As ever with Whitney Dineen books this was hugely enjoyable and simple to follow. Her books provide a wonderful escape from daily life and have you laughing out loud. As with all her other books this is wonderfully told and worth carry on with!

This was not what I expected coming in. I was expecting more of a Rom-com. Which in some aspects it was. But, it was also quite a “coming of age” in some ways. Cat found herself and her happiness. It was a good read.

3.5 stars

Cat is bringing her fiance Ethan and his parents to her hometown over Thanksgiving to meet her family for the first time.

Her parents, grandmother, and brother are quirky and eccentric, but loving and kind. Ethan and his family are more serious and reserved, so things do not go smoothly. Really, though, that's just the beginning of Cat's story.

Cat's family, especially her grandmother, are endearing. The kind of people you can't help but love even when they are driving you a little crazy.

I liked that the blurb doesn't give away the whole story, and that it doesn't end with Thanksgiving. For the most part I enjoyed Cat trying to figure out what her next steps in life should be. However, the book did feel a bit too long and slightly repetitive in a couple spots. I am looking forward to reading the next book, though!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an Arc!

I literally red this in one sitting! Once you start you don't want to stop, if you love funny books, this is one for you! I look forward to reading more from this author.

This was the first novel I have read by this author. I love novels that make you laugh and this novel did some of the time. Sometimes my heart hurt for Cat and the way her family treated her. Once I started reading I did not want to stop.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading other books by this great author.

Romantic comedies full of witty humor are one of my favorite genres. So I was quite interested in reading this book. Added to that, the cover’s pretty clever. I’ve never read a book by Whitney Dineen but the title and the blurb both intrigued me into giving this book a try.

First of all, the writing was quite fun and witty to read. Catriona (I love that name by the way) was a remarkable character, with a dry sense of humor that I enjoyed a lot, especially when she described her family.

Talk about families from hell lol. Her family was absolutely bonkers. They were super funny with all those idiosyncrasies and their schemes. I found myself laughing a lot at those scenes.

The plot line was compelling enough to keep me reading and the writing style with sensitive moments that weren’t sappy emotional but just that right combination of sincerity and seriousness made this book a fun story to read. The only complaint I have is that the hero didn’t suffer as much compared to how deeply Catriona had been affected. Other than that, this book was a pretty easy read with plenty of funny scenes.

I'm on the fence about Relatively Normal. Obviously, the title is ironic. In some ways I liked the story. Some moments were funny. Some of the weirdness was entertaining. The story is lively and fun. In some ways I disliked the story. Many funny moments were flat. Some quirkiness just became annoying. At times, the story seemed to be trying too hard to be eccentric when it wasn't necessary. I'm just in the middle. It's okay but not fantastic. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Relatively Normal by Whitney Dineen is a lovely and heartwarming story about starting fresh in old places.

When Cat decides to get married, she realizes she has to introduce her fiance to her parents. To say that her family members are quirky and eccentric would be an understatement. To say that her fiance is cautious and judicious would be too mild. While she tries to join together her two worlds her family has other ideas. They invite Cat's ex boyfriend, the guy who broke her heart to thanksgiving dinner since they believe her fiance is not right for her.
Catastrophe happens and sparks and high emotions are flying everywhere. It is up to Cat to see who is the right man for her and if her family is as bad as she thinks.

Light and entertaining book about our roots and whether we can run away from them, This is a story about accepting our family and friends as they are and loving them nonetheless.
Well written story with many laugh out loud moments, lovable and outright crazy characters they will stay with readers for a long time.

What a heartwarming experience! It takes a while to find yourself, but it's fortunate when it happens before it's too late!

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Here's what I was hoping for, based on the summary:
- family drama
- hilarity
- a parental meet-cute that leads to minor misunderstandings, a few bumps in the road, and a happy ending
- a lighthearted read

Here's what I got:
- family drama...but like weird
- I don't think I laughed out loud once
- a whole cast of characters that don't fit together and seemed destined not to
- an angsty, weird read

I would have given this 2.5 stars if I could but I recognize that it's not entirely the author's fault that I was expecting something different. I'm like Catriona in that I like the homecoming/finding home/weird family trope. But I've read better. This story was too predictable. From the moment Catriona and Ethan arrived at her parents' house, I could tell the direction things were going to go. It made Catriona's waffling annoying instead of driving the plot forward. The emotional moments lacked depth and punch; I read them but didn't feel them.

There were surprises that were predictable and there were surprises that seemed gratuitous. It almost felt like a competition of who-can-be-weirder. There were commas in spots they had no business being in. I don't know where the hilarity is hiding that other reviewers have mentioned. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

This was fun, in an outrageous rom com type of way. And when I say outrageous, I do mean outrageous. The twists and turns that happen in the last half are pretty wild and unexpected.

I enjoyed the cast of characters, especially Cat's eccentric family. They were all interesting in their oddities. Cat herself was the normal in it all, though it was odd that she was oblivious to so much. The characters were mostly a vibrant array of colors, with Cat the neutral color tying them together.

The first half is a bit slow, and then the second half feels like it goes by very quickly. I didn't get a lot of chemistry between any part of the triangle, which was disappointing. The way Ethan went from stick in the mud with no real personality to hypersensitive emotional person bothered me and felt very forced. I found myself wanting more of everything a bit, especially Cat & Sam, and Cat & her friends. Her Nan was the best part of the whole thing, by far.

All in all, a fun and light read. Very much like a Hallmark holiday movie.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet, sexy romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

ARC received for an honest review.

This was much cuter and easier to read than I'd anticipated. It's always hard to know what to expect from a book billed as "funny." And while I didn't laugh out loud while reading this I did thoroughly enjoy myself.

This book is something of a romance, but more of a journey. Our heroine is one place - mentally and physically - and she needs to be some place else. There's no steam, a funny grandma, and mice wearing kilts. Honestly, I think that pretty much sums this up.

It could easily be read in one sitting, and I would have given it 4 stars had the timeline been different. I just thought things happened too quickly. Overall it's mostly a 4 star read. If you're in the mood for something light with a holiday vibe I can definitely recommend this easy little book.

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It has been a while since I have read a Whitney Dineen story and I was happy to grab this copy, it was hilarious and in true Dineen fashion splendidly silly. Grab a copy of crazy family and trying to stay relatively normal. So if you need a pick me up this is it...Enjoy!

This book is a fun and easy read and well written. It had me hooked from the first chapter. It is a laugh out holiday story about family, finding out where you belong.
Thanks to 33 Partners Publishing and Netgalley for a advance copy in exchange for and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn't like this book much. That doesn't mean it's a bad book or anything it just didn't work for me. It was supposed to be funny and I didn't find it funny at all. And to enjoy a book you have to like or at least appreciate the characters - sadly I wasn't fond of any of them. At least not any of the main characters. And I didn't find Cat's family endearing or quirky or funny. I found them weird (but not in a good way), insensitive (I mean who keep's in touch with their daughter's/granddaughter's ex boyfriend who dumped her suddenly after they made all the plans for their future together but doesn't try to keep in regular touch with said daughter) and rude, very rude. And on top of that, the first half of the book feauters one of my most hated tropes ever, a love triangle. If I'd known about it I'd never even start this book. But not all was bad, hence the 2 stars and not 1. The writing was good and fluid and kept me reading along right to the end. So that's something.

I received a copy of Relatively Normal by Whitney Dineen from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first novel by Whitney Dineen that I have read, but I was quickly hooked on her writing style and engaged until the final page. She made a challenging situation into a fun plot device and her novel had everything - humor, cringe-worthy moments, drama from family dynamics, and romance. Even with everything, she still managed to move the plot along with relatable main characters, and keep it light so the pages flew by until the end.

It was a fun book to curl up by the fire on a cold winter day. I would read a future novel by Whitney Dineen without hesitation.

It’s that time of year when you look around at your assembled family during your holiday party and decide they look Relatively Normal. At least they will, after you read this laugh-out-loud book.

Cat runs an event planning company in New York City. She meets and becomes engaged to Ethan, an actuary. Ethan is a planner. After Ethan and Cat are engaged and living together for two years, he insists on their two families celebrating Thanksgiving together at Cat’s family farm in rural Illinois.

Cat doesn’t know to explain her family to Ethan. Her mom collects obscure household goods like shortbread pans and various cozies. Cat’s dad is staunchly Scottish. He plays the bagpipes badly and dresses up stuffed mice as Scottish heroes. Her grandmother, Nan, says whatever she thinks. Unfortunately, she is usually thinking with a sailor’s vocabulary due to numerous small strokes. Cat’s brother, Travis, is a 29-year-old clown college dropout living in his parent’s basement.

When Cat, Ethan and his parents get to the farm all hell breaks loose. Cat’s dad has invited Cat’s high school boyfriend and former love of her life, Sam, and his parents. Unfortunately, Dad forgot to mention Cat’s engagement.

The absurdity of the Scottish Thanksgiving dinner is hilarious. Cat’s family never lie so they don’t hesitate to tell her Ethan isn’t her perfect match. When a medical emergency occurs, Cat contemplates her relationship with Ethan and her still fiery feelings for Sam, a feeling that Sam shares.

Relatively Normal starts as a superb farce. When the romance begins to heat up between Cat and Sam, Cat must decide what is important for her. The characters are so believable. You’re rooting for them to make the best decisions and live happily ever after. I recommend this book both to fans of zany humor and non-explicit romance. If you like the Stephanie Plum series, you will also like Relatively Normal. 4 stars!

Thanks to 33 Partners Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Catriona is from a wild and crazy family. Their idiosyncrasies make her terrified to bring her very orderly and regimented fiancé, Ethan, home to meet them. In fact, she's put it off as long as she possibly can. When Cat gets Ethan's family and hers in the same place, the hilarity begins. But when Cat comes face to face with Sam, the man who broke her heart 14 years ago, the madcap antics ratchet up another notch. The only question is who will be left in tears?

I love that Catriona has a conscience and a kindness about her. She is extremely likable, and earnestly tries to do the right thing. Her family is funny, warm, and over the top--in fact, I felt like one of them by the end. The entire story is wonderfully told. It takes Cat a little longer to make a major decision than I would have anticipated, but this story and the struggle are truly well explored.