It is always nice to be able to pick up a book and immediately identify with a character. Unfortunately, that’s not common when you have a chronic illness. Books on Terminal illness are a dime a dozen as they often make for a compelling, tear-jerking story. But, chronic illness stories don’t seem to be as popular.
Sure you could find book after book of self-help for chronic illness, but fiction books? Not so much. That’s why I have compiled a list of fiction books with a main character who live with chronic illness. Some of the books focus more on the illness itself, while other books the illness is merely a part of the character. Full disclosure, I haven’t read any of these books, but did my best to research and read reviews before adding a book to the shortlist.
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
By Elisabeth Tova Bailey
Chronic Illness: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
“Elisabeth Tova Bailey tells the inspiring and intimate story of her year-long encounter with a Neohelix albolabris—a common forest snail. While an illness keeps her bedridden, Bailey watches as the snail takes up residence on her nightstand. Intrigued by its molluscan anatomy, cryptic defenses, clear decision making ability, hydraulic locomotion, and mysterious courtship activities, Bailey becomes an astute and amused observer. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is a remarkable journey of survival and resilience, showing us how a small part of the natural world illuminates our own human existence.”
So Lucky
By Nicola Griffith
Chronic Illness: Multiple Sclerosis
“Mara Tagarelli is on top of her world. She’s the head of a multimillion-dollar AIDS foundation, an accomplished martial artist, and happily married. Then, in the space of a week, her wife leaves her, she is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and she loses her job. Mara has never met a problem she can’t solve—until suddenly she can’t solve any of them. Everything begins to feel like a threat. At first, she thinks it’s just her newfound sense of vulnerability. Then she realizes the threat of violence is real, deadly, and imminent. But how do you defend yourself when you can’t trust your own body? How do you face down danger when others believe you are helpless, yet you know monsters are coming? This will be a fight unlike any Mara has faced before.”
Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling
By Lucy Frank
Chronic Illness: Crohn’s Disease
“This novel-in-verse-at once literary and emotionally gripping–follows the unfolding friendship between two very different teenage girls who share a hospital room and an illness. Chess, the narrator, is sick, but with what exactly, she isn’t sure. And to make matters worse, she must share a hospital room with Shannon, her polar opposite. Where Chess is polite, Shannon is rude. Where Chess tolerates pain silently, Shannon screams bloody murder. Where Chess seems to be getting slowly better, Shannon seems to be getting worse. How these teenagers become friends, helping each other come to terms with their illness, makes for a dramatic and deeply moving read.”
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
By Talia Hibbert
Chronic Illness: Fibromyalgia
“Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?
- Enjoy a drunken night out.
- Ride a motorcycle.
- Go camping.
- Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
- Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
- And… do something bad.”
My Heart to Find
By Elin Annalise
Chronic Illness: Lyme Disease, OCD
“Avid crime-fiction-reader Cara Tate is twenty-five years old, shy, asexual, and desperate to find love. But there’s a problem: Cara’s chronic Lyme disease has caused brain inflammation and OCD that makes her afraid of anyone touching her. Plus, finding other aces isn’t easy–especially when there’s no guarantee of a connection. But there is one man Cara knows who is ace and whom she feels something for. One man who she might just be able to hug…or more. If she can summon the courage to defy the control of her OCD.”
Happy Reading!
