Monday, March 19, 2012

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller


Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Published: June 19, 2012 by Bloomsbury
Received: egalley for review
A powerful debut novel about a young Marine's return home from Afghanistan and the new life and love he finds while fending off the ghosts of war.

When Travis Stephenson returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are on the brink of divorce, his brother has stolen his girlfriend and his car, and nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper Gray, a girl who despises him for trashing her reputation with a middle school lie, life actually starts looking up. As Travis and Harper see more of each other, he starts falling for her and a way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress, and the possibility of an interesting future begins to emerge.

His sense of humor, sense of his own strength, and incredible sense of honor make Travis an irresistible and eminently lovable hero in this fantastic and timely debut novel. {goodreads.com}

Stop. Take a minute to breath. Process. Allow it all to sink in. Now go back & re-read it all over again.  That is my initial reaction to this book.  Contemporaries hold a special place in my heart when it comes to literature because they make you feel such strong emotions.  I know any book can have that effect on a person, but contemporary pieces like this one have the ability to grab my heart, twist it, hug it, break it in to a million pieces, and then put it all back together again swelling with pure love.  Trish Doller's debut novel Something Like Normal is far from normal.  It is contemporary fiction at it's best.

Travis has just come home on leave from spending the last year serving his country in Afghanistan.  His mother's welcome wagon, along with his judgmental father, and second-hand brother aren't exactly home for Travis.  He prefers the camaraderie of his brother-hood in the hot, sandy desert.  Travis is also dealing with the effects of losing one of his mates in battle.  The tough facade he tries to portray while on base begins to crack once he is confined back inside his childhood home.  Though he's only home for a few weeks, he tries his best to bide his time among a sea of faces that have now become strangers to him.  What he once thought was important, now holds less meaning.  Travis is a changed young man, but he doesn't quite know it yet.

Harper is the girl who tries to show him that change, but it didn't start off that easy.  Their relationship begins with a punch to the face (Travis' face that is) and the angst just keeps rising.  These two characters are probably one of the most well written love interests I have come across.  Their attitudes towards one another felt so believable to me.  Harper has her reservations about Travis in the beginning due to their past.  We also learn that Harper is a forgiving person, with a heart that goes on for miles.  I adore this girl, so much.  She was the perfect match for Travis.  She off-sets his bruiting, hostile persona so well.  The two of them together lit up every page.  Their love was a slow build, and oh man.. those slow builds are the best!  Feel the burn.  I was completely convinced by their true feelings.

The story goes beyond just love though, it digs deep in to family turmoil.  The relationship building between Travis and his mom was another favorite of mine to witness.  I love when an author gives secondary characters such strong voices.  Travis' mom did not fade in to the background, she stood strong in every scene, even during her weakest moments.  There were quite a few other secondary characters that captured my heart as well.  The involvement kept me turning the pages.  I knew I was in for some heavy heart ache, especially when it includes a story about a young man coming home from a foreign war.  There are so many challenges a person can face, and it's right to assume they will come home a changed person.

Trish Doller, I bow down to you.  Your ability to tell a story with so much depth, compassion, angst, and believability has left me breathless.  I want to re-read this book a dozen more times.  Thank you for sharing with us one of the best contemporary novels.  I can't wait for the world to read this one.  It's definitely an impressionable piece.





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21 comments:

  1. oh wow, this sounds amazing. as if i didn't already desperately want to read it before, but now reading your review.. this sounds pretty freaking phenomenal! travis and harper's relationship sounds very interesting.. 'feel the burn' haha xD loved reading your review!

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  2. Great review. You've got me dying to read this book now. I tend to shy away from war-torn books, because they can really break your heart.

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  3. LOVED IT. I just...I can't even begin to write my own review. I still have no words. Perhaps I will just direct people to yours -- very well said. :):

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  4. Great review, G! This is one of the next books on my read/review list. I know it will probably make me shed a tear or two. I have a dear childhood friend who did a 2 tours in Afghanistan and he is certainly a changed man. He still suffers severe insomnia because of what he saw and experienced over there :-(

    I hope this book helps those who are dealing with the traumas of war -on both sides.

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  5. Wonderful Review!

    This one has been popping up all over my google reader - although this is the first review I've read! I am really excited for this book, it sounds absolutely wonderful and intense. (And I'm sure I've mentioned before, but I have several friends who have served - one on her fourth tour currently.)

    -Jac @ For Love and Books

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  6. This sounds like a story that I would really love. I love that it has a military aspect.

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  7. I'm so excited for this one to be released! It sounds amazing. I first heard of this book after everyone was talking about Trish Doller's tumblr on twitter.

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  8. A book that makes you want to reread it again IMMEDIATELY is the best!

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  9. Wow. I have to read this. I was kinda turned off by the cover at first, but now I've definitely changed my mind!

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  10. Nice job, G. I officially want to read this book even more. AHH! haha.

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  11. Oh, I so want to read this book. It's on my wish list, I love slow-build in contemporaries when it comes to love interests and I think this one is going to be awesome.
    Thanks for sharing your review.

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  12. As if I didn't already want to read this, now I'm dying to start it! Awesome review, Ginger!

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  13. I've read so many positive reviews for this debut, and reading yours makes me want to read it that much more. I'm happy you loved it so much! :)

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  14. This sounds really wonderful and such a timely subject. I'll be adding this to my list, for sure.

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  15. Beautiful review! Can't wait for this one. *wishes for summer*

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  16. OMG. I cannot wait to read this book. Seriously have been feeling "eh" about everything I've read recently and I need something five-star-worthy.

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  17. Wow. You never cease to amaze me. Your reviews truly are the best. I haven't even read it yet, but I can already imagine the impact this book will have on me, after reading your beautiful review full of emotion, heart and soul.

    I completely agree with you that contemporaries stir the most emotion, and even though I love other genres, contemporary is still and always will be my favorite genre.

    I didn't think I could want this book more than I already did, but you've managed to ditch that idea and have me anticipating this book even more. Hurry up June!

    Also, think a post is due titled "Ginger's Best Reviews". Seriously. I'm adding this one to the ever growing pile.

    Your reviews, blog and yourself are simply amazing.

    <3

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  18. great review, I think I need to go check this one out!

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  19. I'm actually not really into contemporary reads but your review has me sold on this one. I've put it on my wishlist and I'll wait patiently for its release.

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  20. I want to read this the way I want to eat carrot cake or a cheeseburger atm. You are amazing. Your reviews are absolutely to die for and I cannot stop reading your blog.

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  21. I've been looking forward to this one since I saw it on someone's WoW. It sounds amazing - the story, the characters, the premise, just everything. I've heard nothing but amazing things about it so far, including this review, and I cannot wait to finally get the opportunity to read it.

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