Review: No Ordinary Life by Suzanne Redfearn

Title: No Ordinary Life

Author: Suzanne Redfearn

Published: February 2016, Grand Central Publishing

Format: ARC E-copy, 400 pages

Source: Netgalley via Publicist

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.

My thoughts: This is Suzanne Redfearn’s second novel and I found myself once again completely pulled into her story. Once I started reading this, I really had a hard time putting the book down.

This is an interesting look at child actors from a single mother’s perspective. I really felt sorry for Faye at times but then there were just as many times that I wanted to smack her upside the head to knock some sense into her – don’t you love when you find characters like that? Faye is struggling to make ends meet – her husband has left her, she has three kids and she’s decided to go live with her mom and while out looking for a job, her youngest daughter, who happens to be four years old, starts dancing with a street artist. Someone videos it, puts it on YouTube and next thing Faye knows, she’s getting a call from an agent.

Suddenly all Faye’s problems are answered. Her daughter lands a commercial and then quickly gets a role on a sitcom. But can all this money really save her? What about her other children? What about her ex-husband? 

This book will have you caught up in the roller-coaster of a ride that Faye finds herself in. It’s so easy to get caught up in the easy life that the money brings, but at what cost? Yes, Molly, her youngest doesn’t seem to be phased by all the fame, and luckily it seems to have helped her son, but what about her oldest daughter? What is it doing to Emily? 

There were some really cringe-worthy moments as well as some heart-warming moments throughout the book. Faye learns some tough lessons on what it means to be a good mom, having the courage to make the hard decisions even though you don’t want to. 

This was a well-thought out book and I especially loved the author’s note at the end of the book where Suzanne Redfearn explains where she got the idea of this story. I loved hearing where authors get their ideas and the research they do when they are writing, even when they are writing fiction. This was another enjoyable read from a new favorite author!!!