As a Book Reviewer, I received a free ebook copy of You Make Me Sick … Literally by Shamika Lindsay, and this is my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor any review.

You Make Me Sick … Literally is listed as a Contemporary Romance; Medical Fiction; Small Town and Rural Fiction; and Science Fiction Romance, which may explain why the story is so strange. As someone who has been studying the writing craft, especially the romance genre, for the past 10 years, I found this story quite annoying because, though the male and female lead characters meet in the first chapter, in chapters 2-9 it’s all about the female, Nyla. Not only is it all about Nyla, but it’s all about Nyla being sick. By chapter 7, I was considering dropping the book, but I looked it up on Amazon to see if it had any ratings or reviews.

As a reviewer, I have never before read reviews of books I have been asked to read and review before finishing my reading and reviewing of the book. But I wanted to know if anyone kept reading past chapter 6. I was quite surprised to see there were 17 ratings with an average of 4.5 stars, but only 7 actual reviews. However, the reviews were in favor of the book. Seven people, and probably at least some of the 17 who rated it, had actually read the entire book and had some good things to say about it, so that made me curious enough to keep reading.

Finally, in chapter 10, the male lead, Noah, finally makes a grand entrance. However, his appearance is short and, quite honestly, the scene is frustrating. But, I continued reading, and things started to get a little more interesting and a little less about the characters being sick.

So, what kept me reading? I liked Noah. I wanted to see if Noah and Nyla would ever figure out their illness and if they could be cured, and I wanted to see how the story would end. Ms. Lindsay had included enough interesting supporting characters to keep me reading, and I still really liked Noah.

I still think the story could’ve been better and fit the Romance genre better. I think Noah should have been in the story much sooner between chapters 2 and 9, and I think it would’ve been better if it would’ve been told from both Nyla and Noah’s points of view, instead of solely through Nyla’s, especially since they were both experiencing the same illness.

I also didn’t see any actual science fiction element in the story at all, and the book could really have used a good edit. And, though I really didn’t care for Nyla all that much because I found her whiny, stubborn, and self-pitying, eventually I liked the relationship that developed between Noah and Nyla. I will also say that the ending of the story almost made it worth the frustration of reading through the drawn out beginning. In all honesty, I did like the ending.

So, if you are a reader who really enjoys reading strange stories or are looking for something totally unusual, you will like this book, as long as you don’t give up before chapter 10 or 11.

I give You Make Me Sick … Literally by Shamika Lindsay 3 stars.