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Twin Oaks, LA #2
Some Kind of Normal
What is Normal?
For Trevor normal was fast guitar licks, catching game-winning passes and partying all night. Until a car accident leaves Trevor with no band, no teammates and no chance of graduating. It's kinda hard to ace your finals when you've been in a coma. The last thing he needs is stuck-up Everly Jenkins as his new tutor–those beautiful blue eyes catching every last flaw.
For Everly normal was a perfect family around the dinner table, playing piano at Sunday service and sunning by the pool. Until she discovers her whole life is a lie. Now the perfect pastor's daughter is hiding a life-changing secret, one that is slowly tearing her family apart. And spending the summer with notorious flirt Trevor Lewis means her darkest secret could be exposed.
This achingly beautiful story about two damaged teens struggling through pain and loss to redefine who they are--to their family, to themselves, and to each other--is sure to melt your heart.
Praise for Boys Like
"The classic miscommunications, the emotional pushing and pulling, the "will she?" and "won't he?" of the destined-to-be-in-love. Readers of Miranda Kenneally, Jenny Han, and Susane Colasanti will enjoy Stone." -VOYA
"The story handles challenging subjects like sex, drunk driving, and faith after tragedy in a sensitive and age-appropriate way...just what readers need." -School Library Journal
For Trevor normal was fast guitar licks, catching game-winning passes and partying all night. Until a car accident leaves Trevor with no band, no teammates and no chance of graduating. It's kinda hard to ace your finals when you've been in a coma. The last thing he needs is stuck-up Everly Jenkins as his new tutor–those beautiful blue eyes catching every last flaw.
For Everly normal was a perfect family around the dinner table, playing piano at Sunday service and sunning by the pool. Until she discovers her whole life is a lie. Now the perfect pastor's daughter is hiding a life-changing secret, one that is slowly tearing her family apart. And spending the summer with notorious flirt Trevor Lewis means her darkest secret could be exposed.
This achingly beautiful story about two damaged teens struggling through pain and loss to redefine who they are--to their family, to themselves, and to each other--is sure to melt your heart.
Praise for Boys Like
"The classic miscommunications, the emotional pushing and pulling, the "will she?" and "won't he?" of the destined-to-be-in-love. Readers of Miranda Kenneally, Jenny Han, and Susane Colasanti will enjoy Stone." -VOYA
"The story handles challenging subjects like sex, drunk driving, and faith after tragedy in a sensitive and age-appropriate way...just what readers need." -School Library Journal
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2015
52 people are currently reading
2149 people want to read
About the author
Juliana Stone
70 books1,293 followersJuliana Stone is also known as J.A. Stone.
USA Today bestselling author and 2015 RITA® winner JULIANA STONE fell in love with books in the fifth grade when her teacher introduced her to Tom Sawyer. A tomboy at heart, she splits her time between baseball, books, and music. When she’s not singing with her band, she’s thrilled to be writing young adult as well as adult contemporary romance—books that have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly & Booklist—from somewhere in the wilds of Canada.
USA Today bestselling author and 2015 RITA® winner JULIANA STONE fell in love with books in the fifth grade when her teacher introduced her to Tom Sawyer. A tomboy at heart, she splits her time between baseball, books, and music. When she’s not singing with her band, she’s thrilled to be writing young adult as well as adult contemporary romance—books that have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly & Booklist—from somewhere in the wilds of Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
May 2, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Juliana Stone, SOURCEBOOKS Fire, and NetGalley.)
“The only thing worse than being stuck in Twin Oaks for the summer without my best buddy, Nathan, is being stuck in Twin Oaks for the summer and having to spend most of it with Everly Jenkins.”
This was a YA contemporary romance about a boy with a traumatic brain injury.
I liked both Everly and Trevor in this story, and I felt sorry for both of them at points. What Everly was having to deal with with regards to her father was awful, and her home life was pretty poor because of it.
“I hate pretending. But most of all, I hate him for what he’s done to my family. Him. My father.
I love my father.
I hate my father.
How screwed up is that?”
I thought that Trevor was a little stupid to make the choice that he did which led to his brain injury, but it was sad that he’d lost so much because of one stupid mistake.
“I was invincible. I had goals and dreams, and I was damn close to getting them.
Until I wasn’t.
Until a night went so wrong that I ended up in a coma, and by the time I came out of it, months had passed.”
The storyline in this was good, and followed Everly and Trevor as they tried to wrk through some difficult aspects of their life, as well as getting to know each other better and falling in love. Even though the journey wasn’t easy or straightforward, this pair made a really cute couple, and it was obvious how much they loved each other.
“He moved closer, until there was only a whisper between us. I could smell his cologne, a light scent of woods and something else I couldn’t put my finger on. But it was nice. It was more than nice. It was amazing.”
The ending to this was good, and even though things might have not been a perfect ‘happily ever after’, they were close, and it was obvious that Everly and Trevor were together for good.
8 out of 10
“The only thing worse than being stuck in Twin Oaks for the summer without my best buddy, Nathan, is being stuck in Twin Oaks for the summer and having to spend most of it with Everly Jenkins.”
This was a YA contemporary romance about a boy with a traumatic brain injury.
I liked both Everly and Trevor in this story, and I felt sorry for both of them at points. What Everly was having to deal with with regards to her father was awful, and her home life was pretty poor because of it.
“I hate pretending. But most of all, I hate him for what he’s done to my family. Him. My father.
I love my father.
I hate my father.
How screwed up is that?”
I thought that Trevor was a little stupid to make the choice that he did which led to his brain injury, but it was sad that he’d lost so much because of one stupid mistake.
“I was invincible. I had goals and dreams, and I was damn close to getting them.
Until I wasn’t.
Until a night went so wrong that I ended up in a coma, and by the time I came out of it, months had passed.”
The storyline in this was good, and followed Everly and Trevor as they tried to wrk through some difficult aspects of their life, as well as getting to know each other better and falling in love. Even though the journey wasn’t easy or straightforward, this pair made a really cute couple, and it was obvious how much they loved each other.
“He moved closer, until there was only a whisper between us. I could smell his cologne, a light scent of woods and something else I couldn’t put my finger on. But it was nice. It was more than nice. It was amazing.”
The ending to this was good, and even though things might have not been a perfect ‘happily ever after’, they were close, and it was obvious that Everly and Trevor were together for good.
8 out of 10
May 7, 2015
As always, Juliana's words are magic.
Love love loved Everly and Trevor. They're so different and yet so similar. I'm such a sucker for dual POV and getting inside both of their heads was fantastic.
Trevor's hurt is physical and we know about it right away. Everly's is emotional and its peeled back deliciously slow. There were some sweet and swoony parts and some scenes that made me want to slap someone.
It's a roller coaster of feels and I loved every page.
**Huge thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
Love love loved Everly and Trevor. They're so different and yet so similar. I'm such a sucker for dual POV and getting inside both of their heads was fantastic.
Trevor's hurt is physical and we know about it right away. Everly's is emotional and its peeled back deliciously slow. There were some sweet and swoony parts and some scenes that made me want to slap someone.
It's a roller coaster of feels and I loved every page.
**Huge thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
June 10, 2015
Some Kind of Normal follows Trevor who as of last year was a guitar player, a football player and loved to party, that is until he involved in a car accident that leaves him in pretty bad shape after being in a coma. Now, a year later, Trevor’s fallen behind that much he’s probably not going to graduate unless he gets help. And help is in the form of Everly who seems to hate Trevor.
Everly has always had the perfect family until something changes and now it only appears that everything is normal. Her home life pretty much sucks because of the secrets her father is keeping and it’s killing everything she loved about her family. She’ll do anything to get out of the house even if that means helping Trevor.
Can these two lost characters repair the damage that is done in their lives and start looking forward to new things or will their current situations keep dragging them down?
I loved Juliana Stone’s Boys Like You when I read it last year. I can remember flying through the book because I simply couldn’t put it down. And so when I heard she was writing more but this time from Trevor who was a secondary character in Boys Like You, I was immediately excited. But I’m not sure what happened this time around, I really enjoyed Some Kind of Normal but I didn’t feel as though I connected to Trevor and Everly’s story as much as I did Nathan and Monroe’s. I just didn’t enjoy it as much.
Trevor was a good lead and I felt sorry for him with the issues he was dealing with from the accident. It’s left his dreams uncertain if he will ever get to fulfil them and I really did sympathise with him, but, I wish he took more action rather than feeling sorry for himself. It’s only when he’s with Everly that I really saw him start to change. But even near the end, he didn’t go after what he wanted until the very last minute. And Everly, I liked her and I enjoyed getting to know her seems as she was a new character to the series all together.
In all, I may not have enjoyed Some Kind of Normal as much as I did Boys Like You but I still believe this is a series worth reading and I will be looking out for more YA books by this author.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.
Everly has always had the perfect family until something changes and now it only appears that everything is normal. Her home life pretty much sucks because of the secrets her father is keeping and it’s killing everything she loved about her family. She’ll do anything to get out of the house even if that means helping Trevor.
Can these two lost characters repair the damage that is done in their lives and start looking forward to new things or will their current situations keep dragging them down?
I loved Juliana Stone’s Boys Like You when I read it last year. I can remember flying through the book because I simply couldn’t put it down. And so when I heard she was writing more but this time from Trevor who was a secondary character in Boys Like You, I was immediately excited. But I’m not sure what happened this time around, I really enjoyed Some Kind of Normal but I didn’t feel as though I connected to Trevor and Everly’s story as much as I did Nathan and Monroe’s. I just didn’t enjoy it as much.
Trevor was a good lead and I felt sorry for him with the issues he was dealing with from the accident. It’s left his dreams uncertain if he will ever get to fulfil them and I really did sympathise with him, but, I wish he took more action rather than feeling sorry for himself. It’s only when he’s with Everly that I really saw him start to change. But even near the end, he didn’t go after what he wanted until the very last minute. And Everly, I liked her and I enjoyed getting to know her seems as she was a new character to the series all together.
In all, I may not have enjoyed Some Kind of Normal as much as I did Boys Like You but I still believe this is a series worth reading and I will be looking out for more YA books by this author.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2015
I will film a mash up review for all the books I've read lately soon! I thought this book was just ok. Honestly just a filler book if your not in the mood for anything else.
June 8, 2017
Rating: 4/5
***Minor spoilers***
Things were going great for Trevor before the accident. He was planning on going to New York with his band and making a name for himself in the world of music. His life completely changes when he lets his drunk friend drive him home, ending in a car accident that gives him a brain injury. Everly has the kind of life that most people think are perfect. She's the daughter of the pastor, so their life must be picture perfect. However, she must deal with the fact that previously, she overheard a conversation that made it pretty obvious that her father was seeing someone else - someone who wasn't her mother. Both are dealing with different situations, and when Everly must tutor Trevor over the summer, they learn to deal with things together.
This book was a quick, easy, and sweet read. It deals with some serious topics as can be seen above, but the writing and romance felt fluent and natural. It wasn't an amazing novel, but it was pretty good, and it was a nice novel to come home and read. It wasn't full of action or anything, but the characters, situation, and writing were all quite good and kept me coming back for more. It didn't take me long to get into. However, I would sometimes forget about the alternating chapters (since it isn't always immediately clear who is speaking if you don't look at the header) which made it a bit confusing sometimes.
I connected to Everly a lot more than I did to Trevor, and also liked her better. I know that Trevor was dealing with his own extremely difficult circumstances, but so was Everly. She was always there for him, and the way he pushed her away sometimes upset me. He would act out sometimes in ways that clearly hurt her, and he would act like it didn't matter. Trevor was okay as a whole, but I would say he's more "interesting" than "likeable."
Overall, I had a great time reading this book, and it went by very quickly. It was easy to zoom through because of the way it flowed, and how the plot never became any less interesting. The ending didn't particularly stand out, but it wasn't a bad one. Based on what I saw in this book, I would definitely read this author again, and recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, cute, summer romance.
***Minor spoilers***
Things were going great for Trevor before the accident. He was planning on going to New York with his band and making a name for himself in the world of music. His life completely changes when he lets his drunk friend drive him home, ending in a car accident that gives him a brain injury. Everly has the kind of life that most people think are perfect. She's the daughter of the pastor, so their life must be picture perfect. However, she must deal with the fact that previously, she overheard a conversation that made it pretty obvious that her father was seeing someone else - someone who wasn't her mother. Both are dealing with different situations, and when Everly must tutor Trevor over the summer, they learn to deal with things together.
This book was a quick, easy, and sweet read. It deals with some serious topics as can be seen above, but the writing and romance felt fluent and natural. It wasn't an amazing novel, but it was pretty good, and it was a nice novel to come home and read. It wasn't full of action or anything, but the characters, situation, and writing were all quite good and kept me coming back for more. It didn't take me long to get into. However, I would sometimes forget about the alternating chapters (since it isn't always immediately clear who is speaking if you don't look at the header) which made it a bit confusing sometimes.
I connected to Everly a lot more than I did to Trevor, and also liked her better. I know that Trevor was dealing with his own extremely difficult circumstances, but so was Everly. She was always there for him, and the way he pushed her away sometimes upset me. He would act out sometimes in ways that clearly hurt her, and he would act like it didn't matter. Trevor was okay as a whole, but I would say he's more "interesting" than "likeable."
Overall, I had a great time reading this book, and it went by very quickly. It was easy to zoom through because of the way it flowed, and how the plot never became any less interesting. The ending didn't particularly stand out, but it wasn't a bad one. Based on what I saw in this book, I would definitely read this author again, and recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, cute, summer romance.
July 16, 2015
I had high expectations after reading the blurb, and usually I try not to go into a book blind but I'm always looking for an intense read. Thankfully, Some Kind of Normal delivered.
The book is written in alternating POVs, giving readers a chance to get inside the heads of the main characters and try to establish an understanding of what their lives are like. Trevor had gone through a terrible accident and got a brain injury from it. Throughout the story, we see how he copes (or not) and how his TBI has impacted his dream of becoming a musician. He truly believed that he could still achieve the same goals, but then out of nowhere another horrible thing happens and he's forced to re-evaluate and decide whether he can go after his dream or switch to a different plan altogether.
In Everly's situation, it becomes clear right away that her family isn't as perfect as everyone in their community thinks it is. Her father is hiding a secret and her mother is stuck in denial. Eventually, it all comes unraveling and Everly has to come to terms with the fact that her family won't be the same again.
What I enjoyed about this story is how flawed the characters are and how relatable. Also, it was nice to see that amidst their pain and learning to adjust to their situation, that they could find love. That was a sweeter side to a mostly sad story and their romance felt real. It wasn't something that happened right away; it blossomed while they were suffering and in the end, their love helped heal their hearts.
Some Kind of Normal is nicely written and the characters are easy to connect with. The plot is different for me, in the sense that I hadn't read a book about someone with TBI, and it was interesting to see how Trevor was living with that: the fears he felt and how uncomfortable he was when people would look at him in that way. I liked how Everyly reacted to the truth about her father. It was real, and all in all, love was still there. She stayed supportive in spite of her family coming apart, and I liked that in the end everyone found peace within themselves and with each other. I highly recommend giving this one a read if you're looking for a story that's intense and realistic.
The book is written in alternating POVs, giving readers a chance to get inside the heads of the main characters and try to establish an understanding of what their lives are like. Trevor had gone through a terrible accident and got a brain injury from it. Throughout the story, we see how he copes (or not) and how his TBI has impacted his dream of becoming a musician. He truly believed that he could still achieve the same goals, but then out of nowhere another horrible thing happens and he's forced to re-evaluate and decide whether he can go after his dream or switch to a different plan altogether.
In Everly's situation, it becomes clear right away that her family isn't as perfect as everyone in their community thinks it is. Her father is hiding a secret and her mother is stuck in denial. Eventually, it all comes unraveling and Everly has to come to terms with the fact that her family won't be the same again.
What I enjoyed about this story is how flawed the characters are and how relatable. Also, it was nice to see that amidst their pain and learning to adjust to their situation, that they could find love. That was a sweeter side to a mostly sad story and their romance felt real. It wasn't something that happened right away; it blossomed while they were suffering and in the end, their love helped heal their hearts.
Some Kind of Normal is nicely written and the characters are easy to connect with. The plot is different for me, in the sense that I hadn't read a book about someone with TBI, and it was interesting to see how Trevor was living with that: the fears he felt and how uncomfortable he was when people would look at him in that way. I liked how Everyly reacted to the truth about her father. It was real, and all in all, love was still there. She stayed supportive in spite of her family coming apart, and I liked that in the end everyone found peace within themselves and with each other. I highly recommend giving this one a read if you're looking for a story that's intense and realistic.
May 9, 2015
4.5 stars!
I really kind of adored this book. It was exactly what I had hoped it would be. I read and loved Boys Like You last year and enjoyed it so much, so when I saw Juliana Stone was coming up with another book I was so excited to read it. I didn’t know that this book actually had anything to do with Boys Like You, but it did! We actually got a small glimpse back into Boys Like You. I won’t give anything away if you haven’t read Boys Like You yet, but this story is closely connected. You can read them separately, but if you plan to read them both I would recommend reading Boys Like You first.
Trevor was in a terrible accident, and is now struggling to learn how to live life as his new “normal”. His parents are overly protective, worried he will get hurt again. He was lasting medical issues that give him difficulties at times, including seizures. He’s trying so hard to be a normal teenager and enjoy life again, but with all the stress surrounding his limitations it’s extremely difficult. To make it worse… the rich, stuck-up Everly becomes his tutor. That’s the last person he wants to spend time with. But little does he know that this may end up being more beneficial than he originally thought.
Everly’s the daughter of the town pastor, and her picture perfect life is falling apart as secrets are discovered in her family. The world she thought was basically perfect is not anymore, and she’s struggling through this acceptance and the battle of whether to confront the demons or let them lie. Now getting the news that she’s tutoring Trevor, who is one of the biggest flirts in school, she’s fighting even harder to keep her family secrets just that… a secret.
I simply adored these characters. Everly and Trevor were so completely opposite, yet complimented each other beautifully. The story was so well-written and such a strong, intense story that I couldn’t look away. It will kick you right in the feels and leaving you rolling. I loved every minute of it. The story is told through alternating POVs, which I love so much, so we got both sides of the story. So fulfilling.
I was wowed by Juliana Stone’s writing in Boys Like You, but this book actually took it up a notch to a whole new level for me. Stone is one of those authors that I wish more people read. With only 90 ratings currently on Goodreads for this book, I have a feeling that many people aren’t aware of it, or haven’t thought about reading it for whatever reason. Well, I’m here to tell you to READ THIS BOOK!! I’m not sure why these books aren’t listed together as a series, but they probably should be. I recommend reading BOTH Boys Like You and Some Kind of Normal. You can thank me later.
(Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
I really kind of adored this book. It was exactly what I had hoped it would be. I read and loved Boys Like You last year and enjoyed it so much, so when I saw Juliana Stone was coming up with another book I was so excited to read it. I didn’t know that this book actually had anything to do with Boys Like You, but it did! We actually got a small glimpse back into Boys Like You. I won’t give anything away if you haven’t read Boys Like You yet, but this story is closely connected. You can read them separately, but if you plan to read them both I would recommend reading Boys Like You first.
Trevor was in a terrible accident, and is now struggling to learn how to live life as his new “normal”. His parents are overly protective, worried he will get hurt again. He was lasting medical issues that give him difficulties at times, including seizures. He’s trying so hard to be a normal teenager and enjoy life again, but with all the stress surrounding his limitations it’s extremely difficult. To make it worse… the rich, stuck-up Everly becomes his tutor. That’s the last person he wants to spend time with. But little does he know that this may end up being more beneficial than he originally thought.
Everly’s the daughter of the town pastor, and her picture perfect life is falling apart as secrets are discovered in her family. The world she thought was basically perfect is not anymore, and she’s struggling through this acceptance and the battle of whether to confront the demons or let them lie. Now getting the news that she’s tutoring Trevor, who is one of the biggest flirts in school, she’s fighting even harder to keep her family secrets just that… a secret.
I simply adored these characters. Everly and Trevor were so completely opposite, yet complimented each other beautifully. The story was so well-written and such a strong, intense story that I couldn’t look away. It will kick you right in the feels and leaving you rolling. I loved every minute of it. The story is told through alternating POVs, which I love so much, so we got both sides of the story. So fulfilling.
I was wowed by Juliana Stone’s writing in Boys Like You, but this book actually took it up a notch to a whole new level for me. Stone is one of those authors that I wish more people read. With only 90 ratings currently on Goodreads for this book, I have a feeling that many people aren’t aware of it, or haven’t thought about reading it for whatever reason. Well, I’m here to tell you to READ THIS BOOK!! I’m not sure why these books aren’t listed together as a series, but they probably should be. I recommend reading BOTH Boys Like You and Some Kind of Normal. You can thank me later.
(Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
November 26, 2017
Book Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.
Story Line: 3.5 stars out of 5. This book is about Nathans' best friend, Trevor. He came out of his coma a year ago. He needed to pass one class to graduate. So he starts studying with Everly "stupid" Jenkins over the summer. He wanted to follow his dreams and go to New York to play music with Nathan, but a lot of the times through the book he wasn't able to play. He messed up his words because of the traumatic brain injury that he had. Everly "stupid" Jenkins helped him study and she was going through stuff of her own. She found out her father was cheating on her mother. She tried to keep it a secret from her parents that she had known. It was hard on her. Eventually Trevor and Everly started to fall in love. Their love ended up being a lot slower than Nathan and Monroe's relationship. I really enjoyed reading Trevor's points of view in this book. I hated reading Everly's points of view. I had to change the rating because I hated Everly so much and she was one of the main characters. Reading Trevor's parts were more interesting than Everly. I couldn't stand this girl at all though...so I couldn't wait to get out of her parts. I would call her stupid while I was reading it. (If I had the paperback I would have thrown it.) Everything else was good. (The only bad part about e-readers is that you can't throw them or they will break. Good thing I haven't broken mine yet!)
Characters: 4 stars out of 5. I loved Trevor so much. He had a traumatic experience that he had to deal with. His knee was messed up. Sometimes he got his words confused. He was really cute though. He eventually had two seizures in the book. I was worried about him. I loved in the second to last chapter that he flipped out of Everly. She deserved it since she was such a brat. I understand where his anger came from. He had a enough going on in his life. He shouldn't have had to worry about her life too. Well still...he fell for her...
I hated Everly so much. I couldn't stand her. She was very annoying. She was childish at times too. I only felt a little bad for her. She's as bad as Meg is from TMI by Patty Blount. She felt it was all about her most of the time. I couldn't stand her. At all. Trevor definetly deserved much better than this brat. She's lucky that he fell for her. If I were in the book I would have punched her multiple times in the face. I really did change the rating because I hated her so much. It's sad really since she is one of the main characters and all. (I really dislike hating main characters. It ruins the story for me!)
Trevor's parents were really very nice people. I didn't care for his sister much either. I liked Hailey better than Everly. Hailey is her best friend. Link was cool too.
Writing Style: 4 stars out of 5. This one wasn't as great as the first one, but I did enjoy some of it. Juliana Stone is a good writer. I'm thinking of picking up another series by her now. Thank you for the ride in Boys Like You and this book.
Story Line: 3.5 stars out of 5. This book is about Nathans' best friend, Trevor. He came out of his coma a year ago. He needed to pass one class to graduate. So he starts studying with Everly "stupid" Jenkins over the summer. He wanted to follow his dreams and go to New York to play music with Nathan, but a lot of the times through the book he wasn't able to play. He messed up his words because of the traumatic brain injury that he had. Everly "stupid" Jenkins helped him study and she was going through stuff of her own. She found out her father was cheating on her mother. She tried to keep it a secret from her parents that she had known. It was hard on her. Eventually Trevor and Everly started to fall in love. Their love ended up being a lot slower than Nathan and Monroe's relationship. I really enjoyed reading Trevor's points of view in this book. I hated reading Everly's points of view. I had to change the rating because I hated Everly so much and she was one of the main characters. Reading Trevor's parts were more interesting than Everly. I couldn't stand this girl at all though...so I couldn't wait to get out of her parts. I would call her stupid while I was reading it. (If I had the paperback I would have thrown it.) Everything else was good. (The only bad part about e-readers is that you can't throw them or they will break. Good thing I haven't broken mine yet!)
Characters: 4 stars out of 5. I loved Trevor so much. He had a traumatic experience that he had to deal with. His knee was messed up. Sometimes he got his words confused. He was really cute though. He eventually had two seizures in the book. I was worried about him. I loved in the second to last chapter that he flipped out of Everly. She deserved it since she was such a brat. I understand where his anger came from. He had a enough going on in his life. He shouldn't have had to worry about her life too. Well still...he fell for her...
I hated Everly so much. I couldn't stand her. She was very annoying. She was childish at times too. I only felt a little bad for her. She's as bad as Meg is from TMI by Patty Blount. She felt it was all about her most of the time. I couldn't stand her. At all. Trevor definetly deserved much better than this brat. She's lucky that he fell for her. If I were in the book I would have punched her multiple times in the face. I really did change the rating because I hated her so much. It's sad really since she is one of the main characters and all. (I really dislike hating main characters. It ruins the story for me!)
Trevor's parents were really very nice people. I didn't care for his sister much either. I liked Hailey better than Everly. Hailey is her best friend. Link was cool too.
Writing Style: 4 stars out of 5. This one wasn't as great as the first one, but I did enjoy some of it. Juliana Stone is a good writer. I'm thinking of picking up another series by her now. Thank you for the ride in Boys Like You and this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Some Kind of Normal is a beautiful contemporary novel that will definitely bring out the feels. It has alternating perspectives, plot twits and secrecy. This book will keep you guessing.
One of the features I really enjoyed in Some Kind of Normal is the alternating perspectives. I am a huge fan of books that have multiple narrators because I feel like it gives the book a deeper meaning. In this particular book, the different points of view are helpful, because you can learn the totally different emotions that both of the main characters are feeling. I think that this adds a layer to the story that makes the book its own.
If you have read my review of An Abundance of Katherines, you know that I am tired of sad books. Yes, Some Kind of Normal is one of those pretty gloomy contemporary novels, but I enjoyed this one. I loved the element of mystery and all of the tension and suspense! There were a few really cute parts in this book that distracted me from the traumatic experiences of the main characters, however, which I appreciated. These components combined make this book a real page-turner!
Anyone who has read and enjoyed All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is encouraged to read Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone. The two books are similar in that they tell the story of damaged teens who help each other through rough times. Some Kind of Normal is a fast-paced story that will engage and entertain its readers.
Some Kind of Normal is a beautiful contemporary novel that will definitely bring out the feels. It has alternating perspectives, plot twits and secrecy. This book will keep you guessing.
One of the features I really enjoyed in Some Kind of Normal is the alternating perspectives. I am a huge fan of books that have multiple narrators because I feel like it gives the book a deeper meaning. In this particular book, the different points of view are helpful, because you can learn the totally different emotions that both of the main characters are feeling. I think that this adds a layer to the story that makes the book its own.
If you have read my review of An Abundance of Katherines, you know that I am tired of sad books. Yes, Some Kind of Normal is one of those pretty gloomy contemporary novels, but I enjoyed this one. I loved the element of mystery and all of the tension and suspense! There were a few really cute parts in this book that distracted me from the traumatic experiences of the main characters, however, which I appreciated. These components combined make this book a real page-turner!
Anyone who has read and enjoyed All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is encouraged to read Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone. The two books are similar in that they tell the story of damaged teens who help each other through rough times. Some Kind of Normal is a fast-paced story that will engage and entertain its readers.
February 17, 2015
Wow, what a good kick in the feels THAT was!
We briefly meet Trevor in Boys Like You but it's not necessary to have read that one before reading and enjoying this one. Although, I highly recommend it because it's good too!
I love this cover! It really captures the essence of the story and the characters of Trevor and Everly, right down to what they're wearing.
Some Kind of Normal is told from alternating POVs giving readers a front row seat to both Trevor and Everly's lives. Trevor's involves doctor's visits, medicine and the reality of life after a traumatic brain injury. And Everly has been keeping a year long secret, one that could blow a giant hole in her picture perfect family if it gets out.
Even though Trevor and Everly know each other--they've lived in the same small town and gone to the same school all their lives--they don't really know each other. The more time they spend together though, the more they start to realize they're both struggling, both trying to find a new normal.
I really enjoyed watching the relationship blossom between these two. It was sweet and vulnerable. The family dynamic are pretty stellar too. Both fathers are present and involved and very clearly love their kids and want what's best for them.
This was an emotional story that broke my heart a time or two, but it also made me smile. It's filled with love, forgiveness, understanding, and hope. Read it.
We briefly meet Trevor in Boys Like You but it's not necessary to have read that one before reading and enjoying this one. Although, I highly recommend it because it's good too!
I love this cover! It really captures the essence of the story and the characters of Trevor and Everly, right down to what they're wearing.
Some Kind of Normal is told from alternating POVs giving readers a front row seat to both Trevor and Everly's lives. Trevor's involves doctor's visits, medicine and the reality of life after a traumatic brain injury. And Everly has been keeping a year long secret, one that could blow a giant hole in her picture perfect family if it gets out.
Even though Trevor and Everly know each other--they've lived in the same small town and gone to the same school all their lives--they don't really know each other. The more time they spend together though, the more they start to realize they're both struggling, both trying to find a new normal.
I really enjoyed watching the relationship blossom between these two. It was sweet and vulnerable. The family dynamic are pretty stellar too. Both fathers are present and involved and very clearly love their kids and want what's best for them.
This was an emotional story that broke my heart a time or two, but it also made me smile. It's filled with love, forgiveness, understanding, and hope. Read it.
April 21, 2015
Ah Juliana Stone, you did it again. Gave my heart a good squeeze.
I think this is a series although Some Kind of Normal can be read as standalone. I say this because I first met Trevor in Boys Like You. He was more of a passive character there than an active one, being Nate's BFF who was in a coma after a drunk driving incident. Thankfully he recovered and this is his story.
Some Kind of Normal hit close to home to me. I love how it wasn't over the top angsty. Trevor's reaction to his condition and over protective parents were realistic and not exaggerated. It's Everly who took my heart though. This girl is some kind of wonderful, she was also going through some awful family problems but still found it in her to help out Trevor and heal him in some way.
I love this novel so much! I hope there's another one on the way!
I think this is a series although Some Kind of Normal can be read as standalone. I say this because I first met Trevor in Boys Like You. He was more of a passive character there than an active one, being Nate's BFF who was in a coma after a drunk driving incident. Thankfully he recovered and this is his story.
Some Kind of Normal hit close to home to me. I love how it wasn't over the top angsty. Trevor's reaction to his condition and over protective parents were realistic and not exaggerated. It's Everly who took my heart though. This girl is some kind of wonderful, she was also going through some awful family problems but still found it in her to help out Trevor and heal him in some way.
I love this novel so much! I hope there's another one on the way!
July 18, 2016
Confession: I picked it for the cover. I did. I know better, but seriously, look at that cover! It's pretty. (I'd do the same again.)
Now. This is much like an updated A Walk to Remember—minister's daughter; dumb jock who does dumb-jock things; a tutoring subplot; something life-threatening; secrets. If that's your cup of tea, this might be too. There's plenty of drama and holy moly so much angst and irrational-dislike-mixed-with-instalove. I saw A Walk to Remember as a teenager with my sister and an exchange student my family was hosting. They cried. I think they might have liked this book, had it been out when we were teenagers.
Me? I spent most of A Walk to Remember choking on the cheesiness and sappiness and generally -ness of the movie. And I spent most of Some Kind of Normal trying to decide whether Trevor was a total douchebag or just a tool, but also not convinced that any of his thoughts had anything to do with the way actual human boys think.
I'd forgotten how damn beautiful she was (11). Nope. Do guys talk like this? Sure! Sometimes! One once said something very similar to me, courtesy of some raging hormones. I can't believe they'd randomly think it about a girl they think is more boring than oatmeal.
I couldn't help but think that when Mom got all up in my shit, he [Trevor's father] should at least stick up for me. Wasn't there some kind of guy code? (25) Wait, so a teenage boy's father should back everything said teenage boy wants to do, because they both have a Y-chromosome? This sounds like a terrible idea on so many levels.
Ugh. Insta love is annoying (65). That one's Everly, and we happen to be in perfect agreement.
Hot as sin with that sweet side we all dug. She wasn't the girl you scored points with. She was the keeper (99). Just the fact that Trevor separates girls into 'score with' and 'keep' makes me gag on my oatmeal.
"Wow. I had you pegged for a chick flick. Love Actually or The Notebook" (102). I'm actually mostly just intrigued by this—the implication is that because Everly's favourite movie is not a 'chick flick' (it's The Last of the Mohicans), she's cooler and more interesting, and that girls who are interested in chick flicks are somehow inferior. It's shorthand I've seen elsewhere, possibly in the last week. It rubs me the wrong way, but I also kind of get it.
"I don't have another dream, Dad. Music, that's it. That's all I got" (133). I have no problem with the sentiment (other than, perhaps, the angst, although that's at least partially earned)—but back it up! Please back it up. I don't buy Trevor as this amazing aspiring musician because there's no background there to make me believe it: no talk about music lessons or trying to get gigs or anything like that. I'm mostly just getting toolbro jock.
It's not a bad book. It's just not for me—I really couldn't stand Trevor (...in case that's not glaringly obvious already). He felt, I think, more like a caricature of what a popular boy (albeit a popular boy going through a legitimately very difficult time) should be/how one should think than like, well, a fully realised character. (When I was maybe...twelve? a friend and I started sending out an email newsletter to our other friends. It was titled 'A Girl's Guess at a Guy's Mind' and amounted to 'Sex. Food. Sleep. *Unintelligible grunt* Sex.' This book has more finesse, obviously, but...)
Very cheerfully happy to be gay right about now.
Now. This is much like an updated A Walk to Remember—minister's daughter; dumb jock who does dumb-jock things; a tutoring subplot; something life-threatening; secrets. If that's your cup of tea, this might be too. There's plenty of drama and holy moly so much angst and irrational-dislike-mixed-with-instalove. I saw A Walk to Remember as a teenager with my sister and an exchange student my family was hosting. They cried. I think they might have liked this book, had it been out when we were teenagers.
Me? I spent most of A Walk to Remember choking on the cheesiness and sappiness and generally -ness of the movie. And I spent most of Some Kind of Normal trying to decide whether Trevor was a total douchebag or just a tool, but also not convinced that any of his thoughts had anything to do with the way actual human boys think.
I'd forgotten how damn beautiful she was (11). Nope. Do guys talk like this? Sure! Sometimes! One once said something very similar to me, courtesy of some raging hormones. I can't believe they'd randomly think it about a girl they think is more boring than oatmeal.
I couldn't help but think that when Mom got all up in my shit, he [Trevor's father] should at least stick up for me. Wasn't there some kind of guy code? (25) Wait, so a teenage boy's father should back everything said teenage boy wants to do, because they both have a Y-chromosome? This sounds like a terrible idea on so many levels.
Ugh. Insta love is annoying (65). That one's Everly, and we happen to be in perfect agreement.
Hot as sin with that sweet side we all dug. She wasn't the girl you scored points with. She was the keeper (99). Just the fact that Trevor separates girls into 'score with' and 'keep' makes me gag on my oatmeal.
"Wow. I had you pegged for a chick flick. Love Actually or The Notebook" (102). I'm actually mostly just intrigued by this—the implication is that because Everly's favourite movie is not a 'chick flick' (it's The Last of the Mohicans), she's cooler and more interesting, and that girls who are interested in chick flicks are somehow inferior. It's shorthand I've seen elsewhere, possibly in the last week. It rubs me the wrong way, but I also kind of get it.
"I don't have another dream, Dad. Music, that's it. That's all I got" (133). I have no problem with the sentiment (other than, perhaps, the angst, although that's at least partially earned)—but back it up! Please back it up. I don't buy Trevor as this amazing aspiring musician because there's no background there to make me believe it: no talk about music lessons or trying to get gigs or anything like that. I'm mostly just getting toolbro jock.
It's not a bad book. It's just not for me—I really couldn't stand Trevor (...in case that's not glaringly obvious already). He felt, I think, more like a caricature of what a popular boy (albeit a popular boy going through a legitimately very difficult time) should be/how one should think than like, well, a fully realised character. (When I was maybe...twelve? a friend and I started sending out an email newsletter to our other friends. It was titled 'A Girl's Guess at a Guy's Mind' and amounted to 'Sex. Food. Sleep. *Unintelligible grunt* Sex.' This book has more finesse, obviously, but...)
Very cheerfully happy to be gay right about now.
May 7, 2015
A little while back, one had to look pretty hard to find stories that celebrated diversity and not in a taboo sort of way. Of recent years, this is not the case and authors are writing some lovely stories rich in many facets of diversity. This book, a standalone sequel to Boys Like You, is one of them. It hit several kinds of diversity. Acceptance was a big message in this one- acceptance of others and acceptance of self. It was an especially poignant read and not an easy or light one.
The hero, Trevor, was a secondary character in the first book. He was pretty much the best friend in a coma through much of the book, but now he's awake, diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury and this is his story. Trevor wants a redo so badly. He wants it all to go back to normal. On the outside he looks much like he did before as one of the popular guys in school when life was easy and his future was assured. Now, he has changed, irrevocably. His parents watch him with fear and worry in their eyes. And he has to be patient with their coddling because he put that look there. His friends don't know how to handle the guy who reverses his words, forgets things, has to take his time because of the messed up connection between his brain and his mouth. His girlfriend couldn't handle it and bailed. He just wants to wrap things up and move on. For that to happen, he has to pass the test for government class and his tutor is none other than good girl and not a big fan of Trevor, Everly Jenkins. Everly is nothing like he imagined and suddenly he is very interested in getting past her 'I'm fine' walls.
Everly has been living with a lie for over a year. Not her lie. Her dad's. She waits for him to come clean, but he never does and it is infecting their whole family. They put on a good face for everyone as the Pastor and his family, but its all hollow. Everly is so done with the act- with pretending that everything is normal. Into this situation comes Trevor Lewis who sees past the act and genuinely seems to care. She doesn't quite believe that she caught the eye of a guy like Trevor. He is still Trevor and girls still want him even though he sees himself as different. Dare she trust him with her secret? Of anyone, Trevor understands feeling isolated, angry and anything, but normal.
The story is a character-driven plot set in a small town over the course of a summer. It's told first person alternating points of view. The pace is gentle and the writing pulls in the reader's empathy for these two hurting teens. The thematic elements are real and hit the reader viscerally.
The characters are well-drawn. Trevor and his adjustment to living with a traumatic brain injury and how it affects not just him and others around him felt authentic. His anger, frustration, fear, and struggle to accept while going through things was intense.
Everly too, had her challenges with a tragic secret pulling her family apart. She sees the break-up of a marriage through a teenage child's eye view and its a rough go. My heart broke for her.
I would recommend this for a mid to older YA audience due to language and mild sexual content.
To sum up, it was a story that grabs the emotions and I would recommend it to those who enjoy a strong character-driven YA Contemporary Romance.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The hero, Trevor, was a secondary character in the first book. He was pretty much the best friend in a coma through much of the book, but now he's awake, diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury and this is his story. Trevor wants a redo so badly. He wants it all to go back to normal. On the outside he looks much like he did before as one of the popular guys in school when life was easy and his future was assured. Now, he has changed, irrevocably. His parents watch him with fear and worry in their eyes. And he has to be patient with their coddling because he put that look there. His friends don't know how to handle the guy who reverses his words, forgets things, has to take his time because of the messed up connection between his brain and his mouth. His girlfriend couldn't handle it and bailed. He just wants to wrap things up and move on. For that to happen, he has to pass the test for government class and his tutor is none other than good girl and not a big fan of Trevor, Everly Jenkins. Everly is nothing like he imagined and suddenly he is very interested in getting past her 'I'm fine' walls.
Everly has been living with a lie for over a year. Not her lie. Her dad's. She waits for him to come clean, but he never does and it is infecting their whole family. They put on a good face for everyone as the Pastor and his family, but its all hollow. Everly is so done with the act- with pretending that everything is normal. Into this situation comes Trevor Lewis who sees past the act and genuinely seems to care. She doesn't quite believe that she caught the eye of a guy like Trevor. He is still Trevor and girls still want him even though he sees himself as different. Dare she trust him with her secret? Of anyone, Trevor understands feeling isolated, angry and anything, but normal.
The story is a character-driven plot set in a small town over the course of a summer. It's told first person alternating points of view. The pace is gentle and the writing pulls in the reader's empathy for these two hurting teens. The thematic elements are real and hit the reader viscerally.
The characters are well-drawn. Trevor and his adjustment to living with a traumatic brain injury and how it affects not just him and others around him felt authentic. His anger, frustration, fear, and struggle to accept while going through things was intense.
Everly too, had her challenges with a tragic secret pulling her family apart. She sees the break-up of a marriage through a teenage child's eye view and its a rough go. My heart broke for her.
I would recommend this for a mid to older YA audience due to language and mild sexual content.
To sum up, it was a story that grabs the emotions and I would recommend it to those who enjoy a strong character-driven YA Contemporary Romance.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2015
*I received a copy of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The cover and title of this novel are what originally drew me to it. I'm not generally a fan of cover models, but with this view and perspective, it really worked. And the title on its own is very intriguing. Once I read the synopsis, I knew I had to give this novel a try.
Trevor and Everly were both compelling characters. The story is told with a dual perspective first person narrative, which I love. We get Trevor and Everly's take on things. Each of these characters is fighting some sort of demon, trying to find their way back to normal.
One of the main things I really enjoyed about this novel was the development of Trevor and Everly's relationship. Trevor is struggling with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) after a car accident the previous year left him in a coma for weeks. Everly is dealing with the stress of a failing family that everyone else sees as perfect. The two are forced into each others company, but soon start to actually care.
I liked seeing Trevor's growth. We get glimpses of what he was like before his accident and how he wants to change now. He makes some major mistakes concerning Everly and their situation at points, but I appreciated that when he realized he didn't want her to be like the other girls he's been with that he actually treated her differently. So often in novels the guy says this but doesn't actually follow through. Here I thought it was done beautifully. And we get to see him fighting his battles and facing the fact that his life isn't going to be what he thought it was.
Everly is trying not to fall apart. She knows something that no one else does. She knows a secret that could-and is-tear her family apart. She just doesn't know what to do about it. Seeing her struggle through her day to day life, pretending that everything is fine, was painful, but satisfying. We get to see her grow as she faces all of these new developments with the family that everyone around her always thought was perfect.
Throughout the novel you're kind of kept in the dark as to what exactly is going on with Everly's family. You know that something is happening, and you get some of Everly's take on the situation, but this doesn't become apparent until nearly the end of the novel. It makes sense from a story telling point of view, but it was frustrating to not be given at least a little more toward the beginning.
Overall I really enjoyed this novel. It was a bit vague at points, particularly concerning Everly's family issues, which kept me from enjoying the story as much as I might have, but it was fast paced and emotional, which kept me reading.
The cover and title of this novel are what originally drew me to it. I'm not generally a fan of cover models, but with this view and perspective, it really worked. And the title on its own is very intriguing. Once I read the synopsis, I knew I had to give this novel a try.
Trevor and Everly were both compelling characters. The story is told with a dual perspective first person narrative, which I love. We get Trevor and Everly's take on things. Each of these characters is fighting some sort of demon, trying to find their way back to normal.
One of the main things I really enjoyed about this novel was the development of Trevor and Everly's relationship. Trevor is struggling with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) after a car accident the previous year left him in a coma for weeks. Everly is dealing with the stress of a failing family that everyone else sees as perfect. The two are forced into each others company, but soon start to actually care.
I liked seeing Trevor's growth. We get glimpses of what he was like before his accident and how he wants to change now. He makes some major mistakes concerning Everly and their situation at points, but I appreciated that when he realized he didn't want her to be like the other girls he's been with that he actually treated her differently. So often in novels the guy says this but doesn't actually follow through. Here I thought it was done beautifully. And we get to see him fighting his battles and facing the fact that his life isn't going to be what he thought it was.
Everly is trying not to fall apart. She knows something that no one else does. She knows a secret that could-and is-tear her family apart. She just doesn't know what to do about it. Seeing her struggle through her day to day life, pretending that everything is fine, was painful, but satisfying. We get to see her grow as she faces all of these new developments with the family that everyone around her always thought was perfect.
Throughout the novel you're kind of kept in the dark as to what exactly is going on with Everly's family. You know that something is happening, and you get some of Everly's take on the situation, but this doesn't become apparent until nearly the end of the novel. It makes sense from a story telling point of view, but it was frustrating to not be given at least a little more toward the beginning.
Overall I really enjoyed this novel. It was a bit vague at points, particularly concerning Everly's family issues, which kept me from enjoying the story as much as I might have, but it was fast paced and emotional, which kept me reading.
April 10, 2015
After reading a couple of books that left me feeling eh, it was really nice to pick this up and actually enjoy it. Was it over the top gushy? Nope. Was it too religious? Nope. This was seriously a perfect balance of everything for the young, high school reading lover who just wants to enjoy a good book.
Trevor has everything, until he doesn’t. A tragic accident his senior year is the main turmoil for him in this read. He suffers TBI along with a few other things and is having a very hard time dealing with the change to his life.
Everly is the preacher’s daughter. Enough said, right? Wrong. There are some things going on behind closed doors that Everly doesn’t want anyone to know about. She doesn’t even think her own Mother knows about it. But this “thing” will literally destroy her family and nothing will ever be the same.
The summer after their senior year, Trevor has to make up a class and guess who his tutor is? Yep, Everly. Once they both take the time to “get to know” each other, there is NO WAY that they can stay away from each other. Especially considering that being with one another calms each other down.
There is no sex or heavy petting in this book. There highest flame I could give this was .5 for a couple of kisses and “implied” sexual activity amongst friends. If you have a child that likes to read and are looking for a good book with good morals, this is it.
*I was given a copy of this book as a gift from The JeepDiva in exchange for an honest review.
Trevor has everything, until he doesn’t. A tragic accident his senior year is the main turmoil for him in this read. He suffers TBI along with a few other things and is having a very hard time dealing with the change to his life.
Everly is the preacher’s daughter. Enough said, right? Wrong. There are some things going on behind closed doors that Everly doesn’t want anyone to know about. She doesn’t even think her own Mother knows about it. But this “thing” will literally destroy her family and nothing will ever be the same.
The summer after their senior year, Trevor has to make up a class and guess who his tutor is? Yep, Everly. Once they both take the time to “get to know” each other, there is NO WAY that they can stay away from each other. Especially considering that being with one another calms each other down.
There is no sex or heavy petting in this book. There highest flame I could give this was .5 for a couple of kisses and “implied” sexual activity amongst friends. If you have a child that likes to read and are looking for a good book with good morals, this is it.
*I was given a copy of this book as a gift from The JeepDiva in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2015
Big thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an ARC copy for review.
This was an enjoyable and delightful YA novel. A story of two teens, Trevor and Everly, who are complete opposites in every way, but are reluctantly brought together through tutoring sessions. Dealing with both emotional and physical struggles in their lives, they soon learn they have more in common than they think, and an unlikely romance blossoms.
You get to have both Trevor and Everly perspectives, which I enjoyed. Sometimes they both had me rolling my eyes, but I had to remember there teenagers. Their interactions with each other were cute and full of young love. I have to say my favorite character was Everly's little brother Isaac. He definitely reminded me of my little brother when he was young.
Mrs. Jenkins insisted I sit by Everly, and after we said Grace, her little brother Isaac kept the conversation rolling with 101 questions about music, football and Mustangs. the kid had noticed my Dad's car the first day I'd picked up Everly, and like most boys under ten, he had a one-track mind. Now it was cars, but when he got to my age? Yeah, we won't go there. ~ Trevor
I liked the realistic feel of this book. Juliana has the characters go through real problems that I'm sure can happen in real life. The ending I felt was both good and bittersweet for Everly. It leaves you with a good optimistic feeling for her future.
This was an enjoyable and delightful YA novel. A story of two teens, Trevor and Everly, who are complete opposites in every way, but are reluctantly brought together through tutoring sessions. Dealing with both emotional and physical struggles in their lives, they soon learn they have more in common than they think, and an unlikely romance blossoms.
You get to have both Trevor and Everly perspectives, which I enjoyed. Sometimes they both had me rolling my eyes, but I had to remember there teenagers. Their interactions with each other were cute and full of young love. I have to say my favorite character was Everly's little brother Isaac. He definitely reminded me of my little brother when he was young.
Mrs. Jenkins insisted I sit by Everly, and after we said Grace, her little brother Isaac kept the conversation rolling with 101 questions about music, football and Mustangs. the kid had noticed my Dad's car the first day I'd picked up Everly, and like most boys under ten, he had a one-track mind. Now it was cars, but when he got to my age? Yeah, we won't go there. ~ Trevor
I liked the realistic feel of this book. Juliana has the characters go through real problems that I'm sure can happen in real life. The ending I felt was both good and bittersweet for Everly. It leaves you with a good optimistic feeling for her future.
May 9, 2015
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire via Netgalley for the free review copy of this book!
Did I like this book?
While I quite enjoyed the previous Juliana Stone book I read, "Boys Like You", I was surprised to find I liked "Some Kind Of Normal" even more! I'm not sure what it was about this book that drew me in, it was probably several things, but if I had to put my finger on just one thing, I'd say it was Tyler. I really fell in love with his character, and I felt that through Stone's writing, I was able to feel and identify everything he was going through with his brain injury and seizures.
Everly was a pretty great character too. I loved how she was nerdy and shy, but also how deeply she felt for her family. At first I wanted her to just stop agonizing and confront her dad, but I'm glad everything worked out how it did and when it did - the timing was perfect!
And the swoons, sigh. Yep, Tyler and Everly were just...gah, holy tension! The buildup between them was fantastic, and I loved every minute of it!
Will you like this book?
Fans of contemporary YA romance will not be disappointed with this title!
Will I read more by this author?
I think this author can only move up, and I can't wait to follow along for the ride!
Did I like this book?
While I quite enjoyed the previous Juliana Stone book I read, "Boys Like You", I was surprised to find I liked "Some Kind Of Normal" even more! I'm not sure what it was about this book that drew me in, it was probably several things, but if I had to put my finger on just one thing, I'd say it was Tyler. I really fell in love with his character, and I felt that through Stone's writing, I was able to feel and identify everything he was going through with his brain injury and seizures.
Everly was a pretty great character too. I loved how she was nerdy and shy, but also how deeply she felt for her family. At first I wanted her to just stop agonizing and confront her dad, but I'm glad everything worked out how it did and when it did - the timing was perfect!
And the swoons, sigh. Yep, Tyler and Everly were just...gah, holy tension! The buildup between them was fantastic, and I loved every minute of it!
Will you like this book?
Fans of contemporary YA romance will not be disappointed with this title!
Will I read more by this author?
I think this author can only move up, and I can't wait to follow along for the ride!
May 23, 2015
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads
This is by turns a classic college romance, but with a couple of huge barriers that really add many more dimensions to the story. It is difficult not to put your self in either Trevor or Everley's position and wonder just how much better you would cope with such events. It throws in both the cliche and the unexpected, and engages the reader fully. I noticed a review from a School Library, and would agree that this probably should be on the teenage student syllabus. Not just because it gives warnings about behaviour; advice about things out of your control; but also because of the miscommunications and their impact.
Very good read, thank you Ms Stone.
This is by turns a classic college romance, but with a couple of huge barriers that really add many more dimensions to the story. It is difficult not to put your self in either Trevor or Everley's position and wonder just how much better you would cope with such events. It throws in both the cliche and the unexpected, and engages the reader fully. I noticed a review from a School Library, and would agree that this probably should be on the teenage student syllabus. Not just because it gives warnings about behaviour; advice about things out of your control; but also because of the miscommunications and their impact.
Very good read, thank you Ms Stone.
April 9, 2015
Stone’s voice resonates through here as she tells us the story of Trevor-the catalyst in Boys Like You. A reckless HS playboy who in the flash of an eye went from an average kid with aspirations of college to traumatic brain injury patient with anger and memory problems and no hope of even graduating high school. Help comes in the form of Everly, a preacher’s daughter, who has her own issues to deal with. As Trevor and Everly grow beyond the boundaries of friendship into something more; secrets are revealed and both are left wondering what being normal exactly means. An emotionally fulfilling and sweet YA romance that doesn’t attempt to plot away the realities that the protags are facing. Angsty teen drama appears randomly with bits of humor and sorrow as readers are gifted with with both Trevor’s and Everly’s POV.
May 24, 2016
I really liked this YA book. It was a sweet romance that wasn't rushed and while it dealt with some serious topics, it balanced the sweet and serious. Looking forward to reading more!
June 21, 2018
Overall, Some Kind of Normal is not a bad book. I really appreciated the fact that the author focused on family and the personal struggles of the characters. However, I was really hoping that romance featured would not be instalove but unfortunately it was. This was a little bit of a let down for me.
June 3, 2017
I liked this book. I did have some plot surprises, it definitely was a different outcome and middle than I thought it would have, and that is a good thing.
September 10, 2017
So grateful that the author accurately portrayed the aftermath of a TBI.
July 15, 2019
This was an enjoyable read. The storyline was great. It is a romance between Trevor, a boy with a traumatic brain injury and Everly, a daughter of a preacher in a terrible predicament at home. The characters were great. I really enjoyed Everly and Trevor as individual characters and I also really enjoyed them together because they made a cute couple. They have great chemistry between them. Their issues made me them more relatable and I am glad they were able to overcome those issues. The ending was good. I wish there was more to the ending, but it was good. I am a fan of Juliana Stone. Overall, a great read.
January 2, 2016
4 stars.
A modified version of this review also appears on Swoony Boys Podcast.
I loved this book. When I picked up Some Kind of Normal, I didn't realize that it was a companion to Boys Like You, which is one of my favorite books. So I was crazy excited when I saw that it was--and knew that we were going to get to see Monroe and Nathan here, too. Don't worry, if you haven't read Boys Like You yet, this is still a great choice for you and you won't be lost at all, but I think you should read that one, too, because it's awesome. :)
Months after waking up from a coma, Trevor Lewis is dealing with lots of things--a traumatic brain injury, the fact he has to study for Government over the summer to graduate, the fact he can't play music like he used to and what that means for his future. In order to graduate and continue with his plans to move to NYC with his best friend, Nathan, in the Fall, he has to pass the Government test and is assigned a tutor: straight-laced preacher's daughter Everly Jenkins. They're not crazy about each other at all the first time they sit down to study, but luckily things change.
Everly's dealing with some things in her family and is just trying to get by when she's surprised by her feelings for Trevor. Both of them have to deal with what is going on in their lives--separately and together. As the summer progresses, they find they have more in common than they thought and that maybe they're just right for each other.
I loved these characters. Trevor is so realistic and his feelings are authentic. Though he accepts responsibility for what happened to him, he isn't happy about it and isn't always looking at the bright side. He gets sullen and mad and just...wants things to be like they were before. The way he felt about Everly was sweet, too. I just love him. Trevor's not your typical swoony guy, but dang. The boy is sweet.
He’s an artist, a musician, and his favorite song is Simple Man.
Everly was great, too. She was likable and believable, and though she's not happy with her situation, she's not a whiny bitch about it. I loved that about her. I also loved how much she built Trevor up. She was vulnerable but she didn't let that stop her from living.
I also loved Trevor's dad. He was strong and one of the best dads in YA that I've ever read. It surprises me that I feel that way about him after reading Boys Like You, but I totally got him and was proud of the way he supported his son.
It was great seeing Nathan and Monroe and I loved that Trevor liked Monroe so much. Even if I hadn't read Boys Like You, I would have still appreciated Trevor's relationship with his best friend.
The setting was perfect. I live in Louisiana, and for sure Juliana Stone captures the weather, the culture, and the ambiance of places that I go to every day. From the camp at Tickfaw to the fourth of July festivities, I felt like I was right there. #win
There were a few things that I didn't like, but they're pretty spoilery. The stuff that happens with Everly's mom seemed almost glossed over, and I didn't like that. Also, I felt like some stuff was wrapped up in a neat bow that I didn't expect. And like with just about everything else, I wanted more at the end. Hopefully Stone is planning more in this universe--I could get behind a book featuring Trevor's sister, Taylor, or anything with Nathan, Monroe, Trevor, and Everly.
A quick read with something every contemporary YA lover will flail over, Some Kind of Normal has likable, swoon-worthy characters, a perfect setting, and a realistic storyline that should not be missed.
A modified version of this review also appears on Swoony Boys Podcast.
I loved this book. When I picked up Some Kind of Normal, I didn't realize that it was a companion to Boys Like You, which is one of my favorite books. So I was crazy excited when I saw that it was--and knew that we were going to get to see Monroe and Nathan here, too. Don't worry, if you haven't read Boys Like You yet, this is still a great choice for you and you won't be lost at all, but I think you should read that one, too, because it's awesome. :)
Months after waking up from a coma, Trevor Lewis is dealing with lots of things--a traumatic brain injury, the fact he has to study for Government over the summer to graduate, the fact he can't play music like he used to and what that means for his future. In order to graduate and continue with his plans to move to NYC with his best friend, Nathan, in the Fall, he has to pass the Government test and is assigned a tutor: straight-laced preacher's daughter Everly Jenkins. They're not crazy about each other at all the first time they sit down to study, but luckily things change.
We’d never really clicked, she and I. Not since grade six when I’d kissed her in a closet at Jackson Breckman’s house and told the entire class about it.
Everly's dealing with some things in her family and is just trying to get by when she's surprised by her feelings for Trevor. Both of them have to deal with what is going on in their lives--separately and together. As the summer progresses, they find they have more in common than they thought and that maybe they're just right for each other.
I loved these characters. Trevor is so realistic and his feelings are authentic. Though he accepts responsibility for what happened to him, he isn't happy about it and isn't always looking at the bright side. He gets sullen and mad and just...wants things to be like they were before. The way he felt about Everly was sweet, too. I just love him. Trevor's not your typical swoony guy, but dang. The boy is sweet.
The girl literally took my breath away.
He’s an artist, a musician, and his favorite song is Simple Man.
Everly was great, too. She was likable and believable, and though she's not happy with her situation, she's not a whiny bitch about it. I loved that about her. I also loved how much she built Trevor up. She was vulnerable but she didn't let that stop her from living.
I also loved Trevor's dad. He was strong and one of the best dads in YA that I've ever read. It surprises me that I feel that way about him after reading Boys Like You, but I totally got him and was proud of the way he supported his son.
It was great seeing Nathan and Monroe and I loved that Trevor liked Monroe so much. Even if I hadn't read Boys Like You, I would have still appreciated Trevor's relationship with his best friend.
The setting was perfect. I live in Louisiana, and for sure Juliana Stone captures the weather, the culture, and the ambiance of places that I go to every day. From the camp at Tickfaw to the fourth of July festivities, I felt like I was right there. #win
There were a few things that I didn't like, but they're pretty spoilery. The stuff that happens with Everly's mom seemed almost glossed over, and I didn't like that. Also, I felt like some stuff was wrapped up in a neat bow that I didn't expect. And like with just about everything else, I wanted more at the end. Hopefully Stone is planning more in this universe--I could get behind a book featuring Trevor's sister, Taylor, or anything with Nathan, Monroe, Trevor, and Everly.
A quick read with something every contemporary YA lover will flail over, Some Kind of Normal has likable, swoon-worthy characters, a perfect setting, and a realistic storyline that should not be missed.
January 23, 2016
Book Info
Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: May 5th 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire
ISBN 1402291507 (ISBN13: 9781402291500)
other editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
Amazon
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
WHAT IS NORMAL?
For Trevor, normal was fast guitar licks, catching game-winning passes, and partying all night. Until a car accident leaves him with no band, no teammates, and no chance of graduating. It’s kinda hard to ace your finals when you’ve been in a coma. The last thing he needs is stuck-up Everly Jenkins as his new tutor—those beautiful blue eyes catching every last flaw.
For Everly, normal was a perfect family around the dinner table, playing piano at Sunday service, and sunning by the pool. Until she discovers her whole life is a lie. Now the perfect pastor’s daughter is hiding a life-changing secret, one that is slowly tearing her family apart. And spending the summer with notorious flirt Trevor Lewis means her darkest secret could be exposed.
This achingly beautiful story about two damaged teens struggling through pain and loss to redefine who they are—to their family, to themselves, and to each other—is sure to melt your heart.
My Thoughts
Trevor was introduced in book 1 Boys Like You , which did not read but did not feel the lack as back story was pretty well covered to catch me up. I thought that the fit of he and Everly was a good one, they were both decent teens who had been dealt a losing hand in life due to no fault of their own.
The emotions of loss of self and feeling anger over another's actions was both realistic as well as heartbreaking to read about on behalf of these characters.
I am a fan of contemporary settings and situations for Young Adult stories and this one hits below the belt for me a couple of times for several reasons due to my own past experiences with the aftermath of damage done to friends who were in accidents either driving drunk or hit by a drunk driver themselves.
Believe me when I say they were truly, no pun intended, "sobering moments"!
Trevor is a typical teenage male, he has it all going for him until the fateful night when he and his best friend mistakenly get in a car while totally trashed. The resulting accident took this young man with the promising future and turned him into a young man who is unsure whether that future he dreamed about all his life even has a chance of becoming reality.
Everly is the pastor’s daughter, the girl who on the outside has the perfect family with the perfect house and yet she finds herself wishing that perfect life was real rather than the lie that she knows it to be.
At seventeen while their friends seem to have it all together Everly and Trevor find themselves losing the foundation of what had made them whole. Everly with the tension between her parents and an awful truth about her Dad that she does not want to face and Trevor with his recovery from his Traumatic Brain Injury not progressing as well as he had hoped these two have more than enough to deal with for a lifetime.
The way in which they handle their respective troubles though is what really makes the reader ache for them both, the two prove that healing takes time and effort but with help from someone who cares it is easier.
As the book blurb so eloquently put it this is indeed an achingly beautiful story.
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
April 26, 2015
More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.
REVIEW: Aww...this was a really sweet romance that will be popular with the legions of fans of The Fault in Our Stars and Perfect Chemistry. Right from the first few pages, I felt connected with the story and with the voices of Everly and Trevor (I couldn't believe none of their friends ever called them "Trevorly"). The characters are very real--neither of these two are perfect, and their problems don't get resolved with a neat little red bow at the end. There is some drama and an incessant stream of Everly's tears, but I didn't think it was over-the-top. And thankfully, no love triangles or insta-love.
Author Juliana Stone really took her time with the kissing parts. I loved the detail of the Trevor and Everly's first and second kisses. It wasn't just "we kissed and the earth moved"--these kisses were several paragraphs of sensations and emotions, told from both perspectives. I felt those kisses right along with Trevorly.
I also enjoyed the inclusion of Trevor's brain injury and how there are some things that he just can't help. His mixing of words, while sad and tragic, also makes him endearing and sweet. My only complaint is how he remained friends with Nate, who was driving drunk the night of the crash. Nate appears to have come out unscathed. He is happily living it up in New York, apparently with no injuries, guilt, or legal problems. And Trevor seems to be fine with all that. I find it very difficult to believe that these two could stay friends after such a traumatic event. Yes, they were both drunk that night, but Nate's getting off scot-free just seems wrong. What real human being wouldn't be incredibly angry about all that?
THE BOTTOM LINE: A sweet contemporary romance that will be popular with fans of The Fault in Our Stars and Perfect Chemistry. Traumatic Brain Injury and epilepsy isn't a topic I see very often in YA, and this story handles that with respect and sincerity.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: Not out yet, but I plan to order it.
READALIKES: Hundred Oaks series (Kenneally); Pushing the Limits series (McGarry)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 4/5
Creativity: 4/5--lots of others like this
Characters: 4/5--Nate needs some culpability; Trevor is angry at everyone but Nate
Engrossing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5
CONTENT:
Language: medium--1 F-bomb; multiple sh**
Sexuality: medium--kissing (vertical and horizontal); discussion and contemplation of intercourse; Everly is a virgin, but no one else is; Trevor has a history of casual sex; references to erection; chest lust; gay parent
Violence: mild; vandalism
Drugs/Alcohol: mild; teens drink at parties, but Everly and Trevor do not partake
May 2, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
After reading Boys Like You by Juliana Stone, I was looking forward to reading Some Kind of Normal. Each of these books can be read as a standalone, but you do get more of Trevor's back story if you read Boys Like You first. I thought that this was a short and sweet YA read, and I enjoyed it.
Trevor Lewis had it all until one night changed everything. After having a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from an accident, he was left in a coma for months. In order to graduate he has to pass a history test, and with his brain malfunctioning at times he needs a tutor. So when he finds out that he has to spend the summer being tutored by the good girl and pastor's daughter Everly Jenkins, he is anything but excited. But the more time they spend together, the more Trevor begins to realize that Everly's life isn't as perfect as he thought it was. As they grow closer together, they both find themselves finding comfort in the last place they expected.
I liked Trevor and Everly. I thought that they were really great together and though they were really different, they understood one another. Trevor was struggling with finding his place after experiencing something really horrible. Everything he had known and planned on was suddenly taken from him, and he had no idea if he would be able to get it back. But Everly helped him to realize that he needed to work hard and go after what he wanted. She liked him for who he was in the present and not who he had been before the accident. Everly was great, I liked that she was a good girl but that she wasn't uptight or snobby. People had made assumptions about her, but she wasn't anything like most of them saw her. I liked that she didn't judge others, and she was always supportive of those she cared about.
Overall, this was a sweet YA book and I liked it. I did find myself rolling my eyes at times with both Trevor and Everly and they handled things poorly on more than one occasion. But these were young kids just getting out of high school and I think a lot of it was just their age. I will also say that while I did like how things were at the ending, I also felt like it wasn't fully satisfying. I wanted a bit more and I was hoping to see a bit into the future. While I like the YA genre, I think that is my biggest complaint about it. I don't expect every story to end with a marriage or engagement or fully tied up conclusion, I do like to see a bit into the future after all the dust has sort of settled. There was a lot going on in this book with Everly's family as well as with her and Trevor, and it would have been nice to see a bit more of how things played out. If you are a fan of YA books though, I think you will find these books enjoyable. They are great for a quick and light read that also touch on some deeper subjects. I thought that Juliana Stone handled some tough things really well, and I was glad that she was able to show that being different doesn't have to be a bad thing.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
After reading Boys Like You by Juliana Stone, I was looking forward to reading Some Kind of Normal. Each of these books can be read as a standalone, but you do get more of Trevor's back story if you read Boys Like You first. I thought that this was a short and sweet YA read, and I enjoyed it.
Trevor Lewis had it all until one night changed everything. After having a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from an accident, he was left in a coma for months. In order to graduate he has to pass a history test, and with his brain malfunctioning at times he needs a tutor. So when he finds out that he has to spend the summer being tutored by the good girl and pastor's daughter Everly Jenkins, he is anything but excited. But the more time they spend together, the more Trevor begins to realize that Everly's life isn't as perfect as he thought it was. As they grow closer together, they both find themselves finding comfort in the last place they expected.
I liked Trevor and Everly. I thought that they were really great together and though they were really different, they understood one another. Trevor was struggling with finding his place after experiencing something really horrible. Everything he had known and planned on was suddenly taken from him, and he had no idea if he would be able to get it back. But Everly helped him to realize that he needed to work hard and go after what he wanted. She liked him for who he was in the present and not who he had been before the accident. Everly was great, I liked that she was a good girl but that she wasn't uptight or snobby. People had made assumptions about her, but she wasn't anything like most of them saw her. I liked that she didn't judge others, and she was always supportive of those she cared about.
Overall, this was a sweet YA book and I liked it. I did find myself rolling my eyes at times with both Trevor and Everly and they handled things poorly on more than one occasion. But these were young kids just getting out of high school and I think a lot of it was just their age. I will also say that while I did like how things were at the ending, I also felt like it wasn't fully satisfying. I wanted a bit more and I was hoping to see a bit into the future. While I like the YA genre, I think that is my biggest complaint about it. I don't expect every story to end with a marriage or engagement or fully tied up conclusion, I do like to see a bit into the future after all the dust has sort of settled. There was a lot going on in this book with Everly's family as well as with her and Trevor, and it would have been nice to see a bit more of how things played out. If you are a fan of YA books though, I think you will find these books enjoyable. They are great for a quick and light read that also touch on some deeper subjects. I thought that Juliana Stone handled some tough things really well, and I was glad that she was able to show that being different doesn't have to be a bad thing.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
May 6, 2015
This book was a gamble for me. I've been burned before (as I'm sure we all have) when trying an author for the first time. You never know if you should believe the hype you see online unless you have recommendations from some very specific people that you trust with your reading decisions. Unfortunately, I did not see any of my trusted sources recommending Juliana Stone (although I have seen them since reading this book). When I saw SOME KIND OF NORMAL up on Netgalley, I was immediately intrigued and decided to take a chance. I am absolutely thankful that I did.
Trevor Lewis is recovering from an awful accident that has forever changed his life. More immediately, it has set him behind in school and he is spending the summer with a new Government tutor, Everly. He has to pass Government in order to graduate so he can move to NYC with his friends and hopefully resume their musical plans. That is if he can get his brain to work properly. Playing the guitar was always Trevor's future, but now it seems more confusing than the Government notes he's supposed to be studying.
Everly is a 'good girl'. Her father is a perfect pastor and her family is also perfect. Or at least that is what they try to present to the world. Everly knows that her father is keeping an enormous secret. She sees through the false cheer her mother wears around her like a cloak. Tutoring Trevor has become her escape from the perfection that is slowly choking her to death.
This was a quick read, but filled with quite a lot of depth. Trevor was a hugely likable character. He was flawed and grumpy. His brain was fighting against him and sometimes it seemed that is was going to win. Trevor was extremely sweet with Everly and I enjoyed their friendship very much.
Everly was overwhelmed by the secrets being hidden in her house. She comes to relish the 'normalness' that hanging with Trevor affords her. While in the beginning of the book she seemed ready to sweep the secrets under the rug and continue the facade that her family was hiding behind, I liked how strong she became and how proud of her family she was when the truth was finally revealed, no matter how much it had the potential to change her life.
I have to state here that I am a pastor's daughter. I have lived through the pressures of presenting a perfect family unit. Unfortunately, communities expect a pastor and his wife and children to be something almost inhuman in their actions and Ms. Stone captured that with amazing accuracy. I think that the expectations are even harder on the pastor's wife than the pastor. I could completely understand the way Everly's mother was attempting to smooth everything over, put I did not like the way she just avoided facing it altogether. And then she all but disappeared when it came time for everything to be revealed. I felt a little like she abandoned Everly when Everly could have really used a mother's presence.
Overall, I was rather impressed with SOME KIND OF NORMAL and also with Juliana Stone. I know I will be reading her book, BOYS LIKE YOU, very soon.
Trevor Lewis is recovering from an awful accident that has forever changed his life. More immediately, it has set him behind in school and he is spending the summer with a new Government tutor, Everly. He has to pass Government in order to graduate so he can move to NYC with his friends and hopefully resume their musical plans. That is if he can get his brain to work properly. Playing the guitar was always Trevor's future, but now it seems more confusing than the Government notes he's supposed to be studying.
Everly is a 'good girl'. Her father is a perfect pastor and her family is also perfect. Or at least that is what they try to present to the world. Everly knows that her father is keeping an enormous secret. She sees through the false cheer her mother wears around her like a cloak. Tutoring Trevor has become her escape from the perfection that is slowly choking her to death.
This was a quick read, but filled with quite a lot of depth. Trevor was a hugely likable character. He was flawed and grumpy. His brain was fighting against him and sometimes it seemed that is was going to win. Trevor was extremely sweet with Everly and I enjoyed their friendship very much.
Everly was overwhelmed by the secrets being hidden in her house. She comes to relish the 'normalness' that hanging with Trevor affords her. While in the beginning of the book she seemed ready to sweep the secrets under the rug and continue the facade that her family was hiding behind, I liked how strong she became and how proud of her family she was when the truth was finally revealed, no matter how much it had the potential to change her life.
I have to state here that I am a pastor's daughter. I have lived through the pressures of presenting a perfect family unit. Unfortunately, communities expect a pastor and his wife and children to be something almost inhuman in their actions and Ms. Stone captured that with amazing accuracy. I think that the expectations are even harder on the pastor's wife than the pastor. I could completely understand the way Everly's mother was attempting to smooth everything over, put I did not like the way she just avoided facing it altogether. And then she all but disappeared when it came time for everything to be revealed. I felt a little like she abandoned Everly when Everly could have really used a mother's presence.
Overall, I was rather impressed with SOME KIND OF NORMAL and also with Juliana Stone. I know I will be reading her book, BOYS LIKE YOU, very soon.
May 4, 2015
4.5 stars.
Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone is a poignant yet very sweet young adult romance. It is a riveting story about two teenagers who are trying to come to terms with serious, life altering situations before they leave their small home town for college. Although this beautifully written novel deals with realistic problems, there is very little angst or unnecessary drama but this does not lessen the emotional impact of the overall story.
The past year has been difficult for both Trevor Lewis and Everly Jenkins. Trevor is still trying to deal with the long term effects from the traumatic brain injury (TBI) he sustained in a car accident. Everly is working up the courage to confront her father about information that could destroy her family. The two form an unlikely friendship that slowly turns to romance but will their relationship survive the burdens both are carrying?
Trevor's recovery from the car accident has been long but he has overcome the worst of his injuries. He is just now coming to the realization that he will never be the same person he was before the accident but he is still having trouble accepting this newfound knowledge. Just as he begins to adjust to his new "normal", unexpected complications arise and this setback means another possible alteration to his goals and dreams.
Everly has had a pretty charmed life. Her father is the pastor of a small church and she has never really had her faith tested. But the secret she has been keeping makes her doubt everything she knows about her life, her parents and her beliefs. Everly has been unable to confront her father about a conversation she overheard, but things are rapidly deteriorating at home. A crisis is building but Everly still cannot find the courage to get answers to the questions that are haunting her.
The romance between Everly and Trevor slowly grows over the course of the novel. At first reluctantly forced to spend time together as Everly tutors Trevor, they quickly realize they have misjudged each other. As trust builds between them, they support one another as problems crop up and their concern gives way to deeper emotions. Trevor is extremely patient with Everly as their relationship evolves from friendship to love, but will their fledgling romance survive when real life complications arise?
Written in first person from alternating points of view, Some Kind of Normal is a well-written novel with multi-faceted, likable characters. Juliana Stone deftly handles difficult topics with a great deal of sensitivity and she does not downplay the repercussions that occur during the resolution of the various story arcs. The novel ends with a realistic conclusion that is immensely satisfying. It is a marvelous young adult romance that I heartily recommend to readers of all ages.
Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone is a poignant yet very sweet young adult romance. It is a riveting story about two teenagers who are trying to come to terms with serious, life altering situations before they leave their small home town for college. Although this beautifully written novel deals with realistic problems, there is very little angst or unnecessary drama but this does not lessen the emotional impact of the overall story.
The past year has been difficult for both Trevor Lewis and Everly Jenkins. Trevor is still trying to deal with the long term effects from the traumatic brain injury (TBI) he sustained in a car accident. Everly is working up the courage to confront her father about information that could destroy her family. The two form an unlikely friendship that slowly turns to romance but will their relationship survive the burdens both are carrying?
Trevor's recovery from the car accident has been long but he has overcome the worst of his injuries. He is just now coming to the realization that he will never be the same person he was before the accident but he is still having trouble accepting this newfound knowledge. Just as he begins to adjust to his new "normal", unexpected complications arise and this setback means another possible alteration to his goals and dreams.
Everly has had a pretty charmed life. Her father is the pastor of a small church and she has never really had her faith tested. But the secret she has been keeping makes her doubt everything she knows about her life, her parents and her beliefs. Everly has been unable to confront her father about a conversation she overheard, but things are rapidly deteriorating at home. A crisis is building but Everly still cannot find the courage to get answers to the questions that are haunting her.
The romance between Everly and Trevor slowly grows over the course of the novel. At first reluctantly forced to spend time together as Everly tutors Trevor, they quickly realize they have misjudged each other. As trust builds between them, they support one another as problems crop up and their concern gives way to deeper emotions. Trevor is extremely patient with Everly as their relationship evolves from friendship to love, but will their fledgling romance survive when real life complications arise?
Written in first person from alternating points of view, Some Kind of Normal is a well-written novel with multi-faceted, likable characters. Juliana Stone deftly handles difficult topics with a great deal of sensitivity and she does not downplay the repercussions that occur during the resolution of the various story arcs. The novel ends with a realistic conclusion that is immensely satisfying. It is a marvelous young adult romance that I heartily recommend to readers of all ages.
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