And her inability to truly be herself around the popular crew is relatable to anyone who’s ever felt compelled to hide a facet of their real selves.īut Sam’s friendships are all in shambles. I mean, overanalyzing is a refined art for teenagers as it is, but it seems especially brutal to be rendered so powerless by your own thoughts. Obvs, I feel terrible that Sam’s perpetually questioning every single thought. So Sam definitely keeps it on the DL when she stumbles upon Poet’s Corner, a hidden safe haven for the misfits at school to finally have their voices heard. It’s a condition that none of Sam’s friends-the ones who claim to have her back, but would just as easily stab her in it-even know about. Pure-O takes place in the mind, filling Sam’s head with dark thoughts and debilitating fears about every move she makes. Not the kind that makes her wash her hands a zillion times or flick light switches repeatedly, though. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her, but Samantha McAllister is harboring a big secret beneath her pretty and popular façade: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD.

Is it just me, or has there been a surge of book covers with notes lately? (See: Exhibits A, B, and C.) At least it’s not an embarrassing trend-I see you, Kissyface-and it actually works really well for this story, even if it’s on the snoozy side. Relationship Status: Successful Blind Date Bonus Factors: Secret Club, Poetry, Awesome Grownups

Every last word review