Published by Harper Collins, HarperCollins on 2014-02-25
Genres: Contemporary, Friendship, Girls & Women, Sexual Abuse, Social Issues, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher
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An edgy, realistic, and utterly captivating novel from an exciting new voice in teen fiction.
Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.
When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.
A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens.
Clearly, Faking Normal comes with a premise that promises a lot of tears and agonizing moments. I was prepared for this, yet I was not prepared to what was really to come and that I would fall head over heels with this wonderful, touching debut!
Truly Broken and not ready to Speak!
When Friendship Turns Love, Turns Savior!
The Power of Love, Trust and Friendship!
The power of Bodee is the way he reads me, sees through me, and then he understands the truth behind the facade. He’s the guy who can walk straight through the House of Mirrors in the first try. It’s almost annoying. No one should ride trendy like a pro surfer while I drown. – ARC, Faking Normal
A hand to hold instead of lips to kiss. He’s my fort, my sanctuary. And I won’t do anything to jeopardize this. – ARC, Faking Normal
I know we’re still broken. Both of us. But Bodee’s got the glue to make us whole. He is love.– ARC, Faking Normal
Even just reading these quotes and remembering these scenes and the lines in the book brings me back to tears!
Bewitched Rating
Bottom Line
Faking Normal was exceptional, heart wrenching, touchingly tragic but in between the sadness was so much wonder and beauty that melted my heart. Most definitely, Faking Normal is a brilliant debut from a fresh new voice and I’m excited to read more from Courtney C. Stevens.
Additional Info
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Danny, I love that you’re such a sucker for tragic stories about broken people finding themselves and love! There’s just such passion in your reviews – it makes me want to read books that I usually wouldn’t pick up!
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Mini-Swarm Reviews: Fanciful Fantasies
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Aw Mary! Now you make me blush! Yes, I do sometimes go a little ove the top when a story completely won me over. This one just did, gosh it was so wonderful! I hope you might have time to read it and love it just as much!
Danny recently posted..Heather Finally Reads – Allegiant by Veronica Roth
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Yay this book sounds so amazing and I’ve wanted to read it ever since I first heard about it! <3
-Kimi at Geeky Chiquitas
Kimi @ Geeky Chiquitas recently posted..BOOK IN REVIEW: And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard
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It was so much more than what I’d expected it to be. I hope it will blow you away just like it did with me 🙂
Danny recently posted..Heather Finally Reads – Allegiant by Veronica Roth
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You told me I need to read this Danny, so it’s on my list already and I cannot wait! I have to shore up my courage a little bit though, because it’s clearly a hugely emotional read and I have to be in the right mood for it. It just sounds like such a beautifully heartbreaking story, but as long as it ends well or with hope I’ll be good to go!
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Oh I know how you feel and often enough I just feel the very same. For an “issue” book like this one I need to be in the mood for it. But please, as soon as your mood allows please pick it up, it’s so wonderful and YES totally happy good ending!!
Danny recently posted..Heather Finally Reads – Allegiant by Veronica Roth
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I’ve been curious about this book, so I’m glad to hear that it’s an emotional, captivating story. This one is going on the top of my wishlist!
Great review!
YA Book Queen recently posted..Review: CRESS by Marissa Meyer
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I just picked it up on a whim and didn’t expect to fall so deeply in love with it1
Danny recently posted..Heather Finally Reads – Allegiant by Veronica Roth
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This sounds amazingly emotional and certainly a book that I love to read. Wonderful review.
Jenea @ Books Live Forever recently posted..Review for A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller
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It was incredibly emotional and heartbreaking but so beautiful at the same time…
Danny recently posted..Heather Finally Reads – Allegiant by Veronica Roth
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I WANT!!!! Beautiful review!! You make me want it so much!! Must pre order!!
Heather @ Buried in Books recently posted..Red Rising by Pierce Brown
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Yes YES go and pre-order right this second. Heather, it’s such an intense but wonderful book!
Danny recently posted..Heather Finally Reads – Allegiant by Veronica Roth
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Danny I was sticking to a strict book budget. I am either going to have to stay away from your blog or I am going to have to enlarge that budget! Hmm, I like the second one better!!
Heather @ Buried in Books recently posted..The Warrior and The Flower Audio Book Review and Giveaway
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I felt my heartstrings go the moment I started reading your review. If I can fall in love from just that, I can already tell I’ll love this book. Alexi and Boddee sound like amazing characters, and I’m really interested in seeing their relationship and how they work through their issues together. Definitely adding it to my “buy in March” list!
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives recently posted..I’m Taking a Blogging Break
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At first it was just friendship and two broken kids find each other during a time they both thought they had no one else to go to. And I loved the way they friendship formed and then morphed into something more!
Danny recently posted..Heather Finally Reads – Allegiant by Veronica Roth
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I’ve been seeing this book around, but this is the first review that I have read. I didn’t really know what it was about. But after reading this, it looks like it would be heavy yet beautiful and moving. I’m very curious about it now. I think I would definitely want to read this after your review. I hope I remember to pick it up when it releases. 😛
Francine Soleil recently posted..Surreal Surprises (what I got from today’s mail)
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Omfg, thank you so much for posting this! It is gonna be so helpful when I am thinking about going to Lyric Cinema Cafe in Fort Wayne! I am from Warrington so I am not familiar with Fort Collins. Next time I see my family will be much better! Beautiful!
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