I picked up How to Be a Normal Person by T. J. Klune on a friend’s recommendation–and it turned out to be one of the most fun books I’ve read this year, with a serious contender for favorite romantic couple.  This is particularly remarkable considering it’s way, way far out of the usual genres I read.  For one thing it’s contemporary real world.  Also, it’s a homosexual romance involving an asexual stoner hipster.  And it was brilliant.

The story centers around Gus, who has just been marking time in the past few years since his father died.  He lives in a tiny town of 300 people, and runs his late father’s video rental store (reminder: contemporary novel).  Tuesdays are the worst days of the week–it’s 99 cent rental day and the place is packed, with at least four customers coming in.  And then Gus meets Casey, a new arrival in town, who Instagrams everything, spends most of his time stoned, and writes teen paranormal fiction.  Also, he thinks Gus is amazing, which confuses Gus not a little.  But he thinks Casey is amazing too, and decides he has to learn how to be normal for Casey.

Books are usually about the characters for me, and this one is really about the characters.  And the writing style.  Both are hilariously, hysterically funny.  Gus has an inner monologue going of freaked out confusion for much of the book, and it’s awesome.  He is wonderfully secure and insecure at the same time.  He is totally, fully himself–but loses it completely in unfamiliar or nerve-wracking situations (like, say, Casey saying hi when they meet).  He somehow manages to consciously set out to change himself, without changing even a little. Continue reading “Book Review: How to Be a Normal Person” →