CW: People recovering from addication

2.5 Stars ( )

This was listed as a “James Patterson presents” book. I didn’t really think about his involvement in the book I just saw his name and put it on hold. When I begin reading, I realized that James Patterson really does not have anything to do with the story from what I can tell so I wasn’t sure about the book. I have to say I was not disappointed though.
The main character is dealing with adult issues with her father‘s alcoholism and trying to recover while still being a father. As expected there are struggles for him to take over his role as father and authority figure again.
This book has quirky characters, real life situations, and a teenage protagonist. What more could you ask for in a YA book? ( )

I purchased this book from Target to read. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Twelve Steps To Normal by Farrah Penn. Kira is a junior in high school. Her Dad just returned home from rehab and she is excited to go home to her school and her friends after being gone from Texas for eleven months to her Aunt's in Oregon. Only the moment she gets off the plane and her Dad is waiting the resentment begins, and after arriving back home it becomes only worse. Then on her first day of school her best friend shatters her with the worst news ever. So Kira begins a list to set things back to the way they were before she left Texas only she discovers through new people that the way to move forward wasn't to set things back. This story is heartbreaking in more places than one but it is a real issues that too many teens must experience and I am glad I got to read about it. Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Library Thing, Go Read, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Amazon, Twitter @jason_stacie and my blog at readsbystacie.com ( )

"Twelve Steps to Normal" was a fairly ho hum read.. It had an interesting premise, a teenage girl trying to cope with her recovering, alcoholic father, but the book never really delivered. There were some great characters, especially those sharing the house with Kira and her father - Peach, Nonnie and Saylor - and Alex, Kira's closest friend, but Kira herself was just annoying. She was constantly negative and whiny and I hated how she treated those around her. They were all trying to help and support her, but she was continually nasty to them. No matter how hard her father tried, Kira refused to forgive him or give him a second chance. She did improve slightly as the book progressed, but by then I had had enough! ( )