A review by jedore
A Different Kind of Normal by Cathy Lamb

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

“Let's face it. you become a deeper person amidst adversity. You become a more perceptive, strong, resilient person when life is not handed to you on a silver platter held by a butler.”

This book follows the journey of a single mom and her adopted son, who has a rare cranial condition. Together, they navigate the challenges of judgment and misunderstanding, and share a unique and loving bond. It’s a story of resilience, love, and finding beauty in unexpected places.

I found this book to be pretty average. One of my main struggles was the dialogue—it felt overly cheesy and didn’t quite match the characters' ages or experiences, which pulled me out of the story. The characters, too, felt a bit simplistic and underdeveloped, especially given the weight of their actual circumstances. With such complex issues, I was hoping for deeper character exploration and more realistic exchanges. Instead, I'd say that, for the most part, it felt a lot like toxic positivity. 

If you’re into Hallmark-style fiction that wraps up in a nicely packaged, feel-good way, then this is your book! 
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