I’ve had this book on my shelf for awhile now so when NetGalley had the audiobook available I jumped at the chance since I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to fit it in! The setup is definitely unique with 3 parts of 3 distinctive POVs. While it is a good exploration of morality and ethics, I struggled through it. I didn’t really care for the religious undertones, any of the characters or the ending. I was also expecting more mystery/thrills/suspense and this was more character driven/character study. The narrators were amazing though. 3.5/5⭐️

Loved the audio of this book! There were 3 parts to this book and each part was a different persons POV, each person had their very own distinct voice which made the change in narrative easy to follow. The story was riveting and I could not get through it fast enough. Everyone’s different perspective gave some real depth to the story that I really enjoyed. Great book and great audio! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for accepting my request to audibly read and review A Nearly Normal Family.

Narrated by: Emily Watson; Georgia Maguire; Richard Armitage
Published: 06/25/19


First: Richard Armitage would be my choice if I could only have one male narrator for life. He was amazing. I look forward to hearing his other works. Next, as far as Watson and Maguire are concerned -- what a let down. The right publishing move was putting Armitage first, otherwise I would have truly considered DNFing. As much class as he brought, they took away. Was that the author's intent? I don't recall any of their previous works.

Second: I liked the story. I didn't like the narration which affected my final rating. Between the narration and the profanity, I would rate this 2.5 stars. Three is generous and the rounding up was for Armitage's performance and the smart ending.

Third: I enjoy clever, and found the ending to be just that. Well done Edvardsson. I didn't see it, feel it, or even have the ending in my realm of possibilities.

Heads Up: The story is told from the father, daughter, and mother's perspective. Overall, this isn't a bad book, and I would recommend the physical over the audio.

Stella is an eighteen year old who does not quite fit in with her family or classmates. She and her best friend spend their time as teens do and she begins an affair with an older man. When he turns up dead, the suspicion quickly falls to her. We follow the trial and all the events that lead up to it to find out what happened and who is truly guilty.

I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded with the different timelines and POVs. This story shows just how far people will go to protect the ones they love. It touches upon ethics and the impact of religion on this family’s choices. I did have an inkling how it was going to end up before it unravelled but I still enjoyed the ride.

This one has been on my shelf for ages, not sure why I left it so long. When I was approved on Netgalley for the audiobook, it rocketed back to the top of my list. I knew Richard Armitage would make for a fabulous narrator, and in fact all three were fabulous.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio for the gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the review copy of this audiobook.

Told in three part narration, the narrators, Emily Watson, Georgia Maguire, Richard Armitage were great!

Eighteen-year-old Stella is accused of the brutal murder of a man 14 years older than her. How does she know this older, shady, businessman? And why would she kill him? Stella’s father is a pastor, and her mother is a criminal defense attorney. How far will each of them go to protect their daughter?

Did she or didn't she? What happened? Right when you think you're about to get some answers, you're thrown into more of the story. This book was a definite 'page turner' for me. It kept me wanting to listen. I feel like it could have been shortened a bit. Yet, I also feel like every single extra detail of this story was needed.

The premise was intriguing and I liked the Swedish setting but at 50% I found the book repetitive and not interesting enough to finish.

I loved the various viewpoints that played throughout this book! I found the characters and relationships to be very relatable which always draws me in! I loved the ending as well.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"It takes a long time to build a life but only an instant for it to crumble."

"Is it not right to protect your family? Is it ever wrong?"

"Can you keep loving a murderer?"

"She's still my little girl."

Listening to the debut family legal drama thriller A Nearly Normal Family novel by introspective author M.T. Edvardsson I was left astounded by not only the twists and turns but how perfectly structured the writer crafted this story of a family thrown into a storm they were never prepared for but wound up weathering together.

Pastor Adam and his powerhouse lawyer wife Ulrika are stunned when they get the call that their 19 year old daughter has been arrested for a brutal murder. Slowly, methodically and emotionally the author breaks down how this supposedly nearly normal family got to this point telling their story from three very different points of view; the quiet yet protective father, the mama bear saving her daughter at all costs mother, and the accused angst ridden teen who only wants to escape her parents and her life.

Three people living in the same house with completely different life experiences was fascinating to hear. The always reliable Richard Armitage became Adam with his anger, fear and love of his baby girl. Award winning actress Emily Watson embodied the fierce legal minded take charge mother. Then there was the discovery of Georgia Maguire as the moody teen. When her whole story is revealed it changes everything about this "normal" family and their destined path.

This audiobook is proof to never give up on your TBR list. It took almost 4 years but I got to it. Is that normal? Who cares. Just like this story there's nothing normal in life. We do the best we can and love our kids unconditionally always.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from MacMillan Audio via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a fairly run of the mill thriller and I think that some of the nuance was lost in the translation, but overall it was interesting and kept me wanting to know what happened. The middle was definitely the best part.

*How far would you go to protect the ones you love? Eighteen-year-old Stella Sandell stands accused of the brutal murder of a man almost fifteen years her senior. She is an ordinary teenager from an upstanding local family. What reason could she have to know a shady businessman, let alone to kill him?*

I originally got about 10% through before I decided to DNF this just based on the religious undertones of the story. After about a week I went back and finished listening. It turned out the religious aspects weren't as prominent as the first few chapters had me to believe.
Pros: I enjoyed the short chapters, the story was unique and I really liked 2/3 of the narrators.
Cons: It really felt too long, the ending fell a little flat for me, and 1/3 of the narrators I really did not enjoy.

I would still recommend this audiobook, it just would not be one that I ever reached for again.
** ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I believe this book has been out for a few years but is just now getting released in audiobook format. I really enjoyed the three narrators that voiced the main characters parts! It really helped if I went to listen to remember who was speaking, although the mixed up chapters and order of events was a little confusing at first when listening. The story really hit home for me as I have an incredibly strong willed teenage daughter too and at times it scared me for the future. I really enjoyed this whole story and will be sure to recommend to anyone who likes legal dramas/thrillers/mysteries!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audio book in exchange for an honest review.

This was exceptionally narrated by Emily Watson, Georgia Maguire, and Richard Armitage! I really enjoyed hearing 3 different voices for the 3 different narrators of the story. This is actually a translation of a Swedish novel and unlike other translated books that I have read, its very well done and flows without any parts being lost in translation.

This is a slow burn, psychological thriller focused on court drama, morality & ethics, suspense and murder! There are 3 narrators, each has a part in telling the story using a timeline that skips around. It works and is very well done. We have Alex, the father who is a pastor of the Church of Sweden who is closest to his daughter and is having issues with some of her life choices. The mother, a criminal defense attorney, has been the absent parent but is now starting to mend her relationship with her daughter. Stella, an angsty teenaged daughter and her best friend, Mina.

The plot and character development is very well done. By the time I reached the climatic ending scenes, I could barely stand to finish!

Very well done and highly recommend!!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
What an interesting take on a legal thriller and how a murder can effect each family member. This was broken up into 3 parts and 3 POV's. The translation was great and I thought all the narrators did a fantastic job, but the narrator for Stella was amazing - it felt like I was listening to Juno Temple (Keeley in Ted Lasso) and I definitely enjoyed her POV the most overall.
This was definitely a slow burn with truth slowly being revealed over time. I appreciated the shorter chapters, especially as we got to the end. But, I did feel this was a bit dragged out and I felt it could've been shortened a bit.

When a man’s daughter is arrested for murder he must decide how far will he go to protector and weather the way he sees her is actually the way she is or could she actually be guilty of the murder. This book was so good and although the summary isn’t the best I want to say I absolutely love this book the narration it is set in another country that deals with everything a nearly normal family would deal with with one of them in custody for murder. I love the dad‘s relationship with the investigator how much he loved and wanted to protect his daughter and the answers he would not stop until he found this book is so good I know I said that I only mention it is set an another country because there is no way I could spell these names just know there’s a dad the detectives the daughter another woman end it all makes for an intriguing thrilling crime mystery. This was a great book and one I highly recommend. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This was GOOD! I loved reading the 3 different sections of this book (Dad, Daughter, Mother). Each section brought new insight to the story and kept me guessing and rethinking what I thought I knew. I would totally recommend it and I felt like it was a very fast read. I read almost all of it in the airport so it would be a great book for a flight or sitting on the beach.

What lengths would you go to to protect your family? When a murder conviction threatens to take a pastor's daughter from him, his morals are tested. This book shows how deep connections between family and friends go. If you're looking for an entertaining, wild ride that will get and keep your attention - this is it!

A Nearly Normal Family Audiobook
By M. T. Edvardsson
Narrated by Emily Watson; Georgia Maguire; Richard Armitage
Pub Date: 25 Jun 2019
Macmillan Audio
General Fiction (Adult)
Rating: 4.25/5

I had never read A Nearly Normal Family, which was first published in 2019. I was thrilled when I received the arc for the audiobook. An intriguing legal thriller, this audiobook is brought to life by the narrators. The plot is mind-blowing and totally unexpected!

In a small Swedish town, an 18-year-old girl is charged with the murder of a rich, young man. Three people tell the story: the girl's father, a pastor, the girl herself, and her mother, a lawyer. A Nearly Normal Family asks the tough question: How strong is your child's relationship with you? When it comes to protecting them, what would you do?

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sharing this incredible audiobook with me. I appreciate your kindness.

4 stars.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this audiobook! I truly enjoyed it. Fans of slow-burn legal suspense/mysteries, this one is for you.

As the title suggests, this book is about a family that seems perfect, but their mirage comes crashing down for their entire town to see. The story is told from the perspective of all three family members--the father (the town's pastor), the mother (a successful criminal defense lawyer), and their one daughter, Stella, a teen who is sick of trying to live up to her parents' expectations.

Shortly after Stella's 18th birthday, a 32-year-old businessman is found brutally murdered. The police's number one suspect? Stella. Her parents each now have to consider how far go to protect their daughter. Each has separate reasons for why they should not get involved: the father, a pastor, has a duty to remain honest (and he *knows* Stella wasn't at home during the time the murder occurred); the mother, a lawyer, could be disbarred for tampering with evidence or committing perjury. But, as the evidence stacks up against Stella and the trial date is set, her parents consider whether the risk is worth keeping their daughter out of prison.

I really enjoyed Edvardsson's writing style and the narrators. The only reason I took off a star was that I seriously disliked all three characters. The father has serious control issues, the mother only cares about her work, and Stella (at least at the beginning) was snotty (who wasn't as a teen, though?). However, as the book went on, I began to understand Stella and really empathized with her (especially once you get her POV). All three characters are unreliable narrators in their own way, but much of the missing context from one POV is filled in by another. Edvardsson masterfully weaved all three POVs beautifully. I don't think I fully appreciated that until I finished.

I could not get into this one for the life of me, I really tried but nothing was really happening. I didn't enjoy the narrators either. I had to stop at 42% unfortunately.

This was definitely uneven, with the strongest parts at the beginning and then at the end. It's hard to say more without giving away a twist or two.

Review copy provided by publisher.