A well written novel featuring 12 year old Norman, his mother Sadie and Leonard - an old gent she met at work. After the death of Normans best friend Jax, the unlikely trio set about trying to fulfil the plans that the boys had hatched, which had been to make it in the world of comedy together as a duo. There is plenty of humour as well as moments of sadness and self doubt as they embark upon a trip to this end, and also, as a side issue, to try and find Normans father. This story is heart warming and life affirming, with strong characters that you can really relate to. Very readable and recommended. Many thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for my ARC for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I read it at night and stopped reading on a cliff hanger that did not make sense for what had gone before and I woke up thinking about how the author was going to get out of the situation. I did not easily get back to sleep and none of my scenarios were correct for how the author solved the puzzle.

It is a quirky book which shows how important friendship can be and how the age of your friends is immaterial. A friend is a friend, no matter what age.

There is an element of mystery, which is slowly fed to the reader and the solution to the mystery is very plausible.

I absolutely loved this book. The writing was beautiful and the characters of Norman and his mother were so believable. Their relationship was so well written. Great characters throughout and I was really rooting for Norman to fulfil his dream. Highly recommended.

A really nice book with great characters, I enjoyed reading about Norman, his mum and his dads. A nice bit of escapism in 2020! Thanks for letting me review this book.

Brilliant, and so relatable. Norman, Sadie and Leonard are wonderful down to earth characters. Such an utterly sad and truly uplifting story. I loved this, didn’t want to put it down. Well written and easy to read, you will giggle and fill up in equal measure. Loved it, a big 5* from me.
ARC copy.

Funny, tragic and moving book. I laughed and cried in equal measure. Norman devastated by the death of his best friend Jax. How Norman and Mum Sadie changed their lives around by starting on an adventure of a lifetime. The 'Open Mic night in the pub with only one customer - brilliant. Really, really enjoyable.

This is a brilliantly funny, touching book that had me laughing one minute and emotional the next as poor shy Norman sets off on an adventure with Mum Sadie, determined to carry out the dream he had with his best mate. The characters they meet along the way and the situations they find themselves in are hilarious and so vividly described. One of the most enjoyable books I have read for a long time.

I was initially drawn to this book for its humour and use of comedy. Overall, it's a wholesome, family-oriented story and it was beneficial having the perspective of two main characters (mother and son). I enjoyed the journey and the way it dealt with important themes such as grief, choosing your own family, and people's impact on one another. Perhaps it's not my personal style of reading or writing, because at times I found the characters a bit too self-indulgent or difficult to relate to.

What an absolutely wonderful read! This story is mesmerising and truly beautiful. Dealing with some very sensitive subjects but in a very pragmatic and British way. Amazing characters that just make you smile and tug your heartstrings all at once. This story would be a fantastic movie.

I really enjoyed The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman.

We follow the story from Sadie (Norman's mom) and Normans perspectives and I really enjoyed the differing aspects of the story line.
Sadie, a young mom, with her own issues - wasn't expecting the element of twist in her story line, which so perfectly mirrored her worries in regards to Norman's new plan - and her son embark on an adventure after Norman's best friend dies unexpectedly, interrupting their 5 year plan.
This adventure takes them on a road trip like no other where both of them to find an inner confidence they both lack, it shows them that friendship lies in the most unlikely of places, and that even though you may have lost your best friend you can still find yourself, even in the midst of grief.

If you can get your hands on a copy of this when it is released I highly recommend this novel about friendship, starting over, and grief.

What a great story! This is an emotional rollercoaster with lots of action but also plenty of emotion – a great combination! Norman Foreman is a twelve year old boy who lives with his single mother, Sadie. He is the result of a series of one night stands which Sadie had as a student so she does not know who Norman’s father is, and is not curious to know either. Norman and Sadie live in Cornwall and Norman’s best friend, the irascible Jax, has just died. Norman has extremely bad psoriasis and gets made fun of at school, so losing the friend he did everything with is life changing for him. Jax and Norman had a five year plan to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as comedians. They were a great double act, but Norman was the straight man to Jax who was the real comic. When Jax dies suddenly Norman feels he must not let Jax down and needs to get to the Fringe Festival on his own. He also decides he would like to mee this father. Sadie meets Leonard, who is on a scheme for the over seventies at work and they become firm friends. When Leonard hears about Norman’s wish to get to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and perform, he offers his support to get him there. What follows is an adventure for the three of them with lots of highs and lows. The characters are fantastic and the descriptions enable you to really visualise them all including many of the characters they meet on their journey. It is a story that really warms the heart and I was just sorry when it finished. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this book. It was great!

What a a beautiful read, a host of gorgeous charecters and a fab storyline,, this book will stay with me for a long long time, I adored it

This is a fast-paced, hilarious novel about a single mother doing what she can to make her bereaved son happy, an exciting road-trip, comedy gigs and lots more. I loved the confidential, warm, chatty tone of this novel which made it really easy to get into – it also helped that both narrators were extremely likeable. The novel is packed with humour and wit but doesn’t shy away from more, at times heart-breaking, tender moments. A fun and satisfying read.

Best friends Jax Fenton and Norman Foreman are twelve, they love comedy and are a duo like Morecambe and Wise. They have a five year plan with the objective of the Edinburgh Fringe. The unthinkable happens and Jax tragically dies but Norman’s mum Sadie, more than able assisted by colleague and pensioner Leonard Cobcroft, resolve that Norman WILL do the Fringe this year. What evolves is a road trip of fun and discovery. The story is told alternately by Norman and Sadie.

This is a debut novel and all I can say is wow! Try to picture a bittersweet memory, one that makes you smile or laugh but is tinged with some sadness - that encapsulates this book. This is a sweet, captivating, funny and utterly charming story that enthrals from beginning to end. The characters are absolutely wonderful (except for Sadie’s bah humbug boss), Sadie thinks she’s a rubbish mother, she is so not that, she’s the best. Norman, plagued by psoriasis, is simply fantastic as he’s brave, bold as well as funny and Leonard is a true friend. They meet some terrific characters along the circuitous route to Edinburgh such as Big Al, they stay in some less than salubrious highly rated Trip Advisor accommodation and get into some scrapes! Although Jax is obviously not present for these adventures you feel his exuberant presence and comedic pearls of wisdom. There’s a lot of wisdom generally in the book in particular endurance, keeping going no matter what life throws at you. There’s a lot of kindness including from strangers, there’s overwhelmingly the power of love and friendship which eventually enables the throwing off of weighty baggage. There’s sadness but there’s much joy and laughter as well as tears of happiness.

Thank you gorgeous Norman and fabulous Sadie et al for your marvellous company for a few hours and to Julietta Henderson for a lovely novel. I hope this book is a success as it deserves to be and I hope the author is cracking on with the next one - sign me up now please!!!

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK/Transworld/Bantam for the arc for an honest review.

This is a sweet and relatable story, perfect to warm your heart and put a smile on your face. Because Norman Foreman is not the typical teenager, he has a goal for when he reaches 15:
– Look after Mum
– Find Dad
– Get to the Edinburgh Fringe
Before, he had a plan with his best friend Jax, but he has died. Now, Norman is more determined than ever to fulfill his 5 year plan, of course he will have the help of her special mum Sadie.
This story starts with sadness, Jax has just lost his best friend and doesn’t know how to cope with grieve; it’s never easy to loose someone, it doesn’t matter the age, the pain is suffocating either way. But maybe as an adult we have some other things to focus our feelings instead of a teenage boy that has lost his best friend and all the future together.
But this is not only a book of grieve, this is a book of life and happiness too; the way Norman will focus his energy and pain is to continue the dream him and Jax had together, with some little changes that will make him to accept the pain and never forget Jax.
This is a slow paced story, to read in one sit and never stop thinking about it, because Norman Foreman will remain a little bit in your heart forever. Ready?

Enjoyable, well written. Following in the style of "Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine" type books but just missed the mark slightly. So 4 stars. Will read more from this author.

I wasn't too sure if this was going to be for me but I'm so glad I read it! Full to the brim with emotions, this book will captue your heart and so will Norman!

I loved this book. Norman is an unlikely hero - he and his friend, Jax, had a 5 year plan to get to the Edinburgh Fringe as a comedy duo. However after his sudden death, 12 year old Norman decides to go anyway that summer as a tribute to him. Norman was not the comic element of the duo. He and his mother also decide to use this time to find his father who could be one of 4 candidates. So the road trip begins with the addition of Leonard who masterminds the trip but would is also dealing with his own demons.

A touching story of dealing with grief and learning through it, of accepting yourself and the help of others.

Just lovely - one I will be recommending.

The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman by Julietta Henderson is the kind of book we need right now. It's full of honesty, growth, joy, bonding, humour, and has the feel-good factor. That's not to say it's all unicorns and rainbows.

Norman's best friend, Jax, dies; hard to deal with for an adult but these are kids with big dreams. I loved the regular memories Jax and Norman's mum, Sadie, shared of their time with Jax. It added to the melancholy aspect of their grief but also determination to realise Jax and Norman's dream.

The journey Norman, Sadie, and the wonderful Leonard take to Edinburgh Fringe is a pilgrimage for them all. They learn much about themselves and what they mean to each other. I loved the characterisation of the people they met along the way too.

This is a book I know many people will draw comfort from and appreciate for not being saccharine sweet. Sadie messes up as a mum all the time but she adores her son. Norman is blinkered but never gives up. Leonard is driven by heartache. It's their individual flaws and problems that make them stronger when they're together.

I thoroughly recommend reading this book as an escape from the world outside. Let Norman and his friends and family into your heart.

12 year old Norman and his best friend Jax have big dreams of comedy success as a double act. But then Jax dies leaving Norman to try and fulfil their dream alone. With his mother Sadie, and an elderly gentleman called Leonard, Norman sets out on a journey to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and possibly find his long-lost father on the way.

I loved everything about this book. The two main characters, Norman and Sadie, are so well rounded and relatable. I do love a book with a road trip and this reminded me of The One Plus One by JoJo Moyes, which I also really enjoyed. The four potential fathers of Norman made great side characters, as did lovely Leonard.

I would 100% recommend this book. I dare anyone to read this and not fall in love with Norman. I could definitely see this being made into a film - I'm sure it won't be long before it is.