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A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy #1
A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy
You’ve Reached Sam meets John Hughes in a funny and heartfelt debut about a boy’s delirious summertime quest with his ex-girlfriend.
The summer after senior year should have been a time for Cam to party and hang out with his friends. It should also have been a time for him to win back the love of his life, Allison Tandy, who'd dumped him so brutally the year before.
But it quickly becomes clear that this summer is going to be worse than a failure for Cam. It's going to be a tragedy.
Ally is left comatose after a terrible car crash, then Cam tears his ACL in a basketball accident. The operation leaves him in agony, confined to his couch and ruminating over the fact that his ex may not survive.
But when (after taking his medication) Cam starts seeing Ally, he starts to think: 1. He may be headed for a complete mental breakdown and 2. This summer might just be interesting afterall.
Brimming with honesty and humor, A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy interrogates how much control we really have over matters of love—and life
The summer after senior year should have been a time for Cam to party and hang out with his friends. It should also have been a time for him to win back the love of his life, Allison Tandy, who'd dumped him so brutally the year before.
But it quickly becomes clear that this summer is going to be worse than a failure for Cam. It's going to be a tragedy.
Ally is left comatose after a terrible car crash, then Cam tears his ACL in a basketball accident. The operation leaves him in agony, confined to his couch and ruminating over the fact that his ex may not survive.
But when (after taking his medication) Cam starts seeing Ally, he starts to think: 1. He may be headed for a complete mental breakdown and 2. This summer might just be interesting afterall.
Brimming with honesty and humor, A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy interrogates how much control we really have over matters of love—and life
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 22, 2022
About the author
Jeff Bishop
2 books105 followersJeff Bishop is a debut author, an inside boy, and not to be trusted. According to his exes, he is the expert in healthy relationships. (Please don’t vet that.) He was born in Shermer, Illinois.
TikTok: @jeff_bishop
Instagram: @jeffcab4cutie
Twitter: @thejeffbishop
TikTok: @jeff_bishop
Instagram: @jeffcab4cutie
Twitter: @thejeffbishop
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
February 3, 2022
Wildly entertaining and heart-wrenching all at once. Between an admirably snarky apparition and the chaos of graduating high school, A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy is perfectly tumultuous in the way only the teenage experience can be.
November 13, 2022
It’s decent.
July 15, 2022
i can’t believe i enjoyed a book about a straight white boy
Shelved as 'not-released-tbr'
May 24, 2020"a darkly humorous take on the joy, pain, and overall confusion that comes with hookups and breakups"
hmmm tell me more
"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl meets Paper Towns in a funny and heartfelt debut about a boy's delirious summertime quest with his ex-girlfriend."
anything else?
"This humorous novel about letting go, moving on, and growing up is perfect for fans of HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME and GOODBYE DAYS.
F*****K GIVE IT TO ME NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
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December 22, 2022
"Go over there and say something.
Like what?
Gee, Cam, I dunno. Maybe, Hey Bridget, wanna go out sometime? Then maybe you can sit on my face afterward?
If the cover of your book has a pill balloon just know that I'm going to read your book.
I've been wanting to read this book as soon as I heard about it. It sounded messy and I was all in. Who doesn't like a little mess with a side of I see dead people medication?
From the first page, I knew that I was going to love this book and I was right. This book was so damn good. It was unique and super messy and that's what I love most about books by new authors. I'm sick of reading the same stuff over and over again and Jeff delivers something fresh that'll make you beg and plead for book two. So here we go... When is book two coming out? Can I access your unedited files? I need it now! How dare you make me wait! How rude!
What really stood out (besides that bitchin' cover) was that the main character was not a female. *looks at you wide-eyed* I know, right!? We usually don't see a lot of that when it comes to young adult fiction and I was excited to see how this one went. I can attest that it blew my freaking mind. The characters were amazing and the story was epic. Never a dull moment, it was a lot of fun, and the drama was just what I needed. It all meshed together perfectly.
A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy was the snarky chaotic end of senior year book that I have always wanted. Think if John Hughes met M. Night Shyamalan and Dr. Frankenstein created the ultimate monster, that would be this book. I can't stop gushing about it. Now go forth and read this damn book!!
Like what?
Gee, Cam, I dunno. Maybe, Hey Bridget, wanna go out sometime? Then maybe you can sit on my face afterward?
If the cover of your book has a pill balloon just know that I'm going to read your book.
I've been wanting to read this book as soon as I heard about it. It sounded messy and I was all in. Who doesn't like a little mess with a side of I see dead people medication?
From the first page, I knew that I was going to love this book and I was right. This book was so damn good. It was unique and super messy and that's what I love most about books by new authors. I'm sick of reading the same stuff over and over again and Jeff delivers something fresh that'll make you beg and plead for book two. So here we go... When is book two coming out? Can I access your unedited files? I need it now! How dare you make me wait! How rude!
What really stood out (besides that bitchin' cover) was that the main character was not a female. *looks at you wide-eyed* I know, right!? We usually don't see a lot of that when it comes to young adult fiction and I was excited to see how this one went. I can attest that it blew my freaking mind. The characters were amazing and the story was epic. Never a dull moment, it was a lot of fun, and the drama was just what I needed. It all meshed together perfectly.
A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy was the snarky chaotic end of senior year book that I have always wanted. Think if John Hughes met M. Night Shyamalan and Dr. Frankenstein created the ultimate monster, that would be this book. I can't stop gushing about it. Now go forth and read this damn book!!
July 16, 2022
This was so chaotic like wtf but honestly 10/10
August 9, 2022
pure chaos and the first book to make me laugh out loud in a MINUTE. i loved every second of it.
October 9, 2021
Witty, unflinching, and with a poignancy that builds right up until the last page when you realize you are crying, AHDoAT is a master class in voice and dialogue. Is this debut novel contemporary, a romcom, a comedy, a drama, a work of speculative fiction?... it is all of these, and none of these, and it does not matter. AHDoAT is a truly wonderful debut.
Read
October 11, 2022DNF. Just wait for the rant my review is gonna be.
July 26, 2022
Alexa, play Exile by Taylor Swift.
I am so upset with @jeffcab4cutie . How dare you leave us with such a cliffhanger?!
I almost threw my book across the room, but the cover is by far my favorite of this year so I couldn’t do it. Maybe even my favorite book so far too.
How is this a debut?! I’m literally shocked by this.
A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy is so chaotic, I must have said WTF a few times. I knew I would have a hard time reviewing this book. It was so unique, I feel like my words can’t do it justice.
The inner dialogue of our MC Cameron is one of my favorite parts about this story. I tend to stay away from books with teen male MCs, I usually can’t connect with them. Cameron was such a funny character I found myself laughing throughout.
I got so many John Hughes vibes from all the characters. I loved every single one of them.
While this book has its funny moments don’t assume it’s a lighthearted book, it’s definitely not! I cried a ton, there’s so much emotion in this story.
This book is not for everyone. You have to have a dark sense of humor to enjoy this. There’s the usual stuff teens get into like weed, sex and just normal teen boy talk.
There’s also some magic/supernatural element to it or maybe not. We really don’t know and that’s why I’m hooked and need the next one asap.
I have so many thoughts but hate long reviews, just go buy it right now. I promise it’s so worth it!
Thank you @penguinteen for the gifted book!
I am so upset with @jeffcab4cutie . How dare you leave us with such a cliffhanger?!
I almost threw my book across the room, but the cover is by far my favorite of this year so I couldn’t do it. Maybe even my favorite book so far too.
How is this a debut?! I’m literally shocked by this.
A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy is so chaotic, I must have said WTF a few times. I knew I would have a hard time reviewing this book. It was so unique, I feel like my words can’t do it justice.
The inner dialogue of our MC Cameron is one of my favorite parts about this story. I tend to stay away from books with teen male MCs, I usually can’t connect with them. Cameron was such a funny character I found myself laughing throughout.
I got so many John Hughes vibes from all the characters. I loved every single one of them.
While this book has its funny moments don’t assume it’s a lighthearted book, it’s definitely not! I cried a ton, there’s so much emotion in this story.
This book is not for everyone. You have to have a dark sense of humor to enjoy this. There’s the usual stuff teens get into like weed, sex and just normal teen boy talk.
There’s also some magic/supernatural element to it or maybe not. We really don’t know and that’s why I’m hooked and need the next one asap.
I have so many thoughts but hate long reviews, just go buy it right now. I promise it’s so worth it!
Thank you @penguinteen for the gifted book!
July 13, 2022
I finished it! I can honestly same this was the first YA book that I’ve liked in awhile.
It was utterly hilarious and extremely heartwarming.
The inner dialogue of the main character Cam was honestly the best part in my opinion.
Cam gets surgery for his ACL and he gets these pain killers and suddenly starts singing his ex girlfriend who SURPRISE is in a coma.
He thinks he is losing his mind or might make this a totally epic story.
This story goes through the highs and lows of teenage relationships. Through love and lost.
It was utterly hilarious and extremely heartwarming.
The inner dialogue of the main character Cam was honestly the best part in my opinion.
Cam gets surgery for his ACL and he gets these pain killers and suddenly starts singing his ex girlfriend who SURPRISE is in a coma.
He thinks he is losing his mind or might make this a totally epic story.
This story goes through the highs and lows of teenage relationships. Through love and lost.
January 4, 2023
The ending WRECKED ME. Five stars.
September 4, 2022
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Penguin Teen.
The summer after senior year should have been a time for Cam to party and hang out with his friends. It should also have been a time for him to win back the love of his life, Allison Tandy (Ally), who'd dumped him so brutally the year before. But it quickly becomes clear that this summer is going to be worse than a failure for Cam. It's going to be a tragedy. Ally is left comatose after a terrible car crash, then Cam tears his ACL in a basketball accident. The operation leaves him in agony, confined to his couch and ruminating over the fact that his ex may not survive. But when (after taking his medication) Cam starts seeing Ally, he starts to think: 1. He may be headed for a complete mental breakdown and 2. This summer might just be interesting afterall.
A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy interrogates how much control we really have over matters of love and life. This book was quirky, intriguing and full of emotion. The plot was unique and I enjoyed the realistic idea of senior student life, the parties, the relationships. Ally's sarcastic dialogue was a perfect fit for Cam's habitual lying, which is seen in the way he narrates experiences. The dialogue in general was done well and it was able to achieve an effortless air of humor and sadness that goes along with the relationship struggle of being in high school. I loved all the characters, and however they are young, the book took on a deeper tone and I truly enjoyed reading it.
Rating: 3.5/5
The summer after senior year should have been a time for Cam to party and hang out with his friends. It should also have been a time for him to win back the love of his life, Allison Tandy (Ally), who'd dumped him so brutally the year before. But it quickly becomes clear that this summer is going to be worse than a failure for Cam. It's going to be a tragedy. Ally is left comatose after a terrible car crash, then Cam tears his ACL in a basketball accident. The operation leaves him in agony, confined to his couch and ruminating over the fact that his ex may not survive. But when (after taking his medication) Cam starts seeing Ally, he starts to think: 1. He may be headed for a complete mental breakdown and 2. This summer might just be interesting afterall.
A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy interrogates how much control we really have over matters of love and life. This book was quirky, intriguing and full of emotion. The plot was unique and I enjoyed the realistic idea of senior student life, the parties, the relationships. Ally's sarcastic dialogue was a perfect fit for Cam's habitual lying, which is seen in the way he narrates experiences. The dialogue in general was done well and it was able to achieve an effortless air of humor and sadness that goes along with the relationship struggle of being in high school. I loved all the characters, and however they are young, the book took on a deeper tone and I truly enjoyed reading it.
Rating: 3.5/5
January 2, 2019
This book has everything, it's compelling, engaging, nostalgic, forward-looking, and manages to be both genuinely funny and profoundly sad. Highly recommend if you're looking for an emotional heavy-hitter with all the nostalgia of a John Hughes movie and all the humor and modern sensibility of a young-adult novel written by a young-adult author.
November 27, 2022
The only good straight boy YA main character ever
March 12, 2023
Złapała mnie za serducho.
January 12, 2023
This is unlike any other book I’ve read. While the overall theme is sad, I laughed more reading this than a comedy. Jeff Bishops writing is witty, sarcastic, snarky, and honestly just plain funny.
Cameron and Allison are seniors in high school, and they’ve been together over a year when they break up. Cam is heart broken. To make matters worse, a few months later Cam tears his ACL. When he wakes up from surgery he finds out his ex Allison has been in a car accident and is now in a coma. Cam is prescribed a new medication called Delatrix for his pain. One of the very rare side effects of this new medication, is seeing astral projections……
If you want to laugh, and read a great story, I recommend this one!!!!!
Cameron and Allison are seniors in high school, and they’ve been together over a year when they break up. Cam is heart broken. To make matters worse, a few months later Cam tears his ACL. When he wakes up from surgery he finds out his ex Allison has been in a car accident and is now in a coma. Cam is prescribed a new medication called Delatrix for his pain. One of the very rare side effects of this new medication, is seeing astral projections……
If you want to laugh, and read a great story, I recommend this one!!!!!
July 27, 2022
3.75 stars
In this book we follow Cam. It is the Spring semester of a senior year and hes ready to have a great time; however, two things happen: one his ex girlfriend, Ally, gets into a car crash and ends up in a coma and two Cam gets into a "basketball accident" and tears his ACL. After his surgery he is left in pain so his doctor prescribes him some new medication which while helping with his pain also causes him to hallucinate Ally. Together they go on this little adventure of sorts.
This book was very reminiscent of the young adult novels I read in high school. The dialog was fun and realistic. It also reminded me of my high school experience having these difficult conversations with my friends and boyfriend at the time.
The story felt a little underdeveloped/not clear at timesm I wish it was about 50 pages longer. Some of the serious topics were handled a little too lightly for my liking. Also I'm still thinking about that Band-Aid scene.
Overall I think this book would be good for high schoolers or those who have just graduated high school.
CWs: drug use, sex, underage drinking, car accident, blood, razor, visual and auditory hallucinations, jokes on suicide
In this book we follow Cam. It is the Spring semester of a senior year and hes ready to have a great time; however, two things happen: one his ex girlfriend, Ally, gets into a car crash and ends up in a coma and two Cam gets into a "basketball accident" and tears his ACL. After his surgery he is left in pain so his doctor prescribes him some new medication which while helping with his pain also causes him to hallucinate Ally. Together they go on this little adventure of sorts.
This book was very reminiscent of the young adult novels I read in high school. The dialog was fun and realistic. It also reminded me of my high school experience having these difficult conversations with my friends and boyfriend at the time.
The story felt a little underdeveloped/not clear at timesm I wish it was about 50 pages longer. Some of the serious topics were handled a little too lightly for my liking. Also I'm still thinking about that Band-Aid scene.
Overall I think this book would be good for high schoolers or those who have just graduated high school.
CWs: drug use, sex, underage drinking, car accident, blood, razor, visual and auditory hallucinations, jokes on suicide
July 29, 2022
This book was a YA so it was very quick and easy to read but I had issues, so many issues with this book. First the dynamic between Cam and his Mom. As a mother I would never be so aloof, and cold, and critical, and clinical with my son, she was a person it was very easy to dislike. Case in point your senior high schooler just had ACL surgery and the next days falls in the kitchen right in front of you and you leave him lying there without so much as lifting a finger. And then when he yells for help in the middle of the night you come down and tell him off, and give him the silent treatment the next morning and ask him to drive his little sister to school because you’re sick of doing it. She was awful.
Onto Cam and Ally, this “relationship” with Ally seemed so dysfunctional, even when told from differing perspectives and timelines I came to the same conclusion…these two were not good for each other. They didn’t seem to treat each other well while dating and even worse after they “broke up” the whole “love of my life” scenario was just too far fetched to believe.
Lastly there was so much language and references to doing nothing but drinking and more drinking and getting stoned. This is a book I would 100% not recommend to anyone.
Onto Cam and Ally, this “relationship” with Ally seemed so dysfunctional, even when told from differing perspectives and timelines I came to the same conclusion…these two were not good for each other. They didn’t seem to treat each other well while dating and even worse after they “broke up” the whole “love of my life” scenario was just too far fetched to believe.
Lastly there was so much language and references to doing nothing but drinking and more drinking and getting stoned. This is a book I would 100% not recommend to anyone.
March 28, 2022
Jeff Bishop's debut, A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy, was so worth the wait! It is funny and heartfelt and so very real. The voice is so strong and you fall into the pages with ease, getting lost in the story. Cam is the perfect narrator (you can't help but sympathize with him and the strange situation he finds himself in) and I loved the whole cast of characters. I cannot wait for everyone else to read this amazing debut!
Want to read
September 22, 2019My name is in the title so it's only right that I add this to my never - ending tbr 💁♀️💅
August 10, 2022
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH
Read
January 30, 2023wtf! I NEED THE NEXT BOOK! this was like so dysfunctional and hilarious. robbie daymond did cam perfectly. the boy is a gem. i had to bookmark multiple parts:
at the hospital:
nurse: name?
cam: cameron garretty
nurse: birthday?
cam: november 7
nurse: height?
cam: 6'3"
nurse: wait
cam: ...
nurse: ...
cam: oh you meant "weight."
calling the hospital:
cam: i'm looking for a patient, allison tandy?
nurse: i'm sorry to inform you but allison tandy is in a coma.
cam: AH THANK GOD
nurse: i'm sorry?!?
maisie is also adorable. very rarely do i like younger siblings in books. cam and allison's toxic relationship worked for them tbh. i did find that the book lagged at parts though. i put off reading this because i was waiting for the second book but then went fuck it and now i regret it because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT NOW. also, the cover colour is so vibes✨✨✨ basically, i enjoyed v much.
january 29, 2023
at the hospital:
nurse: name?
cam: cameron garretty
nurse: birthday?
cam: november 7
nurse: height?
cam: 6'3"
nurse: wait
cam: ...
nurse: ...
cam: oh you meant "weight."
calling the hospital:
cam: i'm looking for a patient, allison tandy?
nurse: i'm sorry to inform you but allison tandy is in a coma.
cam: AH THANK GOD
nurse: i'm sorry?!?
maisie is also adorable. very rarely do i like younger siblings in books. cam and allison's toxic relationship worked for them tbh. i did find that the book lagged at parts though. i put off reading this because i was waiting for the second book but then went fuck it and now i regret it because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT NOW. also, the cover colour is so vibes✨✨✨ basically, i enjoyed v much.
january 29, 2023
March 9, 2023
4.5 - made me cry
February 15, 2023
I can’t tell if I liked this book or hated it. I didn’t really like how I loved Ally or hated her at another moment.
On the other hand, this was an adorable book. There was just something so lovable about Cam.
On the other hand, this was an adorable book. There was just something so lovable about Cam.
July 26, 2022
Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for sending me a gifted copy of A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy!
Oh. my. God. WHAT? I just noticed the #1 after the title -- we're getting a SERIES? Or at least a second book?!@! BLESS.
Also, let's take a moment to appreciate this book cover. Gorgeous. Absolutely perfect.
But, to the point, wow. This book was a full-on good time. It was laugh-out-loud funny & the casual conversational flow from the narrator helps move the story along & puts you in it. By the time I finished, I was convinced I was actually BFFs with the main character, Cam, and that he was telling me the deets on seeing (& talking to) his ex-girlfriend everywhere but at the hospital where she lays in a coma. I thoroughly enjoyed this & will definitely be reading any future works from Jeff Bishop.
Oh. my. God. WHAT? I just noticed the #1 after the title -- we're getting a SERIES? Or at least a second book?!@! BLESS.
Also, let's take a moment to appreciate this book cover. Gorgeous. Absolutely perfect.
But, to the point, wow. This book was a full-on good time. It was laugh-out-loud funny & the casual conversational flow from the narrator helps move the story along & puts you in it. By the time I finished, I was convinced I was actually BFFs with the main character, Cam, and that he was telling me the deets on seeing (& talking to) his ex-girlfriend everywhere but at the hospital where she lays in a coma. I thoroughly enjoyed this & will definitely be reading any future works from Jeff Bishop.
July 21, 2022
ICKWKCIWICUQNXKAICE BANDAIDGATE XOWKCJWJCEN
not me caring about a (mostly) straight boy
not me caring about a (mostly) straight boy
August 10, 2022
Loved this book. Funny, dark, unique, witty, endearing. Not just a YA book for teens. Would read it again and again
July 12, 2022
Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book to read and review. This book was a whirlwind of drama, friendships, feelings and teenage angst, and I loved it. The sarcasm and inner monologues inside Cam's head were magnificent and I really enjoyed his narration. I loved the idea of Ally being an astral projection while she's in a coma. I thought it was done really well and it contributed naturally to the storyline. I'm excited there will be a book two because I want to see where these characters will go. I feel like this book was so sharp and refreshing. It was funny, but also dealt with teenage issues that didn't feel forced. I thought the dialogue was done well and it was able to achieve an effortless air of humor and sadness that goes along with the relationship struggle of being in high school. While the characters are young, the book took on a deeper tone and I truly enjoyed reading it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews