Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses

By: Kristen O'Neal

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Teen Wolf meets Emergency Contact in this sharply observed, hilarious, and heartwarming debut young adult novel about friendship and the hairy side of chronic illness. 

Priya worked hard to pursue her premed dreams at Stanford, but a diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease during her sophomore year sends her back to her loving but overbearing family in New Jersey - and leaves her wondering if she’ll ever be able to return to the way things were. Thankfully she has her online pen pal, Brigid, and the rest of the members of “oof ouch my bones”, a virtual support group that meets on Discord to crack jokes and vent about their own chronic illnesses. 

When Brigid suddenly goes offline, Priya does something out of character: she steals the family car and drives to Pennsylvania to check on Brigid. Priya isn’t sure what to expect, but it isn’t the horrifying creature that's shut in the basement. With Brigid nowhere to be found, Priya begins to puzzle together an impossible but obvious truth: The creature might be a werewolf - and the werewolf might be Brigid. As Brigid's unique condition worsens, their friendship will be deepened and challenged in unexpected ways, forcing them to reckon with their own ideas of what it means to be normal.

©2021 Kristen O'Neal (P)2021 Recorded Books

Everything I hoped it would be.

Wasn't sure if it would be purely an emotional perpective story with a background twist, or a full on Werewolf story with a unique angle. Turned out to be a great balance of both. Loved It.

Illuminating, engaging, ENTERTAINING!!

While I am older than the target reader I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and gaining insight into what goes on in the minds of young people dealing with chronic illnesses. As a father of 2 twenty somethings, this book has taught me to be a bit more patient and understanding of what my kids might be dealing with while educating me on the new social mores of Gen Z. The pace is good and the characters quite believable and likeable. If you lack empathy, you may find some, if you have it you will enjoy this story even more. A wonderful achievement for a debut novel.

A nice blend of contemporary + paranormal

I thought this book was a really unique mix of real life problems and fun paranormal adventures. It deals with serious issues revolving around chronic illness and pain, like emotional stability and all the different ways it can impact your life but the werewolf element adds humor and lightens the subject matter. The people in the online support group are all great. I love the way they helped each other, how caring they were and the discussions they had felt very realistic and familiar, coming from someone with chronic pain. I liked seeing the friendship grow between Priya and Brigid (and Spencer too). I do feel like Spencer and Priya,'s relationship should have developed past the friend stage. I definitely got a romantic vibe from them. This book is ultimately about learning how to deal with the major changes life throws at you and tying to accept your new reality and make the best out of your situation. The narrator did a fantastic job.