Every family has its issues.
For Maddy, life is all about routine. It has to be, to keep her autistic sister happy and healthy. With just Maddy and her mother as Bee’s full time carers, there’s no time in Maddy’s life for complications like friends, let alone a boyfriend.
So when Bee joins a new Riding for the Disabled stable and they meet Albert, the last thing on Maddy’s mind is falling in love.
Some things, she’s about to learn, are outside of our control.
Albert has resigned himself to always being a disappointment to his strict father. When he meets Maddy, he gets a glimpse of what being part of a family can be like, and of the tremendous sacrifices that people will make for the ones that they love.
Differently Normal is a spellbinding story of love that will leave you breathless.
My Review: I have been in a bit of a reading slump this month, my reading mojo went AWOL and every book I started felt a bit “meh”. As April is also Autism Awareness Month and having previously read and enjoyed a couple of books by Tammy Robinson Differently Normal seemed the obvious book to read next.
Almost instantly I am transported into Bee, Maddy and Alberts world. The author brings these wonderful loveable and likeable characters to life and this beautifully written sensitive story about family, love, responsibility is both heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures.
I particularly love Tammy Robinson’s subtle sense of humour which brought a smile to my face even in the saddest moments. The subject matter of living with an autistic family member was written with such sensitivity and described Bee’s way of coping with life and educated the reader at the same time.
I would definitely recommend this book.
About the Author: Tammy Robinson is writer from New Zealand. After years spent working her way round the world on cruise ships and at Club Med resorts (and yes, the rumours are all true) Tammy now lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty with her husband, their two beautiful girls and baby boy, a scatty black Labrador and a grumpy black cat who occasionally requires a two week course of anti-anxiety medication to stop him from pulling his own fur out. Seriously.
When not being drooled/vomited/pooped on, Tammy manages to squeeze in some writing, assisted by copious amounts of coffee and chocolate. (Ok and the odd wine)
Learn more about Tammy and her writing journey at charlieandpearl.wordpress.com
