A review by bookslifeandeverythingnice
No Ordinary Life by Suzanne Redfearn

4.0

No Ordinary Life is a novel about the family of a newly discovered child star in Hollywood. Molly, a cute bubbly four year old, is discovered via a YouTube video. Soon she has talent agents begging for her to do commercials and be on a hit television show. It’s any little girl’s dream. For her mother, Faye, it’s also a very welcome relief. As Molly’s manager she gets a percentage of the profits for her hard work. It seems like an ideal arrangement. Your child is making great money. Faye now doesn’t have to worry as much now about financially supporting her three children, Emily, Molly, and Tom. The children’s father can’t be counted on and money was tight. With Molly’s new found fame things are looking up for the family. I like that the author told a typical young Hollywood star story in a different way. No Ordinary Life focuses on the family and how Molly’s fame has affected them. The story focuses on Faye, Emily, and Tom including the challenges, sacrifices, struggles, and highlights of Molly’s new job as a television star. Through the book the author brings up a lot of questions that make the reader think. Questions such as how to find a balance between providing for your child and letting your child’s job provide for you. How much is too much for your kids and yourself? How do you make it in this intense world of show business? How do you protect your family? I find these questions to be fascinating and a great jumping off point for group discussions. Throughout the novel each character learns to find their way. That’s not to say everything works out perfectly for all, but each family member grows from this experience. For the most part, I found it a gripping fascinating story about the good, bad and ugly that comes along with a kid becoming famous in Hollywood. To be fair though, I didn’t like the amount and way that Emily had to suffer. I won’t give anything away, as she struggles from the beginning, but I didn’t always love her storyline. The things that she deals with were done for a purpose, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like or agree with them. Overall, it’s a really good and unique book.