The OCD Games

Publisher's Summary

Erica struggles with her obsessions, to the point where her life is ruled by them. After losing her job, she seeks out a new one with the aid of her best friend, Kara, by her side. Change has always been tricky, but between support group and art classes, Erica finds herself in the right state of mind...until she meets the mysterious Blaine. As she gets to know him, she learns that everything happens for a reason.

©2018 Kayla Krantz (P)2019 Kayla Krantz

The OCD Games

What a great little surprise. I enjoyed learning a little more about the struggles someone with OCD goes through. Loved the chemistry between Erica and Blaine. Cute wrap up. Glad I had the chance to read!
I was provided a free copy of this book and am leaving an honest, unbiased review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Sweet & Delightful Story🎧 4.5 Wonderful Stars!🌟

I loved this novella, it is original and well written. Kayla Krantz fits a lot of story in her book, a story that immediately grabs your attention from the start. The storylines are interesting and realistic. The characters are likable and well developed. I could totally relate to Erica’s struggles, everyone needs an understanding friend like Kara. And swoon worthy Blaine, I loved the chemistry between him and Erica. This is my first novel with characters who suffer from OCD and the author nails it and presents it well. This story takes place around Christmas time but can be enjoyed year round. Kayla Krantz, thank you for this unique and great story.

I listened to the audible edition, Raine Barrett does a wonderful job narrating. She performs the voices of all the characters and brings them to life from the pages to your ears. Thanks for the great listen!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I loved this story!

This is a cute quirky YA romance with an interesting plot and adorable, endearing characters. It embraces the quirks, disorders, and obsessions that make us who we are, and shows that there is someone out there for everyone, even is our weirdness (and face it, we all have some weirdness about us, right?) This story encourages us to not be held back by our inhibitions, whatever they may be. To find love, we need to let ourselves be open enough to receive it.
I listened to the audio version and narrator, Raine Barrett, did a wonderful job bringing these characters and this story to life.

I wanted to give Erica a hug......

The OCD Games was completely different than I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it. Maybe this subject hit harder for me, since I have struggled with compulsions all my life, but I think the author did a beautiful job of portraying the daily struggles for people with OCD and other psychological issues. Erica is one of these people, and she suffers socially, emotionally and financially due to her compulsions. The story begins with Erica losing her office job due to her morning rituals always causing her to show up late for work. This loss sends her into a tailspin, but, with the encouragement of her support group and her best friend, she gathers the courage to apply for and receive a job as a convenience store cashier. One of her co-workers is a mysterious man named Blaine, and she feels an immediate draw towards him but believes she is too messed up to ever attract him. Amazingly enough, Blaine and Erica might just be the perfect answer for each other's problems and watching them come to this realization is a both sad and happy journey in equal measures.

Raine Barrett's narration is fantastic. She has a smooth and pleasing delivery, and she added the perfect level of emotion to this very moving story. The team of Krantz as the author and Barrett as the narrator results in a wonderful audiobook production.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for this honest review.

Good shorter listen

This story was cute. Characters had good background. Wish there was more to the story at the end. Did have a few repeat statements from editing but nothing huge.

A Surprise

I got this ARC via audiobook boom and this is my voluntary review. I learned a lot about OCD. I thought I knew someone who had OCD but I was so wrong. The story was great. Loved Blaine. Loved the interaction between the two.

as a person with OCD

the book was fantastic and marvelous it was romantic and sweet the anxiety in the book the OCD was described very well in such short time you need to remember this story wasn't a long one and though it wasn't a long story the author covered all of it and it was very good the narrator was great as well

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

sweet love story; good OCD & anxiety rep; cliches

This is a sweet love story, and I have to give the author kudos for writing about OCD and anxiety in such a real way. It was painfully realistic. The awkward coworker attraction was cute and realistic and made me think of high school romances.

However, I was disappointed in the writing style, which was a bit clumsy and littered with far too many cliches. Sometimes they didn't even make sense in context, such as: "...afraid they'll bite me like a rabid dog if I make eye contact." With a bit more editing and removal of cliches, this could easily gain a star or two.

The conversations between the main character and her best friend were a little forced, and at one point her best friend grabs her from behind in a parking lot as she's bent over to get her purse and terrifies her, and this is passed off as "funny" instead of sexual harassment.

Also, though the OCD and anxiety felt very real, they were consistently represented in a very negative way, with phrases like "the worst of me." It's very clear the main character despises her anxiety and OCD, but the author's word choice makes them seem even worse. It just rubbed me the wrong way.

The narrator of the audiobook had a voice a little too breathy and monotone and littered the recording with weird pauses and accents that made it difficult to listen to.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Surprised How Much I Enjoyed This Book

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder....I nor anyone I know well deals with OCD. I found this to be an excellent eye opener for me as to the varying degrees, the different ways it manifests itself and therefore makes me more able to understand what individuals with OCD go through each day. Also how it can effect relationships, jobs and self worth.
Erica has a friend Kara who presses to be out and push her limits, which helps her ..as well as group, painting and she had had an understanding mother.
Blane, she meets at her new job and discovers is also OCD (they have a game at work hence the book title) and they begin a tentative relationship....what’s important to Erica is to be OK.
The narrator had the perfect sweet, tentative voice, emotion and an excellent voice for Blane.
Recommend for a better and compassionate look at OCD and sweet beginning romance.


I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Love from OCD

I thought this was a fun story to listen to. That focused on real health issues like OCD. I really liked all the characters involved in this story they all seemed such nice people. People I would like to have as friend's. Highly recommend either listening to this or reading this.

Relatable Struggles

The OCD Games by Kayla Krantz is written with compassion. I found the daily struggles of Erica to be realistically portrayed. Blaine was the perfect match for her. Raine Barrett was great in her performance bringing the characters to life. For such a short listen, the characters were well developed. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review. I would definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator.

Lovely story and great narrator.

I loved listening to this book, it made me smile many, many times. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked it, I didn't expect such a sweet, expressive story. I found the characters to be very rounded and I empathised with them totally. I was kept interested all the way through, the only shame being it ended so quickly. The narrator is great and I settled into listening straight away without a problem. I wouldn't hesitate to choose another book by this author and narrator.

Enjoyable

This was a very enjoyable story with real characters going through real problems. It was very well written. The narrator really helped bring the characters to life. Would like to listen to more by this dynamic team.

Blaine and Erica!

This little gem was the perfect listen for my quiet time! Kayla Krantz has taken a problem many people have and compassionately woven it into a Christmas romance. Erica is a woman, very self conscious of her OCD and thinks she will never find someone who will understand her. When Blaine begins working with her though, things change. Could he be the one for her? I loved this short listen, full of love and hope, but more importantly the daily struggles people have with OCD. It's told in caring way, and lets us know just how hard some things can be for people, and how the common person would never realize it. I commend Krantz, love the romance of Blaine and Erica and hope there may be a little more of their story in the future! Raine Barrett does a great job narrating the eccentricities of this pair!