How to Hide in Plain Sight

 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), engages in repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both.

Synopsis:

Eliot Beck has been working in NYC and avoiding her family for three years. She’s also been avoiding Manuel, her best friend since childhood. Now her brother Taz is getting married and her dysfunctional blended family is returning to their vacation home on Cradle Island for the nuptials - an event she can’t avoid.

The problem is - something snapped inside of her after her brother Henry died in an accident when they were both ten and the ‘Worries’ began. Despite an OCD diagnosis and therapy, the unwanted inappropriate thoughts have persisted and it’s been easier to hide from those she loves than risk the shame of them finding out she’s the bad person her thoughts tell her she is.

Without Henry, she’s lost the one person who could make her feel less alone as the youngest of her four much older remaining siblings. That’s why Manuel’s friendship was such a lifeline for her. He knew about her OCD and stayed. Now he’s also back on Cradle Island with Eliot’s family, who became just as much his as hers over the years.

Manuel’s feelings for Eliot haven’t changed, but will she risk letting him or her family see that she’s still struggling?

Thoughts on the Book:

My first thought after reading this is - everyone needs a Manuel in their corner! He has the patience of a saint, as Eliot’s issues threw up roadblocks whenever possible. Seeing his care and concern for her melted my heart, as he gave her a safe place to be a messy human, and don’t we all need that sometimes? I enjoyed watching the evolution of her family dynamics too, as they all wrestle with their demons.

Based on author Emma Noyes’ own experience with OCD, this is illuminating, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful. It isn’t your standard feel-good romance. It’s loaded with heavier topics including family dysfunction, addiction, accidental death, trauma, and mental health issues. Having said that, it never felt weighed down or depressing.

Eliot’s character is challenging, and your experience of the book will largely depend on how sympathetic you are towards her, especially since it’s entirely narrated from her POV. I had a personal connection to her struggles that allowed me that empathy, but I could see where some readers might be put off by the extremely self-focused behavior and decisions caused by her OCD.

If you like non-traditional romance with messy family dynamics and a satisfying journey towards healing for all involved, this is a worthy read, and the audio narrated by Emily Pike Stewart was a nice addition!

★★★★

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Emma Noyes for this digital ARC to honestly review and to my library/Libby for the audio. It’s out now.