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Katja Schulz

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ONE OF US HAS TO GO Kindle Edition

by Katja Schulz (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.3 26 ratings

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"Unusual, interesting, vivid and palpable"
—Scott Stossel, Author of My Age of Anxiety & National Editor, The Atlantic

Two friends with needs that align for a short time, but what will happen after those needs diverge?

Powerful, compelling, suspenseful, intelligent, hopeful

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Sometimes you just have to get rid of your best friend to break your own chains.

Every night at eleven o'clock, Sonja demands Finja lock her in. Tonight, Sonja even threatens to destroy Finja's new romance if she stops.

As girls, they both suffered from unloving fathers. Having given each other sanctuary, they became soulmates. But then Sonja's relentless, life-restricting rules forced them to run from Germany until they got stuck in England, never to return.

Their sweet friendship rendered a toxic co-dependency.

Now that Sonja wants to trap Finja forever, she has two options: keep bending to Sonja's will and relinquish all control of her own life, or get rid of Sonja...

Based on a true story about a dysfunctional family, mind games, blackmail, emotional control and dependency, obsessive compulsive disorder, and a new romance at stake.

REVIEWS

"With One of Us Has to Go, Katja Schulz has vividly dramatized the torments of OCD in an interesting and unusual way. The depredations of the disorder, and the way its symptoms can constrain and even derail a life, are palpable in this novel--but so, too, is the humanity of the character afflicted with the disease. Finja's story will resonate with OCD sufferers, and her journey may provide consolation and hope."
- Scott Stossel, National Editor, The Atlantic

"...a beguiling patina..."
- The Booklife Prize by Publishers Weekly

"As shocking as parts of the story were, I gasped and laughed in equal measure. It’s a book full of wisdom and learning. It’s intelligent and optimistic, and I finished it wearing a smile."
- Claire Goldenberg, OCD-UK
https://www.ocduk.org/one-of-us-has-to-go/

"This book will change the perception of how people view OCD forever, as the human cost of OCD is laid bare for the reader to see."
- Ashley Fullwood, OCD-UK
https://www.ashleyfulwood.net/one-of-us-has-to-go-by-katja-schulz/

“This book is awesome! … The voices flow from a traumatised childhood to a deeply troubled adulthood with an almost naive honesty. … It is a captivating tale with an explosive and unexpected climatic ending.”

“I really enjoyed reading this book. I was hooked from the start.”

“It is so perfectly written, from the childish joy at the snow to the visceral revoltingness of a certain male character. … I was totally caught up in Finja's world. The shocking twist at the end was brilliant and took me completely by surprise.”

“A truly brave and successful portrayal of the debilitating condition of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The author has been able to turn the story of her bewildering young life into a fascinating first novel.”

“Wow! What a powerful and beautifully written book. I was not expecting a narrative that would capture and hold my attention, but it did just that.”

Print length

393 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

July 7, 2019
File size

3616 KB
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07TYFQSN3
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Katja Schulz (July 7, 2019)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 7, 2019
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3616 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 393 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #3,408,852 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #772 in Compulsive Behavior (Kindle Store)
- #1,048 in Behaviour
- #2,008 in Parenting Emotions & Feelings

Customer Reviews:
4.3 26 ratings

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Katja Schulz

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Katja Schulz blames her impatience on the fact that she was born premature, in the middle of winter, and has therefore admitted to this, her only, flaw.

She turned her congenital curiosity and lust for adventure into a passion; crossing the Atlantic by ship twice, flying around the world and, after leaving her native country in 2004, living in Switzerland, France, Canada and the UK.

She loves snow, music, football and coffee, and couldn't imagine the world without. Her rather patient husband likes football just as much as she does, and should England ever beat Germany again, the two might have to reconsider their romance.

Apart from her native German, Katja is fluent in English and French.

What she is most fond of is photography, and she forgets the world beyond her lens when she's in her element.

And, obviously, she enjoys writing!

After living in England for 4.5 years, she has returned to her beloved Zurich in beautiful Switzerland where she is hoping to be living for good, together with her wonderful husband, Neil. ❤🇨🇭

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

26 global ratings

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Mia B

Explosive narrative about OCD!

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2019

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This is not my usual type of read but I bought One of Us Has to Go because a friend shared her OCD tendencies with me, and I needed to understand them better. Wow! What I was not prepared for was a beautifully written book that held my attention from the first page to the last.
We live in a complex society, with way more mental awareness issues than ever before, which makes reading this book an absolute must. I now have the insight that I need to understand and help my friend who is dealing with OCD, just by taking Finja’s journey. Well done!

Helpful

Colin D. Smith

Great Use of Story-telling to Shine a Light on a Serious Issue

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2020

Drawn together as young classmates, Finja and Sonja fast became soulmates. They provide each other with a safe haven when everyone else hurts them or lets them down. Whether its parents, friends, or life itself that deals a hard blow, they always have each other. But Finja’s friendship with Sonja comes at a cost. She is as much bound to Sonja’s relentless, life-restricting rules as Sonja is. Forced to flee Germany, their home country, because of Sonja, Finja can never settle, never feel at home anywhere, and can never be free.

Their sweet friendship has become a toxic co-dependency. Now Sonja is threatening the most important relationship in Finja’s life outside of Sonja.

Finja has two options: keep bending to Sonja’s will and relinquish all control of her own life, or get rid of Sonja.

As it says on the cover, this novel is based on a true story, namely the author’s own struggles with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). It is an attempt to convey what it’s like to live with what can be a debilitating affliction through the medium of a novel. A few years ago I reviewed THE LAST LETTER by Susan Pogorzelski, which used fiction to help readers understand Lyme Disease. There have been numerous other novels that have made powerful use of storytelling to help non-suffers understand what it’s like to live with various mental and physical disorders. It’s a valid and often successful way to bring cold science and statistics to life. Katja’s book is no exception to this.

There are two threads to the story, one present day where Finja is reaching a tipping point with Sonja, and another where we flash back to the past recalling how the two met and the events that led to the present situation. At first theirs seems like a close and loving friendship where the two girls care deeply for one another. But it becomes clear that Sonja is the one in control. Katja does a great job conveying the extent to which Sonja and her OCD dominate Finja, who feels increasingly as if she cannot walk away from her friend. And her friend ends up manipulating Finja to bind her to her oppressive routines.

The pair end up traveling to a couple of different countries in Europe, largely thanks to Sonja’s OCD, and her need to be far away from people who are “dirty.” For Sonja, the “dirtiness” of those people is like an infectious disease so that everything they touch, and everywhere they go or ever have been is contaminated. Sonja’s elaborate washing rituals to avoid being infected are hard to imagine, but that’s the point. Those of us who have little or no experience with OCD often don’t appreciate how extreme it can be. We can’t conceive of going to those kinds of lengths simply because we visited a place where a “dirty” person had been. Even times and dates can become “dirty.” These cleansing routines feel more than a burden. They are shackles that bind Sonja, and Katja does well to make us feel Sonja’s bondage to her illness.

There are a couple of minor issues I have with the novel. English is not Katja’s first language, and in light of that she is to be commended for writing in a way that communicates her story well. There were only a couple of times where the wording was a little confusing, and none of those occasions affected my appreciation of the story. However, there are times, especially when Katja uses English idioms or analogies, where the language doesn’t feel quite right. Either the application of terms isn’t quite on the mark, or it sounds slightly unnatural. A bit like a good copy of a painting that you can still, nevertheless, tell is a copy. Again, this is not to take away from the achievement of writing a novel in a second language, which I think, on the whole, Katja managed successfully.

The other minor issue I have concerns the ending. I don’t want to spoil it for you, so suffice to say I think Katja said too much at the end. She explains the relationship between Finja and Sonja, and I don’t think she needed to. Indeed, I think she could have finished the novel with Finja walking away. If you’ve read the novel, hopefully you know what I mean by that. If you haven’t read the novel, read it and you’ll understand.

If your only exposure to OCD is through characters on television, or popular stereotypes, you really should read this novel. And if you have loved ones or close friends who suffer with OCD, this novel may help you understand better what they’re going through.

I would rate this novel PG-15, borderline R, for a few f-words and sexual situations.

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2021

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This book is a masterpiece. It describes the mental health battle that OCD is in a way that everyone can understand, even if one doesn’t have exhaustive knowledge of it. The characters truly come to life, making the plot twist at the end even more shocking and poignant.

Helpful

rsmjoy

Surprised at the ending

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2019

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I read this book because I have OCD. Mine is different/not as severe as the character in this book. However, I do believe this to be an accurate representation of suffering from OCD. The lack of understanding on the part of family members and others is very real. People think of OCD as just being overly neat and organized. That isn't it at all. This book shows what it can really be like as well as possible causes for developing OCD.

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2019

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Great voice and story! Poignant and hopeful. Lovely twist at the end.

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LB

It is a very good way to write about a disease, a great way to share and I highly recommend reading.

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2019

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend. It really moves away from my usual reading style.

"One of us has to go" is an easy to read book. The use of short sentences is welcome. All along the reading we have the impression that we have the author talking to us. We easily forget that this is an auto-biographical book. We feel involved in the story, we are listening to someone. This is similar to the use of "you" we often find in the books of Eastern European authors.

The first part on childhood can be read very quickly. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, we follow the characters as they grow up in a world in which the new rules imposed make life more and more difficult. The transition to adulthood is much harder to follow. It's much darker and the rules are suffocating us. We would like to make characters a smile, guide them, comfort them. But page after page, we can only observe them getting hit over and over again.

The suspense is well sets over the pages, it lets us imagine several conclusions. The one chosen caught us a little off guard, I appreciate it!

It is a very good way to write about a disease, a great way to share and I highly recommend reading.

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2019

What a great story, and a great way to shine some light on OCD. Katja Schulz weaves together a compelling story of two friends growing up together and how OCD impacts the main character. Jumping forward and backward in time, you can't help but want to see how the characters get where they are in the unfolding story. While you feel strongly for the MC, she is imperfect herself, which really helps you understand relate to the struggles she faces, even when they are so far removed from our own lives. If you know someone suffering from OCD, this book is a must-read. If you don't, it still stands on its own as a very captivating story!

Helpful

Grace Grits Gardening

Suspenseful and Eye-Opening!

Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2020

I “met” this author via Twitter and in that odd way of social media, feel we are kindred spirits from different parts of the world. Her autobiographical book is a departure from those I typically read. And I’m so glad I took a chance on this one. One of Us Has To Go opened my eyes to the debilitating illness of OCD, shattering my pre-conceived notions that it lives on the surface like something that can be ignored or tucked in a drawer. At times, Katja’s writing felt like stream of consciousness, almost Sylvia Plath-ish. At other times, suspenseful, as the conclusion grew to a climax I partially expected yet hadn’t completely worked out in my mind. Written in honest, easy-to-follow prose from an author whose primary language isn’t English. A nice change of pace for me.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Kunde

Interesting book

Reviewed in Germany on November 19, 2023

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Since english isn't my first language I was afraid, it would be too difficult to read.

I was proven wrong, its an easy to read book.
That makes it a good book for me *spoiler ahead*

+I got sucked in to the world of a person that has OCD and it was a bit disturbing but overall interesting.

-What I didn't really like was the *intimate* scenes but I guess thats a matter of taste.

+I still catch myself thinking about the chapters of the book every now and then, since they are things that happen everyday in a "normal persons" life.. just without that other person inside you head.

It still takes time for me to fully understand whats going on in a mind of a person with "OCD".
I was told, by people that have read the book aswell , its meant to be read twice to completly get the picture..

I might buy it in german again since its the authors first language and might get a "different" story since german and english aren't exactly the same .

Overall I don't regret reading/buying it.
There were alot of cliffhangers to keep the reader on the story wich was a good thing for me, since nowadays I get disturbed quite easily(smartphones, media, etc.)

The only english books I've read previously are some HP books so I can only compare it to them.

Thanks for reading my review and stay healthy :)

Catherine Morrison

An eye-opening read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

Based on a true story, this novel grabs you straight from the beginning. I quickly forgot everything I thought I knew about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and was horrified to learn how debilitating this disease can be. I had no idea of the seriousness of the condition; the relentless rules, cleansing, and contamination. The toll on the individual is huge and it quickly transfers to families, friends, and ultimately sabotages relationships. The story of Finja and Sonja is extremely well written and is both humorous and harrowing, but it’s hard to say too much without giving away spoilers. Knowing that the book is a fictionalised account of the author’s experiences I knew there would be a satisfying conclusion. Of course there are no guarantees where illness is concerned, but the book delivered an ending that was hopeful ever after.
A final word of congratulations to the author who had the courage and determination to bring this book to life. Inspirational.

Will

Amazing and moving story.

Reviewed in France on January 28, 2022

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I have just finished #Reading this book by Katja Shulz (@OneOfUsHasToGo), and it was an interesting and moving story about living with OCD. If you don't have OCD it will open your eyes to just how debilitating it can be. Highly recommended.

shopper17

Awesome writing and an insightful story about OCD

Reviewed in India on April 23, 2021

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if you know someone with OCD and want to know how they feel , then this book is a must. But that's not the only reason to read this book. The writing is excellent. The details in the writing made me feel like I'm standing next to the characters, watching the story unfold. And the best part is , the chapters are short. Makes it easy for that 5 minute read in a busy life :) . Its just Awesome.

Thea

A raw and gripping account of what it's like to live with OCD

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2023

Verified Purchase

One Of Us Has To Go has been waiting to be read for 2 years! When I first bought it I knew I wasn't in the right place to read it, and I am so glad I waited. As someone who suffers from OCD, which ramped up significantly during a really challenging time in 2020, I knew I needed to feel more safe and stable before reading it. And I'm glad I did, because this book doesn't shy away from the reality of living with OCD.

Within the story, OCD is personified in the character of Sonja, who the main character Finja meets during childhood. They quickly become close friends, and their relationship throughout the book is intensely co-dependent. However Finja has reached a point in her life where she is desperate to break free of Sonja's hold over her, and as she waits to put her plan into action we learn about their intertwined lives through a series of flashbacks that take us from childhood, through the teens years, and into adulthood.

I found it a tough read, because of how raw the storytelling was. I'd like to note that it would be handy to have a list of trigger warnings for the book, as there are many traumas experienced throughout the story. I made a list of those I noted, but this may not be an exhaustive list as I could have missed things:

childhood trauma
controlling parents
child abuse
emotional abuse
physical abuse
sexual assault
co-dependent relationships
self-harm
attempted suicide
alcohol poisoning
homophobia
body shaming
death of a loved one
attempted murder
death scene involving blood

Some of these occur far more frequently than others. For instance, homophobia occurs at the end of just one single chapter. However childhood trauma and emotional abuse are key factors underpinning the whole story. I'm not sure if self-harm is quite the right term for the damage caused by some of the compulsions, but physical damage is caused by it so I labelled it at such.

All of this being said, the story is ultimately one of hope. Finja does eventually find her way, through a greater understanding of herself and finding true support. And I would recommend it as a read to anyone who wants to know more about OCD or feel less alone in their own journey with it.

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