Very Nearly Normal sucks you in and then sucker punches you in the gut. It is a complex, emotional read that is intriguing and sweet in all the right places. The lead protagonist, Effie, has so many different levels and such a complexity she is easy to relate to and it's great to see her grow and mature as the storys goes on. Her character development is addictive and you can't help but cheer her on! A fantastic debut novel!

Arghhh this was so frustrating. It could have been a really great book - a sort of Eleanor Oliphant - but instead it misses the mark. It wouldn't have taken many rewrites to fix it (hence my frustration). It suffers from that classic problem of the main character not driving the action - other people keep solving her problems for her, and that's so unsatisfying for the reader. Because she doesn't fix her issues herself, the heroine remains unlikeable, and the hero comes off far too controlling (who phones their gf's boss to ask him if she can have time off??? I would be furious if my husband did this, let alone a guy I'd been seeing for a couple of weeks). There is a list of things the heroine has to do (not even written her her!) - which provides ample opportunity for character development, yet she rarely ticks off each by herself - others do it for her eg taking her on an unexpected hike, to a movie etc. Even the 'stop holding a grudge' item, which the character could have solved on her own, is solved by her friend turning up having had a terrible time, making it faaaaar too easy for the heroine to stop holding the grudge (yet again doing all the character development work for her). Such a shame. Could have been good.

I cried, I laughed and got angry. I was not prepared to be so emotionally invested in this one. A very good debut novel by Hannah Sunderland that I hope gets the attention it deserves!
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What I loved: Although I was so irritated at Effie and Theo from the moment I met them I came to care about them as well as other side characters like Arthur, Amy and Otis. I loved the fact them that they were real. From their sloppiness, their bad decisions to the details of everyday life when you wake up on a pillow with a pill of saliva on it, the microwave dinners, the intrusive and negative thoughts that can consume you; unapologetically raw. I also loved the references that correspond to my generation and the ‘about the author’ section which prepared me for a great read since it was on the first page of the book. It gave me a glimpse of the author’s quirkinesses and I was not dissapointed.
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What I disliked: No spoilers but I would have wanted to read a bit more about Theo if I were to nitpick the story.
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PS: I kindly received this ARC from #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#findyourseahorse

Very Nearly Normal by Hannah Sunderland a fulfilling five-star read. Just because its two broken people doesn’t make it right, this was a great story and I gave it five-stars but it didn’t always deserve it, there were bits that didn’t feel authentic and did drag a little but honestly overall it was very good. One main thing I will say about this story is when you start it if you find Effie to be someone that you cant abide keep reading, as she may not become someone you care about, but she will become someone that you can get behind. This is a story that will make you smile, it has some of the best one liners I have read for a long time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This was a quick, cute read and would make a great book club pick.
Although in the beginning the main character is pretty unlikable, she grows a lot as a person after Theo is introduced.
This book quickly takes you through a wide spectrum of emotions, and overall is a nice story.

I found the first third of this book hard going. Effie, the main character, begins by being quite unlikeable and I became irritated by her attitude to life and to others. However I realised this was intentional and throughout the book we see her begin to change and grow into a far more relatable and likeable person. By the end I was fully ‘Team Effie’ and was rooting for her happy ending. Being from Birmingham myself, I also enjoyed references to my hometown. A really good read that won’t leave you disappointed.
Thank you to netgalley, the authors and publisher for gifting me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This is a short read that I read in just one sitting.
This is my first read by this author but it definitely won’t be the last.
Likeable characters and an interesting plot. This is one that I have not been able to put down ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the perfect love story. Such a lovely little book. It’s been a while since I read a book this heartwarming.

The novel made me go through a range of emotions; some parts were funny, in some cases it broke my heart, and others made me feel all lovey dovey.

Effie had grown so much within this novel- she had the push she needed to finally be who she wanted to be, and became happy. When I thought this was over for the romance and it was going to be solely on this growth, I was happily mistaken and the story twisted yet again! But this time, I’m so glad it did, as it ended so beautifully 💕 A good view at what love truly is and how far you’d go for it; from both parts, as it does take a lot to do what they both did.

I loved this book so much. I have recently had trouble getting into books but had no such issues with this one. I really felt an affinity with Effie and could see why she was the way she was. Some times i found it difficult to read of her excessive use of alcohol but i felt she was a character with so many levels.

I loved all of the other characters and the way they stood by her - especially Arthur and Caleb - and helped her change her life around

I wasn't as keen on Theo - he seemed ok at first but I didnt really like him all that much - maybe felt he had a bit of a chip on his shoulder but that is not a criticism of the writing. I think he was meant to be that way.

This book made me want to make my life more meaningful, to help other people and get the most out of life while i was able to .

An EXCELLENT read. Thank you so much

At first this book was tough to read as Effie refused to take responsibility for her own happiness and instead blamed others. However, meeting Theo and taking on the list head on made Effie realize she can do anything. Most importantly, she started loving herself and as a result opened herself to true love. Anything including physical illness will not stand in the way of a forever relationship.

This book was really sweet, and a truly enjoyable read! I was drawn in by the seahorses on the cover, and I was glad that they brought in why seahorses are romantic than lobsters (read it, it will make more sense).

Honestly, Effie was a bit annoying at first. But, as her character developed, she really grew on me. She starts out being a wreck, and it's great seeing her mature as the story unfolds.

Theo really does end up being Effie's seahorse. They're great together. I loved that he supported Effie and helped her to become a better version of herself. And she is there for him, too.

The secondary characters are also great. I love the friends Effie makes on the way, and especially her bookstore co-workers. They added a lot of fun to the story.

Overall a great read! I would recommend to friends who enjoy romance novels.

Very Nearly Normal is a fantastic debut novel from Hannah Sunderland. It was heartwrenching and real, and I really felt for the characters. Certain parts (i.e. Effie's alcoholism and explanations/excuses of her drinking) were hard to read, but the rest of the story makes up for it, and Effie's bad qualities round her out and make her seem more realistic.

I had a hard time getting started on the book because I just did not find Effie likable - but once I made it a few chapters in, I was hooked and finished it in one sitting. Effie's character development is fantastic. The relationship between her and Theo is beautifully written, at times heartbreaking, and made me tear up more than once. But the story is about more than that relationship - it's about Effie and Theo's lives, and the way they change each other.

I loved this book and will be recommending it to many people. Hannah Sunderland's writing is reminiscent of Jojo Moyes (another of my favorite authors) and I can't wait to see what's next from her!

This book was great! I absolutely loved how Sunderland weaved the story and was able to surprise me with how the story went. I think this is the perfect book for a bookclub and will be recommending this to the book clubs in our library. I think this could be a very popular summer read!

Finished this one over a few days. Theo and Effie were interesting characters and I loved their interactions and chemistry. The secret was heavy but I liked how the author resolved things. I also liked the writing style as well. Overall a really good debut novel.

A wonderful debut a book I read in one sitting.Emotional moving characters that come alive.with an ending that surprised moved me.Looking forward to more by this author.#netgalley#avonbooksuk,

I have absolutely devoured this book, I couldn't put it down. I loved Effie. Such a brilliant character. She's so real. She's so full of anger and self hatred. She's her own worst enemy. I felt like I really shouldn't like her but I did.
When I started reading I was pretty sure I knew where the story was going. I didn't. Books in this sort of genre often seem written by numbers. This one mixed those numbers up.
It was surprising and warm and funny.
I hope the author is working on book number two.

A great read with interesting characters. At the beginning I found Effie a bit annoying and wondered what Theo saw in him. She was more likeable as a character as the book progressed and you understood her a bit more.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Really good debut novel which was easy to read, great characters and a nice storyline. I enjoyed it.

“Very Nearly Normal”, by Hannah Sunderland (Avon), features two broken people, gives a sometimes hard to read account of alcoholism and provides a beautiful depiction of pain and longing that come when a love relationship ends.
Theo, our wounded hero, is just fine, handsome, as mysterious as his wound (which is very original and painful, and totally surprised me). Effie, the heroine is not very likeable – but that even makes her interesting - but as the story progresses becomes more relatable. Having her pinning for Theo later is a wonderful process to read.
There are a lot of interesting secondary characters and relationships that make the story enjoyable. Perhaps the story dragged a little in some parts or I would have liked to have seen more of Theo.
The recovery from alcoholism was fictionally convincing but in felt a bit unlikely without specialized help in the real world.
The longing, the pain of heartbreak was really well written. I would say the same about the drinking problem, but this dimension was hard to read.