[Review] We Are Totally Normal - Rahul Kanakia

Summary: Nandan’s got a plan to make his junior year perfect, but hooking up with his friend Dave isn’t part of it—especially because Nandan has never been into guys. Still, Nandan’s willing to give a relationship with him a shot. But the more his anxiety grows about what his sexuality means for himself, his friends, and his social life, the more he wonders whether he can just take it all back. Is breaking up with Dave—the only person who’s ever really gotten him—worth feeling “normal” again? (Pub Date: Mar 30, 2020)


A story about discovering your own sexuality and feelings.

3.5.

Nandan didn't intend to be in a relationship with Dave, but he was curious enough about the possibility he might be gay and now he doesn't know how to stop everything that is happening. Or the growing repulse toward Dave, whom he still likes a lot.

I always think it's refreshing to read queer YA books written by men. It might be a me thing, but I feel the majority of those are by women, many of whom aren't even queer. I don't have anything against, because women are the best so the result is usually good. I still like a lot getting books like We Are Totally Normal and experimenting a little of a real male perspective.

This book, in particular, has a weird flow. I think it had to do with the writing style, which sometimes feel a little like conscience flux. Do know it isn't badly written or anything close, I just think it flew a little crazy at times. And I'll be honest, I liked it. I wouldn't want to read many books like that, but being just this one, I appreciated this different bit.

Also, this same weird flow agreed with the main theme: Nandan's quest to knowing himself, what and whom he liked. He's very confused between who he wants to be, who he should be and who he already is. He tries to so hard to fit his group and feel satisfied, he gets completely lost at a point. And is it okay to be? That's a great question to the reader. Is it okay to try to be gay when you consider being gay will make you popular and it's safe to come out and then go back in the closet? There are all sorts of questioning in this story, making it an amazing guide to teenagers and even older people, so they keep their minds open.

But this wasn't a great book. I wasn't into Nandan a lot of the time and most characters left major plotholes when the story ended. I think the writer may have had this great idea to make them rounder but I didn't get it. It felt for most that they would eventually have an arc in a later book, and while that would be cool, this is probably a standalone, so it's a pity we didn't get to know enough of them and it also means they were actually shallow. My major complaint is the depiction of the girls. Why did they all end up so flimsy? Mari seems to nurture a fetiche on gay relationships, Awani just wants to be the queen of high school no matter the cost and objectifies all her relationships for that, Carrie isn't that far behind and the two keep speaking ill of each other to their friends in common... It upset me but at least it wasn't to the point of spoiling my fun. Also I wasn't very sold on the ending, for I'm not so sure Nandan really did come to that conclusion or if he's gonna change his mind. At the same time, I liked how we get there, so I hope it was all for the best.

I recommend it to anyone who's into YA books of self-discovery.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 3 out of 5.