Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Really good debut novel which was easy to read, great characters and a nice storyline. I enjoyed it.

“Very Nearly Normal”, by Hannah Sunderland (Avon), features two broken people, gives a sometimes hard to read account of alcoholism and provides a beautiful depiction of pain and longing that come when a love relationship ends.
Theo, our wounded hero, is just fine, handsome, as mysterious as his wound (which is very original and painful, and totally surprised me). Effie, the heroine is not very likeable – but that even makes her interesting - but as the story progresses becomes more relatable. Having her pinning for Theo later is a wonderful process to read.
There are a lot of interesting secondary characters and relationships that make the story enjoyable. Perhaps the story dragged a little in some parts or I would have liked to have seen more of Theo.
The recovery from alcoholism was fictionally convincing but in felt a bit unlikely without specialized help in the real world.
The longing, the pain of heartbreak was really well written. I would say the same about the drinking problem, but this dimension was hard to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon books for a chance to read and review this book early.

I had a great time reading this story and finished it in one go. The protagonists as well as the supporting characters were all very good and I didn't see the twist coming. The secret at the end broke my heart but I am really happy with how things worked out for all. I liked it and will recommend it to all romance /women fiction lovers.

Thank you and Happy reading.

A great read with interesting characters. At the beginning I found Effie a bit annoying and wondered what Theo saw in him. She was more likeable as a character as the book progressed and you understood her a bit more.

A wonderful debut a book I read in one sitting.Emotional moving characters that come alive.with an ending that surprised moved me.Looking forward to more by this author.#netgalley#avonbooksuk,

I have absolutely devoured this book, I couldn't put it down. I loved Effie. Such a brilliant character. She's so real. She's so full of anger and self hatred. She's her own worst enemy. I felt like I really shouldn't like her but I did.
When I started reading I was pretty sure I knew where the story was going. I didn't. Books in this sort of genre often seem written by numbers. This one mixed those numbers up.
It was surprising and warm and funny.
I hope the author is working on book number two.

This book was great! I absolutely loved how Sunderland weaved the story and was able to surprise me with how the story went. I think this is the perfect book for a bookclub and will be recommending this to the book clubs in our library. I think this could be a very popular summer read!

Very Nearly Normal is a fantastic debut novel from Hannah Sunderland. It was heartwrenching and real, and I really felt for the characters. Certain parts (i.e. Effie's alcoholism and explanations/excuses of her drinking) were hard to read, but the rest of the story makes up for it, and Effie's bad qualities round her out and make her seem more realistic.

I had a hard time getting started on the book because I just did not find Effie likable - but once I made it a few chapters in, I was hooked and finished it in one sitting. Effie's character development is fantastic. The relationship between her and Theo is beautifully written, at times heartbreaking, and made me tear up more than once. But the story is about more than that relationship - it's about Effie and Theo's lives, and the way they change each other.

I loved this book and will be recommending it to many people. Hannah Sunderland's writing is reminiscent of Jojo Moyes (another of my favorite authors) and I can't wait to see what's next from her!

This book was really sweet, and a truly enjoyable read! I was drawn in by the seahorses on the cover, and I was glad that they brought in why seahorses are romantic than lobsters (read it, it will make more sense).

Honestly, Effie was a bit annoying at first. But, as her character developed, she really grew on me. She starts out being a wreck, and it's great seeing her mature as the story unfolds.

Theo really does end up being Effie's seahorse. They're great together. I loved that he supported Effie and helped her to become a better version of herself. And she is there for him, too.

The secondary characters are also great. I love the friends Effie makes on the way, and especially her bookstore co-workers. They added a lot of fun to the story.

Overall a great read! I would recommend to friends who enjoy romance novels.

I loved this book so much. I have recently had trouble getting into books but had no such issues with this one. I really felt an affinity with Effie and could see why she was the way she was. Some times i found it difficult to read of her excessive use of alcohol but i felt she was a character with so many levels.

I loved all of the other characters and the way they stood by her - especially Arthur and Caleb - and helped her change her life around

I wasn't as keen on Theo - he seemed ok at first but I didnt really like him all that much - maybe felt he had a bit of a chip on his shoulder but that is not a criticism of the writing. I think he was meant to be that way.

This book made me want to make my life more meaningful, to help other people and get the most out of life while i was able to .

An EXCELLENT read. Thank you so much

At first this book was tough to read as Effie refused to take responsibility for her own happiness and instead blamed others. However, meeting Theo and taking on the list head on made Effie realize she can do anything. Most importantly, she started loving herself and as a result opened herself to true love. Anything including physical illness will not stand in the way of a forever relationship.

The novel made me go through a range of emotions; some parts were funny, in some cases it broke my heart, and others made me feel all lovey dovey.

Effie had grown so much within this novel- she had the push she needed to finally be who she wanted to be, and became happy. When I thought this was over for the romance and it was going to be solely on this growth, I was happily mistaken and the story twisted yet again! But this time, I’m so glad it did, as it ended so beautifully 💕 A good view at what love truly is and how far you’d go for it; from both parts, as it does take a lot to do what they both did.

This is a short read that I read in just one sitting.
This is my first read by this author but it definitely won’t be the last.
Likeable characters and an interesting plot. This is one that I have not been able to put down ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the perfect love story. Such a lovely little book. It’s been a while since I read a book this heartwarming.

I cried, I laughed and got angry. I was not prepared to be so emotionally invested in this one. A very good debut novel by Hannah Sunderland that I hope gets the attention it deserves!
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What I loved: Although I was so irritated at Effie and Theo from the moment I met them I came to care about them as well as other side characters like Arthur, Amy and Otis. I loved the fact them that they were real. From their sloppiness, their bad decisions to the details of everyday life when you wake up on a pillow with a pill of saliva on it, the microwave dinners, the intrusive and negative thoughts that can consume you; unapologetically raw. I also loved the references that correspond to my generation and the ‘about the author’ section which prepared me for a great read since it was on the first page of the book. It gave me a glimpse of the author’s quirkinesses and I was not dissapointed.
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What I disliked: No spoilers but I would have wanted to read a bit more about Theo if I were to nitpick the story.
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PS: I kindly received this ARC from #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#findyourseahorse

Very Nearly Normal by Hannah Sunderland a fulfilling five-star read. Just because its two broken people doesn’t make it right, this was a great story and I gave it five-stars but it didn’t always deserve it, there were bits that didn’t feel authentic and did drag a little but honestly overall it was very good. One main thing I will say about this story is when you start it if you find Effie to be someone that you cant abide keep reading, as she may not become someone you care about, but she will become someone that you can get behind. This is a story that will make you smile, it has some of the best one liners I have read for a long time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This was a quick, cute read and would make a great book club pick.
Although in the beginning the main character is pretty unlikable, she grows a lot as a person after Theo is introduced.
This book quickly takes you through a wide spectrum of emotions, and overall is a nice story.

I found the first third of this book hard going. Effie, the main character, begins by being quite unlikeable and I became irritated by her attitude to life and to others. However I realised this was intentional and throughout the book we see her begin to change and grow into a far more relatable and likeable person. By the end I was fully ‘Team Effie’ and was rooting for her happy ending. Being from Birmingham myself, I also enjoyed references to my hometown. A really good read that won’t leave you disappointed.
Thank you to netgalley, the authors and publisher for gifting me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Very Nearly Normal sucks you in and then sucker punches you in the gut. It is a complex, emotional read that is intriguing and sweet in all the right places. The lead protagonist, Effie, has so many different levels and such a complexity she is easy to relate to and it's great to see her grow and mature as the storys goes on. Her character development is addictive and you can't help but cheer her on! A fantastic debut novel!

Gorgeous book which I adored. Effie is a likeable, protagonist whose life hasn't worked out the way she hoped it would. She's also bristly - until she meets Theo, this is when she finds that slowly everything starts to change.
But Theo hides a secret which he doesn't want Effie to know about.
This book was so funny/humorous, I laughed out loud.
I found this book is full of heart, too.
It was compelling, entertaining, life-affirming, it's truly a book to lose yourself in. Highly recommend it.

When I started reading this book I found the lead character Effie, irritating in her bitterness, lack of self-esteem, rudeness and general all-round unpleasantness. However, it was obvious from the get-go that this was just to lay the ground-works for her to change as the book went on.

This book was actually really good, and I enjoyed following the journey of Effie and how she developed into a fully-rounded human albeit a flawed one.

That is in fact the beauty of all the characters - they are all flawed, as all humans are and this makes them more relateable. There were even a couple of points that I felt myself tearing up.

Effie in a young woman in her late twenties and is facing a number of problems. Chief among these is her love of wine and her complete lack of self-esteem. Boardering on actual dislike, Effie cannot see any redeeming features in herself but subjects herself to regular meetups with an ex-best friend, only to listen to tales of success which serve to highlight her inadequacies. Her relationship with her mother is also a disaster with each constantly trying to score points against the other and Effie's drinking adding to their contentions.
Yet, a turning point is just ahead, After a particularly unpleasant date, Theo meanders into Effie's life and decides to help her. He certainly has his job cut put for him and the reader is given plenty of reasons to be suspicious of his behaviour.
I loved this book. From their initial meeting, I quickly became a fan of Effie and Theo and rooted for them throughout the story.
This is not a typical girl meets boy and he fixes her story - and for that I am grateful.
There are sufficient funny moments and interactions with family and friends to help jog along the plotline so that we do not focus just on our main protagonists.
Ultimately, this is an uplifting story and one with plenty of heart. Read it and enjoy.
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

What I particularly liked about Very Nearly Normal by Hannah Sunderland are the themes this book talks about. It’s got everything you want from a romance novel; engaging characters, love, and drama, but it also talks about topics which are a lot deeper. Effie is struggling. She’s in her late twenties, and still doesn’t really know what she’s doing with her life. I think most people at some point in their lives have dealt with feeling lost, so this made this book a lot more relatable to me. This made Effie quite a difficult character at first – she’s flawed, but doesn’t yet want to admit her role in her failures. As the book progresses, Effie as a character begins to transform. Very Nearly Normal is as much a book about a self-journey as it is a romance, which I really liked.
I also really liked the other characters in the book – Theo, Arthur, Toby, and eventually Otis, all have a profound impact on Effie’s life, some for the better, and others not so much.
I loved the references to popular culture throughout the book, like Mean Girls and Game of Thrones, to name a few. I thought these added to the sense of humour of the book, especially because I love all the things Sunderland references.
The book was pacey, light-hearted and easy to read, and I flew through it. I thought it was really refreshing to read, so I would really recommend!
A big thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of the book.

Favourite quotes:
“I’d always thought that films overplayed the whole broken heart thing, but now that I was feeling it for real, I knew that the films never did it justice.”
“I knew that my life was my own charge and if I didn’t like how it was going then I was the only one with the power to change it.”

I love books involving bookshops. I love characters who like books. I love love stories. This book was just perfect for me. It sucked me in right from the start and I just couldn’t put it down. The characters were so well developed and the plot so beautifully done- I fell in love with this book a little. I love, love loved it.

Effie is an unlikely and quirky heroine: she’s down on herself, drinks too much and envies her friends. But when Theo pursues her, she gradually feels her guard starting to slip.
The first third of this novel felt like a lot like chick lit: she can’t stand him/ he’s got chiselled cheekbones and smells yummy etc etc.
But then it really lifted and I started to care about the characters and the plot took some unexpected and interesting turns.
Theo also challenges Effie to challenge herself: stop holding grudges, try something new etc etc and it’s all part of her finding herself.
In summary: this is a classic ‘girl hates boy but really loves boy’ novel, but it will grow on you and is a cut above the usual chick lit.

When I started this book I was unsure of what I was going to find. Is it a love story or is it about friendship? Effie is the main character along with the lovely Theo. From the beginning Effie to be honest was quite annoying... But this was because she reminded me of me. She wasn't happy with herself and things always seemed to go wrong in her life. A date went disastrously wrong but with a word from a stranger this seemed to change her entire life.
Effie reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant (if you have read that book) her character seems to be in turmoil. Theo on the other hand seems to be the perfect man. Good looking, adorable and wants Effie. The story takes you on a long but wonderful journey through the ups and downs of Effies life and brings Theo in and out of it too.
I glorious read and will definitely look for more from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book pre release for an honest review

Very Nearly Normal is the story of Effie, a young woman who really doesn’t like herself. Everyone she knows seems to have their lives together but Effie’s way of getting through life is to drink. When Theo enters Effie’s life she is on a downward spiral and with his help and encouragement she begins to see a light at the end of the tunnel. But Theo hasn’t been completely honest with Effie, and when she discovers his secret, how will she cope with his deception?

A great first novel by this author, I look forward to the next one.

I requested this book based purely on it’s cover. I knew nothing about the book or the author but this as definitely a good read and a good judgement of a book by it’s cover.

It had some good humour throughout and kept me engaged through the one sitting it took to read.

A lovely, well written enchanting tale about love, about, family, about friendships, about relationships, about social awkwardness, about not filling in,, about failure, about achieving your dreams, about jealousy, about self acceptanc. A love story

A lovely story about Efffie. She is very down on herself, she is unhappy that things never seem to go to plan for her. Everyone else seems to have life sorted. Her best friend has a fantastic job, life, job and is getting married. Effie's life as she puts it is ‘meh.’

One evening she has an awful date. The man sitting on the next table overhears. In her hurry to leave, her purse gets left behind. The waitress having seen her talking to him thinking he knows Effie. He tracks her down and the next morning Theo wanders into her life...

This was a heartwarming well written story, a really enjoyable read.

I was lucky to read an advance copy of this book via Netgalley and whilst I loved I loved most of the book, the ending was a bit of a let down which made me give it four stars.

After a terrible tinder date, Effie bumps into Theo who at first she doesn’t give him any attention until the next day when he returns purse. Over the weeks, they go on more dates and Effie get more attached and realised she is loveable. They get more and more close, creating a

Until, one night at a concert, a terrible accident has occurred and from then Theo shuts Effie out of his life completely. Effie, having low self esteem takes this a sign from everyone round. She considers leaving her life after getting kicked out former family home. Until she her boss puts her up and then Effie 2.0 is born!

Determined not to drink as much booze, help out with charities and comes to love herself and more confident.
I loved reading the way Effie became herself and more confident but the ending had me so disappointed as I can normal tell what is going to happen but not this time. I also got annoyed at the end chapter.
However, I would suggest this book for people to buy and would defo recommend.

When I was given the chance to read and review this novel for netgalley, I did presume it was going to be a normal romance novel - girl meets boy and fall in love ect. However, I was pleasantly surprised as this story was much more than that.
It follows Effie's personal journey from being an unpleasant spikey character as she becomes a person who learns to love herself and to live life without holding grudges. It also follows her friendship/romance with Theo who has a secret.
I would highly recommend this book & have given it 5 stars.

Matilda ‘Effie’ Heaton thinks her life is a failure. She's constantly comparing herself to her 'best friend' Kate, who has a successful career, fancy apartment, and a gorgeous fiancée. Meanwhile, Effie is still living at home and spends most evenings drinking herself into oblivion. The only thing she loves is her job at a bookshop.

Then she meets Theo, and her luck finally seems to be changing. Because Theo has a life-changing secret and knows how important it is not to take life for granted.

Can Effie fall in love instead of falling apart?

I wasn't sure what to think of this book in the beginning. Effie isn't the easiest character to like, and her constant self-deprecation started to get on my nerves. Then she met Theo and I was worried this would turn into one of those stories about a girl who only manages to pull herself together because of a guy.

However, as their relationship progressed, I soon started to soften towards Effie, especially in the second half of the book. I liked seeing how she changed and grew. Birmingham is my local city and I loved that there were references to places I know.

I debated between giving this 3 or 4 stars, but I did enjoy it overall and would recommend it.

Absolutely loved this book! The emotions are real, you feel the true essence of Effie and everything about her

Very Nearly Normal was a delightful read that I found enjoyable and a great distraction.

Effie is a late twenty-something who has not found her way in life. Effie is quirky and just does not fit in to the world around her. Cue Theo who accidentally meets Effie and then proceeds to push his way in to her life.

This is a great story about finding one's way in life, friendship, being happy, and love.

I will definitely be looking for future releases from Hannah Sunderland.

I loved this! It’s a real story of love, life, adventure and friendships set in a modern day life with the problems any of us could face. Effie is a very open character with issues which make her harder to love, when on a date she meets another man, Theo who pursues her until she goes out with him. What follows is a beautiful story of love, heart-break and understanding the things that really matter. The characters are so easy to get to know and so likeable. I found this really sad in parts but, because I wanted so much for them to be happy. The ending is wonderful and this story is perfectly formed. I don’t normally choose books in this genre but am so glad I did, quite like a JoJo Moyes book. I very much enjoyed this and highly recommend it.

Effie's alcoholism explanations and excuses of why she drinks were well written. Effie's bad qualities make her seem very realistic and although I did not warm to her, a few chapters in Effie's character developed, and I found myself understanding her.
The relationship between her and Theo is well written, at times, tearjerking. The story is more than that of links - it's about Effie and Theo's lives, and the way their closeness changes each other.
I really enjoyed this book.
Hannah Sunderland's writing style is similar to Jojo Moyes, whose books I also really enjoy.
I thank NetGalley, Hannah Sunderland and the publishers for allowing me to read and review pre-publication in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t think I was going to like Very Nearly Normal, I found Effie to be pretty unlikeable, but I stuck with it and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the journey that Effie went on, this wasn’t just a romantic story, there was substance to the story and after finishing the book I felt like I wanted to go out and DO something! I loved it!

It took me a minute to get into it, too many of Effie's thoughts hit too close to home, but then I devoured this book. A lovely romance between two flawed but beautiful (inside and out) people and a great supporting cast. A nice love story about finding yourself and reconciling who you are with who you think you should be.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Hannah Sunderland for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was a wonderful story about opening up, believing in yourself, and finding your path in life. Effie, the heroine, starts off very prickly and unlikeable, and really grew on me. Part of that was her snarkiness, paired with the first-person narrative. I found myself laughing at various points - but there were also plenty of dark and deep moments, exploring themes of addiction, depression and anxiety. Yes, the way things resolved themselves were a bit too pat, but overall I found this a satisfying read.

Words can’t describe how much I loved this book! Effie was relatable, snarky & everything I love. Theo is the perfect male lead to help show Effie how wonderful life can be.

Overall a really heartwarming, funny read and I can’t wait to read more by this author!

Wow what a read!!!
I think alot of people can relate to Effie, in one way or another. Some parts of this broke me, had a good cry for her.
One that was hard to put down thats for sure. It was brilliantly written, really draws you in.
Not really been into these kind of books until recently.

Effie very much down on her luck. Seemed like she could never catch a break. And seeing everyone around her happy and moving on with their lifes. Meanwhile she was still living with her parents, single, and liked to drink a bit too much. Loved seeing how it all turned around for her. Even if she had to endure some really hard times.

Well deserved 5 stars. I'd say it's a must read. Hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I did!

Wow! So often I read romantic novels where the female protagonist is like 'Oh, I'm so quirky and I can't get my hand-painted greetings cards/cupcake business together but then I met this mildly eccentric guy and he's helped me to self-actualise.' Apart from the self-actualisation, this is not that book.

Matilda Effie Heaton (who is rather too concerned with her depressing initials, MEH - frankly they seem to be the least of her problems) is a real but relatable hot mess. More Eleanor Oliphant than Bridget Jones, Effie is a borderline alcoholic (sometimes not that borderline - and she doesn't give up drinking even when her boyfriend has to almost completely cut down, which made me slightly uneasy because she is written like someone who has a genuine problem, not just someone who enjoys a few jars).

The traditional gender roles feel as though they are reversed - Theo, her love interest, is a manic pixie dream boy while Effie is the crotchety, addicted, sarcastic lead who still lives with her parents and vomits a lot (this also isn't an easy book for emetophobic people, by the way). But is Theo as perfect and untroubled as he seems? Course not! The writing is terrific, and Hannah Sunderland has real raw talent. I will be looking out for her in future.

I really enjoyed this book, I didn’t like the main character at first, but as the story developed, I grew to like her. Lots of life lessons in this book, which is very uplifting. I did shed a tear and I was surprising by the ending in some ways (I don’t do spoilers – you’ll have to just read it for yourself!)

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

“But this was not a romcom, this was a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions and I had never been a fan of Shakespeare”
The first thing I noticed about this book was the fact I thought I disliked the main character, but that didn’t put me off reading about her. Effie is miserable and stuck in a rut, she drinks too much and is jealous of her “friends”. I read the majority of the book desperate to stop her self sabotage but as I finished the last page I realised what I was feeling wasn’t hate, I cared for Effie. I related to her in some aspects. As the book progresses with Effie causing a lot of her own chaos working her way through a list of goals written with potential new love Theo; I was yearning for them to find their happy ending. This is a book of twists and turns, it’s not your traditional easy read chick lit romance. This book hits hard, dealing not just with love but loss, alcoholism, illness and turbulent family relationships. It’s a great read, something I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

wonderful heartbreaking novel about a very angry woman called effie and the man she meets theo who falls in love with her .

Wow this book will break your heart in two and then put it all back together and make you realise what a joy life can be and sometimes you don’t need someone else to work out your own value. This book is a beautiful and honest read and I was sad to get to the last page as it felt like I was leaving some old friends behind. I loved it.

I loved this book, this was one of those books that I kept seeing and knew that I needed to read from the first time I saw the cover.

Effie comes across as clumsy, lacking ambition and pretty blunt but as this story unfolds you get to know what sculpted her to be the person she has become and how one list changes the direction of her life.

A book full of superb real life scenarios and characters you can picture and who capture your heart. I loved this book and can't wait to see what comes next from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. Effie is a very relatable character that I enjoyed getting to know. A book about finding your path at your own time, in your own way. Beautiful!

When I started this book, I thought it would be a typical romance. An eager boy falling for a hard to love woman. I was so wrong. This book has twists and turns that make it impossible to put down. I was rooting for Effie and loved watching her transformation for herself and for her relationship with Theo. This was a perfect escape!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy of this novel.