A review by kerosenelit
How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes

dark emotional informative tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was an incredibly informative and intimate look into the life of someone living with OCD. You’re placed right inside Eliot’s head, experiencing her intrusive thoughts from childhood through adulthood. And I won’t lie—it’s very intense and dark. But that intensity is exactly what kept me hooked from start to finish.

Eliot returns to Canada after three years to attend her brother’s wedding, and with that reunion comes a flood of emotions and memories. Her large family felt authentically messy—so real, so human. There’s also a deeply woven theme of grief that had me absolutely sobbing through the final chapters.

Eliot’s relationship with Manuel, the childhood friend she also left behind, was so deeply romantic. Seeing the beginning of their friendship unfold in flashbacks and then achingly shift in the present day was the emotional lightness I needed. Despite Eliot’s heartbreaking tendency to push away the people she loves, Manuel is a constant—always there for her, no matter what.

“I love you when you’re angry, I love you when you’re sad, and I love you when your head is filled with thoughts so terrifying you don’t think you can share them with me. In fact,”—he squeezed my hand—“that’s when I love you most.”

This beautiful story of empathy, love, and understanding is one that will stay with me. An absolute must-read if you’re willing to dive into something heavier!

(heat level: one open-door scene, mild details)
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