Hannah Moskowitz

An ALA Sydney Taylor Award Honoree A Junior Library Guild Selection Isabel has one rule: no dating. It’s easier— It’s safer— It’s better— —for the other person. She’s got issues. She’s got secrets. She’s got rheumatoid arthritis. But then she meets another sick kid. He’s got a chronic illness Isabel’s never heard of, something she can’t even pronounce. He understands what it means to be sick. He understands her more than her healthy friends. He understands her more than her own father who’s a doctor. He’s gorgeous, fun, and foul-mouthed. And totally into her. Isabel has one rule: no dating. It’s complicated— It’s dangerous— It’s never felt better— —to consider breaking that rule for him.

Sick Kids In Love

Cara Johnson

Really enjoyed this book. I loved how compassionate Sasha was and how Isabel slowly realised that she doesn’t have to please everyone all the time, she realised it wasn’t realistic to live that way. This is a beautifully written book that portrays a realistic teen romance in a way that isn’t overly sexual. The portrayal of invisible illness was in my opinion really very very good. Over all fabulous book that was an easy read

Sven Test

When I read the title for this book, I was expecting something terrible to happen, like in TFIOS, but thankfully, that wasn't the case. The titles applies: it's just sick kids.

Isabel has RA (rheumatoid arthritis). And she thinks because of this, she shouldn't date (there're more reasons, but I don't want to spoil this for you). So when she meets Sasha, who has Gaucher disease, she states she won't date. At the same time, she loves that she finally has a friend who understands what it's like to be sick, since all of her other friends are healthy and don't get her.

I enjoyed this story a lot. I definitely learned a lot while reading this, especially on "invisible" illnesses. Isabel and Sasha are totally right that society doesn't want to classify them as sick because they're not dying, but they are still sick. They still have to deal with more struggles than the healthy human being. Society doesn't want you to identify/call yourself sick and I agree. It's sad, though, because we don't notice how these people are coping with life and trying to be "healthy" just so society doesn't tell them, "It's in your head," or "At least you're not dying."

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

Sasha's family showed that it's okay be candid about your illness without thinking someone is overstepping. This wasn't the case with Isabel and her dad. It's like she had to walk on eggshells around him when it came to her RA, especially since her dad is a doctor. I'm glad Isabel got to see that contrast because it became the gateway for her to start being accepting that she was sick and to slowly be more candid about it.

There was one issue in this novel that I wished had been addressed and it had to do with Isabel's mom. I feel like it was left in the air for the reader's imagination, but it would have been so lovely to see that issue being resolved and coming together.

The romance was absolutely beautiful. One of my personal favorite scenes was when Sasha decides to read Isabel's favorite book and then he proceeds to write an entire book report for her on it. I mean, if that's not boyfriend goals, I don't know what is. 

Something that I personally loved about this novel was the romance. Even though Isabel and Sasha weren't officially dating, the feelings and sparks were there. What I loved was the fact that this book showed the pretty and the ugly of a teen relationship. It wasn't just, "Girl and boy meet, it's all pink and rainbows, one minor argument, happy ending." No. It definitely went deep in their relationship. 

I rarely read a YA novel where the couple has been together for 5 months already and still struggling with certain aspects of themselves. In this case, the author gave the nitty-gritty that would normally happen in a relationship, as well as between a couple where both are sick and all that they have to deal with. It was an eye-opener and totally refreshing to see this happening in YA because the teens need to see it's never perfect and that way their expectations can get lowered and be more realistic.

Sick Kids in Love is a sweet, enlightening, realistic story that will tug at your heart-strings and make you fall in love with the story, especially with Sasha. It will have you wanting to learn more about "invisible" illness and how you can be a better person in understanding these.

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so sweet and wholesome and sasha my beloved

aoife

really loved how casual the representation was in this book!!! the characters all felt so real and alive and just v fleshed out! like, i could imagine meeting these people and talking to them and just them existing....ngl though the narrator annoyed me a little (a lot) buuuuut overall an incredible book!! hoping for a spin-off sequel type thing about my fave lesbians siobhan and luna

Flavia Louise

The humor and relationships are amazing in this book and I really ended up loving it.

Candyce Kirk

I read a lot of emotional books and when I first saw this title, I'll be the first to admit I was afraid. That was the case until I saw the tagline "They don't die in this one.". I needed that, because even though I knew they were sick, my heart wasn't going to be ripped into pieces. I have to say even though that's the case, Sick Kids in Love was still a very emotional story.

Our two main characters both have chronic illnesses. Isabel has rheumatoid arthritis and Sasha has Gaucher Disease. What I loved is that the author really talked about those illnesses head on. Yes, they are still both able to do a lot of things, but it also showed us the harder side of these illnesses and the struggles. Sasha getting sick can land him in the hospital and isn't invisible. Isabel's illness is invisible. On the outside there's nothing to see and I can't imagine having to explain that to people.

Isabel is such a strong character though and I adored her as a main character. She looks healthy when she can be in excruciating pain. Her friends make this harder by asking her to do things that will leave her in pain days after. Part of Isabel wants to be "normal", but the other side needs to be able to say no. She just needs to hear that she's going through something and it's not nothing. All of this while being a teenager isn't easy. Isabel tries to do the best she can with the hand she's been dealt.

The romance in this story was really cute. I loved how they met and it slowly grew into more. It didn't feel like the instalove a lot of stories get, but more of a meet-cute that slowly develops. Also, hats off to the author for not having their relationship be perfect. Between their illnesses and just being teenagers, not everything goes smoothly and we got to see those moments. To me that made the moments of the communicating and trying even more special. I loved them together! 

There were a lot of heartwarming moments in this story, but also moments I just wanted to hug both characters. Even though I'm grateful I can't relate to having this struggle, I think it's important books like this are published with disabilities and chronic illnesses. I'm happy I read Sick Kids and Love and really hope we see more and more books like this are published in the future!

This was honestly so refreshing. It wasn’t your typical love story. It was fun and quirky and the characters were so well developed by the end even with it only being 300 pages. The writing was a bit wordy at times but besides that, I thought it was a super cute read!

Anna Agarwal

Alice

Tiffany Engler

I'm lowering my rating of this book due to what's come to light about this author during these times!

Jelke Olila

Kate

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. 

I will be writing somewhat of a review for it when I get my thoughts more in order but for now just know that I ADORED THIS SO VERY MUCH AND YOU NEED TO READ IT NOW THANK YOU.

Sick Kids In Love

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