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More copies of this ISBNLexapros and Consby Aaron Karo
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Chuck Taylor's OCD has rendered him a high school outcast. His endless routines and habitual hand washing threaten to scare away both his closest friend and the amazing new girl in town. Sure he happens to share the name of the icon behind the coolest sneakers in the world, but even Chuck knows his bizarre system of wearing different color “Cons” depending on his mood is completely crazy.
In this hilariously candid debut novel from comedian Aaron Karo — who grew up with a few obsessions and compulsions of his own — very bad things are going to happen to Chuck. But maybe that's a good thing. Because with graduation looming, Chuck finds himself with one last chance to face his inner demons, defend his best friend, and win over the girl of his dreams. No matter what happens, though, he'll have to get his hands dirty. Review:"Adult author Karo's (I'm Having More Fun Than You) background as a comedian is evident in his bawdy yet affecting YA debut, about a 17-year-old boy with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Chuck's rituals include hand-washing and using the color of his Converse high tops as a 'little threat level advisory code of my emotions.' His parents push him to see a psychiatrist, but when his doctor prescribes Lexapro, Chuck refuses to take it. He also swears never to tell his crush, Amy, about his OCD, but has to revaluate his choices. Karo offers a solid primer to OCD, including its treatments. Readers may find the book ends too neatly, but Chuck is a funny, honest narrator (his biggest pet peeve: people who claim to 'have a little OCD,' which 'makes it seems like I'm a drama queen or something. I spent close to two hours last night getting in and out of bed to check the fucking stove and then go pee. That's the real deal'). Readers will be impressed with Chuck's bravery in working to solve his problems. Ages 14 — up. Agent: Peter McGuigan, Foundry Literary + Media. (Apr.)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review:"[O]ffers a humorous hook for guys who would normally shy away from the romance angle." Booklist
Review:"A madcap coming-of-age first novel....Chuck's agreeably foul-mouthed narrative voice rings totally true: Everything from his laugh-out-loud repartee with Steve to his inner longing and lusting for Amy feels fully fleshed and real. Short chapters and clever pacing help Karo's plot move quickly. Karo is definitely an author to watch." Kirkus Reviews
Review:"The way Chuck describes the people he meets, situations he finds himself in, and strange thoughts he has will leave you in stitches! You'll love it if you're looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud. Chuck's one-liners and odd behaviors will make you completely appreciate Aaron Karo's ability to shed a humorous light on a serious issue." Seventeen
Review:"Aaron Karo, who is best known for his stand-up comedy and for his "Ruminations" series of humorous columns, takes a light-hearted approach to his debut YA novel. Chucks first-person narration, not to mention his banter with best friend Steve, is hilariously raunchy, and the situations in which he finds himself are sometimes outright absurd. But as funny as Karo's writing is, his approach to dealing with an anxiety disorder like OCD is actually pretty serious. Karo talks about OCD candidly and accurately, and Chuck's psychiatrist leads him through the various options for dealing with his disorder. Even if kids reading Lexapros and Cons don't suffer from Chuck's condition, they're likely to relate to his feelings of frustration about not being able to engage with the world in the way he'd like to. Chuck's story can illustrate how to cope with these disorders with hope, heart, and hilarity." TeenReads.com
Review:"The strength here is the easygoing relationship between Chuck and his nerdy best friends, portrayed in honest, credible dialogue that effectively conveys their affectionate closeness. Readers with OCD may find inspiration here to get help . . . and readers without the disorder will develop a greater level of understanding." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review:"High school senior Chuck Taylor becomes likable early on. With its satisfying conclusion, the book is suitable for secondary school and public libraries; its absurdities and age-appropriate expletives may appeal to reluctant male readers." Voice of Youth Advocates
Review:"Karo captures the frustration of someone with OCD and its impact on friends and family....Characters such as the bumbling psychiatrist and obnoxious bully provide some targets for humor. The author's success in making Chuck's character 'bizarre and profane,' plus his celebrity status and previous books for adults, will generate interest in the title." School Library Journal
Synopsis:High schooler Chuck Taylor knows his OCD is out of control. The weird routines that he relies on to keep himself together are scaring everyone off. Yes, he shares a name with the icon behind the coolest shoes in the world — but even he knows his complicated system for which pair of "Cons" he's going to wear on which day is completely nuts. The shrink his parents make him see isn't helping, partly because her patient only pretends to take the drug she's prescribed, and partly because he doesn't like the fact that she wears sneakers in their sessions.
Bad things are definitely going to happen to Chuck. But maybe that's a good thing. Because in order to get a handle on his life, win back his best friend, and have a chance with the amazing new girl at school, he's going to have break some hardcore habits, face his demons... and get messy. About the AuthorAaron Karo, in his fiction debut, writes in the same intelligent, sarcastic voice that's made his previous books, such as Ruminations on College Life, so successful. His column Ruminations (written since 1997) turned into the user-generated humor and social networking site Ruminations.com in 2008. He continues touring as a nationally recognized stand-up comedian and Comedy Central recently aired his first hour-long special.
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