The Extraordinary Ordinary

by Natalie Rodriguez

Three college students learn how to cope with their mental health when one of them experiences panic attacks.



Years after being attacked in high school, a young photography student named Erica moves across the country from New York to Southern California (CA) in search of a fresh start. At the same time, she also strives to finish a photography project from high school to reach a sense of closure.



In California, Erica meets and befriends two individuals, Bianca, and Alex, who have a painful history of their own. Erica soon realizes that she is not alone in her struggles with anxiety and depression. She learns that the road to recovery is possible for anyone, regardless of their past.



While adjusting to her new life, her past and old coping mechanisms also heighten, especially with her parents' different views on life and their future.

487 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2022

About the author

NATALIE RODRIGUEZ is an award-winning, Los Angeles based director, screenwriter, author, and mental health and anti-violence/trauma advocate. In 2014, she graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in Radio-Television-Film. Her first experiences in entertainment were an internship at the Conan O'Brien show and a position at Peter Guber's Mandalay Pictures, where she worked in the offices of producers, Matthew Rhodes ("Cherry," "Men in Black: International") and Academy Award-winner, Cathy Schulman ("Sharp Objects," "Crash").

Natalie has been a panelist at events hosted by organizations such as Google, Hispanicize, and YouTube, where she has shared her story as a female writer and filmmaker working in the entertainment industry. She has written for publications including the HuffPost Blog, Thrive Global, Anxiety Resource Center, NowThis News, Hello Giggles, and The Mighty.

In 2017, she founded Extraordinary Pictures, a production company focusing on films, television, digital series, and social issue projects ranging from diversity, mental health, and recovery. The company has produced short films, and feature films of different genres, including comedies and dramas. Natalie's first directorial feature films, “The Extraordinary Ordinary” and "Howard Original,” which started as short films, screened at various film festivals. Both projects are, now, streaming on multiple streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime, Roku, and Tubi. “The Extraordinary Ordinary” is also available to subscribers of the products for public libraries (Access Video On Demand) and colleges & universities (Films On Demand). Ask your library for details.
• “The Extraordinary Ordinary” is an independent drama about a college freshman who moves across the country to cope with her mental health, as well as a traumatic incident from high school while befriending a classmate and a co-worker who have a history of their own. The film won 'Best Film About Women's Empowerment' at the Glendale International Film Festival and scored nominations in the Best Director, Best Female Director, and Best Picture categories. The film also had a sold-out world premiere screening at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival (LADFF) and won 'Best Performance' by a leading actor.
• “Howard Original" is a comedy-drama satire about the entertainment industry, where a washed-up screenwriter encounters multiple life crises when his pet cat comes to life. The film took home the ‘Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium Form’ at the Culver City Film Festival.

Natalie's other screenplays and films have been featured and placed in the final rounds at HollyShorts Film Festival, NALIP: Latino Lens Film Festival, Shorts TV, Stage 32: Comedy Screenplay, Beverly Hills Film Festival, Culver City Film Festival, Indie Night Film Festival, Hollywood Screenplay Contest, Table Read My Screenplay - Austin Film Festival, and others.

She was also an ambassador for Jen Zeano Designs (JZD), a clothing company in association with USA Networks. While Natalie continues to build her creative background, she is always open to collaborating with other artists and advocates. In-between productions, Natalie spends most of her time writing books and watching horror films. Her first young adult thriller book series, "Elephant," was published during the pandemic. The series is about four childhood best friends who uncover multiple family secrets. The books were also a finalist at Clare Books' the Binge-Watching Cure II contest for 'Best Novel.' The final installment of the series is set for publication in late 2022. In addition, she also adapted "The Extraordinary Ordinary" into a New Adult novel which will be available in eBook and paperback in spring 2022.

For details on previous and upcoming projects, be sure to check out her social media pages by visiting linktr.ee/extraordpictures


-Extraordinary Pictures

Reviews

[Varsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you are facing mental health challenges, the world might not know but you experience a life that feels mostly like a prison. Our protagonist, Erica feels the same challenges because of her traumatic painful memories from the past.

Coming out of this prison, she finally gets to understand that life is not always a straight line, but it consists of curves that keep on throwing us all here and there.
This book would naturally break the stigma associated with mental health in many countries and portrays a vivid picture of the grave reality we all face today.

I appreciate the author for penning a book on a difficult but immensely important issue and creating a story that will resonate with many young minds in current times.

[Cristy Villemaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible story, full of emotions and life lessons.

The extraordinary ordinary touches on so many important topics, mental health, family issues and the road to recovery. We meet our protagonist Erica, she was attacked in high school and year later is still coping with the after math. She decides to relocate and start a new life and leaving behind New York and moving to California, regardless of her mothers disapproval. When she gets to her new college, Erica befriends Bianca and Alex.

They will rely on each other and navigate through their problems, ups and downs and learn that life is hard, full of injustice but also will discover that life has many extraordinary moments no matter how small they may seem. This book definitely brought back some positive memories, it made me remember how exciting and thrilled I was when I started college. It also makes you stop and think how others may seem okay on the outside but you never know what they are going through. Absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story told with sensitivity and understanding. I learned a lot from this book and shed some tears, but we definitely need more books like this, that touches on mental health, self worth and yes recovery can be achieved by seeking help and not judging individuals who suffer from traumatic experiences.

[Harsh Tyagi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I don’t know if that makes sense, but it does to me. Only to me, like always."

An amazing book! Three friends, Erica, Bianca and Alex learn to cope up with their mental health when Erica experiences panic attacks. Years after being attacked in high school, Eric's is now ready to make a move from New York to California for a fresh start and to finish off a long-pending photography project to achieve the sense of closure. Befriending Bianca and Alex, she experiences good and terrible moments when the memories of her past come haunting her. The parents are no help either.

The book depicts the characters dealing with mental health issues, them trying to suppress their emotions, the aftermaths of the trauma, emotional baggage and the reactions of family to lifestyle changes and choices. The book is extremely well-written and an important read in times like these. Relatable moments, candid and real-talk, talking about real issues and the message that life goes on and we CAN live an extraordinarily ordinary life even after a tragedy. Recovery is possible, and our friends and loved ones will be there to support.

Spanning almost 500 pages, the book is based on the Award-Winning Feature Film with the same title, and I watched the movie before finishing the book. The movie is great, and the book is even greater, with depicting POVs of all three major characters and additional scenes missing from the movie. The book holds an inspiring theme and is relevant to the youth and old alike. Reading the book will also reveal how the book cover is very much relevant.

This Mental Health Awareness Month I wish everybody dealing with such issues healing and a happier life!

I received a copy of the book via Booksirens and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

[Arti Manekar · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have watched how in the movies, the big kids would pick up on the small and weak ones. This has, unfortunately, become the norm. Standing up to someone takes great courage, and in this busy life, we almost forget and ignore what happens to someone who was bullied. When you are bullied in high school or attacked for no particular reason, the traumas can haunt you, especially when you are sensitive and want to notice only the good in people.

Erica is a photography student shifting to college in a new city and trying her absolute best to stay away from this path.

I enjoyed watching the growing friendship between these characters and the learning they all experienced along the way.


I received a review copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Penny Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the past when we thought of mental illness all sorts of horrid definitions and images came to mind. It is a stigma that we are slowly overcoming.
For the few people suffering, not as severe and often deemed unimportant, they received choruses of “suck it up princess or box it and forget it”. It is nice to see that today we can look at all these problems no matter how in-depth or how paralyzing and have an open conversation that leads to a better life.
The Extraordinary Ordinary, tells the journey of a young girl struggling with mental illness. In an effort not to spoil the story, I will try to be as brief as possible.
Erica suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, still, she is trying to live on her own. Her mother’s inability to let go, seems to go beyond common concern for her child, and therefore it, could be looked at as an illness. Her friends too have issues that, readers can delve deeper into opening their minds and exploring yet again another facet of mental health challenges many people face but don’t discuss openly.
The Extraordinary Ordinary is an excellent read. It has one looking deeper at the people around you and considering what they may be going through before casting judgment. In the future, stories like this may lead to better understanding, more open conversations and healing for all.

[Priyanshi Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book demonstrates, Being oneself in front of others is one of the most difficult things to do, thus most individuals choose to bury their thoughts and deal with them alone. But the fact is that everyone requires assistance at some point in their lives. When you seek help, it doesn't make you any less of a person. You should drop your ego side and do take others help because sometimes others can help us in a way we can't help ourselves. The story of this book revolved around something like that only.

Natalie Rodriguez's psychological fiction novel The Extraordinary Ordinary is based on the indie film of the same name. Erica, Bianca, and Alex are three college students in the novel. It all begins when Erica, a photography student, relocates from New York to South California in search of a fresh start. She's been struggling with tragedy from her past and wants to put it all behind her. She meets Bianca and Alex in California and makes friends with them. She gains strength in coping with her anxiety and sadness after learning that they, too, have a tragic past. Erica, Bianca, and Alex band together to help one other on their road to recovery.

Book become easily understandable if you watch the movie once.

[Ashutosh Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always advocated for books that focus on mental health issues. With the advances in technology and current lifestyle, the issue is becoming relevant and rampant ever again - which is the reason why books like The Extraordinary Ordinary by Natalie Rodriguez seem to be helping out the society by voicing the stories of relatable characters with characteristics that a reader will find most connected to.

If you ask me why I chose to read this book, I would say it was because I wanted to experience and know that someone out there is going through the same emotions as I have been through. There are some points in the book that I thought were overly done, but that is what books are for, aren’t they? Taking your emotions into a cauldron, stirring them, making you feel comfortable and uncomfortable, and equipping you with emotional attachments. My suggestion is to dive into the book to find a wave of peace within yourself.

[Mahi Aggarwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A work that feels home.
The book is written very descriptively and is focused more on the dialogues, and nature of emotions the characters are going through. Keeping this in mind, though I haven’t seen the casting of the movie, I could imagine what it would be like to experience watching it by reading the novel. The characters are quite vividly fabricated and connected with me from the beginning.
I always find it better to read the book first and then watch the movie, and as always it happens that the book is better than the movie. I am hoping in this case, both these formats would be equally impactful.

I often notice why a character behaved in a certain way in a particular scene, and this book left me wondering the same. It left me with a feeling of comfort that I was seeking from a novel, from its characters.

[Agirlwithherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this book was not about the college student, Erica, but about her parents. Seeing your child go through a tough situation is never simple. It is so difficult to imagine the predicament and helplessness they must be feeling witnessing their child living in hell every second of her life. The portrayal of the strength, confusion, dependency, and powerlessness the parents experienced without the fault of anyone - just fate playing a huge trick on them - the worst part is being in a lot of pain and staying unaware of it, living life as if nothing tragic is happening to you at this very moment - as if living a life in denial - I was in tears. Having seen many people struggling with mental well-being, The Extraordinary Ordinary caught me off guard because not many books describe the inner emotions of the characters this vividly and in this much detail.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by the award director, this novel is based on the film! Now that I’ve read the book, I’m definitely going to watch the movie (available on prime and tubi)! This was another great read about mental health. The characters were well-written and real. I could relate to a lot of their struggles. There has been much progress in our conversations with mental health but we, as a society, need to continue to improve. I received a complimentary review copy from the author via @booksirens but it no way influences my review.

𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖: “We deserve to feel bold, beautiful, strong, sexy, and extraordinary.”

[Shey Saints · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary

The Extraordinary Ordinary is a psychological fiction novel by Natalie Rodriguez based on the independent movie of the same title. The story revolves around three college students: Erica, Bianca, and Alex. It starts off when Erica, a photography student, moves across the country from New York to South California, hoping for a new start. She has been dealing with trauma from her past experience and wants to put all that behind. In California, she meets Bianca and Alex, and becomes friends with them. When she learns that they also have a painful history of their own, she finds courage in dealing with her anxiety and depression. Together, Erica, Bianca, and Alex become each other’s support in their journey to recovery.

Review

Since I have watched the movie of the same title, it’s easier for me to picture Erica, Bianca, Alex, and the rest of the characters in the story, so this book felt a little more comfortable, despite the gravity of the topics. Always, when it comes to anxiety and depression issues, there’s always something pricking my heart because it is so broad and complex. It stems from different factors, and the intensity varies from one person to another. But the bottom line is, it’s possible to conquer it, provided that there’s a right group of people that can support you. This book shows exactly that. One of the hardest things is to be vulnerable in front of anyone, so for most people, it is easier for them to suppress their feelings and deal with it alone, rather than open up to anyone. But the truth is, everyone needs help and that’s normal. And it doesn’t make anyone less of a person when you seek help.

Although the story is normally almost exactly the same between movies and book adaptations or vice versa, books always hit differently than movies and that’s how I also feel about this one. It’s deeper and multifaceted. The movie is mostly focused on Erica, while this book tells the story through the eyes of Erica, Bianca, and Alex, so I get to understand them more on a deeper level. Same with the other characters.

Overall, I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. It was beautifully written and the characters’ emotions resonated not only through this story, but also through music and photography. It’s amazing how a person’s emotions can resonate in different possible means where one of them is art. I highly recommend this to all readers. Regardless of your preferred genre, I’m sure everyone has a past or present issue that needs to be consoled.

[Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's upsetting to admit that I had a difficult time to finish it, albeit the main theme of this book is mental health which is the genre I very much look forward to. Short chapters, that's what made me finish the book. Fortunately I watched the movie, so I somehow can connect the dots of what was happening between the characters. I thought the book is better than its adaptation, but in this case it's the other way round. The characters definitely hit home, very relatable to me. To some degree, the book made me feel seen that even my unspoken self can't describe.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bibek Silwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Extraordinary Ordinary is a heartwarming indie about young people coping with mental health issues. The story concerns a student who moves to Southern California for a new beginning and discovers that she is not alone in her mental health challenge

[Hepzibah Becca Jael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Extraordinary Ordinary by Natalie Rodriguez narrates a story of a teenager in her college freshmen year - trying to cope with her new life in a new place and trying to seek new meanings in her life.
Visualizing Erica, Bianca and Alex. for me, was the most eventful happening in this book. Their picturization has been done pretty well because reading the book, it was evident to me how these characters were already my friends and felt closer to my real-life peers.
Apart from the realistic friendship portrayed in this novel, my instant connection was built with how effortlessly the author has stitched together the taboo topic of mental health. There are many emotions one goes through as a teenager and the characterization makes it even more powerful. In the middle of all the darkness that the characters felt, I could see the shades and flickers of light too. A nicely-written work in my opinion.

[Satya Keerthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Struggling with mental health is an issue not everyone can deal with. When it comes to kids who do not have much experience in how life works, it gets arduous.
Erica is a college student you will relate to the most - she is like the girl who sits in a corner and thinks about the world fading away, slipping away from her grip, and couldn’t do anything about it - as a reader - you watch her story unfold and witness her going through different phases of life - you want to hold her hands and tell her everything will be alright - yet, not everything is in your hands - and you look around yourself - the people you have studied with, their stories reverberating through Erica, Bianca, and Alex, and there is an empathy you have towards them - for the characters, and for your friends. This is what The Extraordinary Ordinary by Natalie Rodriguez made me feel.

[Sai Amirapu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feeling a sense of no turning back, Erica’s life is revolving around running away from the traumatic experiences she had to face and struggling to open up to people. She has nowhere to turn to and feels not worthy enough. Becoming friends with Alex and Bianca, she gains her former self back and makes decisions that uplift her personality.

I loved the conversations between Alex and Erica. From cute to super deep, their conversation felt as if I were sitting and listening to my friends. Character development is something that should be more emphasized here. All of the protagonists did a great job of staying true to their personalities. I cannot wait to watch the movie adaptation now.

[Rutuja Ramteke · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥀One of my favorite author is back with an impactful read that's not just very well written but also a very important read. I have read Natalie's books in the past and I'm a fan of what she promotes. I truly thank her for effort she takes and the effort she took to write this extremely wholesome read. The book might not hit someone who isn't aware of mental health issues but anyone who has been through a dark phase will relate to it a lot.
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The storyline that revolves around three different people with different pasts, different backgrounds and they're carrying different traumas with them. In a form of a fictional story, the author gives a message that's worth the attention and the hype. In terms of writing and storyline it's a great read. Even the way characters expressed their feelings was definitely heart breaking at times but felt very real and I felt like I'm their friend too.
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It's a story that will surely make you believe, that you're not alone and it's okay to feel the way you feel. You're supposed to mask the negative feeling when you cannot, you don't have to be hard on yourself and you definitely don't have to pretend that you're fine. Through few pages and few characters the author leaves a permanent mark in my heart with her story.
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Definitely a must read. Go for it without a second thought, especially teens and adults will relate a lot to it.
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Rating: 4.5⭐️

[Book Nerdy 2020 · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY By Natalie Rodriguez

It's a journey of three college students on how they learn to cope (won't say overcome but cope) with anxiety attacks, panic attacks etc.

😊What i liked -

✔Am happy that Natalie has taken such an important and difficult subject to write about.
✔The character developement of Erica, Bianca and Alex is very well done.
✔ I connected with the characters in quite a few places.
✔ There is this one dialogue that got to me- "am glad you're going to therapy. " "the place for freaks" she reponds. She says it as a joke, but it hit hard.
✔ What the protagonist are going through mentally and how it effects them, has been explained in details.
✔The poem written by Bianca made me cry buckets.

🤔What could have been better -

✔ I do not know if it could have been better or not. Though later on in the book I understood why Erica's mother is the way she is , but am still confused about my feelings towards her. Maybe her character could have been better explained.

📚Who Should read :
👦Mental health book readers

📈My Rating : 4.5/5

P.s : I started reading this a few days back. Am normally a fast reader , but with this i took my time. I hope more books on mental health issues are written and i hope people do not make it such a Taboo.

Qotd - There are so many question's on my mind , but will settle with this one. Do you think if you are physically healthy ,you are mentally healthy too?

[bookhaven__ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Extraordinary Ordinary
By
Natalie Rodriguez

Review:
Mental well-being is something that should be our number one priority no matter how busy we are. This book reminded me to take care of my loved ones and my mental well-being above everything.

Most of the time, the traumas from our past stay with us for a long time. Healing takes time. In this story, Erica Mantes faced a tragedy in high school. Dr Mansell told Erica that it's common for many students to have anxiety especially because of transfers. Erica is all set with a packet suitcase and carry-on bag to start a new life in a new city.

One day, she received a call from Alexander from "SoHo, This Isn’t A Musical Shop". He informed Erica that his boss Janet and he like to invite Erica for the interview which she cleared later. Erica interacted with Bianca in Mrs Newman class. She discovered that she is not alone in her journey of anxiety and PTSD. With Bianca and Alex's help, will Erica be able to deal with her past traumas?

Story is written well and pulled me in totally. The book is lengthy but it's a perfect pick for weekend binge reading. I couldn't keep this book down once I started reading it. Cover photo of the book is well designed. I am thankful to Natalie as this book has helped me a lot to understand about mental health. Add it to your tbr right away. It's worth reading.

Rating: 4.5/5

[Bethea Scovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters and their stories in this “new adult” novel. Overcoming trauma and the resulting anxiety and depression can be overwhelming. This novel explores how three individuals around age 19 become friends and help each other cope with their histories and bouts of mental illness.

I had a difficult time with the main character, Erica, and her relationship with her parents. There was never a solid explanation for why things were so strained, although there were many allusions. I also was not a fan of the writing style with the music lyrics throughout. The difficult part for me is that the songs referenced are much older than the characters. It didn’t mesh well for me, but that could also be because I’m older.

I really liked the project that the girls were working on and wish that the final product would have been better explained. The poem was fantastic and had a lot of heart. I’m not sure what the visual effects of the project were and the means of presentation accompanying the photos. I had assumed that the cover art for the book fit that idea but it doesn’t quite match.

Overall, I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. It’s meant more for someone in their late teens/early 20’s who appreciate classic rock.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #TheExtraordinaryOrdinary by #NatalieRodriguez

[J.T. Michaels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of three different characters whose lives intertwine as the story progresses, The Extraordinary Ordinary is a novel that boldly tackles various mental health issues. The story is both relevant and uncomfortable, in a good sense. More people need to treat mental health issues as something to be understood not shunned and we see this in the story. Erica, one of the main characters, has a tragic experience that exacerbates her mental condition. No one understands her and no one really tries to except for a select few. Even then, they don't know how to reach her.

The strongest point that this book drives home is that you can't force someone with mental health issues to just "wish" it away. It's not that simple. It takes time, patience and lots of support.

Overall, I found the novel to be an eye-opener. I did find some of the characters to be cliche and the various points-of-view confusing at times. Still, I'm happy to have read this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Readers Choice · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑻𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆: The Extraordinary Ordinary
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Natalie Rodriguez

𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
If you are looking for a book about mental health, then pick a copy of Natalie Rodriguez's 'The Extraordinary Ordinary'. It is a captivating story of Erica, Alex and Bianca who are trying their best to deal with the past traumas.

Main focus of the story is Erica who had her bags packed, got a going away gift from her dad but not mom. She moved to a new city and is still suffering from anxiety.

This book taught me a very important lesson that there is no shame in seeking help. This book definitely increased my awareness on the mental health of college students. It inspired me to be more empathetic towards others as we don't know what they are going through.

Before reading this book, I wasn't aware about the movie but I am definitely gonna watch it now. Through this book, the author has given a very important message that we are not alone in our journey of mental illness. All we need is little help from kind souls. Looking forward to reading more books by Natalie.

𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 5/5

[KINSHUK GHOSH · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful narration that expresses the voice of a teenager going through a much more difficult phase of her life. She gets terrified of seeking assistance from her family and friends at first but once she realizes everyone is struggling in their own ways, and at their own level, she begins to live life more meaningfully and much better than in her previous version.

It is not to say that there were no challenges along the way for her. In fact, the book showcases how extremely painful it can be to even get up from your bed and face the world. A lot of questions and doubts run through the mind in this case and life never feels to be easy at all.

Thankfully for the characters, things turn out okay, and it does a fantastic job of demonstrating the inner struggle of a depressed person. A well-written and helpful book.

I received a free copy of this book from Booksirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[_sassy_39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Extraordinary Ordinary written by the author Natalie Rodriguez is based on the award winning film. The book starts with Erica who has anxiety and she constantly reminds herself to just Breathe. She is a young photography student and her father gifted her 'A Polaroid Camera' as a going away gift.

I really loved reading this book as it focuses on mental health and trauma. It's not at all easy to gather ourselves after a traumatic experience. Erica made a great start in life by moving to another city. She met Bianca and Alex, two uplifting souls who had their own tragedies from the past.

The book also inspires readers to focus on self growth. The characters are written very nicely. All the three characters Erica, Bianca and Alex became my favorite the moment I read about them. I wish I would have gotten my hands on this book earlier. This book is definitely recommended. Go for it without having any second thoughts.

[Arabella Auberon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very busy. Each character is dealing with trauma in their own way and finding ways to cope with the mental illnesses that plague them. It is written so well that you have no trouble as a reader getting a true feel for how invasive mental illness is in a person’s life, even if you yourself don’t suffer from the same issues. Because of this, I feel this book should get 5⭐️s and a full recommendation for anyone who suffers themselves or have friends or family that suffer from mental illness.
This is Not a self-help book, this is a fictional story about three different people trying to find their way through pain, and the residual side effects of traumatic events in each of their lives.
This is an incredibly important topic, and more stories like this can help those who don’t have to work through these same issues understand where those of us who do are coming from.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashish · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You might feel some discomfort,” she advises me calmly, like the last water drops from the kitchen sink, “but no pain. I promise.”

What a heartbreaking piece of writing. Just these two sentences in the very beginning of the book shook me to my core - because of what I did not see coming in the book, page after page.

The Extraordinary Ordinary is a story of a girl, Erica trying to build for herself a new life and running away from the former, and keeps on colliding with it time and again. She keeps on moving forward, getting one step back, two steps further - until it becomes too overwhelming to comprehend. The friends she makes along the way are a keeper.

A short book that I could finish within days, but one thing is for certain, the emotions that bound me to the novel will stay intact for a long time.

[Kottha Sree · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this book spoke volumes about how significant family and friends are in one’s life. We often tend to disregard them when we chase our goals or want to stay in our comfort zone - a shell that we get afraid to break and ultimately forget that the shell stays echoing back to us - loud and clear. We start thinking this is what our life is supposed to be. Erica breaks this mold - this ceiling and gives the readers a hope that they too can come out of their troubles when they open up and see each other with more empathy, compassion, and warmth.

Books like The Extraordinary Ordinary will help teenagers or a person of any age for that matter, to open up more and seek assistance from their family and friends in need. I cannot wait to watch the movie and cry happy and sad tears over it again.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Moksha Sheth · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, the author has shared the story of three college-going friends - Erica, Bianca and Alex. Erica has recently shifted to a new college and thankfully, she has befriended Bianca and Alex. What she didn’t know in the beginning is that her friends are going to help her out in her time of difficulty.

The book felt as if the author has shared her personal stories which connected well with me. It never gets easy but reading such kinds of books, might help someone see light in the darkness and it might make them feel they are not alone, especially young college students.

I am pretty certain that the movie would not be as good as the book as is the case with all the other books and movie adaptations.

I have received a review copy of this book via Booksirens, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kshama K · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how much we think that we will live life on our own and we don’t need anybody else’s help in uplifting us, building us back, and encouraging us to be ourselves - life keeps on surprising the hell out of us.

Each one of us needs our families and a set of loving, loyal friends who will stick to us no matter how shaky our grounds get.

The Extraordinary Ordinary narrates a tale of an extraordinary life of a college freshman student, Erica, who befriends Bianca and Alex during college and tries her best to get through her psychological well-being along with them.

Though there are many novels nowadays that have a young voice and a much-required spark, I found this novel to be speaking directly to me. Its originality and staying authentic to its audience, its characters, and most importantly, its theme, impressed me much. I look forward to reading more from the author.

[Padmanava DuTTa]

“Just because no one else can heal or do the inner work for you, doesn’t mean that you can, should, or need to do it alone”
Lisa Olivera


Dealing with PTSD is as if hiding from life itself. The Extraordinary Ordinary is a tale that takes us to witness how much work it takes to keep on moving forward, to thrive in a field, and to see yourself fail every time. ‘Survivor’s guilt’ is another issue much often ignored because of how less the topic is discussed in society.

This book follows the story of a college student, Erica who is struggling a lot with PTSD and as mentioned earlier, hiding away from living a good life. Befriending Bianca and Alex was the best decision that happened to her. Seeking support was another of her best choices. There are no easy answers to this issue but together we can try and heal. A recommended reading.