Normal Functioning Adult: second edition

by Samantha L. Valentine

The only way to find herself is to lose herself

A year ago, Amy Campbell’s life was perfect. She had a beautiful wife, her career was on an upward trajectory and her friendship circle was uncomplicated. Now she’s a thirty-five-year-old widow who relies on wine and a dysfunctional situationship to cope.

Aware her life is hanging together by a thread, Amy reluctantly attends group therapy. As she works through her grief and opens up to others in the group, she forms an unexpected bond that gives her life renewed purpose. But as she strives to become a normal functioning adult again, strains on her new relationship, conflict with her best friend, and the pressures of everyday life throw her into turmoil.

The more Amy tries to redefine herself, the more her old self surfaces until the two collide and she’s forced to confront her reality and make a decision about her future.

Can Amy find the courage to say goodbye to her late wife and allow herself to love again? Or is the risk too great?

Normal Functioning Adult explores the complexities of relationships in a way that will make you laugh and cry.

Genres: Lesbian

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2024

About the author

Samantha L. Valentine is an Australian author of contemporary sapphic fiction, both life lit and romance. She is passionate about diversity in fiction and would love the world to read more diverse Australian stories. She holds a first class honours in English Language and Linguistics and a Masters in Writing, Editing and Publishing. She is the author of three published novels, two published short stories and many unpublished drafts. She lives in Brisbane with her wife and their two Boston Terriers.

If you'd like to stay updated, you can sign up to her monthly newsletter at https://www.samvalentine.com.au or follow on Instagram or TikTok.

Instagram: @samlval

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Reviews

[Jess McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

God, I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it in a few days and it was the first book I annotated because so much of it really spoke to me.
I felt like I was watching a feel-good Aussie TV show while reading this. It’s extremely Australian, true to Aussie life and the characters literally feel like they become your friends throughout the story. Sam writes so well, I could clearly see Brisbane in all its beauty. Sam also has talent with writing concise and funny dialogue that feels so REAL. The words sweep off the page, making it a flowing and easy read.
Normal Functioning Adult is hilarious, sad, wholesome, relatable and just a bloody good story. One of the few books that made me not only laugh out loud but bring a tear to my eye.
Amy is a flawed character that is slowly coming to grips about her wife’s passing and I adored her growth. She owns up to her mistakes and the “adult conversations” she has with her wonderful friends (I love Maddie and Caz) and partners made me smile. We love a self-aware queen.
I really appreciated the insight into sexuality and the queer experience. Amy saying she doesn’t require a label felt so genuine and the discussion around sexuality is something I believe is extremely important - especially in media. It needs to be a norm, so I respected Sam’s input.
The female camaraderie in this book is SO GOOD. Like I said, I love Amy, Caz and Maddie (and eventually Billie, bless her). Their friendship is incredible and how they hold one another up through hard times really hit home for me. This book was so tremendously human and it really felt like a warm hug.
I cannot wait to read another book by Sam. Her talent is exceptional and clearly shows in her wonderful writing. I’m a big fan. Congrats on such an exceptional story, Sam!

[Dallas Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t my kind of book, but I read it for our Queer Bookclub and probably enjoyed it more than I should. Amy is trying to get over her deceased wife, and with a few dramas at work, some clashes with her besties, and a random dude thrown in, this kitchen sink novel draws out the feels as emotions get real.

[Christine Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a heartbreaking storyline I loved the depth of each character and all the twists were wrenching but exceptional their individual journey through it all flowed seamlessly as well as together was a rollercoaster definition a MUST READ congratulations

[Jessica Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I don't recommend reading this book when you've just lost someone. Unless you want to cry like an uncontrollable tap and have burning eyes from the tears, then by all means this book is perfect.

But in every sense of the word perfect, this book is that. You will laugh, you will cry and you will have your heart ripped out then put back in and have all the warm fuzzies.

This book is about grieving, healing, connecting with new people and being brave. This book is everything.

The queer representation is amazing. There were sapphic characters, who identified as lesbian and queer. My favourite quote from this story is:
"Why do I have to have a label?" "I'm not the one who labelled you lesbian, darling, that was all you." "Fine, Here's my label now. I'm a queer woman who happens to be seeing a man because I like him."

Our main character has been a self-labelled lesbian since she was a teenager, and she was married to a woman. She had several lesbian relationships, but in this story, Amy is grieving the loss of her wife and connects with a man at group therapy. But even that was complicated for her, and in the end, everything works out perfectly and you just have to read it because it is heartwarming.

Themes include second-chance-love, friends-to-lovers, found family, and mental illness. There are triggers including alcohol/drug use, plus many more. Like I said this book is heart-ripping. But so beautiful. Thank you, Samantha L. Valentine.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[queer_aussie_reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A debut sapphic novel from a Brisbane writer. Yes, please! I brought this knowing only that and did let it sit around for longer than I should have, but only because I thought I needed to be in the right headspace to read it. Turns out I didn't need to wait.

Normal Functioning Adult left me with a smile on my face.
Amy is trying to live her life after the loss of her wife. Her friends are supportive and are all too eager to tell her how it really is. Amy however isn’t really coping, so she reluctantly attends a group therapy session with others living with complex grief. While also dealing with a boss whose patience and understanding are wearing thin, Amy tries to return her life to some semblance of what it used to be.

Normal Functioning Adult – It might seem like an emotionally intense book about loss and grief, which it is, but there is so much more. I went in with an open mind, but I was also ready to be overwhelmed with sadness. Yes, I got teary, but I also laughed out loud. I understood the MCs plight, and even if I didn’t agree with everything she was doing, because yes, some things she did out of pure selfish indulgence, Amy’s heart is good, and she just wants to feel better in a world she isn’t complete comfortable in any longer.

Normal Functioning Adult is a thought-provoking and emotionally relevant story that is a must-read right now.

[Stephanie Davy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year ago, Amy’s life was turned upside down when her wife unexpectedly passed away. While the rest of the world seems to expect her to move on, Amy struggles, using sex and alcohol to escape her pain.

When it becomes clear that Amy is suffering with complex grief, she is encouraged by her friends doctor to join group therapy. From there, Amy tries to become a normal functioning adult again. But other challenges with work and life come into focus, threaten to derail her efforts.

This is such an honest and authentic exploration of grief and healing. There is a saying, ‘hurt people hurt people’ and this uncomfortable truth is conveyed perfectly here. Amy is witty, loyal, and kind, but living in a world that no longer makes sense. This makes it difficult to pin down emotions and make great decisions. And sometimes those decisions hurt others.

As a Black, British, heterosexual woman, I didn’t expect to relate to Amy and her friends as much as I did. The writer tapped into her emotional journey in a way that was universally relatable, whilst also allowing the reader to see other points of view through her friends and family. I really enjoyed being in Amy’s world.

I adored the presentation of friendship in this book. I particularly liked Maddie — everyone needs a Maddie in their life. No matter how complicated things got, Maddie’s support was unwavering, and she wasn’t afraid to tell it like it is!

Sexuality and identity is also an important theme in this story and I appreciated the discussion around labels. In this digital age, where tags and labels are often weaponised, this book shows how to love people for who they are, not for their labels.

I might have made this sound heavier than it is but it’s also funny, spicy and tasty (BBQ anyone?) and I loved all the ‘Australianess’. The ending was just perfect and left me wanting to hug the book. It beautifully captures the transformative nature of love after love. A stunning read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentine guides you through the life of her main character, a grief stricken, broken Amy and how she makes her way back to being whole again.

I could not put this book down. I was left wanting to know more and what would happen next - constantly thinking what will Amy do now? I must admit it was read in under 24 hours - I binged this book - going into a genre I haven’t spent a lot of time with lately - I was indeed pleasantly surprised.

The way we followed Amy through her grief, her friends and family, her hook ups and lovers (wowee on the spice) and how she eventually got back to being ‘a normal functioning adult’ was written so thoughtfully and compassionate to stay true to our main character and the process of how stepping out of her comfort zone and finding what she needed to help her heal is a credit to Valentine and how she described her characters. I was transported to Amy’s life, I wanted to be my own thread on her queer spiderweb, sit in the cafe while Evan served us flat whites and toasties, watched Pretty in Pink with Maddie while we ate Caroline’s gnocchi, visit her parents while her mother educated us on PFLAG while sipping on wine with her father, brother and sister in law, supporting Luke, Jenna and Coda eating Thai and swimming in their pool - all moments that through her characterisation felt as though I could be there - which is why, I couldn’t put it down

I loved this book.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍️ One year ago Amy lost her Wife and became a Widow. With help and guidance from her caring friends she now attends group therapy sessions to help with the loss. As Amy tries to become a normal person again her work and personal relationships start to get a bit complicated and the more Amy tries to reevaluate herself the more she is forced to confront her reality.

A Stunning Debut! From the moment I started reading I was instantaneously transported on a poignant and heart-rendering journey of sadness, grief, courage and healing.

The beautiful writing and the sentimental storyline conveyed a palpable quality of authenticity and vulnerability that was expressed so strongly and vividly throughout its entirety which made it a memorable and compelling story to read.

I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did and I simply couldn't put it down. There was a smooth balance of light and dark elements which incorporated the themes with an open-minded and impartial perspective of the characters and their motivations and personalities.

I relished the characters and their kind hearted natures and solidarity towards each other. The twists and turns of the story and the perfect ending made it a memorable read.

[Luna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book could do well with a rewrite. There's a good, solid plot here and some very interesting ideas at play. Two very different people meet one another in grief counselling and connect over that single, albeit massive, change in their lives. I also really liked Amy, a woman who has identified as a lesbian all her life, suddenly having a relationship with a man. This is rarely encountered in queer literature (and even more rarely in an honest and supportive manner), and this is great!

But reading the book, it felt more like a second draft than a finished novel.

There's a lot of conversations- everything is 'tell, not show'. There's ideas and plot points that suddenly come up abruptly and don't really go anywhere. Amy's teenage abortion, Mel's drug use, Luke's suicide attempt. Things flutter around but never get discussed in depth, which is a detriment to the book. Amy's workplace issues should have also been more at the forefront, given they did eventually lead to her quitting.

The frequent nicknames also became a bit of a chore and I had to remind myself each time how they connected to the wider story. I still can't quite tell how Maddie tied in, and why Zoe and Rachel were such big threats.

In summary: a lot of potential, but fell short.

[Kerrie Juric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start. Normal Functioning Adult is a wonderfully written contemporary sapphic novel set in Brisbane Australia, about love, loss, friendship and life. Amy is mourning the loss of her wife and finding any way to get through each day to cope with the grief and the pain.

Amy met Luke at group therapy. He also lost his wife and is struggling with his mental health and is now raising his two teenage kids alone. Like a lot of Aussie men, he doesn’t like to open up and the black panther is lurking.

They each have their circle of friends and family but no one really knows the struggles and pain they’re going through like each other. Will they find friendship? Will they find a relationship? Or will they find the support and strength they need to move on? Will their friends and family understand their connection and will they respect it?

This book will make you feel all the feels! There will be laughter, frustration, heartache, tears oh the tears, and love. Congrats on a banger of a first book Samantha L Valentine. You lodged a lump in my throat and made me ugly cry.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second book by this author, and another 5-star read.
In many ways, this was a tough and emotionally challenging read, so I can't quite say I enjoyed it, because for long stretches I didn't - Valentine does a phenomenal job putting her characters' feelings on the page and depicts deep, soul-shattering grief in all its ugly, messy, non-linear, immobilizing, sharp-edged reality, sucking you into Amy's world and emotional state with such intensity that I had to put the book down and walk away from it for a while at times. The characters and relationships all feel realistic, flawed, complex and fully fleshed out. There's humour and heartbreak and so much humanity in this book... it's one that'll stay on my mind for some time for sure.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been so looking forward to reading this book and found myself swallowed up in the wonderful dynamics of plot, pacing, humour and characters from the first page. Sam's dialogue is so deft and natural that I felt as if I was eavesdropping at times!

My only complaint if it can be called that, is that I didn't want the story to end. I'd underestimated how invested I'd become in the characters. I love, love, love that my quiet hope (which bordered in reading desperation) for Amy to connect romantically with her true love, eventuated. Such satisfaction there for me!

Well done, Sam on producing such a polished printed performance! More please.

[Alivia Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story about the worst kind of heartbreak, and emerging from grief to find not only oneself, but love, all over again.
Amy has lost the love of her life, and one year on, is struggling to find herself. While everyone around her seems intent that she 'move on', Amy can't. She reluctantly agrees to attend therapy, and there, meets Luke, who is also deep in his own grief.
This is a fabulous debut from a talented own voices author. This novel explores issues of identity, loss and the superficiality of society, all while exploring deeper issues of grief, loneliness, and what it really means to move on.

[Christine E Carcary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rollercoaster

Although I enjoyed this book it was a roller-coaster of emotions as I suffered the rawness of Amy trying to recover the loss of her wife and love. Her friend group were amazing and supportive.
At group therapy she meets others who become friends also, but Although Luke was in need of her friendship I wasn't on board with the sexual angle it was unnecessary I couldn't see that a life long declared lesbian would have sex with him, in the end they were friends helping each other through grief. It was beautiful that she and Caroline ended up together after much turmoil, there's lots of interesting threads throughout that will certainly keep you interested, there's lots of tears , some of them mine.

[Kaylene Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a roller coaster of emotions this book takes you on.

The characters have so many layers and are so interwoven with each other I can’t imagine one without the rest.

The layers of depth and complexity this story tells is so impressive and you feel every single emotion, scream when they scream, cry when they cry, love who they love.

The stories of love, loss, hope and uncertainty are so wonderfully written that I felt It was happening to me. Like I was feeling everything they felt.

Wonderful story

[Emily Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Captivating Masterpiece"

'Normal Functioning Adult' by Samantha L. Valentine is an absolute gem. With brilliant storytelling and relatable characters, Valentine delves into the complexities of character life, leaving readers captivated from start to finish. This thought-provoking novel beautifully explores themes of love, identity, and personal growth, resonating on a profound level. The writing is eloquent, the emotions palpable, and the narrative unfolds with perfect pacing.

[Angela Bestard · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Normal Functioning Adult, Samantha has perfectly balanced the heavier themes of grief, loss, and mental health with lighter laugh-out-loud moments and heart-warming scenes that make you want to call your best friends to tell them how grateful you are to have them. The characters, complex and authentic, are revealed through masterful dialogue in scenes that feel like home while making Brisbane shine. It’s a rare book that has you thinking of the characters well after you put it down!

[Kirstie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers Amy's journey through ups and downs, twists and confrontations with her near and dearest family and friends. I loved reading this novel, especially the moments of humour, jealousy and sarcasm between to two of main characters. It's also great to read some Australian sapphic fiction. Highly recommend.

[Georgie Vs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normal functioning adult is a beautifully written book , with a strong, captivating storyline where you want to keep reading. I struggled to put this book down! This book made me laugh , cry and gave me hope that through the toughest of times it is possible to pick yourself back up and live the best life you can, just like Amy did.

[Sky Trethowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book thinking I wasn't going to be interested, and thought that I was going to dnf. But as I continued reading, I grew more interested in Amy's story. They were some intense stuff, but it was equal with good time and steamy times. I could relate with Amy grief as I am currently going through it myself, and it is not easy, and been told it's about taking one step at a time.

[Ashleigh Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a dry sense of humour, this book engages the reader in a story of pain and joy. The depth of emotions have been written so realistically, I laughed and (almost) cried along with the MCs. Well worth the read.

[Kate Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this heart felt story about love, loss and friendship. I was totally captivated in every gut wrenching decision poor Amy makes in navigating a life she never expected to live.

I loved the friendships, I loved the back and forth, the ups and downs.

I loved it all, start to finish!

[isa Simonet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too bad the relationship between Luke and Amy is so present, it seems anecdotal to me. Why didn't you exploit Caroline and Amy's relationship sooner?

[Elvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent blend of raw emotion and humour that beautifully captures the essence of self-discovery and connection. Wonderful work, well done Samantha.

[Alison P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of love, loss, and connection told with such warmth.

[Kim Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Amy’s story. Definitely experienced all the feels throughout.

[Toni Umar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normal Functioning Adult by Samantha L. Valentine
A novel I have been wanting to read for a long time I was very lucky to have this gifted to me. The story did not disappoint, and the book is a five-star read for me.
The novel follows Amy, and her experiences after her wife’s death, the grief she endures, her supportive friends and family and people she meets along the way. The exploration of grief is so well done, there are themes of sadness and frustration that many will relate too. It is not a sad book though, there are many funny moments and the circle of supportive mates with the descriptions of their shenanigans to cheer up and support Amy are so funny. An example of the clever way the author uses words as a description of grief. ‘I was a fragment of my former self – a single jigsaw piece lost in a dark corner never to be matched up with its original puzzle again’ (P.28). Isn’t that so telling and descriptive? Mostly set in the city of Brisbane, locals will love reading about familiar places. Those not local to Brisbane will want to visit! I cant wait to read Samantha’s other novel, and I know she is working on a third one currently. Looking forward to reading them both.

[Samantha Valentine]

Yes, this is my book! I'm really please to have the opportunity to republish this complete with a new cover and blurb, and a fresh edit.

This is a story of grief, friendship and love (not a romance, but it does have romantic elements) about a woman who is struggling with life twelve months after losing her wife tragically. That all sounds very heavy but the story also has elements of lightness, hope and humour.

It's set in my home city of Brisbane, which I love because so few sapphic novels are set here. My main character Amy is flawed, messy and complicated and doesn't always make the best decisions (like a lot of my characters because they are the most interesting to write). But at her core, Amy just wants to find her place in the world again.

Thanks for reading and leaving a review/rating, I appreciate it.

If you're thinking about buying this book, please only purchase the second edition (cover with the wine glass), unless you're buying an already printed version of the first edition from a book shop, but that is unlikely. If you really do want a copy of the first edition, please contact me.

Any questions about this book or my other stories, ask away.