Having been chronically ill, this book was a no brainer for me. It really captures what it's like to fall into "the Pit" of illness and how isolating it can be, as well as how complex its causes can be. Especially in quotes like this one, "One of the flipsides of an illness that destabilizes reality is that you get to time-travel. While you are stuck, nothing is in the past."

There is a lot to unravel here, and I will admit I found the book a bit hard to get into. At the beginning most of Vita's interactions are with her fish, Whitney Houston and the ghost of Luigi Da Porto (cited as the original author of Romeo and Juliette). However, once Vita begins her relationship with the neighbors upstairs, the book finds its footing and picks up steam.

I would have liked a bit more insight into her past (especially her relationship with her stepmother and sister.) While the pacing of this book might be slow for some, (and the plot a tad underbaked...Max doesn't have a whole lot to do) I found it eloquent -- particularly how the past influences her current circumstances. (Also I loved the cover!)

Overall, a lovely read. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Kate Weinberg's novel "There's Nothing Wrong with Her," protagonist Vita Woods finds herself trapped in a pit of exhaustion and isolation, battling an undiagnosed illness that has left her bedridden and disconnected from the world. Despite having a seemingly perfect life—a successful career, a loving boyfriend, and a supportive sister—Vita's physical and mental health have deteriorated, leaving her questioning her own reality. The story delves into themes of identity, mental illness, and the complexities of relationships, as Vita navigates her journey to uncover the truth behind her condition. Weinberg's writing is raw and unflinching, capturing Vita's descent into darkness with poignant honesty. She skillfully weaves together Vita's internal struggles with her interactions with the outside world, creating a narrative that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. The supporting characters, particularly Vita's sister Gracie and upstairs neighbors, add depth and nuance to the story, providing both moments of connection and conflict. The novel's exploration of mental illness is particularly noteworthy. Weinberg does an excellent job of portraying Vita's experience of chronic fatigue and depression, capturing the isolating and debilitating effects of these conditions. She also delves into the complexities of diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals struggling with invisible illnesses. The inclusion of Luigi, the enigmatic apparition who visits Vita, adds an element of mystery and ambiguity to the narrative, leaving readers questioning the boundaries between reality and illusion. "There's Nothing Wrong with Her" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of identity, mental illness, and human connection. Weinberg's writing is both insightful and compassionate, and she creates a protagonist in Vita who is both relatable and deeply affecting. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary fiction that delves into the depths of the human experience.

I could not relate to this novel. It was so dark and sad. Honestly, I read books for thought and entertainment. I was certainly not entertained, nor was I able to think.

It was just too weird for my taste.

Thank you Netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam G.P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me to read an ARC of There's Nothing Wrong with Her by Kate Weinberg in exchange for my honest review.

This was a little confusing for me. It wasn't until about two-thirds of the way through the book, that I had a better understanding of what was happening. Having experienced anxiety, depression, and grief, I am surprised it took me that long.

I may read this again to see if I feel differently.

I was so excited to read this book as I adored this author's other book, The Truants which was as perfect a book as could be - from tone to writing to characters to story. But this book wasn't for me. A very different tone as the main character has a chronic illness and is visited by a long dead ghost. I'll look forward to the next book by this author and hope it will be for me!

I really liked this book when I read it, but on reflection I couldn’t tell you what it is about. It’s not body supernatural horror, or at least I don’t think it was. I did read it to the end, I swear! That’s enough for me to give it 4 stars. I try at least four books for every one I do finish, and this was one of them.

Vita Woods is struggling from an illness no doctor can seem to diagnose. They’ve run every test imaginable and all come back to the same conclusion, there’s nothing wrong with her. But that doesn’t change the fact that Vita struggles with leaving her bed, is constantly exhausted, feels unwell and spends the majority of her days inside “The Pit” as she refers to it. Vita’s boyfriend who she also lives with is a doctor and seemingly, everything is perfect in their relationship, but she still finds herself thinking back to former lovers. With a twist of fate, Vita one day finds herself leaving her apartment and interacting with the neighbors upstairs and gradually, everything starts to change each day moving forward.

Vita spends the limited time she’s conscious talking to Luigi, who’s been dead for a very long time, and her goldfish, Whitney Houston. Throughout her days, she’s either in “The Pit,” or disassociating and fantasizing about events from her past and mentally changing the outcome. One of the characters she refers to most is her sister Gracie but we come to find out in the end that Gracie has actually been dead the whole time - which was a good addition. Overall, to me it felt like a story of someone who was severely depressed but in denial about it, looking for any other possibility of sickness. But I don’t think that was ever really firmly confirmed/denied, which I think would have been a good way to tie things together. I saw another review stating that the introduction of the characters upstairs was a little abrupt and I agree, I think more could have been done with that as well.

Side note, what drew me to this book initially was the title and cover art. I had a new found appreciation for the cover art once I realized it was the gold fish Whitney Houston on the cover. It’s also a good portrayal of Vita disassociating as well, good pick on the cover art.

Ehhhhh….
There was a lot of parts of this book that just didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t know what was going on and was wondering where characters came from.

Gorgeously written mental health fiction in the same sort of vein as works by authors like Moshfegh. Thanks for the arc

Cara Mia Vita is struggling with an unnamed illness. She spends most of her time with her goldfish or in a dreamlike state in pain inside The Pit. Kate Weinberg takes us along as Vita experiences the loss of who she was and comes to terms who she is. Vita has a lot to learn from the ghosts of her past..

I enjoyed the story. I did feel as though the introduction of the secondary characters was abrupt. I would definitely recommend this to someone who is or knows someone going through an invisible illness.

This book definitely comes with an interesting premise that plays upon a world in which some people become lost in their own grief and rely heavily on drugs and medication. It’s very scary, but also very relevant to our contemporary societies. It is a very accurate depiction of depression—you feel the main character’s monotony, the lethargy, the pointlessness of it all.

Weinberg’s writing is absolutely exquisite. She writes with a deeply profound and insightful understanding and portrayal of people that never ceases to amaze me. Her storytelling skills are unparalleled. I really enjoyed it.

3.5/5

I enjoyed this one but I wish there had been more, that we could have gone a little further into how things turn out for Vita.

I would definitely recommend reading this one. Especially those who like to learn more about mental illness, symptoms, past trauma and grief.

Vita is a successful woman with a cozy, doctor boyfriend but her past trauma has caught up with her and we get to watch her road to recovery.