Reviews

A Nearly Normal Family: A Novel by M.T. Edvardsson

i_attri_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

meganmonique's review against another edition

3.0

When 18 year old Stella Sandell is accused of the brutal murder of a prominent businessman, her family is thrown into a series of events that make them question everything they thought they knew about their life. Her father, a pastor, and her mother, a criminal defense attorney, find their moral compasses tested as they explore just how far they will go to protect their daughter...

This story is told in three parts, with each part following one of the family members as they navigate the situation. I thought the structure worked really well, with each section slowly revealing more and making me question everything. The premise of the book was so interesting, but the pacing in the beginning was off, and I had a hard time really getting into it at first. Overall, I’m glad I stuck with it for that ending!

mattrw88's review against another edition

4.0

4 Stars

constance23's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring tense 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

vickysbooknook's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

theatretenor's review against another edition

5.0

God damn. I loved this book. Thought it was a taut, gripping, psychological family drama thriller. Is that enough adjectives? Lol. I’d recommend this book to anyone. 400 pages flew by.

scknitter's review against another edition

5.0

The Sandells seem like a perfectly normal family. They even would say they were if asked. But, what really is normal? Stella is 17. She has always been her own person and rarely conformed to what others thought she should do. But, even those that thought she was strong willed and stubborn didn’t believe she could kill someone and yet she is in remand for killing a 33 year old man that she allegedly had an affair with. Her father, Adam, is a pastor and he knows that his strong beliefs and his desire for Stella to be the person he thinks she should be has driven a wedge between them. Ulrika is a very successful lawyer who has let her job take precedent over trying to forge a meaningful relationship with her daughter. Amina is Stella’s best friend and has been since they were youngsters. She seems to be the only one who truly understands Stella and the only one Stella really cares about. But, has that all changed?
The story begins with Stella on trial for murder and her father about to testify. It is told from 3 points of view, Adam’s, Ulrika’s and Stella’s. As each tells their story they reveal things about themselves that help us understand who they are and why each is doing what he or she is doing. They each separately decide to do what needs to be done to save their family and friendship but will it work or will it backfire terribly? This is a compulsive, totally addictive psychological thriller, legal thriller and intense family drama all rolled into one.

constantreader_mh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ancientdaisy_xx3's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.0

theycallmeterri's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

4.0