I enjoyed this book, was an easy read and well written! The characters all had good development and felt relatable. Well paced story line and I enjoyed the New Zealand scenes. It really showed how someone with OCD lives their daily life and how it’s not just about being hygienic or using hand sanitiser. The author did a great job in highlighting that subject! This is the authors debut title and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC.

This was an interesting book to read. It feels like it breaks the 4th wall a little by having little notes to us as the reader in brackets but sometimes it’s really cute. We meet pearl, a girl with OCD who ends up meeting a cute guy from New Zealand. After he flys back, she decides to go out there and surprise him only to find out a big secret of him. Anyways, somehow after flying out and staying for a bit anyway she starts conquering her OCD and it gets put on the minor storyline (it feels like that anyway) but then she gets back home and more secrets are revealed. Her best friend Una is a vibe and I love her even though it does feel like she is a bit pushy (but I think that was for the best). The story was good and the book well written and there are some fabulous fun bits which I loved reading!

Wasn't my most favourite read. sorry. Started to read but couldn't get into it. Will maybe try again later in the year.

Review: From the start of this book I have had such an beautiful experience. The storyline and characters were highly relatable. You don’t actually realise how significantly OCD can affect someone and their daily life until you read about it. Although this was a novel, there were significant truths that were highlighted throughout!

I absolutely love how Pearl grew within herself with the help of Una and Niall. If it was not for them as her two pillars, Pearl would still be struggling. Una provided her with tough love and support, and Niall provided the comfort for which she was seeking.

I thoroughly enjoyed this entire book from start to finish! Thank you so much once again!

To Hell With It is a smart, funny, and moving read. Claire Francis strikes a brilliant balance between offbeat humour and emotional depth, tackling sensitive themes with warmth and wit.

One of the standout elements is Pearl’s journey. Living with OCD and signs of undiagnosed ADHD, her experience is portrayed with honesty and care - never reduced to a stereotype. Francis captures the mental noise, the exhausting need for control, and the strength it takes to simply get through the day. Pearl’s story is handled with empathy, offering insight without judgment, and it left me with a deeper understanding of these challenges.

The characters are a joy - distinct, well-developed, and full of heart. Each one brings something meaningful to the table, whether it’s about letting go, embracing change, or finding clarity in the mess of life. My favourite was Bunty, a sharp, grounded old lady full of no-nonsense charm.

The humour is subtle and quirky, often surfacing in unexpected moments. It’s never overplayed, and that offbeat tone - funny but never flippant - helps soften the heavier themes without undermining them.

I also loved that part of the story is set in New Zealand, my favourite country. The setting was beautifully drawn and added a special charm that made me want to book a flight to go back the second I finished reading.

To Hell With It is clever, compassionate, and full of personality. It’ll make you laugh, reflect, and learn how to say “to hell with it.” A solid 4-star read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @onemorechapterhc for gifting me a copy of this to read. This was my first ARC and I started strong! All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed reading this book. To Hell With It by Claire Frances is an inspiring debut title.
I was so intrigued with what was happening in Pearl’s life.
This book has just the right amount of love, humor, and resilience.
Pearl is a wonderful character who I believe most can honestly relate to.
She has OCD, she’s real, and the emotions she displays is legit. I adored her.
Can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Many factors influence a reader's decision to pick a book. The title of this one caught my eye, and I had to take a chance. It turns out to be a character-driven story with a unique main character. Pearl O'Reily is a young woman who lives with OCD. She knows that the constant routines she follows significantly impact many of her life choices, but she's determined to change. Hence the title, TO HELL WITH IT. Claire Frances's debut is full of humor as Pearl learns not to let her OCD get in the way of enjoying life. It's a quick and enjoyable read with unique characters that I would love to meet again. Maybe a series for Pearl?

To Hell With It introduces us to Pearl O’Reilly, a young woman navigating life with OCD, her world ruled by routines, rituals, and quiet struggle. That is, until a mysterious man quite literally lands in her bed, disrupting everything she thought she had under control.

Claire Frances’ debut is a charming blend of humor, vulnerability, and heart. Pearl’s story is told with empathy and authenticity, and her friendship with Una adds a beautiful layer of warmth. The writing is engaging and honest, touching on mental health, love, and the messy, wonderful process of figuring yourself out.

While some parts may feel a bit predictable, the novel’s sincerity and emotional depth make it a truly enjoyable read. Frances clearly writes from the heart, and it shows.

To Hell With It follows the story of Pearl, with severe OCD, on her journey of self discovery and self worth. The premise of the book sounded so intriguing to me, but ultimately fell flat.

I honestly think this book is needed, and clearly many people like this book. But I personally found it hard to relate to the MC, and felt that the focus on the OCD was an an overwhelming part of the story. Trust me, I understand that that's what it is like for someone with OCD, and that can be an all consuming life struggle, but I felt that it took too long for hope to come into play, and for a book of this genre, I'm looking for a slight escape and a story of hope. While this book had some of those things, I felt that for me, it took too long into the book to find them, and coupled with the fact that I did not like the MC, it was just not the book for me.

I do hope that more people love this book, and I do want to check out future works by the author, as I did enjoy the writing style.

**Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**

To Hell With It by Claire Frances is a contemporary tale that follows a young woman with OCD as she sets out on a globe trotting adventure that will challenge her both mentally and physically.
Pearl is almost twenty eight and still living in the small Irish village she grew up in, in a cottage inherited from her grandmother, while working in the local shop. Her routine is everything, and she has developed many coping mechanisms to get her though her day to day, with help from her best friend Una and her therapist. Just when it seems like this is how she is going to spend the rest of her days she is jolted from her routine by a handsome stranger and the experience prompts her to travel across the world to reunite with him in New Zealand. Despite her OCD making travel a nightmare she is determined to push herself, but will it all be worth it in the end?
This is a funny book with a character that you cannot help but root for, especially given the first person narrative that really gives the reader an insight into the struggles that Pearl is facing and her determination and at times even desperation to overcome them. I really appreciated that while Pearl makes progress over the course of the book and learns new coping mechanisms she is not " cured" , instead the slow but steady improvement in her ability to manage the condition is celebrated. While the OCD does result in some very funny escapades it never feels like the author is being mean or treating the condition as a joke.
This is a really strong debut novel and I look forward to seeing more from the author.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

To Hell With It was an eye opening read as it centred around Pearl who suffered with OCD to the extreme. Firstly I really enjoyed Claire Frances' writing and style, it brought a different take to rom-com and I did enjoy the pacing, layout and the story in general. There were many laugh out moments and it was enjoyable.
Secondly, is there a Jack that's not an a-hole, every one I've come across in a book isn't worthy - that's just my random thought.
I really liked the characters, I thought Una was a great best friend and I really liked Niall. Mairead confused me a bit, as a therapist I felt she came across more as a friend than a professional.
The OCD aspect I found interesting, I've never known anyone have intrusive thoughts due to OCD nor have a penis obsession (ok it's not an obsession like that but the amount of times she thought about them and mentioned them)
I really enjoyed delving into this side of OCD that I wasn't aware of. I loved how Pearl got out of comfort zone, how the story played out and how Pearl grew as a character. It was interesting to see it the dots connecting. I really enjoyed this read.

What happens when a woman who has her life planned down to the minute wakes up next to a naked stranger?

To Hell With It is the story of Pearl, who lives in a village in Ireland. She knows exactly what each day will bring—down to the minute—and she struggles with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). One day, she wakes up with a naked stranger in her bed—that’s when everything starts to change.

This story stands out from all the romance novels I’ve read so far. Its main focus isn’t just on relationship development (which plays an important role) but on Pearl’s personal growth. I think this is exactly what made me fall for this story. It shows that falling in love with yourself matters more than falling for someone else.

I loved Pearl with all my heart. While reading the novel, I felt like she was becoming my friend, and I couldn’t stop worrying about her throughout her adventures and struggles. She’s a brave, kind, hard-working woman. The only thing that made me uncomfortable was Pearl’s fixation on sex. I tend to feel uneasy about this topic due to my religious beliefs. Despite that, the story doesn’t feature smut or overly descriptive scenes, so I was fine with it.

I also loved Bunty, a secondary character who appears later in the story. She is the best granny she could possibly be—fun, adventurous, loving, and supportive. I genuinely hope she and Pearl remain friends for many years to come.

Claire Frances’ writing is outstanding. I adored all the metaphors, the jokes that actually made me giggle, and the characters’ thoughts and reactions, which were described with incredible realism. I don’t have OCD and don’t personally know anyone who does. Before reading this book, I knew very little about the disorder, but it provided invaluable insight into the thought processes of people with OCD.

Thank you to One More Chapter for the wonderful readalong and for making me a part of it. And thank you to Claire Frances for writing this story—I’m already looking forward to your next one!

Insightful, uplifting and funny. This book had me laughing and crying.

This beautifully written story follows Pearl who is living with OCD. She is content with her life exactly as it is, and that she will live and die in Drangan. That is, until she wakes up next to Jack, naked in her bed. He is the catalyst for her journey.

This book shares the challenges of living with debilitating OCD, how much of her day is completely consumed by rituals and intrusive thoughts. However, it is told in such a warm, lighthearted way it will have you feeling like Pearl is an old friend. You instantly feel that connection with her and can't help but root for her the whole time.

Her friendships are exactly what she needs. Una, Pearl's best friend, pushes her to step outside her comfort zone. Sometimes it seems like a tough love approach, but I think that helps Pearl. Niall, Pearl's childhood friend and her boss's son, isn't as close as Una but still shows such understanding and care for Pearl.

Armed with her therapist, Mairead's, coping techniques and Una's moral support, Pearl starts her travels. You realise how much you take for granted as you follow Pearl, how exhausting the planning and accomodations she needs to make truly are.

I felt that Pearl did an excellent job when things went wrong, her determination winning out. Those she met along the way also played such an important part in her journey. Bunty was my favourite - caring, wise and not an ounce of judgement.
"You're not a mess, you're just you"

To Hell With It is such an uplifting story. It isn’t about Pearl fixing herself or curing her OCD, she doesn't need to be fixed. It's about her living to the fullest dispute her struggles - Saying To Hell With It! It has given me motivation to be braver and to free my own butterflies.

I cannot recommend this book enough. OCD representation to this extent is not seen in fiction - not that I have seen anyway. And although this is a romance novel, I feel this book will help people. Whether it's the coping techniques that Pearl uses, the motivation of trying to free your own butterflies, or even just feeling seen and not as alone. I hope that everyone who needs this has chance to read this beautiful book.

First up, I LOVE this cover artwork ❤️.

The story follows quirky Pearl, who has severe OCD and has to navigate day-to-day life, using specific coping mechanisms.

These coping mechanisms are quite unique, as are the intrusive thoughts, and when Pearl decides to fly across to the other side of the world, you are guaranteed for one heck of a story.

I LOVE Pearl. She is just amazing and quite different. Having had OCD most of her life, it was sad to see the life she lives and the special rituals she HAS to do to stop bad things happening. It is all consuming for her.

I enjoyed seeing the therapy sessions as we got to see the inside Pearl's mind a bit more in a constructive manner so it offers an opportunity to learn more - I loved the metaphor for the OCD/thoughts being butterflies fluttering in her mind.

The exchange with the gorgeous man... I did see it ending how it did, but I was Team Niall! It was great to see how Pearl coped and how she grew as an individual from this situation - and we were there to see it all!

This is such a quirky and lovely book. It's one that I just couldn't stop reading when I started. Pearl was such a brilliant character, and her voice in the book really made it come alive for me, it felt like she and I were in a coffee shop, and she was nattering away to me.

Just lovely 💖.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys romantic comedies and just books with a strong female character.

I can't wait to see what Claire brings us next!

I initially struggled to get into this book mainly due to the fact that without the OCD, Pearl didn't seem to have much of a personality. Or the fact that she had been too consumed by her OCD that the OCD had become her personality. It was exhausting reading about the steps and the counting and the chants but then again, it was a realistic representation of someone living with this condition.

It was only when Pearl stepped out of the box that the story started to move. I enjoyed the spontaneity and the fact that the journey wasn't all rainbows and unicorns. Pearl's journey was a bumpy ride and you could totally feel for the character and begin rooting for her especially when she 'freed the butterflies'.

The side characters were fantastic. I loved how the village was so supportive of Pearl and how, from Una to Bunty, they all had their own quirks. I also found it quite amusing that Maggie Ryan was referred to by her full name at all times.

A wonderful light hearted read however also highlighting the challenges of living with OCD. Pearl is thrown into chaos when she meets a stranger and travels to the other side of the world to find him. It was great to read Pearl's journey and seeing her challenging herself with things completely out of her comfort zone.

A fun-rom com read which made me laugh out loud in places.

This book is very slow to start. A description of OCD is not a plot, and I prefer fast-paced books. I’m not the target reader. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This was an excellent read, the storyline and characters were so well written. This is the author's debut novel and I will definitely be reading more. This book gives insight into OCD in an honest kind way.
My thanks to #netgalley and the publishers One More Chapter.

Thank you to One More Chapter, Claire Frances and NetGalley for the advanced copy of To Hell With It Claire's debut novel.
The novel is about 27 year old Pearl who has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I don't have personal experience of this debilitating condition but the author does which gives how Pearl's OCD impacts her authenticity. Her life is controlled by her routines and rituals, counting wood louse and handwashing are just two examples of this.
The book explores the importance of friendships and the complexities these relationships can bring.
Although, OCD is a serious condition there is plenty of humour in the book particularly, from Pearl's best friend Una.
Most of the characters are very likeable if not that relatable to me personally.
If you like character driven books this one is certainly worth reading.

This book is calm and such a good read. The author has written complex topics with such ease that you feel everything the FMC, Pearl, is feeling in that moment.
Our FMC suffers from OCD and has a severe thought process, which can be pretty daunting. She has many good people in her life who stand by her side no matter what—like her best friend, Una.
She has a vivid imagination and compares her OCD to butterflies—they want to be let out, but they just keep hovering in her head if she doesn’t follow through.
She meets a guy who is passing through town and gets smitten. He says all the right things, which encourages her to take a journey to New Zealand—a place far outside her comfort zone.
The book portrays her feelings and dilemmas so beautifully. She meets lots of good people—and some bad ones—on her journey, which changes her outlook and makes her want to say, “to hell with it.”
The journey changes her for good.
Check out the book for the journey, the story, her dilemmas, and the butterflies.