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OC Me
“Whoever said high school was the best time of our lives definitely did not have OCD."
Amy’s senior year of high school is not going as planned. When a tragic accident leaves her favorite aunt unconscious in the intensive care unit, all of her goals suddenly seem trivial.
In the days and weeks that follow the accident, irrational fears begin to flood Amy’s mind. Embarrassed, she keeps them to herself, lying to everyone - including her best friend Kat - to cover her strange behavior. Because how do you explain something you don’t understand yourself?
When James, a boy with a contagious smile, starts spending time with her, she wishes she could just be herself again: a carefree artist with aspirations to get a scholarship to State. But as the unwelcomed thoughts escalate, Amy finds herself unsure of everything.
When Amy learns she has OCD, she begins a journey of self-discovery which will shape the rest of her life. It all starts with admitting something so simple but so difficult - the truth.
Amy’s senior year of high school is not going as planned. When a tragic accident leaves her favorite aunt unconscious in the intensive care unit, all of her goals suddenly seem trivial.
In the days and weeks that follow the accident, irrational fears begin to flood Amy’s mind. Embarrassed, she keeps them to herself, lying to everyone - including her best friend Kat - to cover her strange behavior. Because how do you explain something you don’t understand yourself?
When James, a boy with a contagious smile, starts spending time with her, she wishes she could just be herself again: a carefree artist with aspirations to get a scholarship to State. But as the unwelcomed thoughts escalate, Amy finds herself unsure of everything.
When Amy learns she has OCD, she begins a journey of self-discovery which will shape the rest of her life. It all starts with admitting something so simple but so difficult - the truth.
244 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2014
3 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Albright
3 books21 followersKristin is a native Wisconsinite and a proud alum of the UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts. Her favorite genre to read and write is YA fiction. By day she is a high school instrumental music teacher (which is a fancy way of saying that she's a forever band geek.) When not writing or teaching Kristin enjoys hiking and mountain biking with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 9, 2016
Books do many different things for readers. They can evoke emotions, they can educate, they can even change someone's life.
"OC Me" by Kristin Albright has the power to do all three in my opinion.
It's the type of book I believe everyone should read - every teenager, every parent, every adult. This should be on reading lists in every high school. It's painfully accurate in its depiction of a mental disorder. But it's never preachy or boring or unemotional. The opposite is the case. It's deeply emotional, realistic and down-to-earth.
I wish I would have had this book as a teenager. And I wish others could read it. Maybe they wouldn't feel alone or crazy. Maybe they would be able to help a friend and better understand them. Maybe they would stop making fun of others.
"OC Me" takes us on a journey that is filled with tears, insecurity, fear, pain and worry. But there is also love and happiness, friends and family. It's a mix of light and dark. It's life.
Specifically, it's Amy's life. She's a senior in high school - loving to spend time with her friends, painting and just being a normal teenager. Until one day she isn't normal anymore - at least not her definition of normal. From one day onto another, her life is now filled with thoughts she can't control. Thoughts that are gaining more and more power, crippling her in the process.
And the more she succumbs to them, the stronger those thoughts get. Her fears are taking over her life, forcing her to hide from the people she cares about the most.
It's a constant downward spiral, a feeling like she's drowning. But sometimes all you need is one helping hand. One person who sees your pain and is willing to help you save yourself. Thankfully, Amy is lucky enough to find the support she needs. That's only the start of her journey though. She's got a long way to go - a way that isn't always easy and where she has to open her heart and to learn self-acceptance, self-love and trust.
Amy's journey really got to me. There were times when I ended up with tears streaming down my face, her emotions so tangible that I could feel them myself. Amy was a heroine who is easy to adore and like. She's down-to-earth, sweet and nice. Even in the most dire of circumstances, she isn't whiny or overly dramatic. Her thought process captivated me and so did her effort of coming to terms with her OCD diagnosis. The author has done an excellent jobs to make Amy's fears, worries and shame come to live, to let the reader feel what she's feeling. And let me tell you, it wasn't pretty. But it just goes to show Amy's amazing strength of battling the illness, not allowing it to take away everything she cares about and loves.
She was very lucky to have some special and understanding people in her life. Her best friend Kat was upbeat, loud and cheery on the outside, but when necessary she could be serious and just be there for Amy. Not judging, not shaming - just loving.
And then there was James. A guy so perfect for Amy it hurts. A guy many girls can only wish for. He wasn't your typical high school kid. He neither came from a broken home, nor did he have a past that haunted him. He wasn't a jock or a nerd. He was "just" James - a sweet, caring and kind guy, who was also funny, artistic and really cares for Amy. The things he did and said - I swear my heart went pitter patter. His gestures often had me sigh or cry or both and they definitely made him a perfect book boyfriend.
There isn't much action in this book. There is no smut or over-the-top drama. Instead, it's a coming-of-age journey - one that is complicated by a mental illness. It's a story about resilience and perseverance. About friendship and love. About looking adversity in the face and not cowering.
It's beautiful. Educational. On point.
5 everyone-should-read-this stars.
"OC Me" by Kristin Albright has the power to do all three in my opinion.
It's the type of book I believe everyone should read - every teenager, every parent, every adult. This should be on reading lists in every high school. It's painfully accurate in its depiction of a mental disorder. But it's never preachy or boring or unemotional. The opposite is the case. It's deeply emotional, realistic and down-to-earth.
I wish I would have had this book as a teenager. And I wish others could read it. Maybe they wouldn't feel alone or crazy. Maybe they would be able to help a friend and better understand them. Maybe they would stop making fun of others.
"OC Me" takes us on a journey that is filled with tears, insecurity, fear, pain and worry. But there is also love and happiness, friends and family. It's a mix of light and dark. It's life.
Specifically, it's Amy's life. She's a senior in high school - loving to spend time with her friends, painting and just being a normal teenager. Until one day she isn't normal anymore - at least not her definition of normal. From one day onto another, her life is now filled with thoughts she can't control. Thoughts that are gaining more and more power, crippling her in the process.
And the more she succumbs to them, the stronger those thoughts get. Her fears are taking over her life, forcing her to hide from the people she cares about the most.
It's a constant downward spiral, a feeling like she's drowning. But sometimes all you need is one helping hand. One person who sees your pain and is willing to help you save yourself. Thankfully, Amy is lucky enough to find the support she needs. That's only the start of her journey though. She's got a long way to go - a way that isn't always easy and where she has to open her heart and to learn self-acceptance, self-love and trust.
Amy's journey really got to me. There were times when I ended up with tears streaming down my face, her emotions so tangible that I could feel them myself. Amy was a heroine who is easy to adore and like. She's down-to-earth, sweet and nice. Even in the most dire of circumstances, she isn't whiny or overly dramatic. Her thought process captivated me and so did her effort of coming to terms with her OCD diagnosis. The author has done an excellent jobs to make Amy's fears, worries and shame come to live, to let the reader feel what she's feeling. And let me tell you, it wasn't pretty. But it just goes to show Amy's amazing strength of battling the illness, not allowing it to take away everything she cares about and loves.
She was very lucky to have some special and understanding people in her life. Her best friend Kat was upbeat, loud and cheery on the outside, but when necessary she could be serious and just be there for Amy. Not judging, not shaming - just loving.
And then there was James. A guy so perfect for Amy it hurts. A guy many girls can only wish for. He wasn't your typical high school kid. He neither came from a broken home, nor did he have a past that haunted him. He wasn't a jock or a nerd. He was "just" James - a sweet, caring and kind guy, who was also funny, artistic and really cares for Amy. The things he did and said - I swear my heart went pitter patter. His gestures often had me sigh or cry or both and they definitely made him a perfect book boyfriend.
There isn't much action in this book. There is no smut or over-the-top drama. Instead, it's a coming-of-age journey - one that is complicated by a mental illness. It's a story about resilience and perseverance. About friendship and love. About looking adversity in the face and not cowering.
It's beautiful. Educational. On point.
5 everyone-should-read-this stars.
May 27, 2023
Amy is in the top ten of her senior graduating class, meaning she can apply for a merit scholarship at State, she has a crush on a cute boy in her art class named James. But after her aunt Lisa is in a car accident, unconscious in the hospital, things change for Amy; crazy, irrational thoughts seem to worry her mind, and she's not quite sure what to make of it, or if she even understands it herself. Keeping the thoughts to herself because she's too self-conscious to talk about them, she finds herself lying to her family and friends. But when her guidance counselor suggests seeing the school psychologist, Amy discovers that she might have a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
After reading and loving More than a Moment, I knew I had to check out Kristin Albright's debut novel; needless to say I wasn't disappointed.
I love how Amy used art to express her innermost feelings that she was too embarrassed and ashamed to talk about. She was such a wonderful and brave character; I also loved James, the boy she falls for, he was so sweet to her! I absolutely loved that he
I highly recommend reading this story, this book gives you a better understanding of what it's like to live with an anxiety disorder, and how it affects everyday situations that the average person wouldn't normally think twice about. How a young teenage girl realizes she's not alone and learns about her own self-discovery. I found it to be very interesting and inspirational, I also loved the quotes at the start of each chapter.
After reading and loving More than a Moment, I knew I had to check out Kristin Albright's debut novel; needless to say I wasn't disappointed.
I love how Amy used art to express her innermost feelings that she was too embarrassed and ashamed to talk about. She was such a wonderful and brave character; I also loved James, the boy she falls for, he was so sweet to her! I absolutely loved that he
I highly recommend reading this story, this book gives you a better understanding of what it's like to live with an anxiety disorder, and how it affects everyday situations that the average person wouldn't normally think twice about. How a young teenage girl realizes she's not alone and learns about her own self-discovery. I found it to be very interesting and inspirational, I also loved the quotes at the start of each chapter.
October 26, 2014
First off, I want to say that this book was soooo good! I really loved it!
Second, I'm pretty obsessed with reading fiction books about OCD or anxiety disorders bc I'm pretty sure I have social anxiety & or OCD. This book really hit home with me because it really described OCD as something else than the typical OCD everyone knows.
Thirdly (lol), how 'bout that James, huh? What a spectacular guy! I mean, Opal Colored Daisies. I'm tearing up just thinking about how much he cared about her to do something to help ease her mind about her disorder. Seriously, I loved this guy.
Also, I love how supportive her friends, family, counselor, & the support group were...it makes it not so scary to talk about the crap that runs through my mind on a daily basis with the people in my life.
Lastly, This book could really help someone understand themselves a little bit more, which is what I'm 100% positive the author wanted to do with this book, even though it is fiction & I commend her on it. Thank you Kristin. And, I hope this book reaches young people as well & helps them through what they feel.
*just a note, my 14 year old niece wants to be a psychologist one day & if I could get her to read on an eReader, I will make her read this book! Lol! Seriously, this book was great!
Second, I'm pretty obsessed with reading fiction books about OCD or anxiety disorders bc I'm pretty sure I have social anxiety & or OCD. This book really hit home with me because it really described OCD as something else than the typical OCD everyone knows.
Thirdly (lol), how 'bout that James, huh? What a spectacular guy! I mean, Opal Colored Daisies. I'm tearing up just thinking about how much he cared about her to do something to help ease her mind about her disorder. Seriously, I loved this guy.
Also, I love how supportive her friends, family, counselor, & the support group were...it makes it not so scary to talk about the crap that runs through my mind on a daily basis with the people in my life.
Lastly, This book could really help someone understand themselves a little bit more, which is what I'm 100% positive the author wanted to do with this book, even though it is fiction & I commend her on it. Thank you Kristin. And, I hope this book reaches young people as well & helps them through what they feel.
*just a note, my 14 year old niece wants to be a psychologist one day & if I could get her to read on an eReader, I will make her read this book! Lol! Seriously, this book was great!
September 12, 2014
The storyline for this debut YA fiction novel was fantastic. The subject matter, as well as the characters, has depth and dimension. The author did a tremendous job in developing the heroine Amy as her anxiety disorder slowly manifested itself, the effects of which permeated her romantic relationship with classmate James. The progression of the disorder was realistic, as were Amy’s reactions to scenarios she began to encounter. I was very sympathetic toward Amy and I felt her angst throughout the story as she struggled to deal with her disorder while attempting to live life as a high school student looking toward the future. I also loved James – he was sensitive, supportive, patient and determined to win Amy over. It was such a sweet story and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
January 21, 2015
I absolutely loved OC Me. I think Kristin Albright took a subject close to her heart and shared it with readers in the best possible way. It was amazing how she took you step by step through each stage of Amy's anxiety and her relationships with those around her. Not only did I really enjoy the writing and story, but I learned a lot by reading it. OC Me is a book I will definitely be recommending for others to read. I look forward to reading more of Kristin Albright's novels in the future!
I would like to thank Kristin Albright and Goodreads First Reads for giving me a copy of OC Me.
I would like to thank Kristin Albright and Goodreads First Reads for giving me a copy of OC Me.
January 17, 2015
This story deals with anxiety, depression, and OCD issues. This is a true journey of self discovery for a young girl who lost someone in a tragic accident causing irrational fears. Amy begins her Senior year but realizes their is strange behavior that escalates and it makes her become unsure of everything of what is going on. Driving is different, her emotions are causing true break down. When James enters into her life, spending time with her, she wishes she could be herself again. Will she be able to find the help she needs before everything goes out of control?
September 18, 2014
Such a well written book! It had me tearing up. It was a great way to introduce and inform people about OCD and anxiety disorders, other than what is portrayed by the media. The way the Kristin wrote this book, I was feeling every emotion the characters were feeling. It all felt so real. I especially loved the relationship Amy and James have. He is such a sweet, caring, and supportive guy. I loved this book, and can't wait to read more from Kristin!
October 28, 2016
A very touching story
I read this book because it had been recommended as a resource on OCD, but I finished reading it with tears in my eyes and a full heart realizing it helped me see my own OCD as less of a burden. Wonderful engaging story that's more about acceptance and friendship and less about an acronym.
I read this book because it had been recommended as a resource on OCD, but I finished reading it with tears in my eyes and a full heart realizing it helped me see my own OCD as less of a burden. Wonderful engaging story that's more about acceptance and friendship and less about an acronym.
January 24, 2015
I got this book from Goodreads First-Reads and I have to say that this book overall was amazing and very touching. I really liked the book and found the beauty within the book the author did a really great job on this book :)
December 4, 2016
Such a great book! Wish it would have been easier to get my hands on but a great read. I fell in love with the characters and got a very interesting perspective on OCD. I highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews