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Get in My Head: Daniel's Story
“You can’t help the feelings you are experiencing. You can’t stop the thoughts from popping into your head. BUT, let me tell you what you can do, Daniel.” Dr. Hannah leans forward like he’s about to tell me some great secret. “You can choose not to act on those thoughts and compulsions you are having. Isn’t that great news?”
I stare at him. Does he think I’m dumb? If it were that easy, wouldn’t I have stopped already?
It’s his senior year, and everything seems to be going well; captain of the soccer team, perfect girlfriend, student body president. But there's something most people don't know about Daniel. He’s struggled with OCD for as long as he can remember. When Daniel's parents inform him that their marriage has ended, his carefully controlled life starts to fall apart. An avalanche of circumstances threatens to take him under. Slowly, he loses control of his perfect world and of himself. Will he learn to navigate his new reality, or will he fail?
I stare at him. Does he think I’m dumb? If it were that easy, wouldn’t I have stopped already?
It’s his senior year, and everything seems to be going well; captain of the soccer team, perfect girlfriend, student body president. But there's something most people don't know about Daniel. He’s struggled with OCD for as long as he can remember. When Daniel's parents inform him that their marriage has ended, his carefully controlled life starts to fall apart. An avalanche of circumstances threatens to take him under. Slowly, he loses control of his perfect world and of himself. Will he learn to navigate his new reality, or will he fail?
- GenresComing Of Age
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 15, 2020
1 person is currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
S.M. Holland
6 books22 followersHolland's 'Get in My Head' series depicts teenagers and their struggles with mental illness. Follow along to learn about the affects mental illness can have on a person.
If you or someone you love is suffering, please do not hesitate to ask for help. Remember: you are loved.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-8255
If you or someone you love is suffering, please do not hesitate to ask for help. Remember: you are loved.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-8255
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 16, 2023
Every bit as amazing upon the re-read!
I have really, really liked all of the other three books in the Get in my Head series and been deeply impressed at the author’s talent . . . but this one . . . this one has definitely emerged as my favorite. I would even go so far as to state that Daniel’s Story has emerged as the first installment that I have ever full-on loved. I suspect that part of this preference stems from personal reasons. During both of the times that I have read Daniel’s Story, I was enduring a trying time in my life—and on each of these readings, this inspiring book about a high school boy with debilitating O.C.D. hit me exactly where my soul needed to get hit, at the opportune time. While I do not have O.C.D. in the conventional sense, I am indeed prone to get stuck in negative thought cycles that can sometimes prove detrimental—and this shared struggle helped me relate to Daniel far more than any of Holland’s other protagonists. But this is not the only reason why I related to Daniel the most. Jarred and Cameron, the other two male protagonists in this series, are both rough-around-the-edges, soft-on-the-inside characters. While I certainly love this aspect of both of their personalities, Daniel—as someone who aspires to seem perfect to the outside world—proves something refreshingly different for the series. Not to mention someone much more similar to me.
Another reviewer has already remarked on how normal and relatable the event that kicks Daniel’s O.C.D. into overdrive is: his parent’s sudden divorce. But this event stands as far more than a mere divorce for Daniel. I cannot go into explicit detail here because it makes for a big reveal midway through the novel, but Holland dives deep into Daniel’s psyche, exploring exactly what triggered Daniel’s compulsions in the first place and why this sudden event shakes his world so drastically. As someone whose parents have never shared the healthiest of relationships and doubts that he would be greatly impacted emotionally if his parents were to get divorced, I wondered initially how much I would resonate with Daniel’s struggles. But Daniel’s triggers get so fleshed out that it becomes impossible not to relate to him. I certainly love Turtles All the Way Down—John Green’s novel about a teenager with debilitating O.C.D.—but this account is far richer, and the main character’s struggle feels far more fleshed out. And, seeing that Green is my favorite contemporary author, with Turtles All the Way Down as my second- or third-favorite of his books, this stands as high praise coming from me. Well done, Holland!
Daniel is by no means the only memorable character in the book. Often, in Holland’s novels, I feel that the main character shines as beautifully fleshed out—while the other characters lack an ‘it factor’ for me. This proves not the case in Daniel’s Story. The narrative contains a relatively small cast of major characters, but they all shine. Garrett from Sara’s Story (who I had already deemed my favorite character of the series) returns with an even larger role than before as Daniel’s best friend. Much like in Sara’s Story, Garrett has the best of intentions, and he has such an amazing heart, but he does not always know the best things to say to help struggling individuals. Not to mention the fact that he is an absolute riot, and I want him as my best friend! The other characters are strong, too. Daniel’s loyal dad has emerged as perhaps my favorite dad that I have ever encountered in any YA novel. Daniel’s psychologist Dr. Hannah shines as a knowledgeable, professional psychologist that helps Daniel through trying times with a smile on his face—but he is also subtly quirky and memorable. And do not even get me ranting about how awful Shayla is. 😡
With Daniel’s Story, I feel that S.M. Holland has cemented herself as the most consistent author that I have ever encountered. Never before this have I read four separate stand-alone novels by any author and really, really liked all of them. (I am counting the books in this series as stand alones in a shared universe.) Holland has achieved a very special and unique feat. I will keep a keen eye out for any of her future books. Any lovers of coming-of-age seriously need to check her out!
I have really, really liked all of the other three books in the Get in my Head series and been deeply impressed at the author’s talent . . . but this one . . . this one has definitely emerged as my favorite. I would even go so far as to state that Daniel’s Story has emerged as the first installment that I have ever full-on loved. I suspect that part of this preference stems from personal reasons. During both of the times that I have read Daniel’s Story, I was enduring a trying time in my life—and on each of these readings, this inspiring book about a high school boy with debilitating O.C.D. hit me exactly where my soul needed to get hit, at the opportune time. While I do not have O.C.D. in the conventional sense, I am indeed prone to get stuck in negative thought cycles that can sometimes prove detrimental—and this shared struggle helped me relate to Daniel far more than any of Holland’s other protagonists. But this is not the only reason why I related to Daniel the most. Jarred and Cameron, the other two male protagonists in this series, are both rough-around-the-edges, soft-on-the-inside characters. While I certainly love this aspect of both of their personalities, Daniel—as someone who aspires to seem perfect to the outside world—proves something refreshingly different for the series. Not to mention someone much more similar to me.
Another reviewer has already remarked on how normal and relatable the event that kicks Daniel’s O.C.D. into overdrive is: his parent’s sudden divorce. But this event stands as far more than a mere divorce for Daniel. I cannot go into explicit detail here because it makes for a big reveal midway through the novel, but Holland dives deep into Daniel’s psyche, exploring exactly what triggered Daniel’s compulsions in the first place and why this sudden event shakes his world so drastically. As someone whose parents have never shared the healthiest of relationships and doubts that he would be greatly impacted emotionally if his parents were to get divorced, I wondered initially how much I would resonate with Daniel’s struggles. But Daniel’s triggers get so fleshed out that it becomes impossible not to relate to him. I certainly love Turtles All the Way Down—John Green’s novel about a teenager with debilitating O.C.D.—but this account is far richer, and the main character’s struggle feels far more fleshed out. And, seeing that Green is my favorite contemporary author, with Turtles All the Way Down as my second- or third-favorite of his books, this stands as high praise coming from me. Well done, Holland!
Daniel is by no means the only memorable character in the book. Often, in Holland’s novels, I feel that the main character shines as beautifully fleshed out—while the other characters lack an ‘it factor’ for me. This proves not the case in Daniel’s Story. The narrative contains a relatively small cast of major characters, but they all shine. Garrett from Sara’s Story (who I had already deemed my favorite character of the series) returns with an even larger role than before as Daniel’s best friend. Much like in Sara’s Story, Garrett has the best of intentions, and he has such an amazing heart, but he does not always know the best things to say to help struggling individuals. Not to mention the fact that he is an absolute riot, and I want him as my best friend! The other characters are strong, too. Daniel’s loyal dad has emerged as perhaps my favorite dad that I have ever encountered in any YA novel. Daniel’s psychologist Dr. Hannah shines as a knowledgeable, professional psychologist that helps Daniel through trying times with a smile on his face—but he is also subtly quirky and memorable. And do not even get me ranting about how awful Shayla is. 😡
With Daniel’s Story, I feel that S.M. Holland has cemented herself as the most consistent author that I have ever encountered. Never before this have I read four separate stand-alone novels by any author and really, really liked all of them. (I am counting the books in this series as stand alones in a shared universe.) Holland has achieved a very special and unique feat. I will keep a keen eye out for any of her future books. Any lovers of coming-of-age seriously need to check her out!
May 3, 2020
I've been a fan of S. M. Holland's Get In My Head series since the first book came out, especially as a social work student and now a mental health professional working with children and teens. The author always handles these subjects with great care and sensitivity while also maintaining authenticity in how mental illnesses can affect a young person. In Daniel's Story, we meet a young man whose OCD spirals out of control when his parents decide to get a divorce, triggering some very intrusive negative thoughts and compulsions. We watch Daniel go from being on top of the world to hitting rock bottom and then slowly clawing his way back with the support of those around him. And that journey back is what I love so much about these books. They're full of hope, showing not just the pain and turmoil that can come from mental health issues, but also how people can and do bravely fight for themselves, learn about themselves, and find ways to cope, survive, and thrive.
Daniel's story ties in pretty closely to another one of my favorite books in this series, Sara's Story, so that was kind of fun. And as a therapist, I have to say that I really appreciated the positive representation of the therapist character in this book. He was a little quirky, but he also came across as being genuine and skilled. So, so often, I see fictional therapists depicted as being incompetent or unethical or even predatory, and while those types of therapists are certainly out there, most of us are just genuinely trying to help people. It was refreshing to see a more positive portrayal here. It was also interesting to see a more nuanced portrayal of OCD, with a focus on the intrusive thoughts that are a key feature of OCD. We got to see how those thoughts affected Daniel and where they might have come from for him. A lot of times, people think OCD is just about needing things to be organized or clean, and it's so much more than that. This book really dives into that, which I appreciated.
If you're looking for a book that deals with mental health issues in a realistic but sensitive way, I would highly recommend this book and any of the others in the Get In My Head series.
Daniel's story ties in pretty closely to another one of my favorite books in this series, Sara's Story, so that was kind of fun. And as a therapist, I have to say that I really appreciated the positive representation of the therapist character in this book. He was a little quirky, but he also came across as being genuine and skilled. So, so often, I see fictional therapists depicted as being incompetent or unethical or even predatory, and while those types of therapists are certainly out there, most of us are just genuinely trying to help people. It was refreshing to see a more positive portrayal here. It was also interesting to see a more nuanced portrayal of OCD, with a focus on the intrusive thoughts that are a key feature of OCD. We got to see how those thoughts affected Daniel and where they might have come from for him. A lot of times, people think OCD is just about needing things to be organized or clean, and it's so much more than that. This book really dives into that, which I appreciated.
If you're looking for a book that deals with mental health issues in a realistic but sensitive way, I would highly recommend this book and any of the others in the Get In My Head series.
February 17, 2020
I love this story soooo much. It is one of my favorite in the series, and I love every word of it. Daniel is so real and relevant, and his struggles might seem foreign at first (if you are not familiar with OCD) but the life he lives is all to familiar. On the outside he struggles with his parents divorce, his grades, his performance in soccer, and his label as a popular kid. But just under the surface he feels like he has to perform for the love of his friends and his family. Something that is very relevant to me.
The cast of characters in this book are arguably some of the best in the series (Though, if you haven't fallen in love with Big T from Cam's Story, shame on you). Daniel's devoted father. His witty, off the wall best friend. And the coaches, team mates and teachers who think they understand him when clearly they haven't put in the effort.
The final messages this story leave you with are so real and so deep that I was left feeling as if I had just had a long, deep conversation with a friend. Get to know Daniel. You won't regret it.
And yes, those of us on the "inside" personify each of these books by their main characters. Once you read them, you will understand.
The cast of characters in this book are arguably some of the best in the series (Though, if you haven't fallen in love with Big T from Cam's Story, shame on you). Daniel's devoted father. His witty, off the wall best friend. And the coaches, team mates and teachers who think they understand him when clearly they haven't put in the effort.
The final messages this story leave you with are so real and so deep that I was left feeling as if I had just had a long, deep conversation with a friend. Get to know Daniel. You won't regret it.
And yes, those of us on the "inside" personify each of these books by their main characters. Once you read them, you will understand.
February 16, 2020
This is probably my second favorite book in the series, just behind Cameron's story, and that is partially because it really helped me to understand a condition that I don't have a lot of experience with. One of the things I love most about Daniel's story is how incredibly relatable it is. What sets him off isn't some big unusual event or traumatizing thing, but the very real and confusing pain of his parents getting a divorce.
This series is aptly named. S.M. Holland has a gift for putting you in the character's shoes and showing you the humanity behind the behavior. I related to Daniel in ways I never expected and I was encouraged by the raw, authenticity of his story, which even though it is fiction, felt incredibly real.
This series is aptly named. S.M. Holland has a gift for putting you in the character's shoes and showing you the humanity behind the behavior. I related to Daniel in ways I never expected and I was encouraged by the raw, authenticity of his story, which even though it is fiction, felt incredibly real.
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January 6, 2024Ta seria to inny wymiar piekła na ziemi i sieczki psychiki....
April 3, 2024
Wow. S.M. Holland did it again with this fourth book in her series. People with OCD really struggle with their life and environment. Holland's depiction in this book shows how OCD can affect every aspect of someone's life and relationships. Recommend this for anyone who has OCD or knows someone with OCD.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews