M.T. Edvardsson

Rachel Willson-Broyles

A Novel

A Nearly Normal Family

Derek Barlas

Patricia Nelson

This book is a quick read that carries the reader on a journey to find out who killed a man. The story is told in three parts, from three different perspectives, and I was completely drawn in and compelled to finish to find out what really happened. Just when I thought I knew what the truth was, that knowledge was challenged and more information came to light that made me wonder again. The primary themes for me that stood out were about what would you be willing to do for a loved one? for a child? for a friend? and what is a life worth? a good person's life? a bad person's life? This is a well-written and well-translated book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Ozge Kara

It has been ages since I read thrillers. I found the first part very slow, I got really annoyed because I don’t like seeing young female characters make bad life choices. However as the book progressed I understood the characters much better and the pace got faster as well. It was a very well written book.

Jessica De Hoyos

Gina O

Great book! Found the first part of the book to be contradictory, but the 2nd and 3rd parts were a lot better! Really didn't see the end coming. Loved the author's ability to go back and forth through the timelines, kept me turning the pages!!

kate humphreys 

a solid read, not terrible but not amazing, kept me interested and i loved the accents on the audiobook!

Lauren

From the start, your interest is piqued with the knowledge that this whole book centres around the murder/death of someone connected to the daughter, who engages in suspicious activity. It's a novel way to start, which was very effective and suiting to the writing tone!

Divided into sections, each retelling the story from the perspective of the respective family members, it’s an interesting concept through which you steadily gain more pieces of the puzzle. It’s through this style, that the mystery and intrigue are fuelled- almost court-like in its style, putting the reader in the position of a jury member slowly gaining new insights about the case.

Something of a commentary on the lack of perfection families possess, despite their outward appearances, 

Despite my enjoyment, the writing style didn’t jump out to me, nor did the characterisation. ‘A nearly normal family’ was enjoyable, but not standout. Interesting yet average. Easy read.


Samantha Kalany Hughes

** spoiler alert **
           WOW! A big 5 stars to that one. 
I think that's the fastest I've ever read a book... three days... especially for one that long. 
I truly enjoyed this book, especially in the three part perspectives in which this story was told. I hate to say that I definitely pinned Stella to be the murderer at first, but as pages progressed forward, I stood corrected and in awe of a family who saw no limit to how far they would go to protect their daughter. 

I don't know if I live in a family where I would fight to the end of the earth to keep them safe from the law, especially if there was enough evidence to convict them. You aren't responsible for every terrible thing your family members do... Everyone has the right to live their own life and make their own decisions. I know a lot of people, my Fiancée included, struggle with Not so Normal family interactions, and if we go about our lives blaming and burdening ourselves of the actions made by a family member, there is no happiness, but yet, I'm under the assumption that if the tables were turned, there still would be no happiness, just a life of overwhelming sorrow and numbness. 

End Rant

Anyway, I LOVED the book and I'm so glad it's the July Book for my Book Club. I can't wait to see what the rest of my bookworms think of this novel!

Steffi

I need to collect my thoughts..... cause what?

Kirsten Devolder

Kate Gravelle

I liked how the writer wrote in slightly different styles for each character

Neva Davies

A pageturner

A Nearly Normal Family is quite a ride, from the very first chapter to the epilogue. While it took me a little time to get into it, I'm very glad that I did. It talks about the damage that we can do to those we love, and the desire to save those we love from themselves. 

~4.75/5 stars

Lacey

This book was fantastic and about what parents can do for the love of their child.

Emma Myers

** spoiler alert **
           This book is still sits with me after reading it, I decided to reread it. I noticed a lot more the second time around. Amina isn't as innocent as I always assumed her to be. Reading it once I believe you miss it. The characters are all manipulated throughout the story. Every character despite how they feel is manipulated by another. To the point after reading it the second time, I am still unsure if I believe what I'm reading. In turn, they have all manipulated us. The reader. Is the book as point and dry as they left it? Or is there more to this story hidden with the unwrapping of the story they are telling us to their face. 
Amina manipulated Stella throughout the book. Making her into the bad one to be praised and loved. I think Amina gets off on that. Being better than everyone. Amina tells on Stella multiple times to get Stella's parents favor, and I don't think it's out of love for Stella. Stella's mother even risks her daughter to protect Amina. If it wasn't for chris's ex, I would think Amina lied about what happened between Chris and her. I still don't believe I got a grasp on the story. Amina is the true antagonist throughout the story though. That I know is true. Anything bad that happens to Stella can be traced back to Amina except the rape. It's just interesting I missed that before...

Kourtney

Every now and then, I step away from the mom-lit or the chick-lit and read a book that is outside of my comfort zone. A Nearly Normal Family falls into this category. 

I don't know if I would necessarily classify this book as a "legal thriller." I hear that and I think of someone being on trial after a whodunit feel leading up to the capture. But I learn something new everyday. Today's lesson: what is a legal thriller? According to Wikipedia:

"The legal thriller is a subgenre of thriller and crime fiction in which the major characters are lawyers and their employees. The system of justice itself is always a major part of these works, at times almost functioning as one of the characters. In this way, the legal system provides the framework for the legal thriller much as the system of modern police work does for the police procedural."

When you put it in those terms, then yes - this is a legal thriller. We find ourselves introduced to the Sandell family. We have the recently turned 18-year old, Stella, who is your stereotypical "teenager." She wants nothing to do with her family, and has dreams of her future. Her mom is a defense attorney, and her overbearing father is a pastor. The story is told in each of their voices. We start with the father's voice, where we set the story up of Stella being accused of murder. We learn how far her father will push his beliefs and morals without asking questions. We also see a glimpse into the past of the relationship with Stella, through his eyes. 

The second section is told through Stella's voice. We see some of the same memories, but now viewed through Stella's POV, and learn how she is getting along in jail while she awaits trial.

We round off this story with the trial, as told through the mother's eyes. Given she is a defense attorney, we see how Switzerland's justice system works, for better and worse. We learn family secrets, the lengths she would go to protect her daughter, and the outcome of the trial. And why the murder happened.

This book was a fast read for me. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down. I would read it at work, while the kids were napping - I could not get enough! Do I agree with everything the parents did? I don't know. I tried to put myself in their shoes. Would I go crazy like the dad? I would want to, but knowing myself, I wouldn't dare. Would I do what the mom did? That's more my speed. Would I lie to my husband? Hell yes - he's a horrible liar and is better off learning the details after the fact. I hope to never confirm these beliefs, but you just never know what life will throw at you. 

I do recommend this, but with a caution that the book does have triggers in it. I enjoyed the writing style, and felt the difference in voices. I always appreciate seeing the same event through multiple POV's. Try it out, but have a light and fluffy book on stand-by for when you finish reading it!

I received this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Vanessa Bintou

3,5 stars

The story is about 18 year old Stella, who is accused of murder. During the story we learn not only the facts about what happened, but her "normal" family's history. What we find out is that they are hardly normal..

What I liked the most in this book was that the story is narrated by the three main characters, Stella and her parents, one after the other, so apart from some important events in the story and in their life, most of the events are not repetitive. The first part is her father's point of view, the second is Stella's and the last is her mother's. The moment we make our mind about the character of the narrator, we learn something new or slightly different that can change everything. Let's just say that not one person in the book is what it seems and all of them are liars.

The plot regarding the murder is not that complicated and it's fairly obvious what happened. The most interesting part I think was the family's history and Stella's character.
I felt like there was a secret question the way this book was written, like we had to compare characters, and If I had to choose the best or the worst character among the family, I would say that the were too many dark thoughts and choices. A lot of pain and confusion. Personally, I felt like the choices the mother made, were in the end wrong and the consequences grave.

Even though, I couldn't put it down, it was still a very difficult book to read. I believe this is something I need to write and I am truly sorry if you feel like I shouldn't. There were some scenes about rape, that happened in the past, and two that we read while it was happening. I also didn't see any warning about it. This was too much to read with all the family drama and it felt like it wasn't really a thriller, but a domestic drama. 

Finally, I read some lines about gypsies and Aspenger, that felt like it was a bad trait and it was a little insensitive.

A Nearly Normal Family A Novel

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