i thought this was really cute. i loved that we not only got chronic illness representation, but also autism representation! this felt very nostalgic to when I was in school and I love when books can do that. this felt very much like high school to me!! i loved that it did touch on some more serious topics but also was heartwarming at the same time!

well written story describing the angst of teenage girls and the trauma they go through by being different. Definitely enjoyed the story and laughed out loud at parts of the story. Delores struggles after an embarrassing event at school to get her life back on track and meet new people. A great book for kids who have experienced bullying or embarrassing events and need a little perspective on their lives.

I really enjoyed this book about a person with IC. I learned a lot about the condition, but even moreso, I learned a lot about someone who has chronic pain, and the realization that the pain is never going away. This book crossed a lot of intersections as well, and the representation all felt organic and natural. Some people complained about the lack of resolution in a couple of storylines--but that worked really well for me. Life isn't always tied up in a bow, and I felt the ending reflected that very well. I enjoyed the brother-sister relationship, the love of family, and the idea that not everything is what it seems. I think the book did very well with that theme.

Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Dutton Books for Young Readers for a free eARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion. As someone with an invisible and incurable illness, Chronically Dolores made me feel seen. The main character, Dolores, is a teen who struggling with a friend breakup, a public embarrassment, and a chronic illness. The author gives us a believable and relatable character who deals with her illness with humor all while mourning the loss of her old life.

This is an excellent YA or teen novel about what it’s like to live with a chronic medical condition or on the autism spectrum. Dolores, our protagonist, defines herself by the painful bladder condition interstitial cystitis, and blames the betrayal by her best friend, as well as the absence of any other friends on her condition. Until she meets Terpischore, a girl with autism. Somehow this unlikely pair forge a bond that shows the reader that being an outsider, in a host of ways, doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you; an important lesson for young women in middle and high school in these fraught times where it seems like belonging is the key to happiness.

Characters are great, their slings and arrows of outrageous fortune beautifully captured, the multiple storylines are wonderfully woven together. Highly recommended.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

This was a cute read! it's a coming of age story for our protagonist Dolores. Throughout the book you see not only her but her family and friend's mature and move on to the next stage of their lives. She navigates life with the diagnosis of IC and goes through the ups and down of what teenage friendships tend to be.

overall a quick, easy read that was a little quirky! Idk if it was just me but i felt like the 14 year olds that hadn't even started high school felt a little more mature than i would have liked.


ARC provided by netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A realistic middle grade novel that could help many kids out there! Our main character has interstitial cystitis, and her friendships have suffered due to an embarrassing moment caused by her condition. Funny and relatable, this book will be a must read for any kids with chronic conditions.

I really loved this Chronically Delores. The writing style was spectacular and it was a brilliant idea to weave in the conversations with Dolores & the priest to bring the story really together. I very much loved reading about the relationships Dolores has in this book between her family as well as her friend Terpsichore. Terpsichore is a character I particularly enjoyed reading about and related to. I also related a lot to Dolores especially as I have similar medical issues and experiences to her (as well as her experiences with making and breaking up with friends). This book was really relatable, fun, and well written. I’ve enjoyed all of Maya Van Wagenen’s novels and can’t wait to see what she writes next. In the meantime, I urge everyone to pick up Chronically Dolores. It will be a decision you won’t regret.

This was one of the more relatable YA books I've read. The characters' emotions and issues took me back a bit. I liked the way the book handled neurodivergence and chronic illness in an age appropriate way.

I liked the characters and found the overall story realistic, which was refreshing. There's a lot of humor and heart in this one.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

This was a coming of age book that many middle readers will enjoy. Dolores has a medical condition that she originally sees as having a large impact on her life. As she grows into herself with the help of family and friends, she sees the bigger picture.

I liked this contemporary YA novel and the #OwnVoices aspects, but I had a couple of issues with it. I wrote about the book on The Storygraph and Goodreads and shared links to a few social media sites. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6325102470

Chronically Dolores by Maya Van Wagenen is a captivating and humorous coming-of-age tale that offers a realistic glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of adolescence. With insightful storytelling and witty humor, Van Wagenen skillfully navigates the complexities of growing up, making this novel a must-read for readers of all ages.

This was a sweet read that I think many pre-teens and teens can relate to, regardless of whether or not they have a chronic illness. I felt the pacing of this book was a little slow and wished the characters were a bit more developed, but overall enjoyed reading Dolores' story and seeing the world through her eyes. The mix of themes of this book casts a net for a wider audience, and I would definitely recommend this one to my students so they feel a little more seen and a little less alone. Thanks for this ARC!

Dolores has a chronic disease, for which there is no cure. It means she is often in pain, and has to go pee a lot. And the worst part is that last year, she had a pee accident, where she slipped on pee, because she wasn’t fast enough, and gave herself a concussion. She thinks if she can just get her best friend to talk to her again, that it won’t matter if she is the laughing stock of her class.

But her old friend wants nothing to do with her.

And then she meets Terpsichore, an autistic teen, who wants to be a clothing designer for broadway shows. Only her mother wants to keep her homeschooled, and not have her be bullied.

The author is also autistic, as well as having the same chronic disease as the main character, so she knows from where she writes. I did like how naturally Terpsichore is with dealing with social interactions. Sounds very familiar.

I also like the interaction Dolores has with a local priest in a confessional. She basically goes there because she heard it is a way to talk to someone without having to see them, and they will give you advice. She was not brought up religious.

Lots of other stuff going on in the story, but I thought it was well written, and gave both points of view of how friendships can change, and how we often don’t see what others see.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published ont he 26th of March 2024.

This one was kinda lukewarm for me. I, as an anxious being, would love to have access to the bathroom rating and description binder that Dolores creates. And Terpsichore's creativity was fun to see.

The other characters felt a little too stereotypical and flat, especially the dramatic helicopter mother. And it was tough to figure out exactly what was happening with the "cut scenes" and Dolores' imaginings rewriting her reality.

This book is what I wish I had as a teenager with chronic illnesses! I didn’t learn to semi-appreciate myself and my strength until I was in my mid to late 30s. Looks like this really helped change that narrative! It was very well written, and I really enjoyed all of the characters. They gave me the courage to live more authentically, and be grateful with the life that I have. More of this, please! More books with characters that have different chronic illnesses. I think that would really help people, especially younger ones like my daughter. Kudos on a fantastic story!

I came across this book in a NetGalley email (ie I got an ARC), and immediately became intrigued with the title. I am a chronically ill Girlie, say less. I am also self diagnosed autistic, and when I saw that, I was sold even more.

I enjoyed this story. it got me in my messy disability feelings.

There is something so beautiful about finding the people who understand and love you even when its not convenient. When you don't feel the need to shrink yourself or hide things about your needs. There is a scene where Dolores is worried about sleeping over at Terpsichore's house, and shes worried she will get up too many times at night. the immediate reassurance that its okay.

the fact she rates bathrooms. A nice nod to bathroom maps! thats a thing people do. Dolores doesnt know it yet, but she is coming to the same realizations as people before her. the community before the community!

<spoiler> I don't know if this technically counts as a spoiler, but I had recently came across a post, linked from Ruti Regans Blog, link here: https://davehingsburger.blogspot.com/2011/01/old-man-and-see.html . The TLDR is that disabled people, including disabled kids, have the right to do things, even when it upsets other people. That is a huge part in Terpsichore's story line and growth. I think that it is an incredibly important lesson for disabled youth to learn, and I am really happy it was acknowledged and talked about, especially in the ending scenes.
</spoiler>

Overall, I really liked this book, and the author knows her shit about disability culture, and especially about finding disabled joy <3

I haven’t read a YA book in awhile, but I really enjoyed this one. Initially, I wanted to read it to see if it was something my daughter would enjoy (I think she would in a few years when she’s older/closer to being a teenager). As an autistic mom with of an autistic daughter, I was curious to see how autism would be portrayed in this book. While it can look differently for each person, I found this book to accurately depict our experiences with both autism and chronic illness. This is a book I wish I would have had as a young teenager to feel like I wasn’t so alone.

I would note that LGBTQ themes are present in this book. Nothing graphic, but knowing that some parents choose to avoid books with that, I wanted to share since I wasn’t aware from the summary of the book.

Thanks NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC- this was a fun read and all views expressed are my own.

Quirky characters dealing with social problems. Witty and delicate handling of issues. Though I wouldn't actually teach it in class would recommend to my students.

Thank you Netgalley and Dutton Brooks / Penguin Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Maya Van Wagenen's "Chronically Dolores" offers a relatable glimpse into the lives of two young girls navigating the complexities of friendship, health, and self-discovery. Dolores Mendoza, grappling with a chronic bladder condition, finds solace and companionship in Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones, a homeschooled girl with autism. Together, they embark on a journey of healing and growth, facing challenges and forging a deep bond along the way. Before going into this book, I had never heard of interstitial cystitis, and I was definitely able to learn more about this condition through the story. Because the story is from Dolores’s POV, there isn’t a super in-depth look into the condition, but I thought the descriptions were well-developed and vivid to allow the reader to better understand both the condition and Dolores herself.

The book excels in its portrayal of complex and authentic characters. Dolores and Terpsichore are both multifaceted and relatable, each struggling with their own set of challenges and insecurities. If you are a teen reader or remember the complicated life of being a 14-year-old who may have had a public humiliation moment in school (who hasn’t?), then you will definitely relate to Dolores and her experiences. Van Wagenen deftly explores the nuances of their friendship, capturing the joy, humor, and stresses that arise as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence. This is definitely a younger YA book, which works as Dolores is just about to enter high school; I might even classify this book as a MG novel as well. The characters felt realistic, like they were actual teenagers, as well as their thoughts/experiences. When Dolores would imagine certain events like they were from Spanish soap operas felt like something I would have done when I was younger.

I really enjoyed the exploration of disability and neurodiversity. Through Dolores and Terpsichore's experiences, Van Wagenen sheds light on the unique challenges faced by individuals living with chronic illnesses and autism, really showing that there is no “magical cure” to chronic pain. The book offers a sensitive and insightful portrayal of these issues, creating feelings of empathy and understanding among readers.

I will say that Dolores's unreliable narration takes a little getting used to with certain recollections she has of past events. As stated earlier, she likes to imagine events as if they’re from soap operas, which means that she sometimes embellishes what actually happened. This sometimes made me confused as to what was actually going on in the novel, especially with the perspectives of the other characters. While the story is a bit limited with just Dolores’s POV, it also adds an intriguing layer of complexity, inviting you to question the truth behind her recollections and motivations.

Overall, "Chronically Dolores" strikes a delicate balance between lighthearted humor and reflection as one begins to grow up and move on, making it an engaging read for young adult audiences. While touching on serious themes such as chronic illness and family stressors, the book maintains a sense of optimism and resilience that left me feeling satisfied with the ending.