Harvey loves Alice and she strings him along for much of the book. Love Story – Alice and Harvey grew up together since their parents are best friends. Alice and Harvey don’t have the best communication so being in their heads allow us to see where they’re coming from.ĥ. He Said, She Said – In addition to the now and then story structure, Side Effects features dual perspective, with Alice and Harvey (her long-suffering friend/love interest) taking alternate chapters.

Time jumps between now and then, introducing pieces of the puzzle to put together throughout the book.Ĥ. Time (Clock of the Heart) – Side Effects has a “Now” and “Then” device, that illustrates where we are now (cancer remission), and how we got there with then (living with cancer, bucket list). But personally I thought Alice’s character made this book a chore to read at times.ģ. I don’t mind flawed characters and I appreciate the unconventional approach Murphy takes with Alice’s character- she makes a cancer patient unsympathetic. She uses her cancer bucket list as a way to exact revenge on her jerk of an ex (Luke) and her adversary (Celeste) that stole him. Petulant Protagonist – Much of your reading experience will depend on how you react to Alice as a character. What happens when you’re supposed to die, and you even complete your bucket list, but you beat the odds and survive? How do you live with the decisions you made when you thought you were dying?Ģ. What’s the Story? – Julie Murphy’s debut Side Effects May Vary is an unconventional cancer book, with an unpleasant protagonist. Reading Experiences May Vary: the lowdown on Side Effects May Varyġ. Also available in hardcover, 336 pages from Balzer & Bray Read by: Cassandra Campbell, Kirby Heyborne.

Book: Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy, Harper Audio, March 2014īook Info: Audiobook purchased from Audible. Running time: 9 hrs, 16 mins.