Hello! I’m here to talk about a heartwarming and humorous tale I had the opportunity to read early. *And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.*
I’ll be completely honest, I knew absolutely nothing about The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman. It’s an adult fiction / contemporary novel by Julietta Henderson that follows Norman and his mother, Sadie, as they travel through Scotland to try and accomplish a five-year plan a little ahead of schedule. I was aware this book was releasing soon (at least in the U.S, it was originally published January 5th, 2021 in Australia), so I started it without looking at the synopsis, and then I was just along for the ride. I wasn’t expecting to be so moved by a twelve year old and his single mom on an adventure, but I was completely captured from the first page.
Twelve-year-old Norman and his best friend, Jax, have their sights set on performing their comedy duo set at the Edinburgh Fringe when they turn fifteen. The two have been inseperable since they first met, and while they may seem like polar opposites they bring out the best in each other. But then Jax dies suddenly, and Norman and his mom, Sadie, feel lost without his presence in their lives. One night, the two decide to pursue this grand plan for Norman to perform his comedy act in Edinburgh that summer, and they embark on an adventure that leads them to open mics, new friends, and maybe even finding Norman’s father after all these years on their own. *content warnings for child death and suicide*
I really loved how we got chapters from both Sadie and Norman’s point of view, as it really allowed us to explore just how much losing Jax is affecting them. I also don’t know if this was intentional of not, but in Norman’s chapters there are no quotation marks, which, for me, really helped me envision a child telling me a story. Norman is lost without his best friend – Jax was always the one to deliver the punch-lines, the funny guy with perfect timing, the one who drove him out of his comfort zone and sometimes got them both into trouble but would leave with a smile on their faces and a story to tell. Now he wants to honor Jax’s memory, but he’s scared that he’s not good enough, and never will be again without his right-hand man. Sadie has raised Norman on her own since he was born, as a flurry of one-night stands left her unsure of who his father was. She watched him be ostracized because of his introverted nature, and his psoriasis, until one day a loud-mouthed boy decided he wanted Norman as a best friend, and nothing could have made her happier. Now that loud-mouthed boy died too soon, and there’s not much she can do to take away her son’s pain and hurt, even though she would do anything to make him feel better. So she [unwillingly, and sort of by accident] enlists the help of coworker and friend, Leonard, to help fulfill her boy’s new five-year plan, give tribute to Jax, and unravel the mystery behind his father. This novel is a road trip absolutely full of heart and tenderness, sprinkled with humor and emotion. Along the way, Norman finds friends and a way to smile even through losing someone special, and Sadie overcomes her past mistakes and realizes she has given her all to be the best mother for her son. Everyone needs a friend like Leonard – not only a mastermind and wiz with computer graphics, social media, excel sheets, and google maps, but also a great listener and someone who isn’t afraid to point out when you’re wrong. I really enjoyed exploring Sadie’s past with each of the four possible men that could be Norman’s dad, and seeing the varying reactions they have when presented with news of a lost son. I will say, towards the later half of the book, the story started to get a bit wild, and I appreciated its unpredictability (which kept me on my toes), but I found it a bit too much for the type of narrative it had already established. The ending chapter from Norman’s perspective, though, was such a great ending, and really captured the true essence of the novel – a tender tale family, friends, love in all its varieties, and learning to live in the present.
In conclusion, I absolutely whole-heartedly recommend this book if you’re in need of a heartwarming story about single-motherhood and working to make your dream come true. I didn’t have any expectations going into this novel, but I truly hope others give this one a chance. The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman was released in North America on April 13th, 2021, so please join me in wishing it a happy publication week, and consider picking yourself up a copy if you’re interested. *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, MIRA, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Where to find The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Julietta Henderson’s site
Harlequin
Thoughts About Things 