
Content levels
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
They’re mirrors. They’re opposites. They represent what the other fears. Yet, they can’t stay away. Starting at Hollydene University was supposed to be a fresh start for Kaida LeBlanc: a new city, new classes, and a chance to quiet the never-ending noise inside her head. Living with OCD means her thoughts are intrusive, her rituals are exhausting, and her vulnerability is terrifying. So, Kaida keeps everything locked away in her journal, which no one else is meant to read... until she drops it. Silas Campbell is the last person Kaida expects to find holding her secrets. He is the campus golden boy with a lacrosse scholarship, an effortless smile and a mask perfectly in place. Silas is used to being seen as untouchable. What no one sees are the things he’s learned the hard way. The horrifying truth that pain doesn’t always look like pain. As late-night conversations blur into something deeper, Kaida finds herself torn between a familiar, unhealthy relationship and the steady presence of someone who stays. But when the walls they built finally crack and trust shatters, she and Silas must decide whether love can survive being truly seen. Because of its mature themes, this novel is recommended for readers 16+
Tags
Is Things You Weren't Supposed to See: An Emotional College Slow-Burn Romance appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This college romance deals with mental health themes including OCD and toxic relationships, with moderate emotional intensity and implied intimacy. The focus is on healing and finding healthy love.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, moderate sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include emotional abuse, mental illness, and ocd (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will relate to the authentic portrayal of mental health struggles and the slow-burn romance between two people learning to be vulnerable with each other.