OCD Love Story

OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu, 341 pages

There are a lot of reasons that you could be scared away from this book: from the bright yellow and pink cover with a not-great, somewhat out-of-context quote on the back, to the disappointingly generic start (you know the drill: go to school, argue with parents, talk about cute boys, etc.). Assuming you get past those initial hurdles, you could also be turned away by main character Bea's slow descent into increasingly troubling behavior.

The longer that you can stick with it, though, the more you'll be rewarded. This is a novel that's both informative and touching, heartbreaking and full of hope. The ending may be a bit clean, given everything that happens before it, but it's also necessary, like letting out a breath.

This is the kind of novel that is difficult to recommend broadly, but will be irreplaceable for those that struggle through.