Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

read excerpt* *Different edition

Oxford Messed Up

by Andrea Kayne Kaufman (Goodreads Author)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 248 ratings · 108 reviews

Oxford Messed Up is a unique literary love story that transports readers on a meaningful and emotional journey where the academic world of Oxford, the music of Van Morrison, and an old claw-foot bathtub serve as a backdrop for learning, self-discovery, and transcendent love. Rhodes Scholar Gloria Zimmerman is an academic superstar who has come to Oxford University to study...more

Paperback, 324 pages

Published November 1st 2011 by Grant Place Press

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 750)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Apr 25, 2012 Jessie Jury rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

It’s been a long time since I read a book that I just couldn’t put down, but I stayed up most of the night reading Oxford Messed Up by Andrea Kayne Kaufman from start to finish. It’s hard to find a true literary love story - one that is smart and modern with engaging, complex characters. I grew to love Gloria and Henry, flaws and all, and felt a personal connection with them.

I found the depiction of Gloria’s OCD both horrifying and illuminating. I’ve never seen anyone with such an extreme case o...more

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 30, 2012 Kai rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I couldn't recalled why I wanted to win Oxford Messed Up from Goodreads except that that moment of time, I was curious of the story. Since I had some personal commitments, reading Oxford Messed Up was delayed. When I started reading the book, I couldn't figure out why I wanted to read the book.

The story started up with Gloria flying out of Chicago to Oxford for her PhD. I wanted to smack Oliver for such an instigator of negativity. He never has anything good to say to Gloria but he was Gloria's...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 22, 2012 Naomi S. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Best novel I've read in a long time! From the beginning, I was captivated by this beautiful and moving love story. The author's vivid imagery and rich character development had me so engrossed that I did not want this book to end.The author has managed to depict in honest, and, at times, brutal detail the difficult world of Obssessive Compulsive Disoder. Kudos to Andrea Kayne Kaufman, a very gifted writer, for this transformative book. A must read!

3 likes · like · see review

May 27, 2012 Sheila rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cultural, current_issues, humor, relationships, romance

Gloria Zimmerman, Jewish, Rhodes scholar, OCD sufferer, and discoverer of a famous lost manuscript, travels to Oxford in search of freedom and finds much more in Andrea Kayne Kaufman’s Oxford Messed Up. Meanwhile Henry Young is in search of his own messy freedom and plays guitar in the loo.

Unfortunately, their dorm rooms share a single bathroom and Henry’s forgotten to lock the door.
Both messed-up characters come from messed-up families, hence the title of the novel. And both love Van Morrison....more Gloria Zimmerman, Jewish, Rhodes scholar, OCD sufferer, and discoverer of a famous lost manuscript, travels to Oxford in search of freedom and finds much more in Andrea Kayne Kaufman’s Oxford Messed Up. Meanwhile Henry Young is in search of his own messy freedom and plays guitar in the loo.

Unfortunately, their dorm rooms share a single bathroom and Henry’s forgotten to lock the door.
Both messed-up characters come from messed-up families, hence the title of the novel. And both love Van Morrison. While I’m not familiar with Van Morrison’s lyrics, I really enjoy the way the author threads them into her story, building music with words for all that I don’t know the tunes. The tragic feminist poets of Gloria’s English studies fuel story and characters equally well, creating a satisfying blend of erudite and mundane as the relationship progresses.

Gloria’s OCD quickly becomes achingly real and the mysterious Oliver aids and abets her addictions and rebellions very convincingly. As Henry’s rival for Gloria’s affections he becomes a tragic image for how easily we fool ourselves. Meanwhile Henry’s own problems rise and fall with the secrets in his past. Underachieving Henry and overachieving Gloria convincingly alternate between seeing each other as in need of salvation and seeing themselves as failures, with the reader eagerly watching the see-saw totter.

Oxford with its dreaming spires, its choirs and organs, its students and refectories, is pleasingly English and familiar to this English reader. American Gloria and English Henry develop an enjoyably humorous messed-up relationship with hope for redemption, and their dialog veers from tragic to hilarious. Their love is convincing. Their hopes are real. And the reader is eagerly invested in seeing it all play out. Oxford Messed Up is a satisfying tale of confused people in a confused world, and of hope in the face of despair. I really enjoyed it.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel from Cadence Marketing in exchange for my honest review.
(less)

4 likes · like · see review

May 23, 2012 Amy Meyer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Oxford Messed Up by Andrea Kayne Kaufman

Book Summary: Rhodes Scholar Gloria Zimmerman has come to Oxford University to study feminist poetry. Yet the rigors of academia pale in comparison to her untreated Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, fueled by her overachieving parents and manifested in a deathly aversion to germs and human contact. Her next-door neighbor (who is also, to her mortification, her loomate) is Henry Young, the appealing but underachieving English music student. Still mourning the...more Oxford Messed Up by Andrea Kayne Kaufman

Book Summary: Rhodes Scholar Gloria Zimmerman has come to Oxford University to study feminist poetry. Yet the rigors of academia pale in comparison to her untreated Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, fueled by her overachieving parents and manifested in a deathly aversion to germs and human contact. Her next-door neighbor (who is also, to her mortification, her loomate) is Henry Young, the appealing but underachieving English music student. Still mourning the death of his supportive mother while enduring the mockery of his disapproving and merciless father, Henry is haunted by the unexpectedly serious ramifications of a reckless and tragic youth. Gloria and Henry's relationship evolves from a shared obsession with Van Morrison's music into a desire to fill the gaps in each other’s lives. Yet the constraints of a debilitating illness and the looming revelation of a catastrophic secret conspire to throw their worlds into upheaval and threaten the possibilities of their unlikely yet redemptive love

My Thoughts: The music of Van Morrison connects Gloria and Henry. They are different and flawed individuals with little in common but their extreme passion for that music. Gloria wouldn’t have spoken to the cute but messy, unkempt Henry if not for the strains of Van Morrison she heard coming from his dorm room. Gloria’s a devoted loner as a result of her extreme OCD. She hates being touched by other people and can’t deal with germs. She carries wipes and hand sanitizer with her everywhere. Her hands are red, raw and painful looking from relentless cleaning. People tend to keep their distance from Gloria and, although she‘s terribly lonely, she prefers it that way. Then she meets Henry.

Henry’s entranced by Gloria. He can’t take his eyes off of her. Her hands don‘t bother him but it upsets him that she’s in physical and emotional pain. Henry understands that Gloria has OCD and related issues about which he’s also completely unfazed. Henry wants to help Gloria and talks his physician sister, Claire, into helping him help Gloria. Henry’s ignoring his own, significant, problems mainly because he lacks self-confidence and loathes himself. Henry used to be a drug addict and, although he’s recovered, it’s had a lasting impact on his life. Believing he’s ruined his life, Henry‘s essentially given up on himself. Henry doesn’t grasp the implications of bringing Gloria into his life. He’s too taken with her to think about much else. Henry is surprised when Gloria accepts his plan to help her but he’s even more surprised by the conditions of her acceptance.

Gloria counters Henry’s proposal with her own: she agrees to allow Henry to help her with her OCD issues, assisted by Claire, if Henry allows Gloria to help him write his thesis. Henry’s terrified since he believes he isn’t capable of writing a thesis but it’s the only way he can spend time with Gloria. Gloria’s focus and concern has always been her research and class work. She’s at Oxford to study feminist poetry. But, for the first time in her life, Gloria’s distracted. She can’t stop thinking about Henry. Henry’s willingness to help her control her OCD behavior tantalizes Gloria but also scares her. Still, even Gloria can’t dismiss how happy and content she feels when with Henry. This is a new and wonderful experience for her. She also believe in Henry’s potential and knows he’s much more intelligent and capable then he believes. She relishes the idea of bringing Henry into her world of research and study.

Andrea Kayne Kaufman’s book is a compelling story of two damaged, frightened and dysfunctional people. As they get to know each other and spend more time together, their love and respect grows. But there are numerous obstacles on the way to a committed relationship for Gloria and Henry. Gloria’s dysfunctional parents have big expectations of her. Her father wants her to excel in her studies so he can brag about her. Gloria’s mother is concerned that she marry a wealthy, society man so her mother can hold her head high among her friends. Henry’s father expects nothing of Henry and thrives on belittling him. Then there’s Gloria’s OCD which has a major hold on her and threatens her recovery every day. But the greatest obstacle is Henry’s secret which he refuses to divulge, convinced he will lose Gloria forever. As Gloria and Henry grow closer, Henry’s secret becomes more of a problem. He cannot spend his life with Gloria without telling her or risking she discovers what he’s hiding.

My favorite parts of this book was being able to watch Gloria grow and change into a more open and happy woman. I loved the calm and strength she found in Van Morrison’s music and how the music enabled her to connect with Henry. I also enjoyed reading how, with the help of Henry and Claire, as well as medicine she used to refuse to take, Gloria begins to see herself in a different light. It’s thrilling to read along as she begins to blossom. She helps Henry with his thesis and surprises both of them with her ability to open his eyes to the intelligence and ability he has. Gloria’s pride in herself gives her the courage to try other things.

I wish that Ms. Kaufman had written more specifically about the ways in which Henry helped Gloria fight her OCD which had a strong hold on her. It was glossed over for the most part with a few general references and Gloria’s behavior seemed to change too easily. I also felt that there were a few areas in the book in which I had to suspend my belief in reality a little too much. One specific scene was when Henry defends his thesis and Gloria calls on her professor for help. I felt that this wasn’t necessary in a novel with two strong protagonist and fascinating, absorbing storylines.

Overall, I found this book to be a captivating story about two wounded individuals who help each other heal and become strong enough together to face the real world. This is an absorbing book that’s difficult to put down once you start reading. Ms Kaufman does an amazing job of showing how the music of Van Morrison impacts Gloria and Henry and helps them each to deal with the dysfunctional worlds they’ve been living in. As a fan of Van Morrison, that was my initial interest in this book but Gloria and Henry’s story quickly got my attention.
I recommend this book for any reader interested in OCD and the ability of music to help and heal.(less)

1 like · like · see review

May 14, 2012 McGuffy Morris rated it 4 of 5 stars

By Andrea Kaye Kaufman

This is a novel of a complicated relationship. Two very uniquely different people meet, and unexpectedly connect in the very academic and educational environment of Oxford. Initially, their relationship is tenuous.

Gloria is an overachiever, serious about her studies in feminist poetry. Her rigid parents fuel her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her continuous problems with it include possible contact with germs.

Henry, a musician, is her opposite. He tends towards underachiev...more

1 like · like · see review

May 14, 2012 Jessica Knauss rated it 3 of 5 stars

Oxford Messed Up is the story of a couple of confused kids in a crazy, mixed-up world. Gloria suffers from severe germophobic OCD, and Henry is a recovering drug addict with some serious attendant complications. The two couldn't be more different, and and yet when they meet in the loo they share on the Oxford campus, the sparks are palpable. Perhaps their similarly stifling family environments bring them together. Luckily, Henry honestly cares for Gloria and is patient with her problem, and it h...more Oxford Messed Up is the story of a couple of confused kids in a crazy, mixed-up world. Gloria suffers from severe germophobic OCD, and Henry is a recovering drug addict with some serious attendant complications. The two couldn't be more different, and and yet when they meet in the loo they share on the Oxford campus, the sparks are palpable. Perhaps their similarly stifling family environments bring them together. Luckily, Henry honestly cares for Gloria and is patient with her problem, and it happens to be therapeutically good for her to fall in love with someone with such terrible hygiene. The book recently won the Best Adult Fiction E-Book Gold Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards. It treats subjects not often seen in love stories and the innovation is to be applauded. It's a book about intelligent people making the tough choices that will ultimately improve their lives, written by a clearly sensitive writer.

Make no mistake, this book is a commentary on the Scriptures, the holy texts being the lyrics of Van Morrison. Because I am not familiar with Van Morrison's oeuvre, it was hard for me to sympathize with characters who are so obsessed with him. Only after I finished did I think to replace "Van Morrison" in the text (it shows up on almost every page) with my own favorite singer-songwriter, Manolo Garcia. What a thrilling book that would have been!

Overall, this book will strongly appeal to people who are recovering from a disease or addiction. Gloria's progress through cognitive behavior therapy is spectacular, nearly unbelievable, but inspiring. I wanted a bit more about what it felt like to be OCD. We could hear the thoughts, but I wondered about the physical sensations Gloria felt. When someone spills a Coke on her, she goes nuts, but what does the sticky sweet substance really feel like to her sensibilities? When the dog licks her, does she feel dirty for hours afterward? Would she rather run off to take a shower in chemical sanitizer than calmly keep walking with her new boyfriend?

I didn't think the epilogue was necessary, but, again, some readers will love it. The academic atmosphere seemed just as idealized as everything else in this wonderfully optimistic world. I love optimism, but in my experience, academia is not a place where it can flourish. (less)

like · see review

May 14, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Linda by: DearReader.com

Oxford Messed Up is easily my favorite book read in 2012 and I am a voracious reader with a stack of books teetering on my nightstand, others stashed underneath and an eReader equally well stocked. This book will trick you out of sleep while putting a smile of contentment on your face. It’s a brilliant first novel by an author whose voice should become better known as momentum builds and the word spreads. Andrea Kayne Kaufman has written a compelling first novel that works on every level. The ch...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 10, 2012 Laurie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gloria has OCD; she has compulsions to be a superstar, perfect in every way. The OCD also makes her a germophobe who scrubs and washes extensively, leaving her hands raw and red. She’s also a Rhodes Scholar, arriving at Oxford to study feminist poetry. Henry is a recovering alcohol and drug addict, also at Oxford, although in his case it’s not voluntary. Both have toxic parents who see their offspring as extensions of themselves- Gloria’s parents expect her to be a superstar at all times no matt...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 16, 2012 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm surprised by all of the great reviews for this book. I would have stopped reading if it weren't for a friend who asked me to read it and share my opinion.

Gloria and Henry are two mixed-up misfits who find love despite being total opposites. So it's a totally original story. I'm not a person who typically figures out the plot twists in advance, but I saw all of these coming from a mile away.

The story picked up toward the end but it was hard to wade through so much junk to get there. It was o...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 13, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, europe, fiction

This book had a little of everything that I love in a book. There's a romance, a great setting, and fantastically real characters that you will fall in love with. There's a soundtrack (Van Morrison). There's fantastic writing (a sign of good writing to me is where I feel like I need to write down some quotes from the books and I definitely did with this one).

Another thing that I really like is characters who are flawed in some way. They seem more realistic and easier to relate to. I've never str...more This book had a little of everything that I love in a book. There's a romance, a great setting, and fantastically real characters that you will fall in love with. There's a soundtrack (Van Morrison). There's fantastic writing (a sign of good writing to me is where I feel like I need to write down some quotes from the books and I definitely did with this one).

Another thing that I really like is characters who are flawed in some way. They seem more realistic and easier to relate to. I've never struggled with OCD like Gloria does and I've never been a former alcoholic and drug addict like Henry but I think their struggle to fall into love is something that any human can find some common ground with. Falling in love can be hard. It requires you to fully disclose where you're coming from and to lay your soul bare. When you are really and truly in love, you are at your most real and your most vulnerable all at the same time. Even if you really love a person, getting to that point is more than just a little difficult.

Also, admittedly, I love books about people who are damaged in some way. The two main characters, Henry and Gloria, are coming from very different points in their life. They are utterly compelling and fascinating. You will root for them to have a happy ending throughout the entire book. Your heart will ache for both of them. I was totally sucked in to both of their stories. They show how important it is to be able to love others for exactly who they are, no more and no less. They also show how important it is to be able to receive that love from another person with no hesitation. *happy sigh*

Notable Quotes:

- "You wouldn't be alone, Henry. You have Van Morrison and me," she said. Her eyes lit up, and she took his hand. "Although, he's the messiah. I'm not nearly as genius, only a minor co-Pope."
"But you're holding my hand," he said, interlacing her rough red fingers through his own.

- "I already told you, Gloria. I am telling you. Happiness. Grab on to it. Be defined by it. Choose it."(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 10, 2012 Jester rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you want a book with engaging characters that you care about to the last page, look no further than Oxford Messed Up. I had the great fortune to begin this novel on a long car trip, which allowed me to plow through in one sitting - I couldn't put it down!

Gloria Zimmerman, Rhodes Scholar and student of feminist poetry, struggles with untreated OCD as she settles into her new life at Oxford. OCD experts have vetted the book, and it shows; this is not the typical Hollywood portrayal. I really f...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 02, 2012 A. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, fiction-and-literature

Review based on ARC.

Phew, where to start.

Let's see, perhaps the beginning...
The beginning was not the strongest part of the book and I felt somewhat patronized - like the author was trying to both trick me into not understanding Gloria's true relationship with Oliver and giving me obvious clues. So the first 20-40 pages I read because I was intrigued by the topic, pleased with the title, and because it was easy enough to read... but not because any of the characters were particularly compelling....more Review based on ARC.

Phew, where to start.

Let's see, perhaps the beginning...
The beginning was not the strongest part of the book and I felt somewhat patronized - like the author was trying to both trick me into not understanding Gloria's true relationship with Oliver and giving me obvious clues. So the first 20-40 pages I read because I was intrigued by the topic, pleased with the title, and because it was easy enough to read... but not because any of the characters were particularly compelling.

Around page 40/50, however, I began to lose sight of "the topic," "the title," or anything but the story, really. And in the end, that's always what I'm really looking for -- a well told story. In this case, it was even better because it was accompanied by good writing. Very good writing (though not spectacular). There were moments when I felt that the author wanted to educate me, more than share with me the story. But these moments were few and far in between. Although the novel IS educational on many fronts, it is first and foremost a story about Gloria, Henry, and Oliver.

I actually cried. I certainly laughed. And I read it quickly and voraciously. It was convincing, not terribly contrived, and redeeming. I felt strong emotions for Gloria, Henry, and Oliver... I felt *some* emotions for the more peripheral characters Claire, Nicholas, Margo, Gladys, and Frank.... so much so that I even remembered their names! I will not say *which* emotions I felt for them, but I imagine that, in a conversation with someone else who has read the book, some of my responses will be surprising...

Kudos to Ms. Kaufman. I appreciate that she did not give into some of the traps that often result in cliched stories and contrived endings ... while still providing a complete and satisfying story. I won't say more... just, read it. If you know someone who suffers from any level of OCD, if you yourself suffer from any level of OCD, if you know of no one who suffers from OCD, if you don't even know why I keep repeating those letters.... read the book. It's a lovely story. It certainly is as it is touted to be -- a story about "messed up" people, about cognitive behavior therapy, about fatalistic optimism... but it's also just a good story. A story about people with their own quirks, with their own histories, with their own demons, their own choices to learn and live.

FOUR AND A HALF of five stars.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 26, 2012 Grady rated it 5 of 5 stars

'Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk'

Andrea Kayne Kaufman comes to her first novel so well prepared that it is difficult to believe she has not had literary experience before. Yes, she is one bright woman - `chair of the Department of Leadership, Language and Curriculum at the DePaul University College of Education in Chicago. An educator and attorney, she earned a B.A. from Vassar College, an M.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School'...more 'Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk'

Andrea Kayne Kaufman comes to her first novel so well prepared that it is difficult to believe she has not had literary experience before. Yes, she is one bright woman - `chair of the Department of Leadership, Language and Curriculum at the DePaul University College of Education in Chicago. An educator and attorney, she earned a B.A. from Vassar College, an M.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School' according to the package insert. But despite her academia the question arises as to how she learned so much about dysfunctional disorders to the extent that she is able to write so sensitively and correctly about two `aberrant'-appearing people.

The story is well outlined in other reviewer's summaries: Gloria Zimmerman is a brilliant Rhodes Scholar who goes to Oxford to study feminist poetry. She has bumps in her young life: her parents have set the expectation bar so high that fighting to achieve it would be impossible for anyone but Gloria; she suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, having embarrassingly ruined her raw hands from abuse of hand sanitizer to fend off `dirty, vile, fetid, germ-infested' surroundings; and she is stuck with one supporting anchor - Oliver - who leaves much to be desired in the state of relating. At Oxford she encounters (by far too close proximity) Henry Young, a chronic underachiever whose life is usurped by music and by a past full of mental challenges. The novel gradually unveils the growth of not only a relationship that applies balm to the individual open wounds of each but also allows each of our protagonists to not only cope but to find what neither ever expected - redemptive love.

What sets Kaufman's truly extraordinary novel apart from the many romance novels that marry comedy with the agony of reality is her gift at creating characters through the use of language - the writer's only reliable tool. For example, when dealing with Gloria's conversations and thoughts Kaufman with great facility uses repeated phrases, stamped out expressions, and other indications that Kaufman understands the rapid fire synapse configurations of an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. We not only see her physical evidence of her phobias and needs for order, but we also hear them in her speech and her manner of moving through this story. Likewise, Kaufman knows how to construct the language and behavior patters of Henry's disconnect with life as others live it. In many reader's eyes this talent may seem an illustration of the lyrics to Van Morrison's songs - a figure who is prominent in this book. But Kaufman knows full well what she is doing in painting her characters with words that go far beyond the confines of lyrics everybody knows. As fine a story as OXFORD MESSED UP IS it is also an astute exploration of behavioral variations. This new writer has a solid future!

Grady Harp(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 24, 2012 Angeline rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't really sure what to think of this book, and I have to admit, I started reading it with some doubts. It seemed to hinge a little too much on other works...Van Morrison, Sylvia Plath. Within an hour, though, I was completely rapt; I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. It definitely went beyond my initial expectations.

Things I loved about this book: the portrayal of the rigors of academe, Oliver's portrayal (not that I like Oliver), and the unexpected (but totally believable)...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 28, 2012 Bridget rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

A few months ago, I read a review of this book on a book blog that I read, and thought it sounded like it had possibilities. I was not disappointed.

The story is about Gloria Zimmerman, a Rhodes Scholar with OCD who travels to study feminist poetry at Oxford, and Henry Young, the son of an Oxford don with no real purpose or ambition, and a recovering alcoholic and drug abuser. Gloria and Henry share a "loo" - their apartments are next to each other, and they share a bathroom. In the beginning, it...more

like · see review

Jun 11, 2012 Jaime (Twisting the Lens) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this through FirstReads.

What a great book! I really liked how real everything felt, and the writing was very fluid. It is great reading about a strong feminist character that claims her feminism. There are so many issues dealt with in this book, such as OCD, gender issues, and the expectations of academia. There really is a lot going on, and it is worth the read.

I will certainly post a longer review later, but I just wanted to put down my initial thoughts!

1 like · like · see review

Mar 24, 2012 Jennifer (JC-S) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books

‘Everything had to be perfect.’

Gloria Zimmerman, a Rhodes Scholar, has come to Oxford University to study feminist poetry. On arrival at her accommodation, Gloria discovers that she has to share a bathroom with her next door neighbour, Henry Young. Unfortunately, Gloria has an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder which manifests itself as an obsession with cleanliness, an aversion to germs and human contact. Discovering that Henry is to be her ‘loomate’ could well be the last straw.

‘She was an expert a...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 19, 2012 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ocd, women-s-fiction, oxford, van-morrison, sylvia-plath

I loved this book. Andrea Kaufman has done a marvelous job of creating characters with major personality flaws (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and substance abuse) and turned them into people with heart and substance. Gloria, the obsessive Rhodes scholar, is studying the poetry of feminist writers Sylvia Plath and Sara Teasdale, and Henry, ex-addict and scholarly failure, share a bathroom in their graduate student housing. Kaufman lets the reader into Gloria's OCD in a way that is both instructio...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 13, 2012 Kari rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Oxford Messed Up was a well written story about two pretty messed people and the love and healing they find in each other. Gloria suffers from OCD and Henry is a former drug addict who fells like a failure and a fraud. When they find out they are sharing a bathroom, they begin a tentative friendship.

I really liked Henry and Gloria. I think they were very good for each other. This was not a co-dependent relationship. Instead, they both are able to see the potential in each other. This allows them...more

like · see review

Apr 17, 2012 Karah Matarazzo rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was initially drawn to this book because it deals with an issue that I see a lot. I am a clinical social worker and work with children and adults that suffer from OCD. As I began reading the book, I was expecting the same, tired portrayal of OCD that is common in Hollywood. However, I was quickly proven wrong. Andrea Kayne Kaufman does an amazing job portraying the OCD voice and the internal struggle that many afflicted with the disorder face. Ms. Kayne Kaufman clearly has an understanding of...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 19, 2012 Colleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Oxford Messed Up was not a book I would have sought out to read, but I am grateful that my bookclub picked it. It tells a unique love story in which a 20 something college student from Chicago with OCD travels to Oxford to study feminist poetry. Arriving on her first day she finds she shares a loo with a flat mate, who just happens to be a young guy with problems of his own. A love story follows, but it is not your typical love story. The two instantly bond over their uncommon worship of Van Mor...more

like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 SheilaRaeO rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Matt Ruff's "Set This House In Order"

Shelves: favorites

Wow! I loved Oxford Messed Up. This book provides a very real feeling, intimate look into the thoughts of someone who suffers with OCD. Kaufman has some personal experience with a family member who suffered with OCD and the journey to help has given her tender, insider knowledge. This story will no doubt advance people’s understanding and hope for sufferers of this mysterious and confusing affliction. Gloria’s constant companion Oliver, is a force to be reckoned with. Henry is the one unlikely p...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 05, 2012 Vicki rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. It took me quite a few pages to get into it. Once you reach that point though, it’s one of those books that keep you on an emotional roller coaster. It’s got love, music, poetry, and even some OCD.

Another thing it has is words that are repeated and then repeated some more. Drove me kinda nuts. But, if you can get past that, the book is interesting, to say the least. And I loved the short chapters.

The characters are most definitely life like. The...more

like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved every single thing about this book. It takes dysfunctional to a whole new level. There are dysfunctional individuals, dysfunctional relationships, dysfunctional families. The two main characters are Gloria, a Rhodes scholar who has come to Oxford to study women's poetry and Henry, a music loving son of one of the Oxford dons.

The two are thrown together when their flat at Oxford shares a bathroom. This would not be such a bad thing, except that Gloria has an obsessive/compulsive disorder...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 20, 2012 Shana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"And we’ll walk down the avenue again
And we’ll sing all the songs from way back when
And we’ll walk down the avenue again and the healing has begun"--Van Morrison, "And the Healing Has Begun"

I read this book in a four-day span just around Valentine's Day. Indeed, I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish the last 75 pages, as I felt such a connection to the characters created by Andrea Kayne Kaufman. Gloria Zimmerman is a nice Jewish girl from Chicago who heads to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar to st...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2012 Krishna rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

This review is originally posted on my blog
Journey with Books

Oxford Messed Up is the first work of Andrea Kayne Kaufman I've ever read. I can honestly say that it's a great experience I would definitely want to do again. Oxford Messed Up is a refreshing read for me because it's very different from my usual reads. It's about real life that some real people goes through. It's an eye opener for some of us who have very different views about the realities of some people who have OCD.

The ma...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 25, 2012 Anne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oxford Messed Up by Andrea Kayne Kaufman was an unexpected joy to read. As someone who is leery of romance novels, this book proved to be both smart and sweet. The theme of transcendence permeated the novel and reminds the reader that an individual’s past does not dictate how the rest of their life will play out.

The characters, Gloria, a young woman who suffers from severe OCD, and Henry, a recovering addict, are thrown together when forced to be “loo-mates” at Oxford University. In a fairly pr...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 29, 2012 Katelyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oxford Messed Up is a well written, thoroughly enjoyable novel that gives a true sense of the internal horrors that go along with OCD. I was skeptical; many times the media has an extremely stereotypical view of this disorder. But Kaufman manages to illustrate it wonderfully, giving insights into the awful tape that plays inside one's mind. Gloria refers to this voice as Oliver and throughout the book fights mental battles with him. However, even with the constant droning of Oliver, the story ne...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 27, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews, first-reads

Oxford Messed Up is a novel about a young girl named Gloria, who is a Rhodes scholar and a recent graduate from Yale, going to Oxford to study feminist poetry. Gloria also suffers from severe OCD-germaphobia. She meets her flatmate, Henry, and through his help they both work through her severe struggles to form a wonderful relationship.

What I liked about the book is that Gloria's struggles with OCD were portrayed in a realistic fashion, stemming from an uncomfortable pressure put upon her by her...more

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 24 25 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Henry	2	16	May 29, 2012 09:45pm

combine
Other Editions (4)

Videos About This Book

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Portrayed in Fiction

Add a comment

Add a comment

Genres

Book Club

4 users

Romance

4 users

Relationships

3 users

Realistic Fiction

2 users

Literature

2 users

New Adult

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Andrea Kayne Kaufman

Oxford Messed Up was honored with a 2012 “IPPY” award from the Independent Publisher Book Awards for Best Adult Fiction E-Book, earning a Gold medal for being among the most “heartfelt, unique, outspoken and experimental” entries. It has also been named a Finalist in the E-Book category of the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

As both an educator and attorney, Andrea Kayne Kaufman has worked...more

More about Andrea Kayne Kaufman...

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Oxford Messed Up

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Oxford Messed Up

“Gloria watched the swollen white orb of a hot-air balloon rising over Navy Pier and knew she had to break it off with Oliver, for he was the type who would never enjoy hot-air balloons, Van Morrison songs, or mess, whether from orgasm or otherwise. But who was she to be dreaming about mess today?” — 3 people liked it

“The talked about their messed-up, dysfunctional families, carefully respecting boundaries, never probing too deep in any one sitting. And they always ended up laughing. Even when the subject matter was intense or macabre, Henry’s sick and twisted and often politically incorrect sense of humor was infectious…Gloria laughed more in these first weeks at Oxford then she remembered laughing almost anywhere.” — 2 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Oxford Messed Up
avg rating	preview: Oxford Messed Up Goodreads rating: 3.85 (248 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12821189-oxford-messed-up?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328026525l/12821189.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12821189-oxford-messed-up?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Oxford Messed Up by Andrea Kayne Kaufman[/url]

Oxford Messed Up

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website