Gamar ❤ 's Reviews > Sick Kids in Love

I know but once you get the idea of it , it all kind of starts to come together . Its not a list of rules to memorise , its just a mindset

I put off writing this review for a while because I had so much to say and no idea how to write it , hoping that one day the words would come to me . Just so you know , they didn't really but leaving this pending and gatekeeping the book did not sit well with me . Simply put , its absolutely refreshing and wrecking at the same time.

"Yes , you either have to be overcoming it or completely disconnected from it . God forbid it be an important part of your identity that you're just living with . Why is that ?"

"Its because they cant imagine it"

What I loved most about this book was most definitely the representation . We got to take a sneak peak into the lives of not one but TWO comfortably chronically ill main characters . It was really an eye and mind opening experience that i could take little lessons from as they shared their thoughts and feelings in an understandable and unapologetic manner . I could certainly appreciate the bluntness of their words since it came out sounding firm . It was really important for me to see and read this not only because we should all be aware and understanding but also because i have a chronically ill younger sister . I want to be there for her as she grows up with it , i want her to be able to relate and see herself in a book , to be understood and comfortable with herself . maybe this book will be one of those and hopefully this helps me be one of those people . I have Reading on wheels to thank for the rec ( Thank you so much , truly <3) . so be sure to check out her #ownvoices review i think she says it a lot better than i did .

Not only did we get disability/illness rep but it also incorporated jewish characters and faith , it made me realize i hadn't seen that a lot and encouraged me to search for more books with that inclusion .It was still relatable in the way that most minority groups are , I think we can all agree that fox news' depictions are BAD NEWS .

"Hang out with me instead . I'll be out of here . We can go somewhere . Well get hot chocolate !"
I roll the die in my hand , I think its my turn . " I don't date"
"Good" he says. "You don't wanna be the kind of person who blows your friends off for a date".
Im smiling , i cant help it ."Okay its not a date"

Ibby- She could be quite relatable with the way she over thinks , she had her flaws she wasn't always nice- bitchy/brattiness could pop up( blew things out of proportion or just itching for a fight) , it annoyed me sometimes but she was still a good character nonetheless and did make sense. Her creativity and the problems she struggled with including her sense of self made the story even deeper and more realistic . She was just REAL is all i can say . Unfiltered and imperfect and conflicted and that just hit DEEP .

"Im not being mean , you're the one who's trying to argue me into missing work , like your going to find some loophole and all of a sudden I agree with you that , you're right , i don't actually have to keep up my commitments , Im so stupid , if only i had a boy here the whole time to show me how i was actually ... what , hurting the medical process by being around to pick up the slack?"

"Yeah my dad doesn't actually come every time i get enzyme replacement"
"Thats too bad"
"I understand if that a deal breaker in our friendship , if thats something u look for in a guy"
"Shut up" , I say

Sasha- THE CUTEST .He's basically the comedian so of course we love him. Dorky and easygoing with his snarky comments from the very beginning . He was quite relatable too but boy did he surprised me with his hidden depths , u get em !

"This is how you learn things , yknow? by gathering opinions . I don't know how you learn anything"
"Books" , he says

Just giving u another reason to love Deckler :)HELL YA , BOOKS!

Their relationship- These two FOUGHT ok? it wasn't just smooth sailing throughout . They disagreed but they would WORK THROUGH IT .Thats right , it wasn't the annoying conflict or miscommunication thats kept to add some drama , this actually HELPED . It showed how they grew and put effort in their relationship . They had to understand and empathise , had to voice their opinions and learn each other because that person was important , because they were worth it .

"You don't have to get it" Im standing up now . I don't know when i stood up ." You just have to listen to me when i tell you something is important to me"

so then later.....

"Im sorry" , he says . "You were right and Im gonna do better . Ill listen more . Ill stop trying to make you blow things off . Ill stop you know . Acting like Im heartless . Im not heartless
"Sasha , I know you're not"

I didn't ask him to change . I didn't ask him to apologize. He just shows up and says hell be different . Its sweet and its thoughtful

prepare yourself: ...and i wouldn't do it for him
*sputters* WHAT?! yeah so obv it wasn't always gonna be like that . Ibby ( that bitchy part) wasn't willing to do the same for him . honestly it makes me wanna re-evaluate their whole relationship . maybe too much fighting ? idk . so here comes the unnecessary drama : she cant be with him bcz she's unsure of herself and since all the women in her family were like these terrible partners or something , so is she . This was pissing off . A relationship needs effort from BOTH sides and her side was not giving enough . Don't quote me on this tho , Im no expert on relationships . i guess she kinda rights i tho?

Sahsa also tell her when she's in the wrong ( such as with her mom) and eventually she does listen again . OMG i loved when Sasha called her out on her BS but damn if i didn't feel it too

"Honey Im sorry , but you don't...you don't make shit!"
"what?"
"You dont decide anything without asking everyone you can find .I still don't know if wed even be together right now if most of the people you asked hadn't said yes . I never know how you actually feel about anything because you're too busy over-thinking everything to death. how do you feel? what do u actually want?ppl commit"

*cricket chirps*
*gulps*👀
don't look at me y'all . I could cry from the relatability

The friendships:

"I thought he might like being flirted with . I thought maybe it didn't happen to him very often . sue me for trying to do something nice

Jessica- abort ,abort. OMG CAN WE ? CAN WE SUE HER ?! coz i would love that .literal trash . she needs to de dumped both as a friend and in a freaking dumpster where she belongs!

Maura- <<<<<33333
This was the most wholesome friendship . I mean sometimes it felt as if they weren't close enough but once their friendship was put to the test they rose over the hurdles and obstacles in a way that gave best relationship vibes . An understanding relationship that pushed the both of them.

"Being sick is not a bad thing" , I say. "And you guys don't get that . You will never get that" ( tone that list bit down babe)
"Okay " , She says "Maybe we'll never get that. But also...have you really given us a chance to?"
"I've had RA for nine years"
"Yeah , you have and you've wanted to talk about it for what , the last 2 months? Its a pretty quick adjustment . If id asked you a year ago , Im pretty sure you'd say being sick was a bad thing . You used to say you didn't want to talk about it. we've been nest friends for years . You cant just not even give me a shot to get on board with this whole new thing you're doing . I want to be on board . You're the one who changed , and Im happy about it for you , but you're the one who changed , not me . you cant just drop me for not changing when you didn't tell me i was supposed to . I deserve better than that Ibby ."
"Okay", i say . "You're right. Im sorry"
"Okay , lets talk it out"

Idk if y'all are seeing a pattern but clearly talking things out , admitting to mistakes , being understanding and growing is something i really value, its important and something Im working on . wow we decided to just share this time. It was nice to see and relatable.

The writing was a contemporary style so it was relatively easy to get into . the articles were such a fun touch to the story , with really interesting and thoughtful answers as well as amusing ones . The persons character was so distinct from their tone and way of speech. If you're wondering wether there was a sad ending , not to spoil but there isn't . I liked that it wasn't some over the top happy ending , more of a realistic 'Im comfortably happy but still working on myself/it' kind of ending . the hopeful type where theres more to come and makes u smile :)satisfactory