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duashamsi's review against another edition
3.0
love addonizio's poetry and flashes of it were here, but all in all the book was a bit silly
mrs_george's review against another edition
2.0
This was written from 3 different perspectives; Diana, Jamie and Stella. I found Diana's to be the most interesting with her OCD and beauty pageant background. Not going to lie, reading about her rituals made me a little paranoid myself. Jamie's side was good but not original. Stella's was the worst. Just way too far fetched for me and then quite confusing with the introduction of Eva. I agree with the other reviewers saying there were too many plot lines.
shinychick's review against another edition
1.0
Another book happened upon in the New Books section... And, another book about a lead character with OCD. Somehow, the boy from The Curious Incident... was more likeable. Now, I wouldn't say avoid this book like [b:Cat's Meow|501839|Cat's Meow|Melissa de la Cruz|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348287764s/501839.jpg|489930], but avoid it, on general principle.
yangyvonne's review against another edition
4.0
Diane has OCD - very badly. So bad that her husband, Tim, has left, tires of moving when she can't take her job of the moment any more. Them in walks Jamie, a 17 year old who gives birth to Stella, and changes Diane's world. In trying to help Jamie, Diane must deal with her OCD and Anthony is there, both to help Stella be born (who is the re-birth of his wife who had died from cancer(!)) and to help Diane begin to cope. The book switches from the perspective of Stella, Diane, and Jamie and ends without any resolution to anyone's story/struggle.
When I read that this was the author's first novel and that she was a poet, I was wary, but the style of switching narrators worked really well and it was obvious she had done her research on OCD. The only thing I didn't care for was the reincarnation or ethereal communication subplot between Stella and Anthony's deceased wife, Eva. It wasn't really essential to the plot and seems a little new-world for an otherwise modern story. I was glad to see the mother-daughter issues with Jamie and Diane get resolved.
When I read that this was the author's first novel and that she was a poet, I was wary, but the style of switching narrators worked really well and it was obvious she had done her research on OCD. The only thing I didn't care for was the reincarnation or ethereal communication subplot between Stella and Anthony's deceased wife, Eva. It wasn't really essential to the plot and seems a little new-world for an otherwise modern story. I was glad to see the mother-daughter issues with Jamie and Diane get resolved.
jdgcreates's review against another edition
3.0
A quick paced, slice-of-life tale that makes you root for its characters. Compellingly straight-forward, this is a glimpse of life as an obsessive-compulsive, a teen mom, and as a fetus and infant told in their own voices. Addonizio's first novel isn't sweet and mild (and neither is her poetry, thank god), and it won't change your life, but it will make you keep turning the pages to make sure her characters change theirs.
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