The story of a small university town, .Yes it is the biographies of the townspeople but they are anything but ordinary.. They all have their stories to tell and secrets to tell. It was a fascinating read from beginning to enhd.

This is a quiet yet compelling book, following the lives of the Gruber family as the three daughters grow from toddlers to high schoolers in a small midwestern town. Told in vignettes in varying perspectives (sometimes one of the daughters, sometimes one of the parents), we watch these "ordinary" lives unfold in a series of "ordinary" events (moving, school, work, friends, illness, etc.). While nothing really dramatic happens here, the story is absorbing nonetheless - maybe because it feels like reading a biography of people you know (or people you were). I'm one of those people that's always curious about others, that reads the obituaries just to see what people did with their lives, so this book was right up my alley.

Thank you Nicole Dieker and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This is the story of the three Gruber sisters and their family following their lives from 1989 to 2000. This was an enjoyable read on a wet afternoon, that kept me interested and keen to read more. I look forward to following the sisters through their next years in volume 2.

The Biographies of Ordinary People is just that - a family saga told through the perspectives of ordinary people experience relatively ordinary life events. This novel is primarily character driven, my most favourite type of novel. Dieker does not need any extramarital affairs, murders, or crazy plot twists to deliver a satisfying and engrossing novel. A rare find these days. I also thoroughly enjoyed the times this novel is set in - I admit this is what drew me to the novel as I grew up during this time period, and Dieker did a fantastic job of capturing the culture. I look forward to the next edition.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for review.

This is a beautifully written novel following the life paths of an interesting family, full of tiny details that make up the fabric of their lives. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one

I really thought I would like this book. However, while it was good and the characters were developed well, it didn't seem to work for me. It felt like there was something missing.

I liked it well enough, but it wasn't a memorable novel for me. The characters are well developed and there is nothing I disliked, but there was little "oomph" for me personally. I think this is the type of book which will appeal to those of it's time exceptionally well, and fall a little flat for those outside of that bracket.

I anticipated an interesting read about "ordinary" people. What I got was a dry, plain novel telling the story of a family much like my own. As appealing as this sounds, I found myself quite bored many times. It's not a terrible novel, but just not my taste. Perhaps if you're looking for a read that doesn't require much brain power this is for you.

Oh...how I loved this book. Nicole Dieker has managed to capture a very specific time in the not to distant past. The three Gruber sisters are so familiar to me, as the younger sister of three older sisters and the older sister of one younger sister and a niece who felt like just as close.

Reading Meredith's thoughts and feelings felt like a glimpse of my own diary from ages 7 and up. The buzzy feeling of excitement, the joy of a best friend and the curious thoughts of something other than the life I was already living.

The style of the writing may not be enjoyable to some. It's kind of old fashioned...in the same way that A Tree Grows in Brooklyn or the Little House series is old fashioned, and that's probably why I liked it so much. I love those books and I loved reading those book.

I'm AMPED UP for volume 2 of this series. Who have these people become now?

Thanks to NetGalley, Nicole Dieker and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.