New Release! Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY
BALZER + BRAY/ HARPERCOLLINS, MARCH 18, 2014
CONTEMPORARY YOUNG ADULT

ISBN 13: 978-0062245359
Audio ISBN: 978-0062299888

What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?

Julie Murphy’s SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.

Excerpt:

Harvey laughed to himself in a sad way and rubbed his eyes. “You want me to help you with a list of things you won’t disclose to me.” He leaned forward and bit the skin around his thumb. “Classic.”

 “You won’t regret it.”

 “But—”

“Harvey,” I said, my voice low. “Trust me.”

 I knew what this looked like. It looked like I was using Harvey. But here was the reality of the situation: the minute my life went from semi-permanent to most likely temporary, I decided to latch on to everything in my world that had always been permanent, and for me, Harvey was so permanent he was concrete.

 Advance Praise for Side Effects May Vary:

“Julie Murphy weaves together a tender and funny tale of love, friendship, heartache, and redemption. SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY explodes with brutal honesty, brilliant wit, and unflinching heart.” - John Corey Whaley, winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for WHERE THINGS COME BACK

“Julie Murphy’s SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY is a funny, heartfelt, honest look at the beauty and the risk of getting a second chance. An inspiring novel about all the things worth living for. I adored this debut!” - Siobhan Vivian, author of THE LIST

“A funny and touching novel about a strong-willed heroine who finds facing death simple, but facing life heart-wrenchingly complicated. A real original.” - Jennifer Echols, author of GOING TOO FAR

‘Honest and unflinching, this is a compelling story of one teen's struggle with cancer, love, and living. A worthwhile addition.” – School Library Journal

“Readers will turn the last page wanting to know where the next chapter leads.” –Kirkus Review

"Alice and Harvey’s relationship is raw, honest, moving, and unapologetic in its depiction of their individual, and collective, pain." - Booklist

“A tale of unlikely romance, impossible obstacles, and mortality, this book is a must-read.” – Teen Vogue

“It's equal parts fun, cringe-worthy, and totally fearless!” – Seventeen Magazine

Side Effects May Vary is available for pre-order fromIndiebound, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.