Everyone is neurotic. At least, I hope so, so that I am not alone. Alicia Thompson’s book helps prove that. Leigh Nolan is such a great girl and has no problem “thinking up for her self,” even if she has trouble speaking up for herself, if you get what I mean. She is majoring in psych and going to the same school as her high school boyfriend, who is a bit of a dick. Each of the chapter headings are different psychology terms, Counterconditioning, intimacy v. isolation, and confirmation bias.
Absolutely fabulous. Such a fun read.

Fabulous review here, from someone who I guess knows the author, at Shane Guy External. And another good description at Marsh Agency.com which I will copy for you here,

Eighteen-year-old Leigh Nolan is just starting her freshman year at a small college in California and is suffering from the psych major syndrome, a common affliction wherein a psychology major, overwhelmed by conditions, effects, and disorders, begins to overanalyze her own life.
When Leigh is asked to complete forty sentences about herself for an assignment, some of her answers start her thinking. What compels her to procrastinate on every paper she has to write? Why does she lie all the time, mostly about little things that don’t even matter? And how in forty sentences could she have possibly forgotten to mention Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year? Although, what exactly is going on with the lack of intimacy in their relationship anyway?
Not that Leigh feels guilty about that last one when she shows up at Andrew’s apartment, all dressed up for their date, and finds him still in his pyjamas. Nor does she feel too bad that the date is a bust, largely due to her aversion for peanut sauce (she never told Andrew she hated Thai food, but still). Now, Leigh’s appreciation of Nathan, Andrew’s aloof math-major roommate, walking shirtless around their apartment . . okay, that she feels a tiny bit guilty about.

Unfortunately, this book is not due out until AUGUST of 2009. Not sure why I have already gotten an advance of it… but yeah. It was so much fun.

Psychology at Wagner College

There is this whole story line about being a mentor, and yeah it will spoil it a bit for you, but it made me laugh SO HARD, I have to share it with you. This is Leigh describing a contest she got 2nd place in, “…”You can achieve anything you want. Well, almost anything. You know, if there wasn’t some stupid girl who wrote some cookie-cutter piece of crap essay about The Heart of Darkness.” THIS IS TO A BUNCH OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS!!!
Oh lord priceless.

So yeah, definitely check it out. It has good times, bad times, serious topics and one liners, and lots of overanalyzing. But it also has lots of good kids, which make every book better to be. Remember August 2009, BE THERE!

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