## october wrap up--yes no maybe

As always—remember to check TW if needed 🫶🏻 #booktok #bookreviews #yesnomaybe #readingwrapup #romancebooktok

[chronicallybookish\
\
Kaley\
\
• Nov 4 2025](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/)

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**You Started It by Jackie Khaliliah**  _IBS, anxiety, and undiagnosed autism representation (all own voices)_  
_4.75 stars_  
I started off the month with an audiobook of You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh which I absolutely adored! Khalilieh’s debut is a favorite and her sophomore novel lived up to my expectations and more. These characters were so messy in a way that so perfectly encapsulates teenagerhood, especially neurodivergent teenagerhood. Jamie was so easy to love and root for that I was watching through my fingers as she made the most terrible decisions–but they were decisions that made perfect sense for her character. I cannot wait to see what Khalilieh does next!

**Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll**  _dyspraxia representation (own voices)_  
_4 stars_  
Like a Charm is a sweet middle grade fantasy about a neurodivergent girl who discovers the existence of magic when her grandfather wills her a magic book upon his passing. It was fast paced and reminiscent of many of my own favorite childhood books. There were some aspects of the magic system, and how it was tied to neurodivergence that I was unclear on. There were a few times when characters spoke of neurodivergence and magic being the same, and I could not tell if it was meant in the way that “they are similar because both cause you to be othered by society and see the world differently than everyone else” or if it was meant in a literal “neurodivergence is magic and neurodivergence is caused by being a witch” the latter of which falls under the mystical minority/mystical disabled character trope, of which I am not typically a fan. I’m hoping this will be clarified in the second book—and that it is more in line with the former.

**A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena**  _chronic pain, dizziness, and fatigue representation (inspired by the author’s experiences with EDS, POTS, and other disabilities)_  
_2.5 stars_  
This book was a highly anticipated release, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. It was an interesting premise with a lot going on, but the execution was shallow....

**I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan**  _anxiety representation (own voices)_  
_4 stars_  
This was such a cute, fun, and easy to fly through YA romance! The anxiety representation was definitely more on the back burner here, but it was still a present part of the story. I loved that the book acknowledges that Summer’s anxiety is “high functioning” while still showing how it affects her on a day to day basis in her relationships and career.

**Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame by Neon Yang**  _limb difference and chronic illness representation_  
_2.75 stars_  
This is another one with an interesting premise and lackluster execution.

**If We Survive This by Racquel Marie**  _OCD representation (own voices)_  
_4.25 stars_  
Racquel Marie’s zombie apocalypse road trip novel starring a main character with contamination OCD was…hard to read.

**True Biz by Sara Nović**  _Deaf representation (own voices)_  
_4 stars_  
True Biz is a contemporary, borderline literary, fiction novel set at a school for the Deaf that immerses the reader in Deaf culture. It’s a timely, politically driven story that is deeply character focused as well....

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**Note:** The above summary includes reviews of books with disability representation and the experience shared by the reviewer.