Lori Gottlieb Illness Novels & Stories

I'm supposed to become the valedictorian of the state, but I decide to not attend the SATs. After all, in my previous life, my best friend, Bianca Walters, had made a pact with a tenfold transfer system. The three-million-dollar prize money I had obtained from becoming the state valedictorian was transferred into Bianca's account. On top of that, it was increased by ten times as well. Just like that, Bianca moved on from wearing faded old clothes to limited branded apparel. She even muttered, "What's the point of being a top scorer even though you're poor? At the end of the day, you'll still slave away for us rich people!" Enraged, I rushed over and demanded Bianca for answers. But my boyfriend, James Tipps, was quick to shield her from me and yelled at me for being a crazy lady who was jealous of others. Since my mom couldn't get her illness treated due to the lack of money, she ended up dying with resentment in her eyes. Overwhelmed by despair, I took my life by jumping off a building. Beep! When I open my eyes again, I realize that I've gotten reborn. This time, I've also made a pact with the tenfold transfer system.

Divorce was a nightmare she never envisioned, especially not with the man who held her heart. Born into a world of wealth and influence, Tyra Ralene Sandoval was groomed for leadership, her every move calculated to secure her place at the helm alongside her brother, Tyler Rale Sandoval. Their paths collided in the bustling halls of college, where Tyra found herself captivated by Laxus Miguel Villafuerte, the charming heir to V Corps. Their love blossomed, culminating in a whirlwind romance that led to marriage within two years. The discovery of Laxus's infidelity shattered Tyra's world, leaving her with nothing but the painful remnants of a love that had once promised forever. Desperate to mend the pieces of her shattered heart, Tyra sought refuge in a foreign land, hoping to find love and a chance to move on from the betrayal she had endured. The news of her father's illness forced Tyra's return, but she wasn't alone. By her side someone stood, who meant more to her than anything in the world. Fate had a twist in store, bringing Tyra and Laxus face-to-face once more, and with it, a revelation that would rewrite their destinies. Would she give him a second chance, or would she embrace the love that had healed her broken heart? Could forgiveness bridge the chasm between them, or would they be forever bound by the pain of the past?

Born into a blended family, Chantelle grew up on the sidelines, raised with love by her grandmother after her mother's death. Shut out by her father Gérard, dominated by his new wife Rhonda, and relegated to the background behind her pretentious stepsister Mégane, she learned to survive in silence. When her grandmother is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Chantelle's world crumbles. With no family support and overwhelmed by medical bills, she accepts a desperate proposition: one hundred nights for one million euros, with a wealthy man whose identity she will never know. The rules are simple. A blindfold over her eyes, a stranger's touch, and silence. He never speaks. She never sees. He leaves her with anonymous bank transfers... and the haunting scent of his perfume as her only memory. Twelve nights pass. Then, forced by her father to attend a family dinner, Chantelle comes face to face with Mégane's fiancé: Collen Wilkerson—the cold, unapproachable CEO of the powerful corporation where she works as a simple employee. He is a man she knows only from a distance. Arrogant. Untouchable. But when he steps closer, a familiar scent wraps around her, and the world stops. It's his perfume. The same as the masked man. She has already spent twelve nights in his arms. And there are still eighty-eight to go.

Iris Glover and Stanley Stein shared seven years together—three of dating and four of marriage. Their relationship unraveled when Stanley chose to believe the homewrecker and prosecuted Iris in court himself. The question, "Do you plead guilty?" shattered Iris' heart. She fought fiercely in court, proved her innocence, and exposed the homewrecker's true nature. Upon her acquittal, she told Stanley, "Let's get a divorce." He replied, "Don't you regret it, Iris," believing she was merely throwing a tantrum. When they crossed paths again, Stanley asked, "Have you come to reconcile?" Iris retorted, "Being so delusional is an illness; seek help." Every time she got mad, she always went back to him once she calmed down, but not this time. It wasn't until Iris emerged as a successful lawyer standing opposite him in court that Stanley realized she had changed; she no longer belonged to him. In a moment of desperation, he pleaded, "Iris, I still love you. Please come back to me." Iris, now strong and resolute, replied, "The reason I improved myself is thanks to you, not for you. Mr. Stein, please step aside; don't stand in my way."

On the day of our wedding, my fiance Thomas Warsh was killed in a car accident on the way there. His adopted sister rushed toward me, clutching his ashes, accusing me of being a jinx who brought him misfortune. I was drowning in grief when a line of floating comments suddenly appeared before my eyes. [You must remain a widow for three years for your deceased husband. After three years, he will be reincarnated and return to love you again!] [Don’t ever remarry. Otherwise, the male lead will never rest in peace, and you will suffer for the rest of your life!] That was when I learned that my fiancé and I were the hero and heroine of a novel. Only by following the spoilers in the comments and completing the storyline could I reunite with him. I did not remarry. Guided by the comments, I remained a widow for three years, and then another three. However, it was not until I suddenly died from a severe illness that I discovered the truth–the comments had all been written by Thomas. He had faked his death, changed his appearance, married his adopted sister, and fed me endless empty promises so I would continue to slave away for the Warsh family. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day before the wedding.

Silas Ford, the Alpha of the Silver Canines Pack, is a formidable and powerful wolf who stands out as the most dominant in his territory. However, his life turns unexpectedly turn, when he discovers that his mate has died under mysterious circumstances. Silas struggles for three long years to come to terms with the loss of his beloved. A well-known Hollywood star, Elena Hayes, appears to be living the ideal life. Having overcome the challenges of growing up as an orphan, she has achieved everything she has ever hoped for and is now engaged to an actor. However, her perfect life comes crashing down when she receives news from her doctor that she has a rare, incurable ailment and only one year to live. As fate would have it, Silas and Elena cross paths and discover that they are each other's mates, despite their vastly different species. The revelation throws their worlds into turmoil as they struggle to reconcile their love for each other with the realities of their seemingly impossible situation. Will Silas find it in his heart to love again, even after experiencing such a devastating loss? Will Elena accept her fate and make the most of the time she has left? Only time will tell as their love story unfolds in unexpected ways. {Trigger warning: Abusive language, trauma, illness, Explicit scene.}

Lily Montgomery had always believed her life was marked by goodbyes. Her father, a mystery buried beneath lies. Her ex-fiancé, Matteo, who disappeared without explanation, shattering her heart and dreams. And now, her mother, taken by a cruel illness, leaving her completely alone. Returning to New York for the funeral, Lily—a failed writer struggling to rebuild her career—only hoped to close this painful chapter. But fate had other plans. Her father wasn’t dead as she had always believed—he was Luigi Romano, one of the most powerful mafia leaders in the city. And Matteo? The man who walked away without a trace belonged to that dark world… and now he was her future husband. Forced into marriage for her own safety, Lily finds herself trapped between betrayals, secrets, and a love that never truly died. As she fights to escape the mafia’s grasp and uncover the truth about her origins, a new dilemma arises: Did Matteo really betray her, or did he leave to protect her? And worse… will he do whatever it takes to win her back? In a game between past and present, between duty and desire, Lily must decide if she can still trust the man she once loved… or if he is just another lie in her life.

When Tessa Averton is diagnosed with a terminal illness, she believes her final days will be spent beside her devoted and charming husband, the man who once told her she was the only thing in his life that made sense. She never expected her remaining days to be spent uncovering the cold betrayal of her husband, including his affair with the woman living under their roof—the same woman he had introduced as his cousin. But death is not the end for Tessa. She wakes up three years in the past, handed a second chance to rewrite fate—and more importantly, to take revenge on the man who betrayed her. Her husband. Convinced the perfect revenge is stealing her husband’s side chick’s dangerously attractive billionaire father, Tessa dives into a game of push and pull with her ex-husband. She thought it'd just be a one time thing and then, she moves on. Only she never expected one thing: Julian, her ex-husband was never supposed to become so obsessed with her. He is just supposed to get jealous once and forgot her existence like he always did in her past life. And now, no matter how many times Tessa tries to run, Julian only chases harder—more desperate, more possessive, and far too unwilling to let her go.

The notice of my mother's layoff sat on the kitchen table. Rent was due in three days. My younger brother's tutoring fees were already two weeks late. And my little sister, Stephanie, clutched her acceptance letter to the local public arts high school like she'd done something wrong. None of this would be happening if it weren't for me. My illness had taken everything our family had saved. I stayed in my room, leaning against the door, wanting to tell them I'd drop out of treatment—but I couldn't bring myself to open it. "Why did he have to fall sick?" My mother was crying, her voice low and tight, like the words were being forced out of her. "If it were just you both, Stephanie and Jamie, we'd be fine by now." "Mom, please don't say that." My brother and sister held her, barely holding back their own tears. "He's a burden… but he's still my son." Her voice cracked. "I just… I can't do this anymore…" I stepped back and sank into my chair. It wasn't an accusation. It was a verdict.

My parents were renowned educators, celebrated as top-tier teachers who mentored countless high achievers. Yet, I was the black sheep of the family, consistently bringing home failing grades. After yet another gentle reminder from my homeroom teacher, my mom erupted in frustration. "How could I have given birth to such a foolish child? You only exist to torture me!" She disappeared for three days. When she returned, she brought a girl with her. "From today on, Cora is my real daughter. You are forbidden to call us Mom or Dad ever again. Get out. Only when you can pass your exams will you be worthy of being my daughter!" Our next encounter was at the hospital, during the school staff's annual physical check. The dean spotted me, speaking. "Renee, isn't this your daughter? Sherry works here now! That means Cora's illness can be treated. Ask her to introduce you to the new director!" My mother's gaze landed on my white coat and shifted from shock to irritation. "She changed jobs and didn't even bother to tell me?" I discreetly covered the badge pinned to my chest, trying to conceal my status. I was now Evie Coffey, the director of Obstetrics and Gynecology.