| Title | : | Against Medical Advice |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 98 |
| Publication | : | Published June 12, 2024 |
Against Medical Advice Reviews
-
Wow!
A man whose wife goes on a cruise is left to take care of his beloved daughter. She becomes sick and he is faced with not enough insurance and not enough upfront cash. He becomes completely unhinged. Another story within this one is a social worker who is getting burned out seeing so many kids taken away from their abusive homes. My gosh I needed a different ending. *sigh*
This book was amazing! I was flying through the pages…and abruptly the story ended. I’m thinking “no” please don’t end it this way. I’m giving this book 3 stars although it was a five star read until the end. -
This book shattered me… it broke me apart and made me so sad and mad.
It was hard to read- both the father’s desperation, and the social worker’s day to day situations.
I was frustrated at the health system, but also the father for making uninformed decisions that put his daughter at risk. I’m so thankful I live in a country where the majority of medical procedures/visits are covered (however because of this you often wait months for certain specialists and procedures). We live in a world where there is a shortage of funding, health professionals, and sometimes certain medications- and it’s not fucking fair.
If you want to read a story that will shock, horrify, and make your blood boil- this is it.
A sick child and an impoverished father navigate the system to get treatment; soon he will try to fix her himself as he can’t bear to see his daughter suffer any longer. -
This novella hits terrifyingly close to home if you've ever been a parent with a sick child and absolutely no money for proper treatment. Ruth Anna Evans takes these real life situations and manages to make them even more horrifying.
With his wife away and his six year old daughter having trouble breathing and complaining of stomach pains, Frank doesn't know where to turn. He takes her on for tests and blood work (which is a chore in itself because his daughter hates shots) but with inconclusive results. Further teats will cost money, which they do not have.
In the meantime, a social worker with a pill addiction starts slipping at her job. She's haunted by something in her childhood and her guilt weighs heavily on her soul. She wants to help children who are abused but her addiction is getting in the way of her job.
As Frank starts panicking as his daughters symptoms get worse, he's going to make a choice. A terrifying choice forced on him by a medical system which only cares about cash and fueled by his own paranoia.
When Shelly is called to his house by a paramedic, she sees nothing obviously wrong. But something very wrong is going to happen with horrifying results.
Mixing body horror with a heart tugging story of good parents who are at their wits end, this novella grabs you from the start. Realistically flawed characters, though basically decent people, brings a level of realism to the story.
This is a banger of a novella that will have you sympathise and squirm at the same time and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to the author for the copy. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion. -
This was an absolutely amazing, and in some parts quite terrifying, short story!
I've read it in one sitting, more or less - had a break for something to eat in between - because I couldn't put it down.
Well-written, gripping, exciting, with twists and turns you didn't think were possible. Or maybe you did...
Read it, you will not regret it. Wow! Just wow! -
Okay. This was absolutely horrifying on so many levels! We follow two intertwined stories: a father who doesn't know what to do to help his sick child, and a social worker struggling with a Xanax addiction.
The characters feel extremely real, which makes the story all the more gripping and stressful. -
Littered throughout my annotations is several “ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod”s because literally OH MY GOD. I went into this book thinking ‘little girl gets really sick and father is suspected of making her sick so shoddy social worker gets involved’ which already is enticing enough in my opinion. I mean, possible case of Munchausen by proxy plus the social worker working the case has a drug addiction? I’m already seated at the table for the feast that is about to be this story but then it goes and gives you even more than you’re expecting.
The father’s descent into madness was so shocking and unexpected. How quickly he fell out of touch with reality when under pressure was fascinating to observe. The social worker’s struggle through withdrawals after a very traumatic case leaves her teetering on the edge while lives are at stake and you can’t help but wonder when all her seams will come undone. A mother’s faraway anxiety about the health of her child has you hoping with everything in you that she beats the clock.
A truly gripping story but I warn you, the depictions of death, trauma, child abuse, and child neglect were heavy and gut wrenching so proceed with caution.
Finally, a huge thanks to Ruth Anna Evans herself for sending me an eARC ahead of its release. I really enjoyed this story. -
Haven't felt this gutted since reading Angel Van Atta's latest. I blame you Ruth Anna Evans! And thank you from the heart for the experience...
This is one hell of a story. I mean it: a STORY - you have to tell yourself all the time, "it's fiction, it's fiction, it's fiction....," otherwise the impact will be traumatic. Because, first of all, it could happen; there's absolutely nothing here that feels far-fetched, bizarre or unreal: just a child getting suddenly sick, a mother absent due to a trip, a father who finds himself in deep waters, amid poverty, health insurance troubles, and the social services. Second, the characters are people, they're not there to prove a point or preach politics; they're hurting and you know it. Finally, this is us, today, our world, our country - you recognize everything, it all makes sense, you feel you'd do exactly the same as this poor father who has to parade his daughter around doctors, nurses, and (thankfully!) overworked social workers - a father who's devoured by worry from the inside. This might be you or me - where does he go wrong? I for one can't say. And therein lies the true horror of this novella: noone can be blamed, not really, everyone is doing the best they can, and we, as readers, find ourselves morally tongue-tied. An awesome story, superbly edited, stunningly imagined, one of Ruth Anna Evans' best! -
This short, sharp little novella was a surprisingly compelling story of parental anxiety (and I'm not a parent so I can't imagine how much more this hits for those with children) deftly woven into a blistering indictment of the American health care and child care systems.
I'm so very, very grateful to not have to experience this kind of medical horror as a Canadian. I think we often joke and make light of our neighbours to the south who endure this medical terror, but if this story is accurate in its depiction of the American health care system... I must, as a proper Canuck, deeply apologize for our thoughtless and easy dismissal. Your system holds you hostage in the most abominable ways.
I don't think I've ever read something quite so plausible framed in a horror story.
The author's style swiftly and stealthily pulls you in to the two parallel POVs while making the cleverest of several subtle observations: the alarming rise of those self-diagnosing health issues off the internet; the medical community's overburdened healthcare workers who don't seem to remember that vague information will lead people to desperate, horrifying alternatives; exhausted and burnt-out social workers who have seen it all and self-medicate...
This was a doozy. -
Once again, I find myself forgetting the mental post-it notes that I stick on my brain. That or they never stick right, because I am almost certain I wrote one out that said: “RUTH ANNA EVANS MAKES YOU CRY! YOU’VE BEEN WARNED, YOU CRYBABY!” If I remember correctly, her story in SCRAPS definitely made me get a little…something in my eye. 😿 Then she has the audacity to come back and give me all the horrible feels again and makes me worried sick about my own child (that I do not have nor ever will) & what I would sacrifice for them. 😿
Quick synopsis:
It was any parent’s worst nightmare. Your 6 yr old is sick, but it seems like something a lot worse than just some stomach bug. Your S/O is out of town, your cash is dwindling, and time is ticking. On the other side of the coin, a social worker is dealing with their own addiction problems while trying to do their job to the best of their abilities. What if you botches another case? What if your next call is about a father suspected of making his daughter sick, will you make the right decision?
I am an absolute nightmare as a “grownup” (see?), so I can’t imagine what I was like as a kid. (Sorry Mom.🖤) Just that fear alone made me say no kids, ever. The curse ends with me. So to have a story like this swoop in & make me have all these parental feels invade my head was pretty commendable. It speaks to how good of a writer Ruth is. It also speaks to what a brain bully she is too, cuz this book took me THROUGH IT, then picked me up and dragged me through it again. In the best/worst way possible. Just when you get to the end, you are like…ok so…I’m not crying; you’re crying. But is this horror? Then Ruth hits you with an ambulance going full speed and the MOST EMOTIONAL blood spilled I think I’ve witnessed in a story. WOW, just wow. I’m stapling that post-it note to my brain for next time. Ruth is a great author, maybe TOO good. Bring Kleenex. 🤧 -
Wow.
I don't even know where to begin with this one, but I'll do my best! I read this in two sittings only because I absolutely had to put it down and go to bed right in the middle. This novella was gripping from page one, following Frank, who's trying desperately to figure out what's wrong with his sick daughter, and Shelly, a CPS worker with her own past trauma. I was panicking right along with Frank as Maddie's condition worsened and no one seemed to want to do anything, and my heart was pulled right out of my chest as I followed Shelly along to check on children who needed her.
But the ending is what really got me. I was absolutely not expecting what happened, and by the time I read the last line, I felt like I had just stepped off a roller coaster. This was a phenomenal read for anyone who enjoys medical horror (or even if you don't). Ruth Anna Evans has a serious knack for writing realistic characters, gripping plot points, and creating the perfect atmosphere to make the reader feel completely on edge. This one is a must read! -
Frank’s 6yo daughter Maddie is visibly very ill. His wife is out of town, insurance is quickly draining them and preventing Maddie from getting adequate tests and treatment, and Frank’s own past medical trauma isn’t helping him keep it together. Shelly, addicted to the pills that barely keep her past from overtaking her, is a social worker who receives an unsettling call from an EMT who just treated a young girl with a frantic father acting suspiciously. How hard of a push would you need to go Against Medical Advice?
I fell asleep reading this ARC after getting my greedy little paws on it, and I had to finish it as soon as I woke up! Evans’ writing is so tight and well-crafted that I was filled with anxious dread from start to finish. It’s not an easy task to introduce two separate storylines that will intersect in just a novella, but Against Medical Advice manages this easily. Plus, I felt fully introduced and invested in each character we encounter - from the EMT who briefly treats Maddie to Shelly’s boss Mae.
My only frustration is that I wanted more of Frank’s backstory! But that’s also what I love from a gripping novella - I’m able to be left wanting more while still being able to meet the characters where they’re at and enjoy the hell out of a good story. -
If you like medical horror, you’ll love this novella. As a mother of a 6 and a 9 year old, I could totally relate to the fear Frank felt, and I found it extremely anxiety-inducing right from the start. What’s horrifying is that something like this has probably happened somewhere in the world - the story is not far-fetched. Highly recommend!
Thanks to Ruth for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC! -
Had the pleasure of receiving the ARC of Against Medical Advice by Ruth Anna Evans!
I love stories that make me just sit there with my mouth open while a character is completely fucking losing their mind. Unhinged, like Frank. The escalation of everything keeps you invested and needing to know what happens next.
Also, two things I am thankful for after reading this story:
1. Not having any children
2. My shitty health insurance
Stay well, and check out this story! 🤓 -
Against Medical Advice is told as two entwined stories, a woman whose job it is to protect children and a father who is quickly being driven crazy by "lack of" medical care who takes matters into his own hands. Things start bad, and they only get worse. When I tell you that I devoured this short story, I am not kidding. I HAD to know the resolution and quickly.
One thing I know as a mother is that when my children are sick and it seems like not enough is being done... that feeling of anxiety and hopelessness can be maddening. I have been driven mad a time or two, but never once to this extreme. This book literally had me screaming internally and constantly chewing off my nails. Red flags were blazing everywhere, and my momma heart was hurting.
Ruth, you nailed it with this one. You wrecked me, but man, what a ride! Readers, be warned, this book is going to give you anxiety, raise your blood pressure, and maybe even make you cry, but it's worth every bit.
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. -
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was one of the most anxiety inducing books I’ve ever read! I don’t have children, but I could sympathize with this father who wanted to do whatever he had to do to save his daughter. I got so anxious while reading this book I had to read it in spurts. An amazing book overall, though, and I will definitely read more from this author.
-
I should be asleep.
But, instead, I’m a mess.
This novella is heartbreakingly phenomenal. I don’t think I’ve ever read something so fast in my life. Each page had me wanting more and more, dying to know what was going to happen. My heart aches to think about how realistic this story is, in all aspects.
And now I think I’ve officially leaned towards a new favorite subgenre. And Ruth Anna Evans will forever have a place in my top 5 favorite authors list. 🖤
An astonishing 5/5! 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 -
This was a very edge-of-your-seat read! I finished it in one sitting!
-
I have said it before and I will say it again, Ruth is one of my absolute favorite authors! How she comes up with these amazing stories I will never know. This story may be short, but it had me feeling so many emotions, mainly heartache and anger. The fact that there is so much truth involved, from the worried father to the social worker who isn’t fully invested, makes this story very relatable for many people.
-
A chilling tale about far we will go to do what we think needs to be done! This story will chill you to the bone!
-
The desperation and poorly processed childhood trauma of both main characters, Shelly and Frank, are what makes this too-short novel really special. Shelly allows her dependence on Xanax to get in the way of her social worker job, and Frank allows his paranoia over his daughter’s illness and their lack of money to push him to do something completely irrational. They both make poor decisions that may or may not be totally their own fault.
When you have PTSD you aren’t always in your right mind when you get triggered, and Evans captures that perfectly in both people’s fractured thoughts and frazzled actions. I can’t say that I would have jumped straight to home surgery as quickly as Frank does, but he watched his mother waste away in the hospital when he was a teenager and has no trust left for the medical profession.
The descriptions of abused and neglected children are so heartbreakingly accurate, and I appreciate how good Shelly is at her job even as she’s wrestling with her own demons. It was refreshing to see a horror novel where the characters have consciences and good intentions, but everything still goes terribly wrong.
Solid plot, beautiful writing, realistic characters, and a strong resolution. My only complaint is that it was too short! I’d love to see a sequel about what happens to Frank in prison, his daughter and wife’s life without him as Maddie gets older, and Shelly checking in on them as her habits and PTSD either get better or much, much worse.
Ten Sentence Reviews – Against Medical Advice -
Well this one REALLY tugged at my heart strings.
Against Medical Advice follows Frank and Shelly. Two separate people. Two point of views. Frank has a very sick 6 year old daughter, Maddie, and he's having trouble getting her the help she needs. Doctors make him jump through several hoops. We all know how this works. Insurance won't pay for this until a and b are crossed off first. After several tests, they all come back inconclusive. They put Maddie on a round of antibiotics and Frank is growing anxious more by the minute because Maddie isn't getting better. With no money, his wife out of town and no credit card, Frank does the unthinkable to do what he thinks is best to save his child.
Second point of view we have is Shelly. Shelly is a social worker that has a drug addiction. Her addiction is causing her to have several slip ups and is controlling every aspect of her life. It's hard to feel sorry for this woman but at the same time she is trying to help kids get out of life threatening situations.
This book was really difficult to read because these things happen EVERY DAY. The cost of medical care is outrageous, especially for someone who DOES NOT have insurance and not everyone has the funds to get their issues addressed like they need to be. Drug addiction is also very common. Especially when it comes to pills. Although, this book is fiction it shed some serious light on what can happen in every day life. You never know what someone is going through.
Thank you, Ruth Anna Evans for this digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Highly Recommend this one. Grab the tissues though, you may need them. -
Jfc. I just read, no, EXPERIENCED this book in less than an hour. I think the worst part is when you get to the ending and see Evans smiling, cherubic face on the next page. How can someone who looks *so* kind and sweet, invoke such deep horror in less than a hundred pages?!
Frank’s wife is away from home on a cruise when his daughter turns up ill. Feeling the doctors aren’t giving her sufficient care, Frank takes measures into his own hands. I have a 6yo myself so I absolutely can feel that raw guilt one feels when their child is sick and struggling. However, there were *so many* times I felt myself wanting to reach into the book and smack Frank while shouting NO. STOP. It’s like a roller coaster that edges over at the 70% mark and then plummets you directly into the ground.
Evans writing is easy to read and addictive. She flips perspective with ease until eventually the two can be merged. This is a sad book. If you’re looking for a nice, light read definitely look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a book that’ll have your mouth sore from gritting your teeth and leg sore from bouncing anxiously, then THIS is the one. This is a book you don’t only read, but literally experience a rollercoaster of dread as the book continues. I recommend this one but it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. -
Ho. Lee. CRAP. Did this book ever have me in a chokehold throughout pretty much the entire thing.
Frank is a father whose daughter Maddie falls ill while his wife is away on a once in a lifetime cruise. He faces insurance issues, bank accounts depleted, and his baby girl not getting any better. What else can he do if the doctors aren't listening??
Shelly is a social worker who has thrown herself into the career, wanting to save other children from meeting the same fate as her and her brother. With such a career and the horrendous situations she comes across, she's left with a Xanax addiction, and struggles to balance both at the same time.
This book is absolutely horrifying because it is SO real. The situations. The desperation. The pain. As a parent, I've been lucky enough to never have a child go through a situation like this. How far would I go to save my child? And what would the lack of sleep and stress cause my brain to think was the right next step?
I started it last night, accidentally fell asleep, and finished it first thing this morning. I absolutely would have read this in one sitting if it wasn't for my body forcing itself to shut down. 😂 -
This was an intense read! Frank's daughter, Maddie, is extremely sick and he is left to take care of the problem alone since his wife is on a well-deserved vacation. However, he soon encounters the impersonal "care" of the medical insurance industry. Without any extra money or adequate insurance to cover Maddie's diagnosis, Frank turns to the medical experts of the Internet! What could possibly go wrong?
Shelly is an overworked social worker tasked with checking on children in potentially dangerous home situations. Her own past defines her attitude and also fuels her addiction to pills. After the discovery of a dead child (trigger warning!), she feels inadequate to face another painful episode.
This book stirred so many emotions in a very short time. Anger at the medical insurance industry, fear of a parent trying to do the right thing, looking for medical expertise on the Internet, drug addiction, and more are all explored in this short book. I could feel myself cringing as the story progressed, hoping that the outcome would be different than what I feared. Thanks to the author for giving me the chance to read this one! -
Is there anything that a loving parent will not do to try to save their child's life? Probably none. Is there anything they must not do? After finishing this book, I can safely conclude - yes, there is.
I followed along to two alternating stories: Of a dad who is increasingly becoming more desperate as he seeks medical help and money for his child's worsening condition; and of a caseworker from the Child Protection Services who is becoming more and more dependent on Xanax as the demands of her job takes more and more out of her and she spirals down to her own feelings of childhood trauma, guilt, and inadequacy. As the lives of these people become entangled in an unexpected way, I felt so many emotions all at once.
Ruth Anna Evans had masterfully written a tale that is gripping from beginning to end, about people whose choices and actions, as misguided and mistaken they turn out to be, one can't help but feel at least an ounce of understanding and sympathy for.
It is no easy thing, for a person to hold another's life in their hands, and know that within a single decision that they make, either that person gets to keep it or they lose it. -
What will a parent do to save their child when the odds are stacked against them?
A father alone with his sick six-year-old daughter Maddie shows us, and it’s unforgettable. The viewpoint alternates between Frank, the father, and Shelley, a social worker with desperate coping skills, intense anxiety, and a dangerous vice.
I blazed through this gripping nightmare novella in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. The plot, pacing, writing, characterization, immaculate editing—were spot on perfect. My only complaint: I wanted to read more about everything that came next. My mind was whirling by the end, piecing threads together, and it still is. The acute sense of dread and cold horror as the story unfolded several gruesome reveals hasn't left me yet and probably never will.
I highly recommend this book by a talented author.
It’s a heart-wrenching and utterly terrifying tale of realistic horror, specifically medical horror with elements of body horror; a story one may very well see on the evening news for truth is more terrifying than fiction, if you have the guts for it.
5/5 -
Wow! Just wow. The author did such a great job of putting the reader in the head of each of the characters. I really enjoyed the dual stories of the dad and the social worker and how their lives slowly began to interweave within each other.
As a mother who has a big distrust of the medical field, I could relate heavily to the fears the dad had. The fear that no one cares as much as you and that no one is listening. The panic that ensues from thinking something was missed and then having to jump through hoops to get the insurance to help. It’s a situation that ends with a helpless and hopeless feeling. As a parent, we want nothing more than to have a happy and healthy child and this story plays on that instinct really well.
This story really made my heart hurt for so many reasons. It was a quick read and honestly I could have read 200 more pages. Not saying that the story didn’t feel complete but that I really enjoyed the writing style and how the story built up. 100% a magnificent book and I recommend.
💉💉💉💉💉/5 -
Medical horror speaks to me in a very personal way as I am a medical social worker in a hospital system working directly with patients being discharged home from the hospital. This book also has a social worker who is a main character although she is a different type of social worker - child protective services. The fast paced story starts off with a very normal situation - a sick child and also the stresses and frustrations of dealing with the red tape of our health care system due to the role of private insurance making decisions that should be left to the doctors. But then the story goes off the rails in a spectacular way that took me completely by surprise. I won’t say anything more to avoid spoilers but the ending - WOW ! Highly recommend you read this one. 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-
I recieved an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book broke my heart. This is such a real and tragic book, and I could not stop reading. Wow.
In this book we follow two stories that entwine. We have Frank, a dad who is home alone with his sick daughter while his wife is away on a trip. His daughter just gets worse and worse and he is doing everything he can with little to no money.
We also follow a CPS worker who is dealing with her own childhood trauma and her addiction.
This book was intense and it felt very real. It was heartbreaking and my stress level was right there with Frank. This was a tough read, and it was gripping and amazing. The writing in this book makes you feel like this is actually happening which is really powerful. This was my first read by this author, but I will definitely check out more of her work. I highly recommend that you read this!
