Practicing Normal

by Cara Sue Achterberg

"A deep dive into the dysfunctional dynamics of a 'picture perfect family.' A compelling story about the beautiful humanity in the most ordinary of lives.” – New York Times bestselling author Kate Moretti.

Meet the Turners - a socially awkward genius child, an adolescent cat burglar, a philandering husband, and a doormat wife in desperate need of a backbone. The Turners are doing their best to craft a happy life and face down a history they have no control over in a neighborhood where only the houses are similar. And when relationships sprout from seemingly nowhere and secrets begin to unravel, practicing normal becomes harder than it’s ever been.

Combining her trademark combination of wit, insight, and tremendous empathy for her characters, Cara Sue Achterberg has written a novel that is at once familiar and startlingly fresh.

"Does facing the truth beat living a lie? In PRACTICING NORMAL, Cara Sue Achterberg has given us a smart story that is both a window and a mirror, about the extraordinary pain ― and the occasional gifts ― of an ordinary life."
– Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN

"What does it really mean to have a normal life? Achterberg's stunning new novel explores how a family can fracture just trying to survive, and how what makes us different is also what can make us most divine."
– Caroline Leavitt, author of CRUEL BEAUTIFUL WORLD and the New York Times bestsellers PICTURES OF YOU and IS THIS TOMORROW

"PRACTICING NORMAL takes a deep dive into the dysfunctional dynamics of a 'picture perfect family.' A compelling story about the beautiful humanity in the most ordinary of from first love to a marriage on the downward slide to an unexpected family tragedy. Achterberg handles each thread with tender care and we can't help but root for every member of the Turner family."
– Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of THE VANISHING YEAR

“There is some major drama in this story as well as some great suspense and – a great ending to boot!”
– Wall-to-Wall Books

“This is a delightful look at family and all their failings.”
– Books Direct

“A riveting and engrossing story that I could not put down. I am the newest fan of Ms. Achterberg! I highly recommend this extraordinary novel!”
– CMash Reads

Genres: Fiction, Womens Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2017

About the author

Cara Achterberg writes smart women's fiction that book clubs love. She also writes memoirs about her adventures in dog rescue.

Cara is the co-founder of Who Will Let the Dogs Out, a non-profit that raises awareness and resources for homeless dogs and the heroes who fight for them. Learn more at WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org.

Information on all her books, blogs, and upcoming appearances can be found at CaraWrites.com.

When not writing or weeding (which can sometimes be one and the same), Cara enjoys hiking, reading, visiting Virginia wineries, and growing pretty much anything, including her circle of friends.

You can keep up with Cara on Facebook (Cara Sue Achterberg, writer), Instagram (@carasueachterberg), or TikTok (@CaraSueAchterberg) and of course, at CaraWrites.com.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with most ‘women’s literature’ I found things to love and things to hate within this novel. I think the title is brilliant. What family isn’t practicing normal? Every family has it’s own struggles and issues that it is dealing with. Society expects certain behaviors from people and many families struggle to live up to expectations, both expectations they hold for themselves and those they perceive others to hold of them.

This novel is told from three perspectives: that of the Dad, Everett; that of the mother, Kate; and that of the daughter, Jenna. Within this family unit, there is also an autistic brother, who does not serve as a narrator.

One of my biggest struggles with “women’s literature” is this theme of putting up with an awful male partner for the sake of the family. This book is a prime example of this. Kate, the mother, has given up a nursing career she very much enjoyed in order to be there for her family and care for her mother who lives down the street. She has no friends or outside interests that she pursues. Her whole life revolves around her family. However, her husband is absent and deceitful. One of her his mistresses has already shown up on the doorstep introducing herself and she’s very suspicious he’s cheating again. He is “working” all hours and constantly checking his phone. Kate’s mother thinks he’s a louse, but Kate would rather continue putting up with it all, denying the obvious. Maybe this is to keep up appearances, maybe to prove something to herself, maybe to prove something to her mother.. maybe she is practicing some kind of normal she had hoped for. The thing that made me most angry about the relationship between Kate and Everett is when she relates a story where Everett raped her. Since then she is more submissive to his sexual advances, not wanting a repeat incident. Kate’s son requires a lot of attention due to Asperger’s and only she and her daughter Jenna seem to know how to relate to him. Kate’s mother also is increasingly relying on her, refusing to leave her home down the street and refusing to cook for herself.

Everett is an egomaniacal child in an adult’s body. He is always putting himself first. He has no real relationship with his children. He has been caught in one affair and is currently in the midst of another. He is constantly exchanging text messages while at home with the other woman, Veronica. He is continually visiting his mistress under the guise of woking late or needing to run out of the house at all hours for something that just came up at work. He is also attempting to understand Kate and her sister’s blood relationship to their parents through DNA evidence, without first consulting Kate in this matter.

Jenna seems to be the most self-honest and most relatable character to me. As she is capable of taking care of herself, she is largely left to her own devices. She is fully aware of her father’s infidelity. She avoids him and refers to him by first name. She is angry, dresses in black, has short spiky hair, multiple piercings and spends her days breaking into neighbor’s houses. She doesn’t break in to steal per se, but to check things out, spend time with cats, experience someone else’s domain. She gets caught breaking into the neighbor’s house across the street around the same time that their son, the high school football star, is taking a break from football because of his grades. She begins spending time with this unlikely friend, Wells. The woman with the cats, Cassie, also aware of Jenna’s presence in her home, begins paying Jenna for her time spent playing and feeding her cats. Wells and Jenna spend time with each other in Cassie’s home, which becomes a refuge for them and their developing closeness. Jenna, who had seemed such a misfit starts to come of age, grow and become happy with herself.

In the end, Kate does finally awake from her self-delusion. It is interesting how Kate’s life and her mother’s were similar in their solitary confinement as they tried to practice normal and hide from the glaring problems their family was built on. If you enjoy “women’s literature,” you will probably love this book. It is well written and there is a nice metamorphosis of the characters as they are developed within the novel.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening up Practicing Normal to read I wasn't sure what I was going to find, or whether I would enjoy it, pretty much normal for me when I am reading into a new author. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed this story very much.

The telling of the story rotates around three of the characters - Kate, mom and married to Everett, Jenna their daughter and Everett himself. Through them we are given a view into the family dynamics.

The plot moves along at a good pace, there was always something interesting happening, and just a small thread of mystery weaving through that held my attention.

Kate - the mom, was a self sacrificing person, she was an ER nurse but now pretty much takes care of the various emergencies that arise in the family. She takes care of her ageing mother down the road, her son JT who is on the Asperger's continuum and generally keeps the family running. She also is perhaps being taken for a ride by a couple of people in her life. I liked her a lot, although I wished for more for her.

Jenna is her teen daughter, when we meet her she is breaking into houses and cutting school. However at the core she is okay and with the right people around her has every chance of doing well.

Everett is in my opinion a self serving, self centred person and ... a bully. While he does do a few things that redeem him a little he is mainly about his own pleasure. He needs a very large wake up call.

There are other characters in this book too who add to the story and the appeal of the book. Cassie in particular, the hospice nurse and cat lady, who is a support when needed and is one of those people any neighbor would be happy to have around.

If you enjoy family dynamics then you just might enjoy this story as much as I did.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Kate Turner. She lives in a beautiful home in Pine Estates with her family: husband, Everett; teenage daughter, Jenna; and tween son, JT. But things are not as lovely (and normal) as they appear from the outside. Everett works at a security firm, but he also disappears for hours on end, and Kate worries he's having (another) affair. Jenna learned to break into homes from her dad, and she's busy skipping school and putting that talent to good use. She also has no use for her father since his mistress appeared on their front doorstep. And JT is a wonderful, intelligent kid, but he is also dealing with Asperberger's and the fact that his father would love nothing more than for him to be "normal."

I just have to preface my review to say that I don't understand why more people don't know of and read Cara Sue Achterberg. I read her last novel, Girls' Weekend, and it was so good. She also has a great twitter, fosters dogs, and is just so fun. Darn you, world!

Anyway, I liked the characters of PRACTICING NORMAL (or at least was drawn into their worlds) immediately -- there was no way I was ever going to like Kate's husband, though. Kate is so real--she is flawed, she is tough, she is a loving mom. She is no stock character. Achterberg does spot-on coverage of Kate's mother, Mildred, a crotchety old woman with borderline dementia. Mildred's love of her backyard songbirds is just awesome: you will laugh (and perhaps cry). There are also touching (and probably pretty realistic) interactions with her son. Meanwhile, her husband is just a piece of work.

Achterberg has a way of making you empathize so deeply with her characters. I felt so badly for Kate. Other times I wanted to shake her, wake her up, and get her out of her life. No matter what, I was completely invested in her story. She's relatable and will certainly appeal to the overworked, stressed moms of the world. (There's a moment where Kate wishes she could just have a temporary health issue and wind up in the hospital for a moment - where people actually care for her for once. Oh yes. Haven't we all been there--guiltily--for a minute or two?)

The POV varies mainly between Kate and Jenna--and about a quarter way through the story, we hear from that "louse" (as Mildred would say) Everett. I enjoyed how Achterberg used shorter sentences and simpler words when speaking as Everett. I'm sorry, but I could just never warm up to that guy. (Read it, you'll understand.) Now Jenna? She's a gem. A spitfire of a teen with the ability to see through the pretend layers everyone puts on. I fiercely wanted to protect Jenna--a testament to Achterberg's writing and this character she had created.

I was a bit irritated by Kate's sister Evelyn and her constant focus on bringing their deadbeat father back into their life (though that storyline picks up later), but Evelyn certainly stood for yet another thing poor Kate must deal with. I mean, seriously. This poor woman.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Much like GIRLS' WEEKEND, I am just amazed at how well Achterberg writes her characters and how quickly she draws you into their lives. I might have enjoyed GIRLS just a tad more, but only because I am more at the point of those women in my life (with younger kids) than Kate. I still really liked this novel. I would find myself just smiling at parts while I read it, because I was so taken by the characters. I was rooting for Kate and Jenna (and JT!) and, often, very much against Everett and Evelyn. It's truly a lovely reflection on the different kinds of love we have for others, and yes, the spectrum of normal. Highly recommend with 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review. It is available as of 06/06/17.

You can read my review of Achterberg's previous novel, GIRLS' WEEKEND, here.

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[Olga Miret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about the games families play and what love really is. I was given a copy of this book as a gift and I freely chose to review it.
Tolstoi’s probably best-known quote: All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way fits perfectly this novel. As a psychiatrist, ‘normal’ is one of those terms that we always seem to come back to, even if it is impossible to define. It seems that normal is always what other people are, never us. Perhaps, as it is discussed in the novel in reference to Autism and Asperger’s, which are conditions that fall within a spectrum, the same is true for normality. It is not an on or off thing. Perhaps we all belong to some point within the spectrum, but we’d be hard pushed to find many people whom we’d all agree were ‘normal’, at least if we got to know them well.
The novel introduces us to the Turners, who live a reasonably comfortable life within a theoretically idyllic neighbourhood. Once we scratch a bit under the surface, we find: Jenna, the sixteen year old daughter, who is not a goth but likes to shave her hair, dye it in interesting colours, collects piercings and is an ace at breaking into neighbours’ houses (courtesy of her father’s job in a security company). Kate, her mother, is forever busy caring for everybody but herself. She has to look after her mother, Mildred, who might be dementing, or perhaps not, and who lives alone, never leaves the house and talks to her birds. She also has to look after JT, her son, with an Asperger’s diagnosis, who cycles through periods of obsession with different topics (ER Medicine, Fire-fighting…), has tantrums if his routine is disturbed, cannot read people’s expressions or understand their feelings, but is a genius at Maths and has an incredible memory. She also runs around the rest of the household and is always worried about her husband, Everett, who cheated on her once (that she knows of). The chapters alternate the first-person narrations of Jenna (who somehow becomes friendly with the rich, handsome and all-around nice neighbour, Wells, who isn’t, after all, the stereotypical jock), and Kate (whose sister, Evelyn, has made contact with their father, Frank, who left them when they were young children, and believes their mother has been lying to them) allowing the reader to better grasp, not only the secrets they all keep from each other, but also the different ways the same events can be interpreted and seen. Everett’s narration (also in the first person) joins later, giving us hints of more secrets to come,  allowing us a more rounded picture and offering us a male perspective.
I found the first person narrations served well the topic, and the voices of the three narrators were very distinct and fitted in well with their characters. Although personally, I can’t say I liked Everett very much, no characters are despicable and all of them love their family and each other, even if they might go about it the wrong way. Jenna’s strong hostility towards her father is easy to understand, not only because he cheated on her mother (and is still doing it after promising not to) but because she had idealised him when she was a child and he’s shattered that illusion. She is clever, challenging and reckless but with a great heart (she doesn’t care for rules or conventions but has no bad intentions) and her romance will bring warm memories to all readers who are still young at heart. Kate is a woman who is always at the service of others and makes big efforts to ignore what she feels she can’t cope with, even if it means living a lie. But she learns that she is stronger than she thinks and grows during the novel. She also gets to understand that her dreams of romantic love are unrealistic, and we feel optimistic for her at the end. Everett is a man who lost his way (it seems) when he left his job as a policeman. Now, to feel better about himself he’ll do almost anything, not caring what the consequences for himself and others might be, and he always puts his needs before those of the rest of his family. He does not understand his children but he loves them and tries to do what he thinks is best, within limits. JT is a wonderful character, well-drawn and realistic in terms of the behaviours he exhibits and his relationship with Kate, Jenna and the rest of the family is heart-warming and has the ring of truth.
There are many secrets, some that come from a long time back and some much more recent, and the narrative is good at revealing them slowly, even if we might strongly suspect some of them, partly because we have access to the thoughts of several the characters (as they don’t communicate with each other that well). There are also many love stories and many different kinds of love that are explored. Ultimately, love must be about more than just saying the words and looking into each other’s eyes. It isn’t something we should feel automatically entitled to; it has to be proven and worked on, as Cassey, a friend of Jenna and later Kate, explains.
The secondary characters are also interesting, mostly sympathetic (with the exception of Wells’s family, and Evelyn, who comes across as self-centered and domineering) but not drawn in as much psychological detail as the members of the family, but they are far from unidimensional. I really liked Cassey, the hospice nurse who understands all the females of the family and helps them without asking anything in return, and Phil, a good man who, like Wells, disproves Mildred’s generalisations about men. Mildred, the grandmother, can be at once annoying and endearing, but eventually, we get to understand her a bit better, even if we might not necessarily agree with her actions. I also loved the animals, especially Marco.
This is a well-written book, where plot and characterisation go hand in hand, that offers good psychological insights into the nature of family relationships and the games members of a family play with each other. It also will make readers think about what love means and will remind them of the risks of keeping secrets, not only from others but also from ourselves. The narration flows well and once you get to know the characters it’s difficult to stop reading and you feel bereft when you come to the end as they’ve become part of the family. A great read.
I couldn’t leave you without sharing a few of the sentences I highlighted.
Never break more than one law at a time.
Kate talking about JT, her son, with Asperger’s: but I focus on what JT can do, not what he can’t.
Kate again, wondering about her son’s inability to read other people’s expressions and know what they’re feeling or thinking:
Maybe it would be easier to sail through life unaware of the emotions of the people around you.
And Jenna, on one of her typical (and oh, so accurate, sorry gentlemen) pearls of wisdom (although this one she keeps to herself):
If men didn’t have penises, they’d probably be a lot smarter.
 

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authentic, heartwarming, and intriguing!

This is a thought-provoking novel that reminds us that life is unpredictable and that when it comes to “normal” perspective is everything.

The story is told from three different points of view; Kate, a mother, wife and daughter who spends all her time and energy taking care of those around her; Jenna, a teenager struggling with hormones, individuality and new love; and Everett, a husband and father who is impatient, selfish, and too wrapped up in his own wants and needs to appreciate what’s right in front of him.

The prose is reflective and sincere. The characters, including all the supporting characters, are complex, strong, and endearing. And the plot is a compelling tale full of familial dynamics, friendship, infidelity, secrets, coming-of-age, honesty, humour, love, as well as an in-depth look into the stereotypical mentality, difficulties and extraordinary abilities that those with Asperger’s experience.

This is the second novel I’ve read by Achterberg and once again she has blown me away with this well-crafted, touching story that gives us a real, raw look into a contemporary multi-generational family.

Thank you to Cara Sue Achterberg, the author, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com

[Ema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often say that I'd like to read about the everyday lives of well-developed characters simply because people are interesting and the way that they interact with the world is intriguing. This book brought me that in a satisfying way, though it had a distinct plot as well.
 
While reading this book, I truly got to know Kate and her daughter Jenna. I came to understand Everett and the way that he thought. And I came to appreciate and adore JT with his Asperger's and his unique way of viewing the world. The family itself is very insular, but I got to know secondary characters too through the ways that they interacted with the family.
 
Jenna was my favourite character--she has a tendency to break into houses and came to know many of her neighbours in that fashion. She's also quite intelligent and aware of what's going on. I loved the way she was vulnerable as she started exploring romance despite the cynicism of her grandmother.
 
And her grandmother, wow, she definitely kept things moving and provided a source of much of the conflict within this book. Her character also raised important questions of depression and the way we treat the elderly that I found to be quite poignant.
 
The plot wasn't quite interesting--if I described it to you, I'm not sure that it would persuade you to read this. In theory, it focused on a mystery of birth, and in Kate's sister trying to find their long-gone father. But instead, the strength of this book came from more of an exploration of characters as they navigated certain situations.
 
Nonetheless, this book was quite enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to more from Achterberg.
 
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book is "Practicing Normal", but I'm not really sure any of the members of this family are normal. However, I did really enjoy meeting this family. The author did a great job making the characters seem real and I have been lost in their world all day and loved it!

There were lots of chuckles while reading and there was a lot of pain going on in this family. I seriously don't know how the mother did it all. No wonder she was losing weight. I really felt sorry for her. The ending has a sad part and a few surprises as we finally learn the secrets about Kate and Evelyn that their mother guarded for years. And, their mother is definitely not someone you would want to spend a lot of your day with, she's pretty crusty.

Thanks to The Story Plant and Net Galley for approving and allowing me to read this very entertaining book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of the Turners, a "normal" family who are anything but normal beneath the surface: Kate, the mother, spends her days caring for her elderly mother and her twelve-year-old son JT, who has Asperger's; Everett, the father, is having an(other) affair; and Jenna, the sixteen-year-old daughter, skips school and routinely breaks into the neighbors' houses. When Kate's sister, Evelyn, gets in touch with their estranged father, she sets off a chain of events which will have tragic consequences, but which might also save this family.

Practicing Normal is told from the points-of-view of Kate, Jenna, and Everett, leading to some repetition in the narrative. While I enjoyed the female perspectives, I'm not sure that Everett's viewpoint is necessary, as it doesn't really add much to the story. It also serves to highlight the fact that the only family member we don't get to hear from is JT; I would have been very interested to hear his take on things. The similarity in the names "Everett" and "Evelyn" - both shortened to "Ev" at times - leads to some confusion. I loved the support characters, especially Cassie and Wells.

This is a delightful look at family and all their failings. While it does have some dark moments, the story is ultimately uplifting.

Warnings: coarse language, sexual references, sex scenes, mental health issues.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post (16 June): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[Cara Achterberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Everyone - this is my latest novel! I hope you'll give it a look. It's about a family trying their darndest to be 'normal' and getting it all wrong (much like the rest of us?). My favorite characters are JT, a 12-year-old with Asperger's, a remarkable mind and a heart of gold; and Cassie, a hospice nurse who has 7 cats and tells it like it is. And then there's Jenna, a smart nothing-cookie-cutter-about-her teenager who is a whiz at breaking into houses; and Kate who believes normal is possible and really hopes her husband means all that he says he does. Hope you'll let me know what you think! Blessings on ya. Happy Reading!

[Laura Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many of us at times feel overwhelmed and all alone? We tend to get swept away in the tsunami of everyday life. This is what is happening when we meet Kate, Jenna, JT, and Everett. Kate is caught in the sandwich generation – trying to deal with her rebellious and unhappy teenage daughter, her son with Asperger’s, her cheating husband, and a demanding mother who might be suffering from dementia. Jenna, the teenage daughter, though acting out by breaking into houses and sporting a goth look, is a beautiful person inside and out. JT is hard to get to know at first because of his issues, but grows into your heart as the book progresses. Everett is despicable, but then sometimes he isn’t. Cara Sue Achterberg reveals these complex characters, their histories, and their motivations by allowing the reader to get inside their heads and read their thoughts as they deal with both their present situations and their pasts. I had trouble putting Practicing Normal down at night because I always wanted to know more about what is driving these characters and how they might resolve their many issues. The other characters that appear in this book, including the grandmother, the neighbors, and JT’s teachers, are also compelling and add interesting twists to the story. I finished this book a few days ago and I already miss this family and their neighbors. Maybe the author could write a sequel? I’d love to get immersed in these characters’ lives once again – especially Jenna and the neighborhood “cat-lady,” Cassie.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practicing Normal is a compelling women's fiction story that easily draws the reader into the drama and emotions that come with the complexity of life and the the dynamics of relationships.

Set in the town of Pine Estates, the reader can't help but get drawn into the Turner family's story as they face the complexities that occur in their life. Told in the alternating perspectives of Kate (Mom), Everett (Dad), and Jenna (teenage Daughter), the reader can't help but get caught up in the intriguing dynamic of this family, as they each struggle to practice living "normally" while surviving everyday life issues.

Author Cara Sue Achterberg weaves an intriguing women's fiction story that will easily keep the reader engaged and turning the pages. The Turner's story has a great mixture of humor, drama, angst, heartbreak, and crazy trials and tribulations, but their family dynamic is both realistic and compelling, it is the kind of story that anyone can relate to, and provide a chance to ponder about their own family's style of living.

Practicing Normal is an interesting women's fiction story of trying to live a "normal" life while learning to survive life's challenges and twists and turns.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Providence Book Promotions.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” I don’t know about ya’ll, but by the end of the week I am exhausted. Between work, my son’s homework, tutoring, extracurricular activities, laundry, keeping the house clean and attempting to have a social life there are many times when it feels like I could slip away somewhere and sleep for days. Contrary to what social media would have us believe, life is not always unicorns and baby kittens and rainbows. Life can be hard. Sometimes brutally so. Ailing parents, a child that is deemed as “different”, a marriage that once was seemingly solid now stretched and pulled to a place where you don’t really recognize each other anymore, where you once saw love now you only see disappointment and failure.


Never before have I read a book that has dealt with these topics more tenderly and candidly then in Cara Sue Achterburg’s Practicing Normal. While it was at times, a heartbreaking read, it resonated with me because I saw myself and my friends throughout the pages. In fact, the book read much like an old friend was catching me up on what had happened in her life over the past year. I loved it – I thought it was beautifully done. Full review to come prior to the publishing date at the beginning of June. If domestic fiction or books about families and the dynamics that make them and break them interest you at all, this is one you will not want to miss. 4.5 fantastic stars.

[Erin Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Practicing Normal' is a true term as far as real life is concerned. This story is about the Turner family, which could be any family, just trying to live life as best they can, one day at a time. We have three narrators and three stories/points of view which really creates a very well rounded and supremely interesting read. There is Kate, the mom who is always second guessing herself and trying to fit in with the other more wealthy neighbors. She has unfortunate doormat tendencies and having a son with Asberger's and a mother who needs constant attention and care. She has a more than full plate. Everett, the dad who is a serial cheater but still professes to love his wife. He thinks he's hot stuff but cannot abide or accept the fact that his son has Asberger's Syndrome. And then there is Jenna, the willful, brilliant teenage daughter who is on the cusp of womanhood and rebellious as hell. They all tell their sides of their family life story and it is just a wonderful, wonderful narrative. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this book. It is so honest and real and the characters are wonderful. This could be any one of our families. Thank you to the author, Cara Achterberg for my special signed copy. Again, highly recommended!

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practicing Normal is a captivating family saga. Each chapter is written from the perspective of a different character and I always tend to enjoy this format. It works really well with this story. We meet Kate who is the mother of Jenna and JT, wife to Everett and daughter to Marilyn. She is a housewife/stay-at-home mother who sacrificed her nursing career to be there for her family. She is an instantly likeable character and very relatable to many, I would imagine. She’s a busy housewife coping with a stroppy teenager, a son with Aspergers, a depressed, dependant, aging mother and a cheating husband! She also has an annoying sister, Evelyn, who I didn’t warm to at all. Kate deserves much more than to be treated as a glorified skivvy with little to no respect from certain members of her family who should cherish her more.
Everett is a cheating git who wants his cake and eat it. Why are some men never satisfied with what they have??
Jenna is moody teenager, to put it mildly! She is fully aware of what her father is up to though so I could empathise with her to a degree. She hates him and feels that her mother is weak for putting up with him. She becomes much more likeable as the story progresses. She develops a relationship with local boy, Wells, and becomes more relaxed and happy.
JT is a brilliant character! Loved him!
Marilyn is a difficult character to like initially, but easier to understand as the story progresses. Her story is quite heart-breaking.
These are real people with real problems and this story is full of raw emotion, but also hope for a brighter future.
I highly recommend.
Many thanks for my review copy via Netgalley.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practicing-N...

[BabeOBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Turner is an overextended mom. She tries to care for her teenaged daughter, her son who suffers from Asperger’s and her elderly mother who lives down the block. She gets little help from her sometimes unfaithful husband, who has little time for his rebellious daughter and quirky son. Their lives start to unravel when their daughter is arrested for breaking into a neighbor’s house. Atcherberg tells the story of this family “practicing normal” through the alternating voices of the family members, each of whom is sympathetic but flawed. These characters are rich and believable and give us a story that is believable and captivating.

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author and definitely won't be my last! I really liked the author's writing style. And this book had one of my favorite things I look for in a book - the changing POV. The chapters take turns between Kate, Everett, and Jenna. I love when books do this because it really gives you a chance to get to know all the main characters.

I think this is one of the first books where I disliked both main characters! Kate - she reminded me of a "Stepford wife" what a door mat she was. I really lost all respect and sympathy for her (or maybe I never really had it). She only slightly revived her status with me at the end.
And I hated Everett because... well that one is easy - he was a major lying cheating jerk! He would feel bad for cheating on his wife, think about how much he loved her and then leave for his mistress' house. The couple of nice things he did do was like putting two grains of sand on Miami beach, just didn't count for much in the big picture.
The only two I really liked was Jenna and JT the two kids. I also thought their characters were done VERY well! Jenna was your typical teenager, well typical in my mind! LOL I was a lot like her. Not "Goth" but I was a rebel! JT's Asperger’s felt very real to me! Even if it wasn't mentioned in the book I would have guessed it just by the character development. I worked in Special ed. for 14 years and I worked with children with Autism and Asperger’s.
Cassie and Laura were also great characters! They were great for Jenna but also the nudge for Kate that she so needed.

Even though I didn't like Kate and Everett - they were so dang addictive!!! They were like that TV show you know is bad and you shouldn't watch but you watch it anyway because you are hooked. - I was hooked!

There is some major drama in this story as well as some great suspense and - a great ending to boot!

I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partner's in Crime Tours - Thank You!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practicing Normal is an amazing look at a somewhat messed up family trying to feel and appear “normal.” Throughout this novel, Kate faces something new every day whether it’s the fact that Everett is ‘working” such long hours, problems with the kids, or ongoing struggles with her mother and sister. The woman is literally a super-hero. There are so many instances in this novel where I felt that if I were in the same situation I would have curled up and sucked my thumb. This is such an honest look at family dynamics and changes that everyone goes through whether young or old. I realized after finishing this novel that the things I thought were going to blow up or go bad didn’t, and the things that I thought would be o.k., did not end up that way. Although so much of this story was very relatable, there were still several twists and turns that were completely unexpected.

Achterberg’s writing style is once again flawless and I was immediately swept up into this story and all of the characters in it. And I can honestly say that even if certain characters did things that were disappointing or even infuriating, she wrote this in a way that I could still see each character’s point of view and find someway to still empathize or sympathize with their situation. This novel would speak to so many audiences whether a wronged spouse, a man/woman that feels out of place in a pretentious neighborhood, someone that has cared for an aging parent, someone with teenagers, someone with a child diagnosed has having Aspergers, and I could go on and on. Practicing Normal has left me with the feeling that whatever my normal is or your normal is, that it’s o.k. and I we will survive it!

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Teresa Kander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the title of this book--at most times, we're ALL just "practicing normal," hoping the rest of the world doesn't see past that to dysfunction we're trying to hide.

The author gives us this story from the perspective of three of the family members: dad Everett, mom Kate, and daughter Jenna. For me, this gives us a deeper look into what's going on than just having one person's perspective.

Everett and Kate, and their relationship, really frustrate me. Everett seems to think there is nothing wrong with having a constant revolving door of mistresses, and Kate, who knows about them, allows him to get away with it so she can keep her family together. For me, no matter how much you want to give the impression of being a "normal" family, there are still certain behaviors which shouldn't be acceptable--and serial cheating is definitely one of them. And there is an incident we learn about between Kate and Everett which would ABSOLUTELY have had me showing him the door, with or without the cheating (in fact, it is something which contributed to the end of my second marriage, which could be why I reacted to it so intensely.)

Jenna has her share of issues, but she seems to be self-aware and honest about them. And she is generally very good to her brother, able to relate to him in some caring, loving ways. The idea of her breaking into houses just to spend time there, not to steal things, is rather heartbreaking for me. It's like she needs to go elsewhere and fantasize about a different sort of life.

By the end, some major decisions are made, and life is beginning to change.

This is the second book I've read by the author, and I enjoy her style and her ability to take us deep inside the minds of her characters.

[Kourtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cara Sue Achterberg's Practicing Normal is domestic fiction at it's finest.
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"... maybe being an adult sucks. Maybe being normal is relative."
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This book was refreshingly honest in a way that I haven't read in a very long time. Practicing Normal forces you to take a hard look at difficult topics that hit suburbia and marriage and parenthood. We are given the opportunity to walk in the shoes of these characters she has created and truly feel what they feel. I personally have no experience with the hardships and situations experienced by the characters, but it made no difference. I could have been any of them, I felt their pain, anger, frustration and love. Life is hard yet wonderful and Achterberg beautifully captures these emotions in this story. This book will make you re-asses your own character. Am I patient enough? Am I honest? Am I forgiving? Am I understanding? Am I too demanding? This is easily a book I won't forget. We all have different struggles and regardless what those struggles are we are all human and deserve to be treated with respect. There is no perfect life or perfect family.
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I give Practicing Normal 4.5/5 refreshingly honest stars!
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As a self proclaimed book cover lover, I must admit, this isn't one of my favorites. I urge you not to judge this book by it's cover.

[Carla Suto · Rating 4 out of 5]

PRACTICING NORMAL by Cara Sue Achterberg is a compelling story of a suburban family that appears to be “normal” on the surface, but is anything but normal in reality. The story is told from three alternating perspectives in the Turner family: the father, Everett, the mother, Kate and the teenage daughter, Jenna. A fourth member of the family, JT, is Jenna’s younger brother, who has Asperger’s syndrome. JT plays an important role in the story, but is not one of the narrators. We follow each character’s journey with themes of marriage, infidelity, elder care, first love, mental health and more. Everett is self-centered, impatient and unfaithful and only seeks to fulfill his own needs. Kate is a mother, daughter and wife that has given up her career and interests to take care of everyone around her. Jenna, is a lonely teenager, desperate for attention, who finds unexpected first love and unlikely acceptance from a popular boy in school. The characters, including those in supporting roles, are well-developed, complex and relatable. The plot moves with a quick pace and there are a couple of twists and turns I didn’t see coming. This book was thought-provoking and kept me interested to the end. While there are heartbreaking consequences to some of the characters’ actions, there are hopeful and uplifting moments, too. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Cara Sue Achterberg’s work.

[Margaret Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Providence Book Promotions in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Practicing Normal by Cara Sue Achterberg was a great book at first, but after I was about halfway through the book, I was super annoyed with most of the characters in the book. I say that because I have very little patience for people when they act like Kate does. I also couldn’t stand her husband Everett because he is just a straight up jerk and I also don’t like people or characters like him either. I felt awful for JT & Jenna because going up in a situation like they did isn’t a good thing. As you can tell the author did a great job of making you think that the characters are real people and I was able to get so wrapped up in the story that even though I was annoyed I didn’t want to stop reading it because I had to know how it all worked out. I would love to read more books by this author in the future, and I think pretty much everyone would enjoy this book.

[Fluff Smut & Murder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ah – the great debate about “normal”. Are you normal if you’re happy? If you have money? If you have an important job and your children are smart/popular/athletic? As new definitions of normal or accepted are hurled at us every day, maybe normal is getting through the day and not hurting anyone?

What I loved: To see into the mind of Jenna was my favorite part of the story. As the mother of a teenager, I gained insight into my own child (minus the whole breaking and entering thing) while remembering my own teen angst against my father. My friends who have children “on the spectrum” (aren’t we all on one sort of spectrum or another?) or other learning abilities have told me time and and time again how they have to walk the very fine line between getting everything their child needs from the district and being such a demanding shrew that everyone groans when you walk into a room. I would have loved a chapter or two from JT’s point of view for his insight into the world because he was a fascinating character.

What I didn’t love: We could easily say the obvious (Everett - who I picture in my head as a cheezy Eric Estrada type from CHiPs but that’s probably because I’m seeing commercials for the movie reboot) but the character I really didn’t like was Kate. She was such a pushover her forehead said “Please Wipe Your Feet”. Between her mother and her husband, I’m shocked she handn’t cracked yet. Towards the end she started to slowly gain a spine, bit by bit, but I think it would be crushed again by Everett.

What I learned: I’m locking my garage windows.

Overall Grade: B

www.FluffSmutandMurder.com

[Dena Tyndall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy for an honest review.
Practicing Normal was a wonderful book filled with very realistic characters we meet in every day life. I love how it is written from different character’s view point instead of in chapters. It makes the story/stories flow and intertwine almost seamlessly. I loved how I felt the emotions and the change of tones based on which character I was reading. Each of them so very different, yet similar.
I did not want to put it down once I started, really wished I could have hung a do not disturb sign on my door!! The main character Kate and her husband Everett seem to have everything in the ‘perfect’ suburban life, but looks can be deceiving. It weaves a great story about understanding what love really is and the sacrifices we all make as well as what we are willing to do for the ones we love. A great reminder that things aren’t always as they seem. I think if each of us looks really hard at the people we know and love, near or far, we will find someone we know who is “practicing normal.”

[Carol Robbind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practicing Normal has many topics for discussion - marriage, parenting, adolescence, aging parents, sibling interactions, family secrets, and Aspergers.

The character development evolves throughout the book- each character speaking in their own voice. The format keeps the reader engaged, alternating from one character to another. There is Kate, the mother, wife, daughter, sister, who tries to please everyone. Everett is the husband, father, philanderer who struggles to balance his life. Jenna, their teenage daughter, searches to find her place and surprises herself along the way. JT, their son, who has been diagnosed with Aspergers and is able to teach others some important lessons.

This could be your next book group selection or your summer beach read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family that tries to pretend everything is normal when everything is far from it. This novel dives into the lives of Turners with gusto. A teenage girl who breaks into houses when she's supposed to be at school but doesn't take anything. She just hangs out. A socially awkward boy who is a genius in math and health technologies. A husband who can't deal with anyone so he escapes to his latest mistress. Finally, the mother who deals with her ailing mother, and children all by herself that has not a minute to herself but would do anything for the family she treasures.
This book is told so well, it is easy to get caught up in the drama and emotions that pour from the page. I loved this authors writing style and will be stalking her next novel soon. :)

[Rachel Never Enough Novels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cara gave me a free copy of her book, but I can happily recommend it to anyone who loves a good family drama. This is a heartfelt novel about a not so “normal” family dealing with life’s struggles. An aging mother, family secrets, and first love all play a role in the lives of Everett and Kate and their two kids, Jenna and JT. Kate, Everett, and Jenna take turns telling the story from each of their perspectives. I thought each viewpoint was well written and reading the plot through their varying eyes enriched the story. It was also satisfying seeing the characters’ change and grow over the course of the book. I flew through this in just a few days, rooting for Kate and Jenna and eager to find out how the plot would wrap up!

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practicing Normal by Cara Sue Achterberg
This story starts out with each member of the family, and friends who get a chapter to tell you what's going on in their world.
A set of adult parents with a 16 year old daughter, son who's got Asperger’s disease and a grandmother living in her own house.
Love that the different age groups are given their own space. Problems they are each going through are difficult and sometimes overwhelming but they push onward.
Sad at the end and didn't see the reunion taking place. Love how their author gets me to tear up reading her works.
Can't wait to read more.
Received this review copy from the publisher The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for my honest review. Wow what a profound family drama, I loved the characters in the book especially goth girl and her boyfriend Wells, they were by far the most heart felt and honest of all the characters. I loved Kate as well and JT. Even with how despicable Everett is, or was, he had his moments. The family dynamics portrayed in this book could be my family, my neighbours family, that's the thing we all have aging parents, or difficult kids to deal with, it read like a reality tv show, it was sad but ultimately proved we could pick ourselves up and continue on.

[Susan Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story very relevant to all of us today considering our unique situations and the world as it is. Cara seamlessly went between the characters to form a story that grabs you from the beginning and strongly urges you to continue. She did her research, not only with teenage minds but adding the brother whose "normal" is very foreign to many, narrowing that gap & opening minds. The adults in the story struggle with true life adult problems, the cost that those decisions render (both good and bad) and the generational complexities that blend with our world. I loved it, am happy to recommend and look forward to more!

[Laraine Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this fast as it was an interesting read. Though I kept waiting for something to happen. Finally, you see you are near the end and a few things that you know already come to light.

The basic theme seems to be whether or not men are to be trusted. It is told from 3 points of view. We learn that the least trustworthy might be trusted the longest.