Relatively Normal by Whitney Dineen

​ROMANTIC COMEDY/CHICK LIT

Publication date: 10/08/2018
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: No

Guest Review by mom, romance fanatic, and (someday) published author Summer Raines!

If you’re in the mood for funny chick lit that’s lighthearted with almost a diary feel to it, you might go ahead and give this book a read. It wasn’t really for me, but I’ll share what I did and didn’t like so you can decide for yourself.

What I liked
It was incredibly funny in spots! I loved many of the secondary characters and their kooky quirks. 

What I Didn’t Like
The book: While it was entertaining in spots, I didn’t feel a lot of growth or action on behalf of the characters. Yes, things happen, but it felt like a letter I would write to catch a friend up on my life.

The heroine: I just couldn’t connect with Catriona Masterton. I did feel bad for her sometimes, but mostly I wondered why she sounded so unrefined if she’s supposed to be an event planner for New York’s elite. Very unbelievable personality and vocabulary for the job, in my humble opinion. I’m not a grammar nazi. When people say things like “for all intensive purposes” (MY example, NOT in the book) I don’t even correct them. I die a little inside, but I don’t correct unless they’re asking for edits. And this book had some word usage that I couldn’t stand, which injured my reading experience.

She’s been engaged for a year, but she hasn’t supplied her fiancé with stories about how crazy her family is? I don’t buy it. Now they’re going to her parent’s house for Thanksgiving, WITH HIS STUFFY PARENTS, and she doesn’t even warn the straight-laced, regimented guy? That’s crappy of her.

She’s wishy-washy. Will I, won’t I? Should I, Shouldn’t I? “Oh, I know what to do…” then immediately rethinks her decision. Very little backbone on this one. I prefer my heroines be confident in at least one area or decision.

The hero: I hated Ethan for most of the book. I thought he was callous and ridiculous. I’m very glad, however, that I read through to the end because I really started to understand, then root for him.

The ex-boyfriend curveball: (Not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb.) Her family invites the ex-boyfriend and his family to Thanksgiving dinner the first time they meet their future son-in-law? Considering the fact that their daughter has been with Ethan for two years… these parents are assholes! Why would you bring someone in who you think is better when your daughter has made the choice to be with this other man for two years? This is the first time they meet Ethan, so how do they know what he’s like? I personally don’t like that.

The romance: There really isn’t one. Aside from a miniscule amount of relationship growth during the story (by that I mean it’s touched on only a small percentage of the story) between Cat and Ethan, and Cat remembering times with the ex, there’s really not a lot of romance. And no sexy times. Very clean book.

Like I said, most of my complaints could be personal preference, you might love the book. Overall, I didn’t care for it. It’s like a diary of daily events and felt a bit like it was aimed at a middle grade audience. 

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
I would say that this book doesn’t help the stigma at all, but I guess it didn’t add to it either.

Other reading suggestions
We have a few suggestions if you’re in the mood for low angst rom com.

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