Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Travis returns home for a break after his year in Afghanistan where his best friend died, having nightmares and PSD.  His parents are having issues, his brother is dating his ex-girlfriend, and he keeps seeing Charlie, his dead buddy, everywhere.  When he sees Harper, a girl whose reputation he ruined in middle school, he realizes that he’d like her forgiveness. 

This is such a well written story, Harper and Travis feel and sound so real.  I bought this on my Kindle when it was featured on Daily Cheap Reads.    It has since gone up in price, but is worth the regular price.  I will look for more of Ms. Doller’s work in the future.  I like the new genre that has sprung up—college kids rather than high school or full adults. 

There are amazing descriptions that make beautiful word pictures:  

“stars freckle the night sky,”

“she lowers the volume from highway to city,”

 “This uniform might impress girls, but it’s uncomfortable.  Especially compared to my cammies, which were sandblasted to a salty faded softness.”

“I’m seriously hungry.  Concave hungry.”

         Kindle                                      Nook                       Trish Doller