Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

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

Review: 

This book was great! I love a good contemporary and this book was right up my alley. The story starts with Travis, a Marine that has just arrived from Afghanistan. Only he realizes that home doesn't feel like home anymore. His brother took his girlfriend and his car. His father is still judging his every move. How could that place feel like his home after everything he's seen?

As a protagonist Travis was one of the best that I have read about in a long time. He's funny and sarcastic, but at the same time he's going through a situation that you hope he gets through in one piece. You root for him to gain the strength he needs to face his troubles. Something else I really liked about Travis as a character is that you can relate easily to him.

When it comes to other characters I enjoyed them all. Harper was the perfect companion to Travis. She was spunky and was her own person. Even characters like Travis's Dad, who was a nightmare of a man, was a good character.

As for the plot it was perfect. I never suffered through boring moments. There isn't much I can say without raving about how amazing this book is. If you're looking for a great contemporary read pick this book up ASAP!

Grade:

A+