When Travis returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother's stolen his girlfriend and car, and the nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper, a girl who despises him for rumors Travis started back in middle school, life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he falls deeper in love with her and begins to find his way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress and the possibility of a interesting future. His sense of humor, sense of his own strength and incredible sense of honor make Travis an irresistible and eminently loveable hero in this fantastic and timely debut novel.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up-Travis Stephenson is back home in Florida, on leave from Afghanistan where he has been serving on active duty as a U.S. Marine. The war has changed him, and upon his return, he is overwhelmed by his hometown, his friends, and his family. His ex-girlfriend is now dating his brother, his parents are splitting up because his dad is having an affair, and he's haunted by nightmares and hallucinations. When he reconnects with Harper Gray, a girl he spread a rumor about in middle school, he finds relief from his anxieties. During his leave, Travis must come to terms with his best friend's death during combat and realize that his flashbacks and visions are not part of the standard post-combat experience and that he needs professional help. By the end of the novel, he finds the strength to speak at Charlie's memorial. The romance and tight narrative make this a dynamo of a soldier's story.-Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, ILα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
About the Author
TRISH DOLLER has worked as a newspaper reporter and radio personality and is now a bookseller. Something Like Normal was her debut novel. She lives in Ft Myers, Florida with her husband, two dogs, and two mostly grown children. Also, Trish has about a dozen Marines she'd like to adopt.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you've ever wanted a taste of life as a soldier, you can find it in this gritty, touching and romantic book by Trish Doller.
Travis has his faults, but he is such a great narrator and it was quite a journey being in his head, living out his story with him. I got so lost in what he was going through--from his memories of Charlie (his dead best friend), his frustrations with his parents, his nightmares and triggers to the story with Harper. Speaking of, she is such a great girl. Their story from middle school is rough, and I hope that it can get across the message to others that it did for me. Lies of omission can still hurt, and labels that get put on you or because of you doesn't go away as easily as one might think. But I am glad that they could overcome that because I love how their friendship progresses and what happens to them. Harper also lightened the mood a lot with her remarks. She added a whole other dimension though with how she rolled with the punches (and sometimes doled them out) and how she responded to Travis.
Another character that I adored was Charlie's mom. We didn't get much of her, but what we saw was nice.
The dynamics between Travis and his parents felt authentic to me. His mom was behind him, making support packages and joining military mom's groups. She had this feeling of familiarity to me, which is a good thing. Watching her character change and evolve in here made me smile, and seeing it through Travis' eyes made it all the better. Travis and his dad had a rocky relationship and I think that its portrayed well in the present although we do get some peeks at what got them to that point.
Trish Doller has a nack for writing emotions. I was moved by the story and his flashbacks of what happened in Afghanistan as well as the guilt he carried with him. There are so many layers to this book, and it kept my attention the whole way through.
Travis has his faults, but he is such a great narrator and it was quite a journey being in his head, living out his story with him. I got so lost in what he was going through--from his memories of Charlie (his dead best friend), his frustrations with his parents, his nightmares and triggers to the story with Harper. Speaking of, she is such a great girl. Their story from middle school is rough, and I hope that it can get across the message to others that it did for me. Lies of omission can still hurt, and labels that get put on you or because of you doesn't go away as easily as one might think. But I am glad that they could overcome that because I love how their friendship progresses and what happens to them. Harper also lightened the mood a lot with her remarks. She added a whole other dimension though with how she rolled with the punches (and sometimes doled them out) and how she responded to Travis.
Another character that I adored was Charlie's mom. We didn't get much of her, but what we saw was nice.
The dynamics between Travis and his parents felt authentic to me. His mom was behind him, making support packages and joining military mom's groups. She had this feeling of familiarity to me, which is a good thing. Watching her character change and evolve in here made me smile, and seeing it through Travis' eyes made it all the better. Travis and his dad had a rocky relationship and I think that its portrayed well in the present although we do get some peeks at what got them to that point.
Trish Doller has a nack for writing emotions. I was moved by the story and his flashbacks of what happened in Afghanistan as well as the guilt he carried with him. There are so many layers to this book, and it kept my attention the whole way through.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Alyssa
Format:Kindle Edition
I have been on a contemporary kick for several months now, and this is one of the books that I have devoured during this time! It's definitely a great military book, but it's not just about the military.
Summary (from Goodreads):
When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother's stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he's haunted by nightmares of his best friend's death. It's not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he's had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis's dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.
What I Liked: Recently, all I have been wanting to read is contemporary novels. My favorite genre is fantasy, and then perhaps paranormal and science fiction. But it is books like this one that makes me love contemporary over and over. The only other book that I have read that had to do with the United States military is If I Lie by Corrine Jackson. While If I Lie did not deal with a soldier's experience with war, Something Like Normal did (I am not comparing the two, I promise! Just making a connection). I loved that this book was written entirely in Travis' point of view. I loved seeing what was going on inside of his head - the mind of a broken Marine, a lost son, and a man who lost his best friend. Travis' life is so complicated, on all ends, and his reactions to each situation placed in front of him is intense and real. While I disliked him for what I did with Paige, I sort of understand. But I still disliked him for that. I loved his dynamic relationship with Harper, even if it was a little rushed at the beginning. Harper is an amazing young adult. I think she is one of the strongest and most assertive heroines I have encountered in contemporary novels. She is not overly sassy or catty, but she stands up for herself and does not let Travis control her (not that he would, from my view). Overall, I loved getting a view inside a Marine's head, after combat. It made this book so powerful, so real, and so effective at making readers realize what the Marines do for us.
What I Did Not Like: As I mentioned before, I did not really like Travis' dalliances with Paige. I understand, but it still is not okay. I did like when things came to light, how Travis handled that with Harper. No excuses. That was one of my favorite parts of the book. And, as I said before, I felt like Travis and Harper's relationship was a little rushed in the beginning (like, from them meeting again at the party, to them kissing). You knew that was coming, so it is not a spoiler (I hope...).
Would I Recommend It: To all contemporary lovers out there, this is definitely a book you do not want to pass up on. It is very short, and totally worth it.
Rating: 4 stars
Summary (from Goodreads):
When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother's stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he's haunted by nightmares of his best friend's death. It's not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he's had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis's dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.
What I Liked: Recently, all I have been wanting to read is contemporary novels. My favorite genre is fantasy, and then perhaps paranormal and science fiction. But it is books like this one that makes me love contemporary over and over. The only other book that I have read that had to do with the United States military is If I Lie by Corrine Jackson. While If I Lie did not deal with a soldier's experience with war, Something Like Normal did (I am not comparing the two, I promise! Just making a connection). I loved that this book was written entirely in Travis' point of view. I loved seeing what was going on inside of his head - the mind of a broken Marine, a lost son, and a man who lost his best friend. Travis' life is so complicated, on all ends, and his reactions to each situation placed in front of him is intense and real. While I disliked him for what I did with Paige, I sort of understand. But I still disliked him for that. I loved his dynamic relationship with Harper, even if it was a little rushed at the beginning. Harper is an amazing young adult. I think she is one of the strongest and most assertive heroines I have encountered in contemporary novels. She is not overly sassy or catty, but she stands up for herself and does not let Travis control her (not that he would, from my view). Overall, I loved getting a view inside a Marine's head, after combat. It made this book so powerful, so real, and so effective at making readers realize what the Marines do for us.
What I Did Not Like: As I mentioned before, I did not really like Travis' dalliances with Paige. I understand, but it still is not okay. I did like when things came to light, how Travis handled that with Harper. No excuses. That was one of my favorite parts of the book. And, as I said before, I felt like Travis and Harper's relationship was a little rushed in the beginning (like, from them meeting again at the party, to them kissing). You knew that was coming, so it is not a spoiler (I hope...).
Would I Recommend It: To all contemporary lovers out there, this is definitely a book you do not want to pass up on. It is very short, and totally worth it.
Rating: 4 stars
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First Impressions: Continuing on my contemporary novel binge, Something Like Normal was next on my list of must-reads. Coming from a large military family, I was particularly interesting in reading a story from a perspective of a solider. I've had family members who have been in just about all of the major wars, and each person comes home completely changed. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder sucks, to say the least, plus it isn't a topic that you come across every day in most young adult novels. I figured that this book would be a highly emotional read.
First 50 Pages: Something Like Normal is one of those books that will just stay with you for a long time after you finish reading it. I don't remember the first fifty pages of this book. I sat down, started to read, and before I knew it, the book was over about four hours later and I hadn't moved at all or realized I had been completely oblivious to everything that was going on around me. This book is jam-packed full of emotion and it moves at a quick pace. The characters are stunning and they felt incredibly realistic and I easily was able to relate to them. I haven't had a book make me feel so much in a long time and I dare to say that this is probably the best contemporary novel I have read in, at least, the past two years. I'll be passing out copies of Something Like Normal to all of my friends and family, for sure.
Characters & Plot: This isn't a very long book, but it didn't have to be. It was short, sweet and to the point. The plot line is fairly simple enough. The story follows Travis, a Marine who was just given leave from his tour in Afghanistan where his best friend Charlie died right in front of him. He arrives home in Florida where everything around him seems to be falling apart. Travis has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from his time spent at war, but he keeps this hidden from his fellow Marines and commanding officers for fear of losing his career. My cousin went through something very similar, so this hit a little close to home for me and it was definitely believable. For Travis, coming home doesn't really feel like home to him because so much has changed and time didn't stand still while he was gone. There are changes within his family and his hometown has even changed. Nothing at all seems familiar, and all of these changes deeply affects Travis and it definitely doesn't help alleviate his stress.
There is some romance in Something Like Normal, but it isn't the main focus of this story. The romance between Travis and Harper is very sweet, but it definitely isn't center stage. I can't deny that Harper helps Travis realize that life will move on and things will get better, but she nudges him and ultimately it is up to Travis to make those big life changes himself and he learns how to let people in that he cares about and who cares about him. There was absolutely no insta-love to be found between the couple, thank goodness, because that would have ruined the whole story. Their relationship progressed very naturally and I was quite pleased with the way it turned out.
When Travis reminisces about his time spent in Afghanistan, this is where the story truly comes to life. Having been around and lived on military bases for just about my entire life, Trish Doller did an amazing job keeping everything as realistic as possible. Travis's interactions between his fellow Marines are completely spot-on. His stress disorder underlines everything that he does while back in Florida, but even the way the author incorporated it into the story was very natural. I didn't feel like it "took over" the story line at all even though it was consistently present.
If I had any complaints, it would be about the cover art! It doesn't match the seriousness of this book at all. Since the romance isn't a huge focus of the novel, why on earth is Harper on the cover? I guess they had to add some appeal to the ladies since this is a book about a boy. That's just my opinion.
Final Thoughts: I almost feel like this book should be part of a required reading curriculum in high schools all across the world because of its subject matter. This book was incredible, deep, and highly emotional. If there is one book that I wish everyone would pick up a copy of to read, it is this one! I can't recommend it high enough. It deserves more than I could ever possibly give it here. Simply put: this book is stunning and you need to read it!
First 50 Pages: Something Like Normal is one of those books that will just stay with you for a long time after you finish reading it. I don't remember the first fifty pages of this book. I sat down, started to read, and before I knew it, the book was over about four hours later and I hadn't moved at all or realized I had been completely oblivious to everything that was going on around me. This book is jam-packed full of emotion and it moves at a quick pace. The characters are stunning and they felt incredibly realistic and I easily was able to relate to them. I haven't had a book make me feel so much in a long time and I dare to say that this is probably the best contemporary novel I have read in, at least, the past two years. I'll be passing out copies of Something Like Normal to all of my friends and family, for sure.
Characters & Plot: This isn't a very long book, but it didn't have to be. It was short, sweet and to the point. The plot line is fairly simple enough. The story follows Travis, a Marine who was just given leave from his tour in Afghanistan where his best friend Charlie died right in front of him. He arrives home in Florida where everything around him seems to be falling apart. Travis has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from his time spent at war, but he keeps this hidden from his fellow Marines and commanding officers for fear of losing his career. My cousin went through something very similar, so this hit a little close to home for me and it was definitely believable. For Travis, coming home doesn't really feel like home to him because so much has changed and time didn't stand still while he was gone. There are changes within his family and his hometown has even changed. Nothing at all seems familiar, and all of these changes deeply affects Travis and it definitely doesn't help alleviate his stress.
There is some romance in Something Like Normal, but it isn't the main focus of this story. The romance between Travis and Harper is very sweet, but it definitely isn't center stage. I can't deny that Harper helps Travis realize that life will move on and things will get better, but she nudges him and ultimately it is up to Travis to make those big life changes himself and he learns how to let people in that he cares about and who cares about him. There was absolutely no insta-love to be found between the couple, thank goodness, because that would have ruined the whole story. Their relationship progressed very naturally and I was quite pleased with the way it turned out.
When Travis reminisces about his time spent in Afghanistan, this is where the story truly comes to life. Having been around and lived on military bases for just about my entire life, Trish Doller did an amazing job keeping everything as realistic as possible. Travis's interactions between his fellow Marines are completely spot-on. His stress disorder underlines everything that he does while back in Florida, but even the way the author incorporated it into the story was very natural. I didn't feel like it "took over" the story line at all even though it was consistently present.
If I had any complaints, it would be about the cover art! It doesn't match the seriousness of this book at all. Since the romance isn't a huge focus of the novel, why on earth is Harper on the cover? I guess they had to add some appeal to the ladies since this is a book about a boy. That's just my opinion.
Final Thoughts: I almost feel like this book should be part of a required reading curriculum in high schools all across the world because of its subject matter. This book was incredible, deep, and highly emotional. If there is one book that I wish everyone would pick up a copy of to read, it is this one! I can't recommend it high enough. It deserves more than I could ever possibly give it here. Simply put: this book is stunning and you need to read it!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning debut novel, a "new adult" social drama and touching romance
Nineteen-year-old Travis Stephenson is on leave after serving his first of four years as an active-duty U.S. Marine. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Kate McMurry
5.0 out of 5 stars
---
...I just came from Afghanistan. My parents are splitting up. My brother has stolen my girlfriend (He also stole my car.) And I’m hunted by the ghost of my best friend. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jose L. Burgoa
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not for the conservative reader
I'm finding it really difficult to describe my feelings for this book. It was...different than I was expecting. Read more
Published 1 month ago by onepagereviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heart warming, funny, and great
I have had Something Like Normal on my to read list for a bit and I finally thought I would get to it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sabriena
5.0 out of 5 stars
PTSD Meets Contemporary NA Romance!
4.5 STARS! Told from the POV of Travis Stephenson, Something Like Normal takes you through the irreverent, comical, terrifying, and honest homecoming of a kid who enlisted in the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by robgirlbooks
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Something Like Normal is a love story seen through the eyes of a young Marine just home from Afghanistan. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Holmes Fan
3.0 out of 5 stars
Could have been better...
I wanted to like this book. Nothing about it was particularly bad, it just wasn't long enough. I feel like the characters could have been developed more and there was SO much... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Emily Orman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fall in love
I wish that I could write my review eloquently, subtly and infused with humor, truth and longing. if I could write like that, perhaps I would be half the author that Ms. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Meg delaSur
4.0 out of 5 stars
I fell.....In LOVE
I fell in love with the story. I enjoyed the POV of Travis trying to find his way after being in another country that is torn apart by war. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Reese
5.0 out of 5 stars
MOVING AND PROFOUND
Ms Doller's novel gives readers an unvarnished glimpse into the devastating effects of PTSD following active combat. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Amy Talbot
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More About the Author
I've been a writer as long as I've been able to write, but I didn't make a conscious decision to "be" a writer until fairly recently. For that you should probably be thankful.
I was born in Germany, grew up in Ohio, went to college at Ohio State University, got married to someone really great, bounced from Maine to Michigan and back to Ohio for awhile. Now I live in Florida with my two mostly grown kids, two dogs, and a pirate. For real.
I've worked as a morning radio personality, a newspaper reporter, and spent all my summers in college working at an amusement park. There I gained valuable life skills, including counting money really fast, directing traffic, jumping off a moving train, and making cheese-on-a-stick. Also, I can still welcome you to Frontier Town. Ask me sometime.
These days I work as a bookseller. And I write.
I was born in Germany, grew up in Ohio, went to college at Ohio State University, got married to someone really great, bounced from Maine to Michigan and back to Ohio for awhile. Now I live in Florida with my two mostly grown kids, two dogs, and a pirate. For real.
I've worked as a morning radio personality, a newspaper reporter, and spent all my summers in college working at an amusement park. There I gained valuable life skills, including counting money really fast, directing traffic, jumping off a moving train, and making cheese-on-a-stick. Also, I can still welcome you to Frontier Town. Ask me sometime.
These days I work as a bookseller. And I write.
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