I think I’m on a roll when it comes to reading hilarious young adult books by male authors. Lexapros And Cons by Aaron Karo is a funny debut AND a candid look at OCD. Chuck’s journey of dealing with his issues is definitely worth reading. I’ll admit the first line about how often Chuck has masterbated in the past year might be a bit of a turn off if you aren’t used to males, but it’s such guy humor and when you read Lexapros And Con, you’ll think back about how that first line is TOTALLY Chuck. I will admit, I did a little double take, but happily kept reading. Trust me you do not want to miss out because of being a prude or whatever, because Lexapros And Cons is an earnest read. No, really, it is.
Lexapros And Cons
Chuck Taylor is pretty much an average guy. He’s not a jerk or anything, but he has legit OCD. Like he always checks the oven knobs to make sure it is office, pees a million times before bed and has an entire system of colorful Chucks that revolve around his mood. Y’all, I loved the main character of  Lexapros And Cons by Aaron Karo. He’s just so sweet and earnest, overall a good kid. AND I loved seeing the guy point of view when it comes to crushing and that first bit of romance when the phrase nice shoes gets decoded over and over. You see, Chuck gets this huge crush on new girl Amy who is a ginger and kind of a hippy, but you guys IT IS SO ADORABLE, but still total male at the same time. I’m not even sure how to word that so you understand just how much I loved Chuck’s character.
However, beyond Chuck Taylor, what I think Karo excels at in Lexapros And Cons is portraying OCD as more than just a throwaway characteristic.  Aaron Karo shows that OCD is more than a character being hyper organized, but actually something that negatively impacts one’s mental health. We see how much Chuck’s OCD limits him. We see how Chuck can’t take chances and is a bit afraid to be spontaneous because he has these routines that he absolutely must follow because of his brain chemistry. Honestly, Lexapros And Cons is the best take I’ve seen on OCD in YA without becoming an issues book.
Y’all I’m seriously JAZZED about Lexapros And Cons by Aaron Karo. Like, I just want ALL OF YOU to read it, because it deserves attention. Lexapros And Cons left me doing a little fist pump in Chuck’s honor, because he’s a total underdog and whenever the undergoing triumphs I get SUPER excited and just can’t help the fist pump that ensues. Also,I want you to pick it up so when can discuss how awesome Chuck is. If you enjoy reading contemporary with a light touch, lovable characters, underdogs and an actual look at a real mental health disorder, GET ON LEXAPROS AND CONS. Seriously, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Disclosure: Received for review via Netgalley.
Other reviews of Lexapros And Cons by Aaron Karo:
Lexapros And Cons releases April 10, 2012.
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I really enjoyed this book! It made me laugh, a lot, which I love, and I found the voice very authentic.
I reviewed it here: http://yalibrariantales.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-lexapros-and-cons-by-aaron-karo.html
Linked your review above.
And I love laughing while reading a book too! 🙂
Adding it to my tbr list because I kind of really want to read a book about a mental disorder. Never know what might come in handy as a teacher, right?
Right, I think that totally does come in handy as a teacher as you deal with IEPs all the time and I think there are IEPs for students with mental disorders as well.
Ahhhh I’m definitely going to be looking for this one now just because of how much you seem to love it. I like guy books so that masturbation like is not going to bother me at all. It sounds pretty awesome!!
Bahahaha.
Yes, guy books rock.
Seriously, great review. I really really enjoyed this book, and the humour was right up my alley.
Thank you, Angel.
Yeah, this is totally my brand of humor too.
Recommendation accepted!! LOL this book sounds so good, April! As much as those dark and serious books are awesome, I’ll always have a soft spot for hilarious-sounding novels like this one. And adorable crush that’s still boyish? SO CUTE! And the title was enough to catch my attention already! x) Awesome review, April! 😉
Whoo-hoo! Glad you will check Lexapros and Cons out. I mean, hilarious books are such great comfort reads.
Okay, this one sounds awesome. I know for certain my guy students will love it. Just yesterday, Matt was looking through books and found one with lots of cursing and bodily functions. After proclaiming what he found to the entire class, he proceeded to lose himself in the story. Lexapros & Cons sounds fab like that. Now that’s what I’m talking about!
That is so cool. I love when students find ‘naughty’ books and then find themselves totally engrossed in them. It’s a tricky, tricky way to foster a love of reading.
I just got this book in the mail and now I am totally going to read it ASAP! If it has you fist pumping that can only mean awesome things 🙂 thanks for the review
YAY! I hope you end up fist pumping too! 🙂
This is exciting! I haven’t read this book yet, but have it sitting on my shelf. I love good humor in a book. I haven’t read a book about OCD before, and the whole thing with the Chucks being color coded to fit his mood. Thanks for the great review; you might have just bumped this to the top of my TBR pile. 🙂
I loved Chuck’s color coded shoes. It’s such a cool system.
Hope you get to Lexapros And Cons soon 🙂
Thanks for the review April 🙂
You are welcome!
I wasn’t sure what to think about this when I read about it last year — my concern was that it might take a very serious condition and put too much of a fun quirky spin on it. But from what I gather, it doesn’t sound like that kind of book at all.