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meglistenstobooks's review against another edition
4.0
Suspenseful, depth in characters and story, easy to read and follow.
roelia's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“It takes a long time to build a life, but only an instant for it to crumble. It takes many years—decades, maybe a lifetime—to become the person you truly are. The path is almost always circuitous, and I think there’s a reason for that, for life to be built around trial and error. We are shaped and created by our trials.”
This gripping psychological thriller completely captivated me. A significant aspect that drew me in was the setting of Lund, Sweden. I have had the pleasure of visiting this delightful university town multiple times, and I collaborate with several Swedish colleagues on a daily basis, so names and places felt almost familiar. The book provided me with valuable insights into the Swedish legal system, which I found to be particularly engaging.
Edvardsson masterfully weaves suspense throughout the novel. From the very beginning, the reader is drawn into the mystery surrounding the murder accusation against 18-year-old Stella Sandell. The tension builds steadily as we question the truth and the family’s secrets.
“I believe this is deeply human. There's no understanding it if you've never experienced a direct and serious threat to yourself and your loved ones. You make irrational decisions and overstep boundaries as you never would otherwise. A person who can no longer flee must fight.”
Another essential factor to consider is the storytelling method. The novel’s structure is unique, told in three distinct parts from different perspectives: the father, a pastor; the mother, a defence attorney; and the daughter, desperate for her dreams. As the layers of the story peel away, we uncover hidden motives, conflicting loyalties, and unexpected connections. Edvardsson’s skilful unravelling keeps readers engaged and guessing until the final pages. Although I generally lean towards a single perspective, the execution of this technique was truly outstanding! I was changing my mind about how the plot will unfold at the end of nearly every chapter.
“It’s much easier to hide something when you give the impression of being transparent.”
The alternating narrators provide fresh perspectives, propelling us forward. The urgency intensifies with each revelation, making it impossible to put the book down. Edvardsson’s writing style ensures that readers are fully invested in the outcome.
The heart of the novel lies in its exploration of family dynamics. Each character faces moral dilemmas, and their loyalty to one another is tested. We see the father’s unwavering belief in his daughter’s innocence, the mother’s struggle with truth and justice, and the daughter’s determination to protect her future. Edvardsson delves into their psyches, revealing their flaws, fears, and vulnerabilities.
“I consider myself to be a good person. That sounds arrogant, of course, if not self-important or superior. But I don’t mean it like that. I’m a person with an abundance of failings, a person who has made innumerable mistakes and errors. I am acutely aware of this, and the first to admit it. What I mean is that I always act with good intentions, out of love and care. I have always wanted to do the right thing.”
This book was also made into a series for Netflix, so I must check it out.
“A Nearly Normal Family” is a tour de force. Edvardsson’s exploration of love, betrayal, and sacrifice resonates long after the final page. I am so keen to explore more works by this talented Swedish author.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan SA for the opportunity to read this book.
djr100's review
4.0
Loved this psychological thriller from beginning to end....didn't want to put it down. Truly makes you ponder what you would do to protect family.
superally's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. The different sides of the event and the different feelings were fascinating to uncover. It was interesting to get pieces of the same story from each person in the family.
blessedjess's review against another edition
3.0
Find yourself idolizing that seemingly perfect family? If so you may want to pick up this book that shows the cracks in the facade of a family structure that at first appears serene. A pastor father who has been faithful to his call. A lawyer mother strong in her occupation and confident in her bearing. A teenage daughter, beautiful in appearance but going through the seemingly normal trials of adolescence. This nearly, normal families facade starts to crack when a man is found murdered and police come around with questions. Told in three sections each done by one of the family members we start to get a glimpse of the dysfunctional yet loving family. The author does a good job of painting what it is like to love one's family through the tough times. The who done it was done fairly well and kept you wanting to read to the end. The narrator did an excellent job of building suspense and making the novel enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy for a honest review.
alyssiatsmith's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
2.75
nbonz4's review
5.0
I began with an excerpt of A Nearly Normal Family which I enjoyed enough to request an advanced copy of this thrilling novel. It has become popular to switch between perspectives as a story unfolds, usually doing so from chapter to chapter. This time, however, it has been broken into three perspectives, in three parts, providing a continuous story without much overlap between them. I enjoyed the voices of the different narrators: Stella, your typical teen; her father, torn between protecting his family and doing what is strictly "right;" and her mother, experiencing the legal system as something other than a lawyer now.
This book held my attention and drew me back over and over until the last page. I had to know what happened, who did what, when...why?? A truly gripping and original book, this is one is sure to please.
This book held my attention and drew me back over and over until the last page. I had to know what happened, who did what, when...why?? A truly gripping and original book, this is one is sure to please.
sarabookdragon's review
4.0
4.5 ⭐/5
it has been a while since I enjoyed a thriller the way I enjoyed this.
Let's dive right in :
PROS:
1- the book was written in three different perspectives, and each perspective got better than the one before.
2- the different perspectives added depth to the characters
3- it also managed to unravel the plot artistically always allowing for more questions to replace the ones answered instead of repeating the same given, and getting the reader annoyed from the repetition of the same question.
4- the one main mystery will, of course, take a while to get revealed, hence a mystery thriller.
5- the family mystery added some interesting elements given who the family was, and it's different than the mainstream husband and wife thrillers.
6- the pace was perfect, the actions taken were understandable, everyone worked upon what they think is best, and...
7- THERE was COMMUNICATION for the most part, and so some stuff was agreed upon or were changed or revealed accordingly, which is more realistic than the lack of communication.
8- the last few chapters kept you swaying back and forth, is it her, is it (the other person) [avoiding spoilers]
9- the reveal of what happened toward the end was a great way of untwisting the final scene of the plot
10- the book is translated into English, so despite what could have been lost in translation, it still stood out to be an enjoyable special read.
CONS:
1- the first perspective, to me was the most annoying, although not as bad as it may sound, still, the dad's way of thinking and actions were slightly annoying.
2- I repeat again, I hate when the author includes religion and disses on ideologies in their books, it bothers me so much, like why not focus on everything else, from the logic to the irrational behaviors, to YOU as a person, and leave religion alone!!!!
3- the one thing I found it annoying/unrealistic from the mother's POV is what she did, and how far she went to protect someone, I think no matter how much you love or relate to a person, it cannot get to the point the mother has taken [avoiding spoilers again]
4- there was one character that was introduced for a while, was painted to have a major role in the murder, but then suddenly disappeared and we never knew what happened to her again (the ex). she was more like a plot drive, which I understand, but I was also waiting for a reason why she was just forgotten!!
it has been a while since I enjoyed a thriller the way I enjoyed this.
Let's dive right in :
PROS:
1- the book was written in three different perspectives, and each perspective got better than the one before.
2- the different perspectives added depth to the characters
3- it also managed to unravel the plot artistically always allowing for more questions to replace the ones answered instead of repeating the same given, and getting the reader annoyed from the repetition of the same question.
4- the one main mystery will, of course, take a while to get revealed, hence a mystery thriller.
5- the family mystery added some interesting elements given who the family was, and it's different than the mainstream husband and wife thrillers.
6- the pace was perfect, the actions taken were understandable, everyone worked upon what they think is best, and...
7- THERE was COMMUNICATION for the most part, and so some stuff was agreed upon or were changed or revealed accordingly, which is more realistic than the lack of communication.
8- the last few chapters kept you swaying back and forth, is it her, is it (the other person) [avoiding spoilers]
9- the reveal of what happened toward the end was a great way of untwisting the final scene of the plot
10- the book is translated into English, so despite what could have been lost in translation, it still stood out to be an enjoyable special read.
CONS:
1- the first perspective, to me was the most annoying, although not as bad as it may sound, still, the dad's way of thinking and actions were slightly annoying.
2- I repeat again, I hate when the author includes religion and disses on ideologies in their books, it bothers me so much, like why not focus on everything else, from the logic to the irrational behaviors, to YOU as a person, and leave religion alone!!!!
3- the one thing I found it annoying/unrealistic from the mother's POV is what she did, and how far she went to protect someone, I think no matter how much you love or relate to a person, it cannot get to the point the mother has taken [avoiding spoilers again]
4- there was one character that was introduced for a while, was painted to have a major role in the murder, but then suddenly disappeared and we never knew what happened to her again (the ex). she was more like a plot drive, which I understand, but I was also waiting for a reason why she was just forgotten!!