An intimate, revealing portrait

I’d been in the mood for a great memoir, and this book happened to catch my eye after I saw it compared to Susannah Cahalan’s Brain on Fire, a book I absolutely loved. Because We Are Bad is the story of writer and model Lily Bailey and her lifelong struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder. Lily’s manifestation of OCD is fascinating in that she actually experienced it as a voice in her head—her “friend,” as she describes it. Fittingly, much of the memoir is actually told in the second person: as a child, Lily sees herself as not an “I” but a “we.” The result is an incredibly intimate experience wherein you come to know not only Lily herself, but the intrusive personality of her disorder. Adding to this sense of familiarity is the author’s narration. Though at times understated, her cadence perfectly mimics her writing—calm, steady, and matter-of-fact when describing factual situations, and then picking up to the pace to an almost panic-stricken crescendo as she recounts her most anxious moments. I’m so impressed by the author’s candidness and perseverance, as well as her writing chops, and I hope to hear more of her story in the future.

Sam P.

Editor Audible