Side Effects May Vary focuses on a teenager that has been recently diagnosed with leukemia and has decided to take revenge on her enemies.

She's been warned that she may not have long to live, so Alice has decided that she's going to use her remaining time in order to accomplish things she's always wanted to do, even if doing so may come across as cruel or unkind.

Her friend Harvey has agreed to assist her during this process and together the two manage to exact revenge on her ex-boyfriend and enemies, while also taking part in positive things like revisiting her past.

Critical reception for Side Effects May Vary has been mixed and the book has received praise from the School Library Journal and Booklist.

[3][4] The Horn Book Guide and Commonsensemedia were both mixed in their opinions, as they enjoyed the work but felt that the shifting between past and present could be seen as confusing or excessive.