Exposures
A Story About Life with OCD and the Power of Facing Your Fears
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected 11 Aug 2026
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- £7.49
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- Pre-Order
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- £7.49
Publisher Description
Eisner nominated creator Lily Williams's latest graphic novel is an honest and heartwarming account of what it's like living with OCD, and the courage it takes to confront your deepest fears.
Let me tell you about the winter I had to face all my fears.
I used to like a lot of things when I was younger, like dancing, baking, and most of all skiing. But as I got older, things started to change…I started to feel afraid of things like certain colors, numbers, and cracks in the sidewalk.
But there was a way to manage these scary thoughts, and start enjoying the things I used to – it started with something called exposure therapy.
Even though it was hard at first, I learned how brave I truly am.
This is the story of my OCD and how, despite the challenges, I learned to face my fears.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Drawing from her own experiences with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Williams (Look on the Bright Side) crafts an unflinching graphic novel portrait of one tween's managing OCD and exposure response prevention therapy. Twelve-year-old Peyton, portrayed with pale skin, has spent years concealing an exhausting web of compulsions, including counting rituals and avoidance behaviors to neutralize intrusive thoughts. Meanwhile, her twin sister Taylor appears to glide effortlessly through adolescence. When Peyton has a panic attack that exposes the extent of her struggles, her parents connect her with a therapist who introduces her to exposure therapy. Approachable, expressive artwork immerses readers in Peyton's treatment process: when Peyton is asked to wear a red sweater, the surrounding panels explode with unwanted thoughts ("Red is the color of blood... and lots of blood means death") accompanied by macabre images of skulls and viscera, vividly conveying the exercise's intensity. Exposure therapy is presented as neither quick fix nor inspirational shorthand but rather as difficult and transformative work, and depictions of Peyton's firm yet kindtherapist model healthy support for young readers who may recognize aspects of themselves in Peyton. The result is compassionate and necessary. Ages 8–12.
