WE'RE ALL DAMAGED BY MATTHEW NORMAN

Credit: goodreads.com

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of We're All Damaged by Matthew Norman from Amazon.com's Kindle First benefit for Prime members in May of 2016.

In this adult fiction book the main character, Andy Carter has moved to New York and is recovering from an unexpected and recent divorce when he is called back to his hometown in Omaha to be with his dying grandfather.

Going back home proves challenging as Andy's self-esteem has taken a hit because his ex-wife divorced him for a paramedic who lived down the street from their marital home. Andy returns home to find that the once-lover is now married to his ex-wife and living in the house she and Andy once owned together. On top of that, his father is possibly having an affair. And his mother is completely wrapped up in furthering her career as a conservative, right-wing talk show, which is causing turmoil in their new posh neighborhood.

While in Omaha, Andy meets the mysterious Daisy who seems to have a personal relationship with his grandfather. She becomes a pivotal character in the development of the story and also Andy's healing process.

This read was quick and light. It gave me a relief from some heavier stuff I had been reading. There was a nice inspirational message for those who have experienced heartbreak. I found many parts of the book to be funny. My only criticism is in the inclusion of the political banter. I don't know that it really added value to the book. It seemed unauthentic and a cheap way to get in some personally-held political viewpoints. Without that, I might have considered giving the book another star.

Recommendation: There's not really a lot to say about this short book. If you're looking for a quick read that will leave you with a smile, I'd recommend picking it up. It would be perfect for weekend or beach reading.

Until next time ... Read on!