Book Review: Something Like Normal by: Trish Doller

Goodreads Summary:  


When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.






My Review:

ReadingNook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Having some good friends that served in the army in Iraq/Afganistan, I knew I wanted to read this book, although it was a ficitonal take on the devastation that they had to deal with day in and day out, I feel like the episodes that Travis went through were very real to what veterens go through when they get home from such a tramatic experience.

I love that the book was told from Travis's perspective and not from an outsiders point of view. I loved Travis's character and I loved Harper as well, the only character I had a problem with was Travis's younger brother who point-blank was a selfish pain in the ass.

I think anyone who's had to say goodbye to someone overseas in the military will enjoy this book, and I think it's important to understand the trama that veterens go through upon coming home from the military. I don't think anyone can truly understand what they go through overseas fighting for their countries and their lives unless they've been there, but I felt like this was a good look into the life of someone post-war.