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marceelf's review against another edition
4.0
http://www.anurseandabook.com/2016/02/no-ordinary-life-by-suzanne-redfern.html
I finished this book in one day, it was pretty compulsively readable. Why? I have no idea.
Faye was the worst character. She literally just sat back and let everyone do whatever they wanted, to her and her children. I don't usually care too much what people do with their own lives, but when you aren't a tiger mom for your kids, that's when you lose me.
Faye has been abandoned months before by her long distance truck driver husband, but she hasn't done anything about it. She's not working, not paying the bills, not doing too much, so she ends up having to move to L.A. to live with her mom.
As she attempts to get a waitressing job, her four year old daughter is "discovered" by an agent. Suddenly, they are making a Gap commercial and spending the money. This leads to a part on a family television show. Faye isn't sure if she wants this, but she knows she needs the money, so after a few minutes of angst, she just goes along with the plan.
Faye says, "There are those who lead their lives, and those whose lives lead them, and I am the latter....". That is the perfect description of Faye's life, which drove me crazy! I wanted her to stand up and get it together as her family kept falling apart.
Then her son becomes involved in the show, which is a blessing for him, as he has been suffering from selective mutism. But as things get worse and worse with Faye's older daughter, and her ex-husband comes back into town looking for a big payday, Faye can't decide anymore if she wants this or not.
I think that is the thing about her that made me the craziest, it was back and forth all of the time.
SPOILER ALERT!!
The ending with her husband didn't seem very real - one minute he's saying he's back and she better get used to it because that money is his, and then he makes an abrupt about face and does the right (?) thing and walks away from the kids and money. That didn't make much sense.
I also didn't agree with how she got her daughter off the show. Making a very public accusation that a writer on a children's show is a pedophile, even when you know for a fact that it's not true, but you edit film to make it look like he's pulling a girl's shirt up instead of trying to pull it down, that's pretty low. His wife leaves him, the whole world thinks he's a child molester, and this doesn't seem to bother Faye at all. This is the woman who offers her missing husband apple pie because she knows it will make him happy, and she's suddenly so ruthless that she can ruin an innocent man's life.
And she doesn't consider how this will impact her son, who has only had positive experiences on the show. I'm just not buying it.
But none of this stopped me from staying up late to finish this book!! I couldn't put it down!
I finished this book in one day, it was pretty compulsively readable. Why? I have no idea.
Faye was the worst character. She literally just sat back and let everyone do whatever they wanted, to her and her children. I don't usually care too much what people do with their own lives, but when you aren't a tiger mom for your kids, that's when you lose me.
Faye has been abandoned months before by her long distance truck driver husband, but she hasn't done anything about it. She's not working, not paying the bills, not doing too much, so she ends up having to move to L.A. to live with her mom.
As she attempts to get a waitressing job, her four year old daughter is "discovered" by an agent. Suddenly, they are making a Gap commercial and spending the money. This leads to a part on a family television show. Faye isn't sure if she wants this, but she knows she needs the money, so after a few minutes of angst, she just goes along with the plan.
Faye says, "There are those who lead their lives, and those whose lives lead them, and I am the latter....". That is the perfect description of Faye's life, which drove me crazy! I wanted her to stand up and get it together as her family kept falling apart.
Then her son becomes involved in the show, which is a blessing for him, as he has been suffering from selective mutism. But as things get worse and worse with Faye's older daughter, and her ex-husband comes back into town looking for a big payday, Faye can't decide anymore if she wants this or not.
I think that is the thing about her that made me the craziest, it was back and forth all of the time.
SPOILER ALERT!!
The ending with her husband didn't seem very real - one minute he's saying he's back and she better get used to it because that money is his, and then he makes an abrupt about face and does the right (?) thing and walks away from the kids and money. That didn't make much sense.
I also didn't agree with how she got her daughter off the show. Making a very public accusation that a writer on a children's show is a pedophile, even when you know for a fact that it's not true, but you edit film to make it look like he's pulling a girl's shirt up instead of trying to pull it down, that's pretty low. His wife leaves him, the whole world thinks he's a child molester, and this doesn't seem to bother Faye at all. This is the woman who offers her missing husband apple pie because she knows it will make him happy, and she's suddenly so ruthless that she can ruin an innocent man's life.
And she doesn't consider how this will impact her son, who has only had positive experiences on the show. I'm just not buying it.
But none of this stopped me from staying up late to finish this book!! I couldn't put it down!
karenleagermain's review against another edition
4.0
Thank You to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of Suzanne Redfearn's novel, No Ordinary Life, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- Estranged from her husband and struggling to make ends meet, Faye Martin decides to move away from the quite countryside to live with her mother in Los Angeles. Faye's family is forever changed, when her precocious four year old, Molly, stars in a viral Youtube video, and is discovered by a Hollywood agent. Soon, Molly is the latest child actor sensation, landing a plum role on a hit show. Can the Martin family cope with Molly's fame?
LIKE- One of the major strengths in No Ordinary Life, is Redfearns ability to create realistic and sympathetic characters. It's the type of novel, where I found myself wondering how I would react if I were in their shoes; like Faye, the mother trying to do the best for her family, or Emily, the eldest sibling who struggles to fit in at her new school and envies the fame of her younger sister. Most sympathetic, might be Molly, a little kid, who just wants to be a kid, not a brand. No Ordinary Life is loaded with cringe worthy moments and parental mistakes, but none strike a false note, keeping this tale of Hollywood excess rooted in reality.
From an entertainment standpoint, Redfearn grabbed me with her behind the scenes look at the industry. It's evident that she either has personal experience or has spent plenty of time researching the "ins and outs" of child actors and television productions. I found it fascinating.
DISLIKE- The only off-beat storyline was Faye's romance with Griff, a former child actor turned director of photography. There were too many moments where Faye was distant or did something to upset Griff, all of which Griff seemed to easily forgive. The back and forth eclipsed the moments where they had true passion and connected. I don't even remember the connection, it did not make an impact in the greater story. Griff and his protectiveness over Molly worked for me, but his relationship with Faye, did not. To be fair, Redfearn has written such a compelling family drama, with each person in the Martin family having a strong dilemma, that they overshadowed the romance storyline.
RECOMMEND- Yes. No Ordinary Life is a quick, engrossing read. It's perfect for anyone who has a fascination with Hollywood and celebrity, but also for those who like family dramas. The vibe of this book is summer-beach read, which was appreciated as I read it during a rainy, weekend in January.
PLOT- Estranged from her husband and struggling to make ends meet, Faye Martin decides to move away from the quite countryside to live with her mother in Los Angeles. Faye's family is forever changed, when her precocious four year old, Molly, stars in a viral Youtube video, and is discovered by a Hollywood agent. Soon, Molly is the latest child actor sensation, landing a plum role on a hit show. Can the Martin family cope with Molly's fame?
LIKE- One of the major strengths in No Ordinary Life, is Redfearns ability to create realistic and sympathetic characters. It's the type of novel, where I found myself wondering how I would react if I were in their shoes; like Faye, the mother trying to do the best for her family, or Emily, the eldest sibling who struggles to fit in at her new school and envies the fame of her younger sister. Most sympathetic, might be Molly, a little kid, who just wants to be a kid, not a brand. No Ordinary Life is loaded with cringe worthy moments and parental mistakes, but none strike a false note, keeping this tale of Hollywood excess rooted in reality.
From an entertainment standpoint, Redfearn grabbed me with her behind the scenes look at the industry. It's evident that she either has personal experience or has spent plenty of time researching the "ins and outs" of child actors and television productions. I found it fascinating.
DISLIKE- The only off-beat storyline was Faye's romance with Griff, a former child actor turned director of photography. There were too many moments where Faye was distant or did something to upset Griff, all of which Griff seemed to easily forgive. The back and forth eclipsed the moments where they had true passion and connected. I don't even remember the connection, it did not make an impact in the greater story. Griff and his protectiveness over Molly worked for me, but his relationship with Faye, did not. To be fair, Redfearn has written such a compelling family drama, with each person in the Martin family having a strong dilemma, that they overshadowed the romance storyline.
RECOMMEND- Yes. No Ordinary Life is a quick, engrossing read. It's perfect for anyone who has a fascination with Hollywood and celebrity, but also for those who like family dramas. The vibe of this book is summer-beach read, which was appreciated as I read it during a rainy, weekend in January.
heatheradoresbooks's review against another edition
2.0
2⭐
Genre ~ family fiction
Setting ~ Hollywood
Publication date ~ December 8, 2019
Page Count ~ 365 (103 chapters)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 48 minutes
Narrator ~ Whitney Dykhouse
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ single mom, child r@pe, short chapters
*older read mini review*
Faye is a single mother of 3. When her 4 year old daughter, Molly, gets discovered they're off to make money and get them out of a financial hole her husband left them in.
I was not a fan of this one. It does give a good look at what it's like for children that grow up in the biz, but it's really sad how Faye let her 4 year old do things she wasn't comfortable with.
12 year old, Emily, is feeling left out and rebelling. She's sneaking out and getting drunk. She is r@ped and it was not handled properly at all. At least Faye finally realizes she needs to get her act together, but too little too late IMO.
Yay for short chapters, though!
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ family fiction
Setting ~ Hollywood
Publication date ~ December 8, 2019
Page Count ~ 365 (103 chapters)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 48 minutes
Narrator ~ Whitney Dykhouse
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ single mom, child r@pe, short chapters
*older read mini review*
Faye is a single mother of 3. When her 4 year old daughter, Molly, gets discovered they're off to make money and get them out of a financial hole her husband left them in.
I was not a fan of this one. It does give a good look at what it's like for children that grow up in the biz, but it's really sad how Faye let her 4 year old do things she wasn't comfortable with.
12 year old, Emily, is feeling left out and rebelling. She's sneaking out and getting drunk. She is r@ped and it was not handled properly at all. At least Faye finally realizes she needs to get her act together, but too little too late IMO.
Yay for short chapters, though!
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
t1dmama's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
5.0
Suzanne Redfearn is very quickly becoming an absolute favorite author of mine! She knows how to write matters of the heart so eloquently and with such grace!
This story was so heartwarming and you can't help but fall in love with Molly! Faye has such a determination and drive to protect her children and provide the best life for them, and sometimes that brings her decisions into question!
I honestly don't think there's a single thing I didn't love about this book, other than maybe Faye's ability to beat herself up and question her own judgment (but don't all mother's do that) so in a way, the book is close to real-life!
I really felt like I could vividly picture exactly what was going on at all points throughout this book, which I absolutely LOVED!
No Ordinary Life was narrated by Whitney Dykhouse, and let me just tell you, I think this was her performance of a lifetime! The way she was able to seamlessly switch between Molly, a four year old little girl, and the other characters, was commendable! Stellar performance!
Overall, this book only reaffirms my love for all things Suzanne Redfearn and just means that I need to go out and finish everything else she's ever written, like pronto!
This story was so heartwarming and you can't help but fall in love with Molly! Faye has such a determination and drive to protect her children and provide the best life for them, and sometimes that brings her decisions into question!
I honestly don't think there's a single thing I didn't love about this book, other than maybe Faye's ability to beat herself up and question her own judgment (but don't all mother's do that) so in a way, the book is close to real-life!
I really felt like I could vividly picture exactly what was going on at all points throughout this book, which I absolutely LOVED!
No Ordinary Life was narrated by Whitney Dykhouse, and let me just tell you, I think this was her performance of a lifetime! The way she was able to seamlessly switch between Molly, a four year old little girl, and the other characters, was commendable! Stellar performance!
Overall, this book only reaffirms my love for all things Suzanne Redfearn and just means that I need to go out and finish everything else she's ever written, like pronto!
hippiechick56's review against another edition
2.0
It was too long and every awful thing about child stars and those around them was thrown in to fatten the story.
byashleylamar's review against another edition
3.0
No Ordinary Life by Suzanne Redfearn is not the kind of book I would normally give a second glance. It’s contemporary fiction. It’s about a woman and her children. It’s set in Hollywood. It’s total chick lit and, not that I’m a book snob, but it’s just not the kind of book I read.
…but I’m so glad I read it.
Things have been stressful lately. At work we have had a couple of new hires to train and new projects have come down with a high priority. At home, we have decided to begin pursuing adoption (see that story here) and there’s been a lot happening. I needed reading to be a respite from the crazy and be something frivolous to indulge in when I curled up in my pj’s, with my puppies, to wind down in the evening. No Ordinary Life is perfect for those evenings.
It was dramatic in the way that The Bachelor is dramatic. There is some drama for the sheer sake of drama. There are characters you love, and others you loathe. There’s always that one slimy character you just want to reach through the pages (or the tv screen) and slap silly. There’s the really sweet character that you keep rooting for only to see them be trampled on again and again. Oh, and let’s not forget the child that feels overshadowed by a sibling and rebels for attention. It’s cliche and predictable, but in a fun guilty pleasure kind of way.
It kind of reminded me of a modern-day dysfunctional Shirley Temple and family. Cute…but good Lord…the Hollywood drama!
Despite how fun the book is to read, it’s also clear that Redfearn had a message she wanted to share in No Ordinary Life. I don’t know if she has ever had any personal connection to Hollywood and child stars or if she just did a lot of research in to the matter but she gives a great depiction of what could go wrong as these children grow up and fall in to the pressure and demanding schedules of life in Hollywood. There is marital strife, financial indulgences, exhaustion, pressure to conform, pressure to do “whatever it takes” to make it to the top, and a lot of other ugliness that just feels way too plausible.
It’s an easy read and one that I, surprisingly, enjoyed.
…but I’m so glad I read it.
Things have been stressful lately. At work we have had a couple of new hires to train and new projects have come down with a high priority. At home, we have decided to begin pursuing adoption (see that story here) and there’s been a lot happening. I needed reading to be a respite from the crazy and be something frivolous to indulge in when I curled up in my pj’s, with my puppies, to wind down in the evening. No Ordinary Life is perfect for those evenings.
It was dramatic in the way that The Bachelor is dramatic. There is some drama for the sheer sake of drama. There are characters you love, and others you loathe. There’s always that one slimy character you just want to reach through the pages (or the tv screen) and slap silly. There’s the really sweet character that you keep rooting for only to see them be trampled on again and again. Oh, and let’s not forget the child that feels overshadowed by a sibling and rebels for attention. It’s cliche and predictable, but in a fun guilty pleasure kind of way.
It kind of reminded me of a modern-day dysfunctional Shirley Temple and family. Cute…but good Lord…the Hollywood drama!
Despite how fun the book is to read, it’s also clear that Redfearn had a message she wanted to share in No Ordinary Life. I don’t know if she has ever had any personal connection to Hollywood and child stars or if she just did a lot of research in to the matter but she gives a great depiction of what could go wrong as these children grow up and fall in to the pressure and demanding schedules of life in Hollywood. There is marital strife, financial indulgences, exhaustion, pressure to conform, pressure to do “whatever it takes” to make it to the top, and a lot of other ugliness that just feels way too plausible.
It’s an easy read and one that I, surprisingly, enjoyed.
mrssaints0514's review against another edition
3.0
The story sucked me in right away. I was invested in the characters and wanting to see how everything played out. I feel like towards the end of the book the characters acted in ways that didn't really fit. It was an easy read and an interesting story.
sjj169's review against another edition
4.0
Faye's husband has left for a 'road trip' and hasn't shown back up. Leaving her with three young children to raise with little money. She decides to move to LA and move in with her mother.
Then while job hunting one day her youngest daughter gets caught dancing and uploaded to YouTube.
She goes viral. Then she (Molly) gets a GAP commercial and America wants more of this cute little girl.
Molly then is up for a part in the number one TV show "The Foster Family."
She gets the part and the family is changed forever. Faye is unused to fame and all that it entails, and it can be some nasty stuff. Redfearn does an amazing job with her research for this book. At times I really did not like Faye or her actions and then at others I cheered her on. She is completely and totally human.
The side that we get as readers takes us into the film industry and we see some of the downsides of child stars. (We knew it existed but it was still juicy)
I've never wanted to be famous (because... ugh people) but if you have and still want to after reading this book-more power to you.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Then while job hunting one day her youngest daughter gets caught dancing and uploaded to YouTube.
She goes viral. Then she (Molly) gets a GAP commercial and America wants more of this cute little girl.
Molly then is up for a part in the number one TV show "The Foster Family."
She gets the part and the family is changed forever. Faye is unused to fame and all that it entails, and it can be some nasty stuff. Redfearn does an amazing job with her research for this book. At times I really did not like Faye or her actions and then at others I cheered her on. She is completely and totally human.
The side that we get as readers takes us into the film industry and we see some of the downsides of child stars. (We knew it existed but it was still juicy)
I've never wanted to be famous (because... ugh people) but if you have and still want to after reading this book-more power to you.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
curiouskatreads's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this. It was a perfectly enjoyable read, and I would definitely read other books by this author - I just didn't love it. I think the focus of the story was one I didn't particularly connect to. It's the story of Faye, a struggling mom of three young kids, recently abandoned by her husband, Sean, and what happens when the youngest, Molly, a precociously talented 4-year old is discovered via a viral YouTube video and lands a role on a hit TV show. To be clear, the video wasn't planned - it was caught by bystanders who happened to be present for the impromptu moment, so her discovery as a new talent comes as a complete surprise to her, and her mother and siblings, Tom and Emily, who have no experience with the life they're about to be thrust into.
What happens when a mom is no longer just mom, but a manager on the payroll? What happens when a dad who's abandoned his family finds out there's something to be gained by re-entering their lives? What happens to the siblings of a famous child? What happens when a parent no longer holds the power over their child's life? What follows is probably a fair attempt at illustrating how destructive that life in the spotlight can be, not only to a child, but to the whole family. It also illustrates how fame and the security of wealth can distort a person's values and decision-making, leading to rationalizations for choices they might previously have never made. As a parent, the stuff in this book made me want to scream naughty words at many of the "adults".
It felt just a tad Lifetime movie-ish, with the drama and requisite romance, but there were a number of interesting characters with their own fascinating backstories, and the author did a good job at keeping you unsure of which ones could be trusted or what their motivations were. I will add one small annoyance in closing: whatever childish speech pattern the author was trying to create for Molly with her repetitive use of the letter "w" randomly placed in words (ex. "wlike", "fowrever", "scawred", "commewrcial") was more distracting than cute, but whatever. I get the intent.
★★★ ½
What happens when a mom is no longer just mom, but a manager on the payroll? What happens when a dad who's abandoned his family finds out there's something to be gained by re-entering their lives? What happens to the siblings of a famous child? What happens when a parent no longer holds the power over their child's life? What follows is probably a fair attempt at illustrating how destructive that life in the spotlight can be, not only to a child, but to the whole family. It also illustrates how fame and the security of wealth can distort a person's values and decision-making, leading to rationalizations for choices they might previously have never made. As a parent, the stuff in this book made me want to scream naughty words at many of the "adults".
It felt just a tad Lifetime movie-ish, with the drama and requisite romance, but there were a number of interesting characters with their own fascinating backstories, and the author did a good job at keeping you unsure of which ones could be trusted or what their motivations were. I will add one small annoyance in closing: whatever childish speech pattern the author was trying to create for Molly with her repetitive use of the letter "w" randomly placed in words (ex. "wlike", "fowrever", "scawred", "commewrcial") was more distracting than cute, but whatever. I get the intent.
★★★ ½