The book opens with protagonist and narrator Adam Ross at his Young Adult OCD Support Group in room 13B. Adam attended therapy for a year before his therapist Dr. Chuck Mutinda suggested joining the group. Today, Chuck introduces a new member of the group, Robyn Plummer, who recently completed the residential program at Rogers Memorial Hospital. Adam is immediately in love with her. Chuck introduces everyone else in the group to Robyn, and Adam is embarrassed that Chuck points out that he is the youngest. In his head he makes a list of goals for himself: grow immediately because Robyn is taller than him, find courage, get normal, and marry Robyn Plummer.

Chuck explains the group’s next project, in which every member will pick a character to be during sessions so they can be someone else for a change. The goal is to “leave their doubt ridden, shell-shocked and agonizing selves at the door and become instead all-powerful beings” (7). Though Adam thinks Group is weird, he is excited about being someone other than himself. Everyone picks comic book superheroes, except one girl who picks Snooki (a reality TV star). Robyn picks Robin from the Batman comics.