A review by shelleys_book_nook
My (extra)Ordinary Life by Rebecca Ryan

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 How do you fail at living when you’re alive?
This book is such a heartbreaker but by the end, my heart was put back together again. I adore books that can do that. Who among us hasn't felt average or boring at some point in our lives? Emily Turner keeps comparing herself to her mirror twin, Claire and feels she doesn't live up to what she might have made of herself...I think it was survivor's guilt she was feeling. I wanted to shake her and tell her she doesn't need to live up to anyone! I had to keep reminding myself that she is fairly young and still trying to find her groove in life.

Emily has the best of best friends in Kaz, they have been friends since childhood, she knows all her secrets and they are flatmates, I loved this character SO much. We could all use a Kaz in our lives. Feeling a little down on herself she asks her year eleven students what makes someone extraordinary and she makes a "Life List" of things to do, one a month for eight months. She also swears to herself that she will not fall in love or meet her soulmate (too average and too normal).

That humans can be so unbearably sad and yet so ridiculously happy at the same time really is quite the feat of evolution.
The book is told in two timelines and I liked the flashback chapters the best. Reading about Claire and Emily's childhood and their relationship really made me feel like I knew these girls. And even though the subject matter was really sad this book was also very funny in some parts and Rebecca Ryan had a lovely balance throughout the book. I couldn't stop reading as I had to find out how Emily did with each item on her list and in the end, I was really proud of her. I enjoyed this book immensely and it deserves ALL. The. Stars.