The Proposal meets The Unhoneymooners in Allison Raskin’s charming new rom com. With her signature warmth and frank conversation about romance and mental health, COMPULSIVELY YOURS offers a fresh spin on fake dating and friends to lovers tropes, set on a gorgeous beach in Mexico.
Libi Newman doesn’t date. Relationship and Harm OCD make it tough for Libi to date without doubts, so she prefers to flit between hook-ups instead, knowing that she can’t sabotage a relationship if it’s not serious. It’s not ideal, but grieving her mother’s recent passing, Libi can only deal with so many emotions at once. That’s what OCD support group is for anyway.
Nate Keller has harbored a crush on Libi since she joined the group. While he’s there to discuss his Contamination OCD, he can’t help but be fascinated by Libi's history…and her adorably chatty nature. But they’re just friends, and Nate’s okay with that. Really.
When Libi's summoned to the Newman family timeshare in Mexico for her grandparents’ anniversary, it’s not all margaritas and suntans. Not only has her father started dating a new woman, her least-favorite cousin also has a boyfriend to introduce to the family—shockingly, it’s Libi’s ex, who she might still be in love with… Not wanting her to stomach the reunion alone, Nate tags along for emotional support.
What begins as an innocent promise of friends helping each other quickly turns into a fake-dating scheme. And Nate’s playing the fake boyfriend role too well. As the lies stack up, Libi has to keep up with her own ping-ponging emotions: are the romantic sunset strolls coloring her perspective… or is she actually wanting to date Nate for real?
Allison Raskin is a New York Times bestselling author, relationship coach and a leading voice in mental health advocacy, in addition to being an accomplished screenwriter and content creator. She co-hosts the popular podcast Just Between Us and created the Emotional Support Lady Instagram and Substack. She also holds a master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University and a BFA in screenwriting from USC.
This was the book I never knew I needed! I’ve never read a romance (or any book for that matter) that portrays OCD this way and it felt incredibly refreshing to see it represented this well. It was so real and honest. I found myself connecting with both characters not only as someone who also has OCD but they were funny, messy, imperfect and authentic. The banter and chemistry between the two main characters was entertaining and I enjoy a satisfying fake dating trope. Not only did this story include mental health representation but it was also heavy on navigating grief. As difficult as these subjects can be this was truly an effortless read. This is more of a fade to black romance, perfect if you’re looking for something low spice. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!
Compulsively Yours handles grief, mental health rep, and family dynamics in a realistic way while also providing a satisfying romance. Highly recommended.
Compulsively Yours is excellent. What makes it stand out is how Raskin handles mental health, with a realism that doesn't prioritize the reader's comfort. I was genuinely uncomfortable for much of the book, and that felt intentional and right. The characters aren't always likeable, but they are startlingly real, which is far more interesting anyway.
My only minor critique is that having a mental health professional be the one to set the whole trip in motion felt a little unnecessary. The story probably could have found its way there through a different, more organic path.
But that's a small thing in an otherwise really strong book. Highly recommend, especially if you want romance that takes mental health seriously without softening it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the early read.
"She couldn't imagine going on that kind of family vacation without that clarity"... except she's literally on that kind of family vacation, and she chose to have no clarity...
As someone who struggles with life interrupting OCD, I hate Libi Newman. She is so incredibly selfish and immature- a narcissist for sure. (To be clear, her compulsivity isn't the issue.) Enter stage right, Nate Keller. Her friend at the local OCD support group and quick travel buddy on this Mexican family vacation. He comes to distract Libi from the fact that she didn't allow her father to start dating after her mom passed away, let alone approve of this 'other woman' joining dad on the trip. How dare dad move on with his life. It's sooo selfish of him 🙄
Nate's OCD is easy to understand as normal health concerns magnified during COVID for him, and now his fears trump logically thinking. However, people with OCD learn how to live and therefore manage their preferences and presentations- it's not something that sprouts one day (even if it does change over time) unless there's been a major trauma. While readers might start out feeling bad for Nate, his incompetence navigating his longstanding OCD manifestations is frustrating. Nate is not a child- he's a doctor! He made the decision to go. He should own it and figure his preferences out because it's not Libi's job to be his mom and hold his hand- she's anxious enough!
Now to the crux of the issue: Nate encourages Libi to continue in her narcissism. While they make exceptions and have deep understanding for each other, they refuse to accept other people as individuals with their own life choices and preferences. Conversations regarding the big clash were frustrating because while Libi is the main female protagonist in this novel, she's not the main character in the world around her, and no one needs to capitulate to her childish demands.
Compulsively Yours was disappointing mostly because I was hoping for an encouraging, cute rom-com, and it wasn't romantic or comedic.
Troupes: dual POV, unlikeable protagonist, friends to lovers, fake dating, vacation romance, forced proximity, miscommunication split, grand gesture
Spice: 3/5 🌶️ Gore: 0/5 🩸 Language: 1/5 👀 Triggers: OCD manifestations, death of a loved one
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC!
Compulsively Yours by Allison Raskin was a really interesting mix of romance, family drama, mental health discussions, and fake dating tropes set in sunny Mexico. 🌴☀️
First of all, I have to mention that it was oddly difficult to even find a proper description of this book outside of Goodreads, which felt a little strange. 😅
As someone with a psychology background and mild anxiety/OCD tendencies myself, I found a lot of the OCD representation relatable and interesting. Libi and Nate were both easy to root for, especially in the beginning, and I liked seeing how differently their OCD symptoms presented. I also appreciated how much time we spent inside Libi’s thoughts - it really showed how exhausting constant spiraling and overthinking can be. 🫠
The fake dating setup and family vacation drama kept me hooked, and I finished the book in one day. I especially liked the way they supported each other: Libi helping Nate face some of his fears, while Nate tried to ground Libi when her thoughts spiraled too much. 💞
That said, there were a few things that didn’t fully work for me. As a psychologist, I found it a little questionable that their therapist suggested Nate join her family trip - it felt like crossing a professional boundary. Some of Nate’s OCD triggers also felt inconsistent at times. But honestly, I could overlook most of that because I was enjoying the story. 😬
What lost me a bit were the final chapters. Once the family proposal drama started, things became much messier and more dramatic, and by the end I felt a little emotionally disconnected from the romance. The big romantic gesture at the end was also a bit too much for me personally.➖
I was also surprised this was such a clean romance - especially after reading much spicier books lately 😂 - but I honestly didn’t mind it.
Overall, this was an emotional, engaging read with strong mental health themes, lovable characters, and plenty of vacation/fake dating vibes, even if the ending didn’t fully land for me. ✨📚
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars rounded up for accurately depicting OCD -- for better or for worse.
When I got approved for this ARC, I was ecstatic. I struggle with my own harm OCD, so it was super exciting to see representation in a genre that I love!
Compulsively Yours is about two people (Libi & Nate) finding encouragement and strength in each other as they navigate Libi's annual family holiday on the coast of Mexico. Plus, love! Yay! Now, you have to suspend some level of disbelief (this is a romance novel after all ;-) ) what with how their therapist suggests buddying up for this trip, but I loved the idea of using your support system to learn to cope with the demons in your head. Libi's family was a hoot, and I enjoyed the extra layer of Libi having to navigate her own grief over the sudden and recent death of her mom. It was so nuanced that it quickly became clear to me that Raskin spent a lot of time and effort on properly portraying these heavy themes with the necessary attention and care.
Sometimes, though, I found this book frustrating. Not for any fault of Raskin's at all; I think she may have written OCD a little too well. OCD is a condition that defies logic, and those with it understand this. Yet, we are beholden to compulsions that don't usually make a lot sense. As a result, there were times throughout this book that had me wanting to bang my head against the wall simply because I could actively see OCD convincing the characters to make their lives more difficult -- which is exactly what OCD does!
Because OCD is such a high priority in this book, I found that I cared less about the romance. This worked for me just fine. But, if you decide to pick up this book -- you should -- just be aware that it's a lot heavier and more serious than the blurb on the back sounds.
Compulsively Yours by Allison Raskin is due out December 2026!
This book was so well done. It mixed OCD/mental health, family drama, the loss of a loved one, romance, a fake dating trope, and even humor into one wonderful read. The author really did a lovely job of representing OCD and advocating for mental health.
What I didn't like:
Jasmine, the group therapist. She has such a small role, but I just thought her suggesting Nate and Libi go on the trip together was odd. I understand why the author used her to push them together and I know it's a work of fiction, but it just seems unprofessional. Other than that, I enjoyed this book overall.
Libi and Nate both have OCD. Their group therapist suggests they go to Mexico together for Libi's family vacation as a type of exposure therapy. They both have different symptoms, and she thinks they could help each other face their symptoms together. Libi has a rule that she doesn't date due to how her OCD causes her to think she's too much, and comes on too strong to potential partners. However, as soon as they land, when her family starts asking who he is, he blurts out that they are a couple. From there, the fake dating trope takes over, but it is so sweet and not overly cheesy.
Of course, it wouldn't be a fake dating trope without a huge mess and a big gesture to tie everything together in the end, and Raskin delivered. The last part of the book is non-stop packed with messes from all angles, but she manages to bring it all back together in the end.
4⭐️ Seriously most people need the therapy this story offers! The MMC is a therapist and the nuggets of wisdom were slapping. 💥 There were so many scenes where I was like, “YES! I wish THIS PERSON thought like THIS!” or “I TOTALLY FEEL THIS!” The author explains she wrote Compulsively Yours on the heels of her mother’s passing as a way to process her own grief so naturally Libi, the MFC, is also grappling with the sudden loss of her mother. You will find this goes beyond navigating grief though.
My favorite traits of the main characters, Libi and Nate, were how considerate and patient they were of one another’s struggles. It kind of made my heart melt. ❣️ We could all take a page from their book! Their more infuriating and cringe-worthy qualities included Libi’s nonchalance about sleeping with strangers as a part of her OCD (just mentioned, not described thankfully) and Nate’s internal thoughts about women (probably not far from how most men think, but ew 😝). I also could have done without the swearing, though it wasn’t excessive IMO. Perfect characters wouldn’t allow for growth, so I get it. 😊
If you like family drama, vacation mishaps, forced proximity, fake dating, fade to black 🌶️, and/or are struggling with OCD or grief, this HEA may be just for you!
**Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a free ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.**
Libi no está en el mejor estado mental. Su madre murió hace unos meses y eso provocó que su TOC se volviera más intenso, por lo que decide inscribirse en un grupo de apoyo. Para agregarle más estrés a todo, se acerca el viaje familiar donde sus abuelos paternos celebrarán su aniversario, así que toda la familia tiene que asistir y para colmo, su padre llevará a su nueva novia para presentársela a todos. Como no está lista para enfrentar todo sola, Nate, un amigo del grupo de apoyo, acepta acompañarla al viaje e intenta hacerlo más llevadero.
_______
La historia está bien. Tanto Libi como Nate caen bien y me hubiera gustado ver más de ellos después del viaje.
Cómo odié la trama del padre. El mismo día del funeral, un amigo ya estaba más que preparado para presentarle a alguien, Sheryl, pero como era demasiado pronto decide posponerlo. A las seis semanas del funeral empiezan a salir y con apenas cuatro meses de relación, la lleva al viaje familiar anual para proponerle matrimonio. Y Libi tiene que ver cómo su padre es romántico con una desconocida de una manera en la que nunca lo fue con su mamá.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
This book follows Libi, a 30-year-old struggling with OCD while also grappling with her mother's sudden death. The concept of this book was great but unfortunately the characters fell flat for me. Libi's style of grieving her mother came off as self-centered and "mean girl"-esque. The third-act conflict (if you can even call it that) happened in the last 10 percent of the book, leaving the resolution feeling rushed and unsatisfying. I felt as if Libi and Nate didn't really improve themselves in any meaningful way throughout the book, which ended up making me think that the epilogue was tacked on as an afterthought to prove that character development had in fact happened.
The side characters felt like punching bags for Libi to treat however she wanted with no remorse, which was extremely ironic considering one of Libi's main forms of OCD was ruminating on her actions and thinking that she was an evil, nonredeemable person. If Raskin hadn't narrated every negative thought Libi had about herself, I would have thought she was a narcissist. Very few times did she apologize for treating people badly.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC!!!
Let me get this out of the way first-I received a NetGalley ARC, and these are my honest thoughts.
WOW. This book was such a unique and refreshing story. Libi and Nate both live with different forms of OCD, which added so much depth and authenticity to their characters. Libi is also grieving the recent loss of her mother to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a devastating prion disease that my own mother in law passed away from. Having intimate knowledge of the disease gave me an even deeper understanding of Libi’s grief and the emotions woven throughout the story.
While the book tackles heavy themes and shows how differently people process grief, it also balances those moments beautifully with humor and heart. The setting, a luxury Mexican resort vacation with Libi’s entire family, created the perfect backdrop for the fake-boyfriend trope with Nate, and some genuinely hilarious moments came from it.
I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down once I started. It felt so refreshing to read a romance with characters who were different from the typical rom-com leads, and their story will stay with me long after I finished the last page.
This started out so incredibly amazing that I genuinely thought it was going to be the best book I’d read all year. The mental health representation from different angles, the promise of a fake dating beach vacation… What’s not to like?
And then it just … Lost me. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Libi and Nate, and even though I know her relationship OCD was causing her to have all of those doubts in her mind, the way they were presented on the page made me think ‘hmm good point girlie DO we even love him?’. I would’ve liked to see more character growth for both of them, rather than just a bandaid on their preexisting states. The whole cousin/ex boyfriend thing was weird and icky and frankly didn’t add much to the story.
The book started so poignant and deep, but somehow ended so juvenile and a little bit stale. Rachel pushing her over the pier, Libi hitting her head, and then … Nothing? That whole situation was uncomfortable and I didn’t see the point.
All in all just not the book for me! Which is such a bummer because I was so excited to see some anxiety/OCD representation in romance literature!!!
This was was such a fun and surprisingly thoughtful read. Thank you for the ARC NetGalley as this one was a great one to add to my reading list.
What pulled me in initially was the fake dating setup and beachy Mexico setting, but what kept me invested was the balance between humor, vulnerability, and emotions. The story handles mental health, specifically levels of OCD and relationships in a way that feels honest without becoming heavy.
The chemistry between the main characters felt natural, and I liked that neither of them felt perfectly polished. Their connection builds through comfort and tension rather than just instant attraction, which made it feel more well rounded through the storyline for me.
The pacing slowed a bit in the middle for me, but overall, I still really enjoyed it and found myself rooting for them.
A great mix of beach-read energy and emotional substance—definitely worth picking up if you enjoy romance with humor, heart, and imperfect but relatable characters.
ok. picture this. two people meet in an OCD support group (love) THEN they go on a family trip together to conquer his fear of flying (love) and her not want to be alone bccccc her cousin is bringingggggg u guessed it!! her ex!!!! (not love) so then they OBVIOUSLY have to fake date (duh) bc that's CLEARLY the only logical solution as two fully grown mature adults
was it good? yes. should I have read the description before requesting it so I wasn't reading a bit of a heavier book about mental health on the beach for my vacation? probably. will I reread it? no??? would I go back in time and request this again? for sure. should I stop asking myself questions? yeah
anywho net galley!!!! ur amazing!!!! thank uuuuuu. I havent gotten a book from them in SO LONG guys I was feeling unloved.
Fake dating? Friends to lovers? Realistic mental health representation? A vacation in Mexico? Top tier banter? Sign. Me. Up.
The banter between Libi and Nate was fantastic! The characters felt so incredibly real with their flaws and interactions. I loved how OCD was represented and how it manifests differently for each person. The relationships Libi had with her family while grieving also felt so incredibly realistic, especially with her dad.
Of course there were a few things that threw reality out the window - Jasmine suggesting two of her patients go on a trip together, an entire family not knowing about someone you dated for four years, and said entire family ending their vacation to fly to the FMC's city for her grand gesture.
Overall, highly enjoyable and I wished there was a bit more about Libi and Nate's relationship post-Mexico.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I LOVED this. One of my biggest issues with romances centered around mental illness is that they either treat love like a magical cure-all or make it seem like life will always be miserable no matter what. This book struck such a good balance between those extremes. I thought the portrayal of OCD was realistic, compassionate, and nuanced, and it really highlighted how these struggles affect everyday life while still leaving room for hope, fulfillment, and healthy relationships.
I also really loved the characters, the writing, and the side plots. The story felt emotionally grounded, and even when things were heavy, there was still optimism woven throughout. My only real criticism was that the setup at the beginning felt very unrealistic, and I was definitely frustrated with some of the family dynamics, but honestly? This still absolutely slayed for me overall.
Libi Newman siente que su vida está hecha pedazos desde que perdió a su mamá. Mientras intenta mantener el control de su ansiedad y de los pensamientos obsesivos que la persiguen todos los días, también tiene que lidiar con un viaje familiar. Su papá decidió llevar a su nueva novia a las vacaciones de siempre en México y para empeorar todo, su ex novio Josh aparecerá del brazo de una prima que jamás imaginó capaz de traicionarla.
Como si eso no fuera suficiente, Libi termina aceptando la compañía de Nate Keller, el hombre del grupo de terapia que poco a poco empezó a gustarle. Nate es divertido, atento y entiende demasiado bien lo que significa vivir atrapado en una mente. El problema es que Libi tiene una regla muy clara para sobrevivir emocionalmente: jamás involucrarse con alguien que realmente le guste.
big thanks to harpercollins for the free copy of this book to review! my first netgalley review. all thoughts are my own.
i thought this book was a wonderful representation of some real ocd struggles. as someone who struggles with ocd myself, i saw myself a lot in both characters, but especially libi. ocd is often called the ‘doubting disorder,’ and this book spoke a lot about that, which was really cool to see done so well. i’m closer to rating it a four simply because i wish the ending had a bit more depth to the ‘thirdact’ breakup aspect. i thought it was fun throughout, with lots of family drama moments, good humour, and overall, a book i would recommend especially to my ocd friends. ⠀
Thank you to HarperCollins for the free eARC of Compulsively Yours by Allison Raskin!
As someone who has struggled with similar thought patterns to some characters portrayed in this story, I found it heartwarming, comforting, and validating. This book made me feel like there are people in the world who understand that inner turmoil and successfully maneuver it every day. While the story has a natural rom-com feel, it tackles the nuance of romance combined with a disordered brain that requires certainty to feel secure. Love is never 100% guaranteed, so the conflict is understandable when guided by these thought patterns.
What an incredibly insightful, still lighthearted, look at some complex thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I loved this book and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this advance copy to rate. My opinion is completely my own.
I was wavering between 2 and 3 stars on this one. I know that the OCD backstory is very important to the entire plot of the story but I felt it took over the story a bit too much and that got in the way of enjoying the buildup to the relationship. I felt like there were 3 stories going on, grief, ocd/therapy and the potential romance and it was too much going on for me. There was some funny banter and it was good to see honest feelings about grief and mental health awareness so that pushed me closer to 3 stars.
Libi tiene treinta años, demasiados pensamientos obsesivos y cero ganas de volver a enamorarse. Después de varias malas decisiones sentimentales, decidió que lo mejor era mantenerse lejos de cualquier hombre que pudiera importarle de verdad.
Todo va más o menos bien hasta que aparece Nate.
Él es amable, divertido y demasiado fácil de querer. Encima acepta acompañarla a unas vacaciones familiares que prometen ser una bomba de tiempo gracias a su padre, una novia nueva y un ex novio que jamás debió regresar a su vida.
Ahora Libi tendrá que descubrir qué da más miedo, enfrentar a su familia o admitir que quizá todavía merece que alguien la quiera incluso en sus peores momentos.
A very quick and cute read! It was well paced and the characters were developed really well. They had distinct personalities and backgrounds that made it easy to understand them. Grief and mental health are two difficult topics to write about, and the author absolutely nailed it. She made it feel real and authentic and didn’t shy away from details. The romance was cute and I liked the fate dating trope! They complimented each other well. The ending did feel a bit rushed but other than that I enjoyed it!
I received this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest feedback. Compulsively Yours feels like the kind of romance that balances humor, vulnerability, and emotional realism without losing the fun of the genre. Allison Raskin brings a lot of warmth to the story, especially through the awkwardness and uncertainty that comes with modern relationships and mental health struggles. The chemistry between the characters feels natural instead of overly polished, which makes the emotional moments hit harder.
This was such a cute fake dating romance with low spice and plenty of charm. While I didn’t find it very believable that a therapist would encourage two patients to take a trip together, it worked perfectly within the story and created a really fun romantic setup. The characters felt authentic and relatable, and their banter and chemistry made the relationship enjoyable to follow. I also appreciated how thoughtfully the author handled heavier topics like grief and OCD, adding emotional depth to the story without taking away from the romance.
Compulsively Yours surprised me in the best way. I always love a fake dating situation, but adding in OCD was something different and added a new challenge to the relationship. The portrayal of OCD and grief in the story was believable and made me really feel for Libi and Nate. It made them feel flawed and relatable and I loved the banter and growing relationship between them. I also loved the extended family of characters which helped to make the story funnier and more engaging. Overall I really liked this book!
She needs someone to run interference on family vacation. He needs to practice traveling again. Their OCD group therapist problem solves by having him attend her family vacation. Will their mutual secret crushes blossom into something more?
A fun romance that will check all your boxes, though not something I will see myself reaching for again and again
Rating: 3.5
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an advanced e-copy!
As a person who loves a good cry and counts how many times she cries whilst reading, I cried three times. Which is a great thing in my opinion. And probably not even from only sad parts.
I loved the OCD representation and learning more about different kinds of OCD through reading this book. As a person who has mental illnesses and is neurodivergent I loved learning and experiencing the characters’ thoughts and spirals.
Compulsively Yours is a really great Fake Dating romance novel that is true to the trope and the genre.
This book is very well paced with character flaws being front and center which I loved. The characters were incredibly well developed, relatable and so lovable. I was so invested in Libi and Nate.
I started recommending this book to friends before I even finished it. Really great read!