Teenage DREAMS
THIS KIWI NOVEL SHINES A LIGHT ON YOUNG LOVE
Make way for a hot new Kiwi writing talent! Actually, Tammy Robinson isn’t all that new because she’s been self-publishing her stories for years, but now they’ve gone mainstream. Differently Normal will be on sale in bookshops in the UK and Australia, as well as here in New Zealand.
Tammy is a natural storyteller who writes the kind of books that make you laugh, cry and everything in between. She’s sort of a Kiwi answer to romance novelist Nicholas Sparks.
Differently Normal is about a young woman named Maddy. She’s coping with a charming but irresponsible mother, caring for her autistic younger sister and working in a dead-end job to help pay the bills. She can’t seem to have a “normal” life – whether that means going for after-work drinks with her friends or following them to university.
When she meets Albert, there is no way she’s interested in falling in love. Maddy doesn’t have the time or energy for a relationship. And Albert has problems of his own – an impossible-to-please father, an unhappy mother and a broken heart. As soon as he has saved enough money, he’s planning to escape and go travelling.
It doesn’t seem like a recipe for romance. Nevertheless, the pair end up going on a fairly disastrous date. Will they fall in love? Will they stay together forever? Clearly I’m not going to give away the ending!
This is a poignant tale, written in a lively and engaging style. Tammy pulls off a tricky balancing act between gritty reality and heart-warming good humour, and gives us characters to care about.
While it’s set in New Zealand, the Kiwi-ness is subtle here – there’s just the odd fantail and silver fern to anchor the reader. This is the sort of book that might have been set anywhere, really. It’s a universal story of happiness and heartbreak.
If I have got one criticism, it’s that Albert is a teensy bit too perfect. He’s gorgeous, sensitive, caring and an amazing surfer – and I’m not sure I’ve met many (if any) real-life guys who would stack up to all that.
But that’s just a minor niggle. This is a thoroughly enjoyable tale that, while it seems to be suited to a young adult reader, book lovers of all ages will adore.