Am I Normal Yet? (The Normal Series #1)
by Holly Bourne
Publisher – Usborne
Release Date – August 1st 2015
Buy – Amazon | Book DepositoryAll Evie wants is to be normal. She’s almost off her meds and at a new college where no one knows her as the girl-who-went-crazy. She’s even going to parties and making friends. There’s only one thing left to tick off her list…
But relationships are messy – especially relationships with teenage guys. They can make any girl feel like they’re going mad. And if Evie can’t even tell her new friends Amber and Lottie the truth about herself, how will she cope when she falls in love?
Are you normal? What is normal? Is there a perfect specimen of humanity that is normal? Personally there isn’t such a thing as normal, what you are is YOU! Your normalcy is being who you are and being independent. It’s learning to love yourself for who you are. Your probably wondering where in the world did you get this epiphany from, I have two words for you – HOLLY BOURNE.
Evie wants to be normal. She wants to decrease her medication, have a first kiss, a boyfriend, and drink at parties. This is what normal is considered to be these days! Who knew, hey? But is it all that it’s cracked up to be. Evie suffers from extreme case of OCD, she has a tendency to ‘obstress‘ a lot. Love that word. Rationalising good thoughts and bad thoughts, breathing techniques, doing things out of her minds ordinary routine. But as Evie’s medication decreases, she thinks shes getting better when actually her thoughts are becoming and overwhelming her to a degree she cannot to control.
I really felt for Evie. Not in a pitying way, but in a ‘I can understand way’ I don’t have OCD or have gone through quite such an ordeal as Evie. But in a way I do think we have some sort of OCD, we have our quirks to our personality if you will, But what you saw also was inside her head, how she thinks, they way Holly writes and formats her work is just a pleasure to read. It’s an insight to the character’s minds unlike any other novel I’ve read. Although, I think maybe I’ve been living my life wrong when I was a teenager, but I guess as I grow up, generations and ideals change and that is what we are all trying to keep up with. But I also know that this is indeed very true too. The amount of it I see from the schools below me astounded me. How did it even come to this.
Whilst Evie has her battles she also has her friends, Her friend Jane, has totally has a personality transplant, all because of some guy in a band named Joel. Jane was there for her in the past, she would do and say all the right things to get her through the day. But now, Evie just feels alone, so she meets Amber and Lottie from college. Two very unique yet real characters, and together they band together to create The Spinster Club. A way to show that we don’t need to be dependent on people, objects, or boys that we should value the people in your life and be independent yourself. I have to say I’m not a huge feminist, I didn’t really know how far feminism ideals range, but Holly has inspired me how it can effect you but in different ways. I’d like to say that I’m a feminist and I believe in being who you are and being independent… what was it Amber said…
“Being a spinster means not altering who you are, but what you believe in….
That’s how it should be. Not just for feminism but for OCD and mental health. It’s being aware, it being who you are even if you have some unique quirks. Like the girls say you need to love yourself. This is how much this novel has presented itself to me in so many ways.
It has nothing to do with the fact I’m quoted inside. Absolutely nothing. Well maybe a little bit. But I wouldn’t be quoted in something so extraordinary if it wasn’t for Holly being a pure, real honest voice of YA. She is the future. For those who haven’t picked up her novels, you are missing out terribly. There is never something similar about her novels, they are different. Holly Bourne inspires to a wide spectrum of young adult novels.
Rating – 5
P.S. Please do keep an eye on this blog as I will have special news relating to this novel in the near future.
Glad you enjoyed this one so much, great review!
I actually haven't heard of this one at all so thanks for putting it on my radar, Emma! It speaks volumes that you loved it this much so I'll definitely be checking it out soon for sure! 🙂
Ooh this looks really good! I don't have OCD but I do get panic attacks, so it would be eye-opening learning about a different form of anxiety. Great review! 🙂
Sounds like one of those important ones that I should at least be aware of, if I can't get around to reading them 🙂 I hope to find the time. I really like the blend of themes you refer to in your review. Have a lovely weekend!
"Obstress" is definitely a word I'm going to use from now on! Definitely and accurately describes what I've been feeling latley, with regards to my wedding planning! Haha. I really like the son of this novel – very hearfelt and important, something others should read not to be immersed in a character's plight but to learn from them, too. Thank you for highlighting it, Emma!
Faye at The Social Potato
It's the first time I hear about this book but it sounds really interesting, I like the way the topic was handled. thanks for the review!
Like Melliane, this is the first I'm hearing of this book and I feel so out of the loop! I need more 5 star reads in my life Emma, so this is definitely something I need to read. And congrats on being quoted inside, that's so exciting!
Evie sounds great, and very easy to relate to! I also love when an author can make you feel for or understand a character so well despite not having a huge bunch in common with them. Great review 🙂
I love a book that actually does a GOOD job with mental illness. I don't think I've heard of this book until now, but it's definitely on my radar now.