One thing I love most about the bookish world is that, through writing, an author is able to present a unique viewpoint, a real and raw account of what it's like to live with xyz.... You can fill this blank with so many things, obviously. Author Emma Noyes, in How to Hide in Plain Sight, gives a voice to those who live with OCD. Because she herself lives with the condition, she is able to depict it with utmost truth, shedding those stereotypes of cutesy, quirky, endearing OCD that we too often see presented in mainstream media. ⁣⁣
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Reading this, I was gutted at the internal battle that Eliot endures through her intrusive thoughts. The feelings of isolation, worthlessness, and fear she experiences were heartbreaking; and even more devastating is the fact that this is all internal, so others don't see it. I also had a huge soft spot for Eliot's best friend Manuel. His support, his heart, his drive to learn about OCD and dig deep to see and understand Eliot's struggles...absolute perfection. The only thing I personally had a hard time with with was the ending. I was so deeply invested in this story, and the ending felt quite abrupt. I would have loved to see it fleshed out more or for there to be an epilogue. All in all, however, I very much enjoyed this book and am thankful to have read it as I feel like it enabled me to better understand what it can be like to live life with OCD and better support those in my life who struggle with it.⁣⁣