Something Like Normal.

Something Like Normal.

Trish Doller.

Publisher:Bloomsbury

Publication Date:June 19,2012.

Genre:YA Contemporary Drama|Romance.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|214.

Source:Library|Goodreads.

Challenge:Debut Author|Stand Alone.

 

5 STARS

 



Though this book was shorter than I thought it would be, I loved everything about Something Like Normal. I had a feeling that I was going love the book from the moment that I read the summary, it just the type of the books that I love. I always enjoyed books that had do with military, war, maybe because half of my family from my stepdad’s side were in military, and got some friends in military right now. But for as long as I remember, those books always kept my interest. That was the case with Something Like Normal, I fell in love with the story, the characters. I found myself rooting for some of them. I found hard to put it down, I wanted to see how everything would turn out in the end. This was an amazing Debut, and I am looking forward to her future works.

Something Like Normal, A story about a marine, Travis who is returning home from Afghanistan. When he gets home, he finds out that Travis’s brother Ryan had stolen his girlfriend, Paige, his car and top of it all, his parent’s relationship is not what he thought it was. Top of all that, he’s still haunted by nightmares of his best friend, Charlie.

 

When his life seems to be falling apart, he runs into Harper, a girl he had a rocky relationship since middle school. It’s only then when Travis’s life actually starts looking up. As Harper and Travis begins spending more time together, he begins work out through his issues, one at time and getting his back to normal again. Yet, he still can’t seem to escape the nightmares, the visions of Charlie.

  Most of this book was emotional; at least it was to me. Maybe because the way it was written, the tone of the voice of Travis. I loved the fact that this story was told from Travis’s point of view. By reading from his point, how he was feeling, what his thoughts were, made me feel like I got to know him more and I found myself being able connect with him more, then any other characters. I loved him right from beginning, and it’s not because I felt sorry for him but because of his personality, attitude. Though it didn’t seem like it at times, he was a strong character. Despite everything that he gone through since coming back from Afghanistan. I did find myself feeling sorry for him, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what he was going through, but while reading, I found myself being able to see how he was feeling. The emotions that were displayed for Travis, were amazing, I felt as I was there with him and I felt afraid for him. So I was glad when he finally got help, towards the end.

Harper, besides Travis, she was my favorite character. I loved her attitude and the fact that she punched Travis when she first ran into him, which takes guts and spoke her mind. I love that in the girl, she was strong. Of course I loved the relationship between the two of them, it was different. Considering how Travis treated her in middle school, way he practically ruined their reputation, I was sure that she want nothing to do with him. So of course, when she forgave him and they started spending more time together, I was bit surprised. To be honest, if I was ever in her situation, I don’t think I be able to do that, or get involved with someone who treated her way he did. As time passed by, I could tell she truly cared about him, the way she went to Charlie’s funeral with him, was there for him when he broke up, even after she found how he hooked with his ex Paige when she got back, and way she forgave them. Now, that’s love right there. I think she was the one who held him together, reason he was able to hang on after Charlie’s death.

I loved Travis’s mother, way she supported him from the moment he went into Marines, and got him all those care packages, and when he came back, making sure that he had everything he needed. She reminded me of my mom, who is as caring. That’s why I hated what her husband was doing, and fact how he blamed practically everything on Travis, including his trouble in marriage, though he was the one having an affair. I was glad when she finally stood up for him, but I got say I was as surprised as Travis was when she did. But I could tell that she and Travis seemed to have a strong bond, a bond that not many sons and mothers have.

In general, I couldn’t put book down, and I loved the fact that the book ended with Travis writing letter to Charlie, it was an amazing ending. The cover was appealing as well, along with title. I can’t wait to see what Doller comes up in her next novel. Something Like Normal is a both worth checking out, you won’t regret it.