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petal24's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nickymaund's review
5.0
After absolutely loving Sarah Harris’ debut novel, The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder, I was really excited to read her second book - she does not disappoint with One Ordinary Day at a Time. I devoured this book, it has amazing characters and the relationships between each other is just so rich and nuanced. I should point out some trigger warnings - so check out the end of my review.
Like in Bee Larkham’s Murder, her male lead has difficulties with his social and cognitive interactions and Harris is really gifted in being able to write such complex characters such as Simon, showing how they stand out from the “norm” but also how they feel. And you really do feel for Simon. He made me think of Sherlock Holmes in parts with his geniusness and mind tricks.
There’s a different point of view in Harris’ latest offering from female lead Jodie who is mum to Zak. Blimey, poor Jodie has been through a lot too. I love how she’s managed to pull herself out of her past life challenges and be mum to such an amazing little boy. Their relationship is so wonderful and her determination to better herself, despite her upbringing is just inspiring. I loved how one person in her childhood had such a lasting affect on her as she became and adult.
I also loved how their relationship, when originally formed because each had a their own objective, morphed into true friendship. Just a another brilliant read from Harris and I’m already looking forward to book 3!
⚠️ Trigger warning and potential spoilers ⚠️ Deals with domestic abuse in several situations, mental health and suicide including flashbacks and the effects afterwards.
Like in Bee Larkham’s Murder, her male lead has difficulties with his social and cognitive interactions and Harris is really gifted in being able to write such complex characters such as Simon, showing how they stand out from the “norm” but also how they feel. And you really do feel for Simon. He made me think of Sherlock Holmes in parts with his geniusness and mind tricks.
There’s a different point of view in Harris’ latest offering from female lead Jodie who is mum to Zak. Blimey, poor Jodie has been through a lot too. I love how she’s managed to pull herself out of her past life challenges and be mum to such an amazing little boy. Their relationship is so wonderful and her determination to better herself, despite her upbringing is just inspiring. I loved how one person in her childhood had such a lasting affect on her as she became and adult.
I also loved how their relationship, when originally formed because each had a their own objective, morphed into true friendship. Just a another brilliant read from Harris and I’m already looking forward to book 3!
⚠️ Trigger warning and potential spoilers ⚠️ Deals with domestic abuse in several situations, mental health and suicide including flashbacks and the effects afterwards.
lizeindisney's review
4.0
I wasn’t sure about this book at first, but then I really got into it! I couldn’t guess where the plot was going, so I was often surprised and once I got to about half way through, I had to know how it ended.
Kindle
Kindle
jmatkinson1's review
5.0
Jodie and Simon are twenty-something people who meet at a fast-food restaurant in London as they take on minimum wage soul-destroying jobs. Jodie is a single mother, devoted to her son but trying to escape the vicious circle of poverty that has dogged her through a childhood in care and an abusive relationship, she has ambitions to study at Cambridge. Simon is a mathematical genius whose life work is to solve complex hypotheses, a former child prodigy he has spiralled into obsessive behaviour following a difficult upbringing. These two unlikely characters form a strange friendship which helps both of them confront their demons.
I absolutely loved this book which surprised me as it is a genre that I find to glib in most cases. In common with Harris' first novel, society and mental illness are to the fore and handled extremely well. The descriptions of the life led by the two main characters is realistic - mouldy bedsits, payday loans, minimum wage jobs - and the supporting cast are well-rounded. The 'twists' at the end for both characters were totally expected but that didn't stop this being a really good read which hit home emotionally.
I absolutely loved this book which surprised me as it is a genre that I find to glib in most cases. In common with Harris' first novel, society and mental illness are to the fore and handled extremely well. The descriptions of the life led by the two main characters is realistic - mouldy bedsits, payday loans, minimum wage jobs - and the supporting cast are well-rounded. The 'twists' at the end for both characters were totally expected but that didn't stop this being a really good read which hit home emotionally.
pippamjtod's review
emotional
sad
slow-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
3.75
melaniesreads's review
5.0
There is nothing ordinary about this book. It begins with Simon as a young boy taking part in Little Einsteins and he has to answer all the English literature questions correctly in the sudden death round to win. After spotting his mum in the audience crying he has a lapse of concentration and answers incorrectly.
Fast forward to present day and child genius Simon is now a fry cook at Prince Burger and still having lapses in concentration (resulting in burnt french fries). Single mum Jodie starts working at Prince Burger and after years of being told she will never amount to anything she aspires to study English at Cambridge.
What happens next is magical. I don’t think I have ever wanted two fictional characters to succeed so much. Neither of them have had it easy and they have closed themselves off and are just going through the motions of life.
They aren’t slushy characters that you instantly fall in love with. They are real fully fleshed human beings with flaws and it’s all down to the talents of the author that she brings them completely to life and melds them into your heart.
In my opinion the cover portrayed this as a feel good book and don’t get me wrong in many ways it is, but it also has some darkness. The best way I can describe this book is that when life gives you both rain and sun it creates a beautiful rainbow, that’s how I feel about Simon and Jodie. They are the blend, their friendship is the rainbow and the author has created the pot of gold to be found at the end of this story.
Fast forward to present day and child genius Simon is now a fry cook at Prince Burger and still having lapses in concentration (resulting in burnt french fries). Single mum Jodie starts working at Prince Burger and after years of being told she will never amount to anything she aspires to study English at Cambridge.
What happens next is magical. I don’t think I have ever wanted two fictional characters to succeed so much. Neither of them have had it easy and they have closed themselves off and are just going through the motions of life.
They aren’t slushy characters that you instantly fall in love with. They are real fully fleshed human beings with flaws and it’s all down to the talents of the author that she brings them completely to life and melds them into your heart.
In my opinion the cover portrayed this as a feel good book and don’t get me wrong in many ways it is, but it also has some darkness. The best way I can describe this book is that when life gives you both rain and sun it creates a beautiful rainbow, that’s how I feel about Simon and Jodie. They are the blend, their friendship is the rainbow and the author has created the pot of gold to be found at the end of this story.
ruthie_the_librarian's review
4.0
This was very readable, and deals with a variety of difficult and dark topics, though manages to remain hopeful. I thought perhaps it was another Rosie Project reworking, but in the end it turned out to be more than that, and I was intrigued throughout as to what had happened to Simon, as each time you think you've guessed something, there's still a little bit more.
I did feel it ran a little long, and the point at which I thought I must be at the end turned out to still have a quarter of the book to go. This almost pushed it to 3 stars for me, and in some of the final unravelling I did keep thinking 'wait, what?!' But on the whole it was engaging, I cared about the characters, it had both humour & sadness, and I stayed up far too late to finish it!
I did feel it ran a little long, and the point at which I thought I must be at the end turned out to still have a quarter of the book to go. This almost pushed it to 3 stars for me, and in some of the final unravelling I did keep thinking 'wait, what?!' But on the whole it was engaging, I cared about the characters, it had both humour & sadness, and I stayed up far too late to finish it!
hels08's review
3.0
I really loved the colour of bee larkhams murder and was excited to read one ordinary day at a time.
I did enjoy reading the book, struggled at times, but I'm glad I kept on. I preferred the colour of bee larkhams murder to be honest. However this book was a heartwarming but also thought provoking read!
Follows the story of the 2 main characters Simon and jodie. Lots of feels!
Thank you netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I did enjoy reading the book, struggled at times, but I'm glad I kept on. I preferred the colour of bee larkhams murder to be honest. However this book was a heartwarming but also thought provoking read!
Follows the story of the 2 main characters Simon and jodie. Lots of feels!
Thank you netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.