Review: NO ORDINARY LIFE by Susan Redfearn

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Pub.Date: February 2, 2016

Genre: Adult Fiction

Source: Print ARC from publisher

Rating: 4.5 Stars

GOODREADS

 Blurb:
Suzanne Redfearn delivers another gripping page-turner in her latest novel, a story about a young mother's fight to protect her children from the dangerous world of Hollywood. Faye Martin never expected her husband to abandon her and her three children . . . or that she'd have to struggle every day to make ends meet. 

So when her four-year-old daughter is discovered through a YouTube video and offered a starring role on a television series, it seems like her prayers have been answered. But when the reality of their new life settles in, Faye realizes that fame and fortune don't come without a price. 

And in a world where everyone is an actor and every move is scrutinized by millions, it's impossible to know who to trust, and Faye finds herself utterly alone in her struggle to save her family. Emotionally riveting and insightful, NO ORDINARY LIFE is an unforgettable novel about the preciousness of childhood and the difficult choices a mother needs to make in order to protect this fragile time in her children's lives.

Review:

When I was younger, all I ever wanted to be was an actress on tv. As I got older I still wanted it, but it just wasn't my personality to be center of attention. So instead, I daydreamed about it and created a whole fictional world just for me. Well, none of my daydreaming could ever have come close to what working in the entertainment business is truly like. It's not as glamorous as one may think; its long, at times boring, and privacy is a word that has no meaning. 

What we, as normal everyday living people see is money, power, and beauty. Of course, that's what they want is to see. It's not like that. It's not like that at all. No Ordinary Life opened up my eyes and had me thinking about my own children. The whole time it had my anxiety up because it just wasn't as fabulous as I pictured it to be. It seemed darker, scary, and depressing. I only say depressing because it seems like a place where you can trust no one. Everyone is out for themselves. 

That's sad. The moment Faye's husband left his family behind, Faye has been struggling to makes ends meet. What was supposed to be a week on the road for his job, Sean just decided to never come back. It's been months with nothing from Sean, so Faye finally decides to do something about it. She moves away from what she and her kids call home, to go live with her mother in L.A. While Faye is looking for a job, Molly becomes a YouTube sensation when she's discovered singing and dancing; pretty much being cute as hell. 

The world instantly loved her. Soon, a top Hollywood agent contacts Faye in regards to the beautiful little Molly. There starts the beginning of things to come. Change. Money. New cars. Clothes. Things they never were able to afford before, it's all there's for the taking. But things aren't always what they seem. Faye starts seeing the not so glamorous side to Hollywood, her ex wants back in their lives, her oldest daughter Emily hates her, and her son Tom with his disorder. 

I enjoyed this story a lot. I think the author wrote realistically; not that I would know or anything, since I've never known anyone in the entertainment business. I can only go off documentaries I've watched and books I've read. And I think I'd really just like to stick to the Hollywood in my head. The one where everyone is nice and lives happily ever after. Ha! Just kidding. But I do thank the entertainment industry for keeping me, well, entertained. Regardless of what goes on behind the scenes, Hollywood does a great job of keeping us on our toes. 

There are a lot of things I disagree with. Things that I would have done differently if this happened to me and my family. Like Faye, I'm a single mother with three kids. I say single only because my husband isn't around right now. Anyways, I thought about my holster an awful lot while reading. I don't have favorites, cause that's just wrong, but if any of my children had that "star" power, it would be my middle child. 

She's very outgoing, always smiling, very funny; she's only two. Not only that but she doesn't look like me or my other two kids - she's a blonde, curly Shirley Temple type. My son, is too shy and my youngest, well, she's just very serious and cautious. I can't ever see her wanting to be in front of a camera entertaining the masses. Back to my point - if my two year old crazy, funny girl, were to somehow get "discovered", i just don't know what I would do. 

Would I be selfish if I said no? Would I be selfish if I said yes? Faye made a decision for her family that best suited them. But me? I just would be able to do that to my kids. I want to take the time to personally thank the publishers for providing me with an early copy to read and review. With eyes opened wide, I'll never look at a tv show or movie the same way again. A lot of hard work goes into it! Overall, I totally recommend this thought provoking, serious read. It's intelligent, enlightening, and entertaining all at the same time. 

*Review copy given for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. When I was younger, all I ever wanted to be was an actress on tv. As I got older I still wanted it, but it just wasn't my personality to be center of attention. So instead, I daydreamed about it and created a whole fictional world just for me. Well, none of my daydreaming could ever have come close to what working in the entertainment business is truly like. It's not as glamorous as one may think; its long, at times boring, and privacy is a word that has no meaning. 

What we, as normal everyday living people see is money, power, and beauty. Of course, that's what they want is to see. It's not like that. It's not like that at all. No Ordinary Life opened up my eyes and had me thinking about my own children. The whole time it had my anxiety up because it just wasn't as fabulous as I pictured it to be. It seemed darker, scary, and depressing. I only say depressing because it seems like a place where you can trust no one. Everyone is out for themselves. 

That's sad. The moment Faye's husband left his family behind, Faye has been struggling to makes ends meet. What was supposed to be a week on the road for his job, Sean just decided to never come back. It's been months with nothing from Sean, so Faye finally decides to do something about it. She moves away from what she and her kids call home, to go live with her mother in L.A. While Faye is looking for a job, Molly becomes a YouTube sensation when she's discovered singing and dancing; pretty much being cute as hell. 

The world instantly loved her. Soon, a top Hollywood agent contacts Faye in regards to the beautiful little Molly. There starts the beginning of things to come. Change. Money. New cars. Clothes. Things they never were able to afford before, it's all there's for the taking. But things aren't always what they seem. Faye starts seeing the not so glamorous side to Hollywood, her ex wants back in their lives, her oldest daughter Emily hates her, and her son Tom with his disorder. 

I enjoyed this story a lot. I think the author wrote realistically; not that I would know or anything, since I've never known anyone in the entertainment business. I can only go off documentaries I've watched and books I've read. And I think I'd really just like to stick to the Hollywood in my head. The one where everyone is nice and lives happily ever after. Ha! Just kidding. But I do thank the entertainment industry for keeping me, well, entertained. Regardless of what goes on behind the scenes, Hollywood does a great job of keeping us on our toes. 

There are a lot of things I disagree with. Things that I would have done differently if this happened to me and my family. Like Faye, I'm a single mother with three kids. I say single only because my husband isn't around right now. Anyways, I thought about my holster an awful lot while reading. I don't have favorites, cause that's just wrong, but if any of my children had that "star" power, it would be my middle child. 

She's very outgoing, always smiling, very funny; she's only two. Not only that but she doesn't look like me or my other two kids - she's a blonde, curly Shirley Temple type. My son, is too shy and my youngest, well, she's just very serious and cautious. I can't ever see her wanting to be in front of a camera entertaining the masses. Back to my point - if my two year old crazy, funny girl, were to somehow get "discovered", i just don't know what I would do. 

Would I be selfish if I said no? Would I be selfish if I said yes? Faye made a decision for her family that best suited them. But me? I just would be able to do that to my kids. I want to take the time to personally thank the publishers for providing me with an early copy to read and review. With eyes opened wide, I'll never look at a tv show or movie the same way again. A lot of hard work goes into it! Overall, I totally recommend this thought provoking, serious read. It's intelligent, enlightening, and entertaining all at the same time. 

*Review copy given for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

 

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About the Author: 

Born and raised on the east coast, Suzanne moved to California when she was fifteen. She currently lives in Laguna Beach with her husband, their two kids, a Cockapoo named Cooper, and a cat named Martha. They own a restaurant in town called Lumberyard, (LBLumberyard.com).

Prior to becoming an author, Suzanne was an architect specializing in residential and commercial design.

 

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Suzanne Redfearn