Something Like Normal

Goodreads:

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.

Title: Something Like Normal

Author: Trish Doller

Release Date: June 19th 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children

Review:

This book wasn't the worst book I ever read. I mean, I know that isn't a compliment because I have read some stinkers out there.The reason I bought this book was because I was going through a YA realistic fiction phase. Which turned into an army YA realistic fiction phase. I can't explain why I was going through that phase because to be honest I don't think I have read a book that dealt with the army before that I fell head over heals for. But nevertheless I felt the need to seek out all army related YA. So I came across this one, and I was intrigued by the fact that we would be getting to read the story through a male POV. 

I also read so many great things about this book before even buying my anticipation grew higher and higher. I even accidentally bought like 4 copies of the book, and it was all because I kept canceling the order and re-ordering the book, anyways that is a different story entirely, the bottom line being, anticipation was skyrocketing the longer I waited. 

So I finally started reading it and it was...ohh-kaaaay. Have you ever had the experience where you are reading from a female perspective and she really likes some guy lets call him Thor, so your reading this book and there is a girl who is so into Thor. He is what makes her wheels on the bus go round *raises eyebrows* if you know what I mean. Well we let the story play out and her and Thor have some really cute tender moments together, you are thinking, oh wow this is so cute! It is going to actually happen for her, yay! Well then skanky ho-face comes in and sleeps with Thor. You don't know it has happened until Thor tells you on a road trip where you have no way to escape Thor, thus you are trapped with him till end of road trip. Doesn't it always suck when your protagonist has to go through that! Well try reading it from Thor's perspective and it is WORSE. I was really bored with this story. I couldn't believe I had to sit in the mind of this jack-weasel make excuses for why he would sleep with skanky ho-face who happens to be dating THORS brother! 

Anyways so if you like the "hypothetical" situation I have laid out for you, I would strongly recommend this book to you! But it you detest people with no-self worth who try to make up for it, but they still suck monkey dung. Then I would suggest avoiding this book like the plague. 

Can I also add that there was zero plot. The writing didn't suck that is the only reason it gets 1 star. 

Would not recommend.