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ellezagna's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It wasn't horrible but I wasn't wowed by it. The writing style was engaging. There were times that the plot felt a little muddled. Overall a decent "beach read".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Animal death
lovins23's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Animal death
sega_genesis31's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Animal death, and Death of parent
torlee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, and Vomit
sammykat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A family drama with romance, mystery and sibling relationships. The book was fun and lighthearted despite some darker themes of prison, drugs, death, animal gore and the characters were interesting and had good depth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Animal death, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Violence
jekarlen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Vomit, and Domestic abuse
mrmarshall591's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a very fast paced book focused largely on healing and moving forward on an individual level (from the perspective of the narrator) and on a family level. I enjoyed it a lot with my favorite character being the cat.
There was one prevalent issue that has my rating at a 4 star and it is something that I noticed originally from another review when I was earlier in the book- but it would have become apparent on my own. Over 15 years ago Natalie’s siblings Lynn and Jake were sentenced to jail time as a result of illicit drug use which resulted in the death of their close friend. Natalie had been the person who called the cops both out of anger but also since Lynn really did hurt herself. The friend took his own life after realizing the cops were called.
Below this point has some minor spoilers.
Natalie is blamed for ALL of it. Even her mom does not talk to her for those 15 years, and her mom’s death is what leads to the premise of the book as she wants to bring the three siblings back together. Those sympathetic to her mention it having been an “honest mistake”. Everything is about forgiving Natalie, not addressing that even though she “rat” them out that she did not set them up for anything- they were adults who honestly had Natalie in a dangerous situation. Lynn and Jake later react incredulously when Natalie did not call the cops during a time when it was absolutely critical to, due to all of that trauma of last time she called.
While that did bother me, I really enjoyed the combination of drama, romance, nerdiness and a bit of mystery. It was a great read.
There was one prevalent issue that has my rating at a 4 star and it is something that I noticed originally from another review when I was earlier in the book- but it would have become apparent on my own. Over 15 years ago Natalie’s siblings Lynn and Jake were sentenced to jail time as a result of illicit drug use which resulted in the death of their close friend. Natalie had been the person who called the cops both out of anger but also since Lynn really did hurt herself. The friend took his own life after realizing the cops were called.
Below this point has some minor spoilers.
Natalie is blamed for ALL of it. Even her mom does not talk to her for those 15 years, and her mom’s death is what leads to the premise of the book as she wants to bring the three siblings back together. Those sympathetic to her mention it having been an “honest mistake”. Everything is about forgiving Natalie, not addressing that even though she “rat” them out that she did not set them up for anything- they were adults who honestly had Natalie in a dangerous situation. Lynn and Jake later react incredulously when Natalie did not call the cops during a time when it was absolutely critical to, due to all of that trauma of last time she called.
While that did bother me, I really enjoyed the combination of drama, romance, nerdiness and a bit of mystery. It was a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Stalking, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Excrement, Addiction, Blood, Grief, and Vomit
Minor: Confinement and Terminal illness
bean_7088's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this more than I thought I would.
People reconnecting and growing is a great trope.
I loved the relationship between Natalie and her nephew. It was very sweet.
There were a few annoying bits, the microscope miscommunication was annoying and I'm glad it didn't last too long.
Paul sucks. Allan extra sucks.
I did like the exploration of complicated family relationships.
People reconnecting and growing is a great trope.
I loved the relationship between Natalie and her nephew. It was very sweet.
There were a few annoying bits, the microscope miscommunication was annoying and I'm glad it didn't last too long.
Paul sucks. Allan extra sucks.
I did like the exploration of complicated family relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Animal death
Moderate: Death of parent
Book circles around the death of a parent and a past night of drug use leading to a death. 1 violent domestic abuse scene near the end of the book. Everyone is ok in the end. Oh, and the main character likes to sketch dead animals.erebus53's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I picked up this one as a Big Library Read book. Libby sets things up so there are unlimited library eCopies of the book to download digitally (including Audiobook versions). Looking at the cover I presumed it might be pretty corny, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I was surprised to find myself as the target audience. The main character is a woman who has been settling for much of her life and has never chased up on her passion projects. She has allowed her partner to belittle her efforts and has fallen into a rut where it is normal for him to be the controlling partner in her life. When 2 life changing influences coincidentally shake her life up, she is given the headspace to reassess what she is doing with her life.
The main character is someone who is interested in drawing biological specimens. I vibed with her whole habit of finding cool minibeasts or bits of broken animal and wanting to keep records of them. FOR SCIENCE! I deeply identified with the feeling of having others disgusted by the objects of your fascination, wanting to get pictures of dead birds' feet, and also the problem of having baby mantises accidentally hatch in your bedroom.. or.. all over your bedroom.
This is also a story of family reconciliation. Getting an estranged family back together again as part of a family bequest makes this an inheritance story with some cool twists. It's got a lot more trauma than I was expecting. The sister is a kick-ass goth who is a trained mortician. I think I can see a theme in the way this family works.
Didn't really expect it to be so focused on romance though. I found the development of friendships and relationships in the story so captivating that I forgot to stop the book.. and then found I had oopsed a 1-day-read. Uhm.. yes I quite liked this one.
I was surprised to find myself as the target audience. The main character is a woman who has been settling for much of her life and has never chased up on her passion projects. She has allowed her partner to belittle her efforts and has fallen into a rut where it is normal for him to be the controlling partner in her life. When 2 life changing influences coincidentally shake her life up, she is given the headspace to reassess what she is doing with her life.
The main character is someone who is interested in drawing biological specimens. I vibed with her whole habit of finding cool minibeasts or bits of broken animal and wanting to keep records of them. FOR SCIENCE! I deeply identified with the feeling of having others disgusted by the objects of your fascination, wanting to get pictures of dead birds' feet, and also the problem of having baby mantises accidentally hatch in your bedroom.. or.. all over your bedroom.
This is also a story of family reconciliation. Getting an estranged family back together again as part of a family bequest makes this an inheritance story with some cool twists. It's got a lot more trauma than I was expecting. The sister is a kick-ass goth who is a trained mortician. I think I can see a theme in the way this family works.
Didn't really expect it to be so focused on romance though. I found the development of friendships and relationships in the story so captivating that I forgot to stop the book.. and then found I had oopsed a 1-day-read. Uhm.. yes I quite liked this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Drug use, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Stalking, Terminal illness, and Cancer
Minor: Vomit
meganpbennett's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A Very Typical Family was chosen as the latest Big Library Read, and it looked interested, so I gave it a chance. It's realistic fiction, which is a genre I'm not usually a fan of, and it didn't change my mind. It was well-written, the characters were interesting, and the backstory involving the youngest sibling sending the brother and sister to prison is rather unique.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Abandonment, Grief, Physical abuse, Vomit, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent and Cancer