Is 'May Cause Side Effects' Worth Reading?

2026-03-18 14:09:32 150

3 Answers

Nora
Nora
2026-03-19 16:53:10
Brooke Barker's 'May Cause Side Effects' hit me like a freight train of emotions—part memoir, part dark comedy about mental health, but 100% raw. I picked it up expecting witty medical anecdotes (which it delivers, like her bit on 'side effects may include existential dread'), but it’s the gut-punch honesty about depression and therapy that lingers. Barker’s minimalist art style somehow amplifies the weight of her words; those tiny panels of her lying on the floor or staring at pill bottles stick with you.

What surprised me was how it balances humor and heaviness. One page has a joke about antidepressants turning your brain into a 'low-budget rom-com,' the next dives into suicidal ideation with terrifying clarity. It’s not for readers seeking lighthearted fluff, but if you’ve ever felt like your brain’s wiring is faulty, it’s weirdly comforting. I finished it in one sitting, then immediately texted three friends saying 'READ THIS BUT BRING TISSUES.'
Jocelyn
Jocelyn
2026-03-22 18:46:30
As a graphic novel junkie, I’m always skeptical of 'mental health lit' that veers into trauma porn, but Barker’s book avoids that trap. Her storytelling feels like chatting with a brutally honest friend—no sugarcoating, just dark laughs and 'oh god, me too' moments. The chapter where she compares therapy to 'debugging a glitchy video game' had me snort-laughing, but then she flips it with a silent two-page spread of her crying in a shower, and damn.

It’s not perfect—some sections feel disjointed, like she crammed in too many ideas—but the messy structure kinda fits the theme. Bonus points for the footnotes where she fact-checks her own memories, adding this meta layer about how depression warps recollection. If you liked 'Hyperbole and a Half' or 'Solutions and Other Problems,' this’ll wreck you in the best way.
Xavier
Xavier
2026-03-24 15:25:20
I borrowed 'May Cause Side Effects' from a library on a whim, and wow—it’s like someone transcribed my inner monologue during bad mental health days. Barker’s vignettes about misdiagnoses, useless coping mechanisms ('I tried yoga; it made me angry'), and the absurdity of healthcare are painfully relatable. The art’s deceptively simple, almost childlike, which makes the heavy themes hit harder. My favorite bit? Her flowchart for 'Should I Tell My Therapist the Truth?' where every path leads to 'probably not.'

It’s a quick read but leaves bruises (the good kind). Made me feel less alone.
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