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Anna Incognito

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Anna Beck is determined to stop the wedding of her boundary-challenged therapist/ fantasy British lover, and nothing is going to stop her: Not that the ceremony is 1,300 miles away. Not her intense fear of germs that keeps her housebound most of the time. Not the fact that she needs to borrow a car and hasn't driven in years.

I have worked with people with mental illness for decades, and I see how society marginalizes the problem and wills people who have it to gracefully disappear. My own struggles inform this knowledge; I have seen first-hand how mental illness is used as an excuse, a weapon, a way to exclude people, and a way to divide families. That is why I am the person to write this book. Although it is fiction, it is drawn from life, and I believe it can offer hope to those who fight mental illness and personal tragedy.

Anna Incognito deals with mental illness, loss, and renewed hope and acceptance of flaws through the insightful, biting wit of a main character at odds with herself, her past, and the world; still, she sees the humor and absurdity in it all.

357 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2020

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About the author

Laura Preble

7 books69 followers
Laura Preble is the author of the popular QUEEN GEEK SOCIAL CLUB series for young adults as well as LICA'S ANGEL. She is the winner of a Kurt Vonnegut Fiction Prize as well as numerous other awards. She lives in San Diego. Her newest novel, OUT, is available as an ebook or in print format. ANNA INCOGNITO is her sixth published novel.

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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews.
2,526 reviews163 followers
July 15, 2020
I was not sure about this book when I first started reading.  Anna is not a very likable character.  She is OCD to the extreme and has other issues that might be hard for some to read.  She is also obsessed with a therapist/counselor that she meets by chance at the laundromat and ends up his patient.  In the beginning, I wasn't sure where this story was headed.  But as I moved further into the book, I observed as Anna shared more of herself and we learn why she is the way she is and perhaps there is hope for her to overcome her issues.  Anna moves from being a shallow self-absorbed character to one that is complex and her story is like peeling an onion, it takes many layers to get to the truth.

Anna, who never goes anywhere, decides to drive from California to Colorado for her former counselor's wedding.  This is a woman that does not have a car and haven't driven in years.  But she has a plan or the start of one, and with the help of her neighbor, she ventures off to Colorado.  Along the way, she stumbles across a homeless mother and daughter, and for some unknown reason offers them a ride.  That is where the story really takes off because Mellow, the daughter, ends up going to Colorado with her after her mother runs off.  This trip is actually good for both Anna and Mellow because they both realize what they need to make their lives complete.

Anna's story is told in pieces and by the end, we have a better understanding about her character.  I actually grew to like Anna especially when she realizes that maybe she has more to offer the world.

There are a few lines that spoke to me that I would like to share with you:

"Hope is the admission that things might get better. It's a risk, though, because there is no guarantee. Despair is absolute. Giving up requires no risk. Brave people hope. Cowards despair."

"...sometimes, when you can't get what you want, you get what you need instead."/b>

This is a surprisingly good book and we give it 4 paws up.  Definitely worth the read.
Profile Image for Amie Wilson.
167 reviews6 followers
April 22, 2020
At first I wasn't too sure about Anna. I had compassion for her and her struggle with OCD, and several other issues, but found her to be brusque & really rude to the few people she allowed (grudgingly) into her life. As the story unfolds a little more the reader starts to glimpse the personal loss & grief at the root of Anna's mental health issues. My compassion for her grew as her humor and insight were slowly revealed.
Anna sets out on a trip that the reader knows will be really hard for her given her issues, but the trip becomes the catalyst for her to face her problems. Her relationship with a lonely, homeless teenager she finds on the road also really opens her up & helps the reader to relate to her. We start to see why she pushes people away. Throughout the story Anna remembers sessions with her psychiatrist as he tries to get her to face her past & her grief. It turns out the relationship between the two is very complicated- I felt really torn about it and realized that the biggest theme I took away from the novel is that nothing is how it appears on the surface. Anna's compulsions aren't black and white. She thinks they are but she learns she has to bend her own rules for comfort in order to just get by on the road. People & relationships are complicated and messy. Lines are blurred. In the end I wasn't sure how I felt about her shrink and his actions but I did like Anna & felt heartened by her journey & knew that although she wasn't suddenly going to change her behavior she was certainly on a path to healing & a life less closed off from the world.
Profile Image for Liliyana Shadowlyn.
2,732 reviews85 followers
July 27, 2020
Anna Incognito is powerful. I don't know how else to explain it. It definitely tugged at my heart a bit, but it also just kept me completely enthralled. It's a raw look inside the mind of one person with mental illness and it can be difficult to read at times, speaking as someone who has been battling with their mental health for years, but it's definitely worth it. No punches are pulled and Anna's journey isn't just a physical one across many miles, it's a mental one and it's an amazing thing to witness.
1,428 reviews32 followers
December 2, 2019
Anna is a flawed, quirky, but extremely lovable character who comes alive with Preble's poignant writing. She's often snarky although she doesn't always realize it. Preble understands humor as well as the human condition and what it takes to survive in a complex, often alienating world with people who are quick to judge. Anna is on a journey across the state (a metaphorical journey as well) to stop her therapist from getting married as she is quite certain he is in love with her. Preble delves deeply into the human psyche as we see Anna (who has OCD and a number of other issues) confront her past and deal with repressed memories that are painful to recall, as alternating chapters allow us to see both the present and her past therapy sessions. It is incredibly moving; I laughed and I cried with Anna. Preble deftly deals with mental issues, pain, idiosyncrasies, redemption, and ultimately the power to find forgiveness and healing that's transformative. Everyone who sees themselves differently--or not in the mainstream--needs to read this book as it exposes so many salient issues. Frankly put, I loved it!
50 reviews26 followers
April 26, 2020
*Spoilers*

I didn't get any of the closure that kept me reading, so that was upsetting. But the story was well-written, and the characters were alive. To be honest, Anna was kind of an asshole? But in a funny, interesting way that made me almost like her. It was strange to see her make offensive comments about other people, like saying even "retarded" people can drive and calling Rhiannon a "drug addict" instead of simply another person with a disorder...when she herself encounters stigma every day, whether that's about her trichotillomania or OCD. It was like her internalized stigma oozed out of her and onto other people. She was also very manipulative with no shame whatsoever about it.

But it was clear that Anna was an asshole because of her trauma, which was sort of implied but never really hashed out, which I was hoping for. I was also hoping to see what would happen at the wedding because that seemed like it was going to be hilarious. Is there a second book coming up, or?

Also, does Anna's trauma give her a right to be an asshole? No, I don't think so. And did therapy even help her at all or did she just manipulate Dr. Denture the whole time? Does it matter? Because in the end, her trip to stop his wedding served to be an exercise in exposure therapy. Was that Edward's intention? I am left with more questions than answers, and while Anna pissed me off, the story was hilarious, and I am hoping for a second installment.
Profile Image for LitPick Book Reviews.
778 reviews29 followers
February 22, 2020
Forty-two-year-old Anna Beck has Trichotillomania, a component of her Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and has spent several years living a disciplined life at home. Anna has done everything she can to avoid venturing into what she believes is a germ-infested world. But all of that changes when she meets Dr. Edward Denture at the laundromat. Anna begins seeing Dr. Denture for somatic therapy sessions. Mesmerized by his good looks, charm, and British accent, she soon falls head over heels in love, and nothing will stop these two from being together.

Anna’s dreams come crashing down after she receives an envelope in the mail. She refuses to open it, but thanks to her nosy neighbor, Anna has to come face to face with her worst nightmare. It’s an invitation to Dr. Denture’s wedding in Colorado, and he’s invited Anna to attend. When Dr. Denture moved away once before, Anna thought she’d lost him forever. Now given a second chance, she’ll do anything to prevent him from getting married, even if that means confronting her fears and traveling to Colorado to stop the man of her dreams from making the biggest mistake of his life.

Opinion:
Anna Incognito is a quirky, comical, insightful, and serious read filled with twists and turns from its beginning to the end. I like it that, along her journey, Anna is introduced to some interesting characters who each have a unique relationship with her. I also appreciate how Anna is pushed more and more outside of her comfort zone as the story progresses. She’s taking a chance on something, even though risks are involved. Anna discovers more about who she is as a person as the story unfolds. Furthermore, I like the author's willingness to tackle and shed light on serious matters, including mental illness, grief, and suicide.
1 review1 follower
May 12, 2020
Anna is a heroine I can relate to - she knows the world is a broken place, and she's a broken piece of that broken place. She tries to keep the chaos at bay by retreating to her small apartment, her conscious efforts focused on blocking out germs while her subconscious focuses on blocking out the memories and grief of a tragedy that destroyed her world. When she meets a complicated psychiatrist with his own complicated internal space, her carefully built silos begin to collapse. While the topic feels heavy, the book doesn't - there's a lightness, and ease to reading it, and I found myself smiling and connecting and cheering Anna on. I forgot myself in the pages of Anna's life. An excellent and pleasurable read.
Profile Image for Tynea Lewis.
71 reviews3 followers
February 27, 2020
Anna lives in a meticulously clean apartment, which she rarely ever leaves. She is full of fear, compulsions, and disdain for most people she meets. So when she gets a wedding invitation in the mail, it remains unopened until her nosy neighbor brings it to her attention.

When she discovers the invitation is for the out-of-state wedding of her psychiatrist, Dr. Denture, Anna is forced to disregard all of her obsessive-compulsive behaviors and create a plan to drive out to stop the wedding. Convinced that he shares the same love for her that she has for him, Anna begins her journey, borrowing a car, scraping together what little cash she has, and planning her routes to ensure she stops at the cleanest restrooms and restaurants possible.

But straying from her normal routine means relinquishing control of her world, and things don’t go according to plan. Little by little, the story behind Anna’s conditions unfolds along with the delusional relationship that she has fashioned in her mind between her and her doctor. It takes this disruption from her usual routine, a series of unfortunate events, and a lost soul like herself in the form of a teenage girl to break the spell she has been living under so she can confront her past and move toward a happy future.

Anna Incognito begins with a sympathetic but unlikable narrator in Anna. She tells her story through the eyes of an OCD-afflicted woman, who picks her skin until it bleeds and scabs, rips the hair out of her scalp hiding beneath an unreliable wig, and constantly worries about the threat of germs that lurk outside her door as well as any that are brought into her living space by unwelcome guests. She’s cynical, controlling, and self-centered. But like most unlikable protagonists, her crankiness grows on the reader, and her rough edges are softened by her dark humor.

On the surface, Anna's infatuation with her doctor feels like a delusion, one that leaves the reader cringing at the thought of her plan to stop his wedding. She’s barely functional and can hardly operate a car, work a computer, or touch a communal surface. Her compulsions work themselves into her narration so that you get a front-row seat to her mental illness. The narrative leaves the reader with a tense feeling that flexes in intensity throughout the story.

However, Anna meets Mellow, a 14-year-old hitchhiker who ends up in Anna’s care along with her drug-addicted mother. The girl distracts Anna from her own issues and gives her someone else on whom to focus. This scenario allows Anna to reveal her past to the reader as she opens up to Mellow. Enough humor is weaved into Anna’s story to lighten the mood without diminishing the seriousness of her condition or the dangers that lurk on the open road.

Well paced, well told, and uniquely detailed, Anna Incognito is a tale which demonstrates that healing is possible no matter how traumatic one's past or how far down one has fallen into the rabbit hole of mental illness.
13 reviews1 follower
January 28, 2020
Anna Incognito is a story that deals with weighty and sensitive subjects, but told through the witty, sarcastic, and ironically humorous, Anna. She is deeply pained by her past, so much so that she can barely leave her own home. She psychologically projects her emotions to others on a regular basis, while living in her self-made, "germ free" environment. However, she also experiences what her therapist, Dr. Denture, calls "transference," in which she transfers a traumatic event or relationship from her past to someone in her present. However, Dr. Denture is the individual to whom she transfers her trauma. This results in Anna boldly leaving her home to go on a road trip in hopes of stopping her therapist from getting married.

Along the way, Anna battles her struggles with trauma, OCD, projection, and depression. She meets different people that challenge her mental state, and ultimately, it is a homeless, teenage girl who helps Anna navigate a journey toward recovery. This book is an honest look into the mind of a woman who experiences extreme trauma and becomes stuck. Through laughter and tears, Anna’s journey towards healing is a wonderful read.
Profile Image for Jeff Stevens.
83 reviews
March 9, 2020
As the story opens, Anna is recovering from a trauma unknown to the reader. She has obsessive/compulsive disorder, is deathly afraid of germs and dirt, and has pulled out all of her hair. She meets a therapist who tries to help her. He gives her a wig head that she calls Annabella to hold her wig when she isn't wearing it, and it becomes an important part of her life. She becomes romantically attracted to the therapist, and when she receives a wedding invitation from the therapist, she goes on a quest (from California to Colorado), intending to stop the wedding. It is hard to sympathize with Anna at first, but over the course of the book we gain more understanding of her past and condition, and she begins to improve. Since the story is written to slowly reveal information throughout the book, little more can be said without spoilers, but it is an interesting book with characters who develop during the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
February 25, 2020
Anna was too clever for me, Petra too "weird," but only at first. The novel's characters soon started showing traits I recognized in others and even myself. When the protagonist met an opposite yet equally beaten-down young woman, she was humanized for me. I went on a trip with her to dingy hotel rooms, restaurants with questionable food service ratings, terribly uncomfortable confrontations, and into Anna's mind. Yes, there is loss, but there is also joy in human connections. It pulled me in, and I found myself reading several chapters in one sitting even though it was time for bed.
Profile Image for Kira Harland.
Author 1 book4 followers
September 29, 2020
Anna Incognito is one of the most well-written pieces I have ever read. When I started reading it, I thought that it was already a best-seller, written by some "big name" author, so I am writing this review in hopes others will give it a chance, you won't be disappointed. The book takes you on a psychological journey unlike any other book. Imagine stream of consciousness mixed with neurotic, yet relatable, thoughts packaged in an easy to follow page turning adventure. The mind of Anna is vulnerable and gripping and her growth throughout the novel is artfully done.
1 review
March 7, 2020
An extraordinary and beautifully-written book. Couldn't put it down and found myself thinking about the characters and story long after I finished reading it. It unexpectedly stirred memories and feelings I'd nearly forgotten about and reminded me how much alike we are, even when first impressions may tell us otherwise. I will definitely read this book again.
February 14, 2020
I read it. It was great! Loved the characters, Anna's OCD was captured in your choice of words as well as her actions. Mellow's reaction to it all enforced them beautifully. These two soul mates completed each other!
1 review2 followers
February 23, 2020
Charming, ironic characters in a swiftly moving plot, adept writing, can be read in a weekend. Very clever writing from author Preble. I was very engaged and charmed by this surprisingly funny take on OCD. Leave it to a talented writer like Preble to keep us hooked from page 1.
14 reviews
March 6, 2020
Good read

Started it and could not put it down. As someone who has learned to live a functional life with OCD - it was not easy to read at time emotionally speaking but I became so attatched to all the characters that I had to see what happened. I would read this again.
March 6, 2020
As with all good stories, it took me a bit to get ensconced in Anna and her world but once I did, it was gripping! Quirky and damaged, Anna perseveres on a journey that had me in its thrall.
It was a great read!
Profile Image for Nicole SaBell.
2 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2020
Beautifully painful and poignant

A fascinating storyline that really leans into the struggles and complications of mental health. I would love to catch up with Anna 5 or 10 years down the road.
1 review1 follower
May 28, 2020
Just finished reading “Anna Incognito” by Laura Preble — VERY good novel. Excellent character and plot development. I found it quite insightful, and was drawn into the story.
Profile Image for Yasmin M.
82 reviews1 follower
March 7, 2023
A quick but heavy read. Insightful way to understand the viewpoint of someone with severe trauma-induced issues. Heavy / sad.
Profile Image for Christine Rose.
Author 32 books102 followers
April 14, 2020
I loved this book. From the first few pages when I was impressed with the author's ability to establish a complex character until the end of the book, Anna Incognito had me hooked. Preble weaves a wonderful adventure tale of love, loss, and mental illness. She explores the concept of transference and the complicated relationship between a client and therapist when dealing with vulnerability and trust issues. I particularly admire how she handled mental illness, especially when exacerbated by the psychiatric injury of profound trauma, with respect and dignity, all while creating a delightful character and love story. I can't recommend this book enough. Truly unique in concept and satisfying outcome. I look forward to reading more of Preble's work.
Profile Image for Madelyn.
17 reviews
August 22, 2020
Anna Incognito is a wonderfully satisfying tale. Anna struggles with several neurotypical issues and forces herself to soldier thru an adventure despite her fears.
There are some great characters in the story, each very well developed as the story moves along.
I won't give away the ending except to tell you it is juicy and leaves you very pleased.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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