Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again.

This book cover doesn't do the story justice. It isn't about romance and kissing. That's a part of the novel, but Something Like Normal is about so much more than that. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and I cared deeply for the characters. I'm writing this review two months after reading the book, and I'm still incredibly affected by it. You all need to go pick up Something Like Normal once it's released (June 19th). It's brilliant.

I had heard about the books' main character Travis years before Trish signed with Bloomsbury. Everybody was so blown away by him. I was curious as to why, since the book hadn't even been released yet. Once I finally got my hands on the eGalley, I understood. Travis is just so...real. He got back from Afghanistan and he had some problems. Like most people would, he had a difficult time coming to terms with his PTSD. But he conqueres the problems he's faced with- which is what I loved about the story. He's also sweet and funny and raw. Travis is one of the best literary boys.

Anytime I interview an author who writes about a character that was in war, I always ask them if it was hard. i ask this because I couldn't imagine doing it. Trish Doller wrote about it so well. I admire her for how incredibly real the story felt. I was up until the wee hours of the morning reading. It was the first book in a long time that I read straight through.

I cannot reccomend Something Like Normal enough. I'm in love with every part of this books. It's one of the best books I've read so far this year.

FTC- NetGalley