OCD Love Story, by Corey Ann Haydu

I love titles that tell you what the story is going to be about. I think there is probably no better example of this than OCD Love Story, by Corey Ann Haydu. It’s a book about characters with OCD and it’s a love story. I don’t think either element would be as successful without the other to counter balance it.

To give you a little context here is the summary from goodreads: When Bea meets Beck, she knows instantly that he’s her kind of crazy. Sweet, strong, kinda-messed-up Beck understands her like no one else can. He makes her feel almost normal. He makes her feel like she could fall in love again.
But despite her feelings for Beck, Bea can’t stop thinking about someone else: a guy who is gorgeous and magnetic… and has no idea Bea even exists. But Bea knows a lot about him. She spends a lot of time watching him. She has a journal full of notes. Some might even say she’s obsessed.

Bea tells herself she’s got it all under control. But this isn’t a choice, it’s a compulsion. The truth is, she’s breaking down…and she might end up breaking her own heart.

I think it was very clever for Haydu to write about OCD in the structure of a traditional love story. So much of my desire for Bea and Beck to get help and get better stemmed from me wanting their relationship to work out. I do not have OCD, so I can’t comment too much on the portrayal of this condition, except to say that it felt very honest to me. Honestly, it felt too honest and at times it was hard to take.

That being said, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes tough love stories or is interested in a unique teenage romance. I felt completely captivated by both characters and couldn’t put this book down, despite the large mound of reading I was supposed to be doing for school instead.