Something Like Normal

Big books often get all the glory.  Books that deal with huge issues or that are crazy and over the top.  Quieter books often fall between the cracks, but it's often the quietest books that affect us the most.

Trish Doller's SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL is one such book.

Here's the description from BN.com

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

I've been lucky to know Trish from the Tenners.  Even though SLN is really a 2012 book, she'll always be a Tenner to me.   I've been hearing her talk about SLN and Travis for a long time, and I couldn't wait to read it.  SLN isn't the kind of book that hits you over the head with big ideas.  It's a quiet book with honest characters that you'd want to sit and have a beer with.  Travis' voice is so authentic that I'm a little in awe of Trish's talent.

There are no huge twists in this book, no OMG moments.  Instead, SLN is filled with little moments that sucker punch you with their honesty.  Reading SLN was like hanging out with friends, shooting the shit and having fun.

SLN's Travis pushes the boundaries of what being a YA book means.  He's 19, so more adult than young, but the things he deals with are still relevant to teens.  It's not just about growing up, it's about how to grow up, which is something I think more YA books could stand to focus on.

But don't listen to my rambling post, just go buy it.  Take it to the beach with someone you love (or someone you kinda like) and read it while the tide comes in.