When we were out of the ordinary
Acceptance is one of the main themes of When we were out of the ordinary. My dear friend and amazing author of psycological thrillers, D. P. Haka, was so kind to review the book for me after reading an Advanced Review Copy.
Reviewed by D. P. Haka on Goodreads
You know when you’re a fan of a certain author and you keep expecting to be wowed by the author’s next book, and then the next one, and so on? This book is proof to me personally that I was right to be Elen Chase’s fan, as I was yet again wowed by how effortlessly she tells a deeply meaningful story, one that feels so familiar yet I could never put into words, at times bare with painful truths and yet light enough to devour in 2-3 sittings.
In this story, we follow Kim with his witty remarks that always seem smart and on point. Everything he does feels like it’s well calculated, well thought of, and not a single thing he does is ‘for nothing’. There’s a reason for that, as we progress on his story.
On the other side, there’s Alessandro with his speak-before-you-think attitude. Everything he does feels spontaneous, carefree, and yet he pays attention to small details. This is probably why he manages to read Kim even when no one else can. But being nemesis to each other, there’s no way things could lead anywhere else, right?
Except they can, if you add a road trip and an extraordinary Italian family/friends to the mix.
I laughed and cried while reading this book. Alessandro is so endearing at times, I see right past his pranks and tattoos all the way to his sweet heart. Kim’s past might make it seem like he’s stoic and strong as a rock, but when something happens that his whole world seems to fall apart, we see his struggles and why he feels like he can never be himself.
Acceptance is a big deal, and this is what the book is all about. To feel like you belong somewhere, to know that you have a place where you can be yourself; are these not what we always seek for in life? Elen Chase explored this theme in such a beautiful way, and when you’re done reading this special book, you’ll know that you, as a reader, have been seen, and you can always just be your true self, as ‘out of the ordinary’ as you are, no matter where in the world you are.