I don't remember how I found this book, but I'm so glad I did.

I learned so much about Crohn's disease and navigating the American medical system that I didn't know before. And I really appreciate the discussion this memoir starts about how not everyone who gets sick gets better. And healthcare is not happy with us.

I think I struggled though the first half of this, but only because I'm still working on receiving my own diagnoses for my own chronic conditions, not because the book wasn't phenomenal, because it is. But I love the tone shift when the author talks about the joy of living after almost dying in the hospital. There is a certain kind of ongoing grief with chronic illness that she talks about but also the joy of the good days, of being alive, and she nails it.

Miller's writing is so good and she has a perfect blend of memoir and "how to..." find a good doctor and "how to..." navigate the medical system and insurance.

I love the seven secrets that she reveals that chronically ill people wish their loved ones knew about them. I felt like the author had read my mind.

I'd absolutely recommend this to people who are chronically ill and also those that want to understand what it's like to be chronically ill.

Content WarningsHide content warnings

• Medical trauma
• Medical content
• Chronic illness
• Sexual assault
• Alcoholism
• Eating disorder