with life-threatening cancer, Alice creates a list to get back at everyone who has ever hurt her.I know I probably sound like I sadist, but I loved how manipulative Alice was. Once I accepted the fact that she was a callous, lying, terrible person, I enjoyed this book so much more. Watching her get revenge on old rivalries and ex-boyfriends was like watching a train wreck. It was fascinating and awful and impossible to look away. But Alice's character was also realistic - she was humanized and so complex at the same time as we were forced to hate her. “I’d always heard that when you truly love someone, you’re happy for them as long they’re happy. But that’s a lie. That’s higher-road bullshit. If you love someone so much, why the hell would you be happy to see them with anyone else? I didn’t want the easy kind of love. I wanted the crazy love, the kind of love that created and destroyed all at the same time.” I loved how Side Effects May Vary pulled all kinds of emotions out of me: I felt pity for Alice when she got diagnosed with cancer, but was horrified by her cold actions. Alice was the kind of the girl who got cancer and used it to her advantage. The kind of girl who knew she could get away with something, so she did it. The kind that pushed her parents away, kept secrets, lied, and manipulated the only boy who kept on loving her, even after he'd seen how ugly she was inside.This was such a nasty little book that I couldn't put down. I had a serious love/hate relationship with Alice and it was so satisfying to see her get what she deserved in the end. This is how you do revenge stories. “You care for me?” My jaw twitched. “Alice, I—I care about our principal, and my boss, and the lady at the donut shop who gives me extra donut holes. But I love you,” I spat. “And you know what that feels like? It’s like a f*cking cheese grater against my heart.”

Kassidy

September 07, 2014

*3.5*This is a book about cancer, but it's about a girl who goes into remission. She is so used to the idea of dying that she does not know how to deal with living. This is a very raw and real book.The main character, Alice, is so annoying, mean, and manipulative. I got very aggravated with her many times. She is such a flawed character, but it made this a very real story. The other main character, Harvey, was annoying as well because he let Alice stomp all over him.However, by the end the characters went through so much, and there was some great character development and I'm really happy with the way it ended. I wish there was resolution sooner, though.The writing style is really nice and easy to read. There were also some great messages.I did overall enjoy this book, and the characters had their good moments.Although, the characters got to be very aggravating, I think this is a very unique, and possibly relatable, way to tell a story of a girl with cancer.

Gabi

July 14, 2013

I loved this so, so much. Harvey is absolutely amazing and Alice is so human and raw. Fabulous characters and beautiful writing. So excellent!

starryeyedjen

February 28, 2014

An advance copy was provided for review by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.WARNING: Side Effects May Vary may cause severe emotional distress. While reading this novel, you may experience the temptation to throw the book in a fit of frustration. You may also suffer from extreme mood swings, sighing contentedly one moment while screaming your outrage the next. Please consult a physician if these symptoms persist after you turn the last page of the novel.Julie Murphy isn't pulling any punches with her debut novel. If her intention was to make her readers feel all the things, then I say she has more than succeeded with Side Effects May Vary. Alice is diagnosed with leukemia and spends the next year wreaking havoc on the lives of those who've wronged her over the last few years as she waits for her time to run out. But miracle of miracles, she goes into remission...and then she has to answer for everything she's done over the last year: to those she's wounded but also to Harvey, the best friend who stood by her and helped her complete her bucket list of revenge.Harvey's always been there for Alice, harboring a crush of epic proportions. She uses and abuses the poor guy, and for years, he's allowed it with little complaint, hoping that one day she might return his feelings. But when Al's diagnosed with cancer, everything changes between them. Told in alternating perspectives -- through her eyes and his -- during the year of her diagnosis and then after her remission, this story recounts the progression of Alice and Harvey's relationship and how it got to the point that it's at now. And if you're anything like me, it is going to drive you nuts, the back-and-forth between these two, but it is so worth the pain to see it through to the end.It's not just about relationship drama, though that is a driving force in this novel. It's about having your life handed back to you -- after being told that you had an expiration date that was drawing nearer -- and the psychological toll that can have on a person. It's about revenge and making amends and taking risks. This story was as crushing as it was complicated, but it was also heartfelt and genuine. I tried to keep in mind what all Alice had been through and how that might change a person, and that helped me avoid writing her character off completely, even when she probably deserved it.Harvey, though...Harvey was the saving grace of this novel. He started out as this lovelorn puppy dog when we first meet him, but everything that has happened to Alice has taken a toll on him, as well, and I'm glad that although he finally grew a pair and made some demands of his own, he still remained that sweet, hopeful boy. I loved the emotional impact of this novel as much as I did the romantic aspects.I am so ecstatic to report that this book turned out even better than I'd hoped. It is rife with the feels, but don't expect a TFiOS meltdown. Many readers will find Alice completely unlikable, eliciting feelings of rage as opposed to the deep sadness that Hazel Graze evoked. But I think the unflappable Harvey will more than make up for it. And if you give Al a chance, you just might find yourself empathizing with her, too.GIF it to me straight:

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