Hi everyone! Today I’m excited to participate in the Bookstagram & Creative Blog Tour for Far From Normal by Becky Wallace! From author Becky Wallace comes a Devil Wears Prada-inspired YA romance, in which “normal girl” Maddie must repair the image of Major League Soccer’s bad boy to ace her internship. Far from Normal releases on September 22nd, 2020 from Page Street Publishing!
Now read on below for a review, a character Fall outfit aesthetic, a character Q&A plus an International giveaway!
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Far From Normal by Becky Wallace
Published by Page Street Kids ISBN: 1645670562
on September 22, 2020
Genres: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 240
Format: ARC
Goodreads
Buy on Amazon|Book Depository|B&N
Source: MTMC Tours, Page Street Publishing
I received this book for free from MTMC Tours, Page Street Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
From Stealing Home author Becky Wallace comes a Devil Wears Prada-inspired YA romance, in which “normal girl” Maddie must repair the image of Major League Soccer’s bad boy to ace her internship. A perfect read for fans of Morgan Matson and Miranda Kenneally.
Maddie McPherson is sick of Normal—both her hometown of Normal, Illinois and being the ‘normal’ sibling. But when she lands a summer internship with a sports marketing firm, she finally has a chance to crawl out of her genius brother’s shadow. Not to mention, a glowing letter of recommendation could secure her admission to her dream college.
But Maddie’s nickname is “CalaMaddie” for a reason, and when the company tasks her with repairing the image of teen soccer phenom Gabriel Fortunato, she wonders if she’s set herself up for embarrassment. Gabriel is a tabloid magnet, who’s best-known for flubbing Italy’s World Cup hopes. As Maddie works with him to develop “pleasant and friendly” content for social media, she also learns he’s thoughtful, multi-talented, and fiercely loyal—maybe even to a fault. Falling for a footballer is exactly how CalaMaddie would botch this internship, but with the firm pressuring her to get the job done, perhaps her heart is worth risking?
What to expect from Far From Normal?
Far From Normal is a cute and sweet contemporary read, just what I was expecting / hoping for (and even a little bit more!).
It’s a book about a young girl landing an internship in a sports marketing firm and it is hands down my favorite aspect of this book. Maddie’s experience in her internship brought back memories of my own time as an intern, from so many relatable moments to the ever constant need to prove yourself worthy. Even though I loved my time as an intern, you do come across impossible co-workers just like Maddie does in Far From Normal.
Another relatable thing? All the second-hand embarrassment!!! Maddie is such a sweet and smart girl, but bad luck seems to follow her around. She always try to make the best of it though so she is very cool that way. I really liked her character.
The we meet Gabriel Fortunato who at first sight might seem like a stuck-up, but in reality he is a really nice guy. I enjoyed the banter between him and Maddie, and I will not forget that scene where they are trying to learn how to make pizza. So entertaining, I loved them! ?❤️
All in all, I thought it was an amazing read! I had fun reading it and it’s a nice window towards the ups and downs of internships ??, not to mention first love and awkward relationships.
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Maddie’s Fall Outfits!
Had so much fun reading this book, I curated Maddie’s internship/work outfit for the Fall season! (After Far From Normal’s summer internship, that is 😉 )
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Character Q&A with Maddie McPherson from Far From Normal!
Hi Maddie, so happy to have you join on this tour! Please tell us a bit about yourself.
Maddie: “Hi! Thanks for having me. I’m Maddie McPherson. I’m from Normal, Illinois. I—”
Interviewer: “Wait, are you Max McPherson’s little sister?”
Maddie (slumps but smiles): “Yep. Everyone knows Max. He’s pretty great.”
Interviewer: “I mean, you look just like him. Are you like him?”
Maddie: “Like super genius wonder boy? Yeah. No. No one’s like Max, but I did get a really cool internship this summer.”
Interviewer: “Oh, but you’re not like going to MIT or writing new apps or—”
Maddie: “No. I don’t do any of those things. He’s spectacular and I’m just, you know, normal. But for my internship this summer, I’m helping handle social media for some athletes.”
Interviewer: “Okay. Any names I’d recognize?”
Maddie (blushes): “Maaaaybe, but I can’t talk about him too much. I can tell you that he’s nineteen, from Italy, and an amazing soccer player.”
Interviewer: “Wait…are you saying you work with the Gabriel Fortunato?”
Maddie: “I…better not say anything else.”
What’s your dream job?
Maddie: “My Aunt Emma runs Velocity—this amazing sports marketing firm. She helps athletes clean up their reputations and redirects their star power for good. It’s always seemed like the coolest job. I totally want to be her when I graduate from college.”
What are some of the things you wish you knew before taking an internship?
Maddie: “This is going to sound a little naïve, but I wish I would have known that not everyone is nice. I know, logically, that adults aren’t always nice because humans and like…human. But I’d always imagined that when employees worked together, you all worked toward the same goal. Man, was I wrong.”
Describe the perfect internship/work outfit:
Maddie: “I do a lot of…ahem…shopping in my Aunt Emma’s closet. She has amazing taste and treats herself to nice things. A lot nicer than what I usually buy at Target or Old Navy. Aunt Em wears a ton of dresses, and by extension so do I.”
“A typical work day outfit would look like this:
Pretty and appropriate, but also made of stretchy material because I really like to be comfortable.”
“But for afterwork activities—like going to soccer games—I try to wear my own clothes. I have ONE pair of jeans that fit me perfectly, so I try to pair it with a fancy top and good shoes (which I totally steal from Emma).”
What are your top three Chicago destinations?
Maddie: Three of my favorite places in Chicago are:
The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool—it’s a nature preserve right in the heart of Lincoln Park. It’s quiet and peaceful, but you can also see some of the Chicago skyline.
Wrigley Field—there’s nothing as awesome as sitting in the bleachers with a hot dog slathered in mustard and watching a game.
The Field Museum—maybe it’s nerdy of me, but I absolutely love the Field Museum. It’s always cool to see the new exhibits they have and learn new things about history.
Tell us about Gabriel Fortunato:
Maddie: “Oh, wow. Where do I start? Everything you’ve heard about Gabriel Fortunato is true. Sort of. He’s an amazing athlete—which is obvious because you don’t start in the World Cup at age 17 without being excellent. Yes, he has a got a bit of nasty on-field temper, but he really, really loves the game. What you don’t know is that he’s also a super talented pianist. And watching him play is like woah.”
Just out of curiosity: if you had to wake up someone, how would you do it?
Maddie: “I think the best/worst way is to let Watford—the 80 pound drooly boxer—jump on their bed and lick their face. He’s sort of adorable and disgusting all at the same time.”
Let’s talk about embarrassing stories! Do you have one to share from Far From Normal?
Maddie: “You want one embarrassing story? Ha. You do know that my nickname is Calamaddie Jane, right? It’s not that I’m disaster prone, per se, but studies have proven that one in 27 people is more likely to crash their bikes or spill their drinks or talk way too much when they’re nervous. Yeah, I’m totally that person. And yeah, all that stuff happens in FAR FROM NORMAL.”
What are you reading right now?
Maddie: “Right now, I’m reading AMERICAN ROYALS. And I totally relate to the characters. Not that my whole life is in front of the media, but I’m around enough people who end up in the tabloids to know that it totally sucks. I feel sorry for anyone who lives their life under the media microscope.”
What’s your favorite movie & why?
Maddie: “I love PITCH PERFECT! The main character, Beca, is like my fictional sister. She knows exactly what she wants and goes after it, even though her parents aren’t 100% supportive. Also, my brother and I exchange one-liners from the movie all the time. (Don’t deny it, Max. You totally love the movie and you know it!)”
Do you have any pets?
Maddie: “I have a younger brother who smells pretty bad some of the time and will bring me an empty bowl when he’s hungry. Does that count? Kidding, kidding. I don’t own a pet, but I care for one a lot. His name is Watford and he’s supposedly a full-bred German Boxer, but I think he’s got to be part elephant or something. He’s giant and heavy and drooly and sweet. Did I mention drooly? He’s a total bed hog but thinks he’s a lap dog.”
What can we expect from you in Far From Normal?
Maddie: “Lots of run-on sentences? No, for reals. When I get nervous or flustered—which happens way more than I’d like to admit—I can’t. Stop. Talking. Please enjoy the show as I word vomit all over myself.”
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Thank you for stopping by our blog, Maddie! We cannot wait for the rest of the world to meet you in Far From Normal!
Intl Giveaway on Instagram!
Head over to my Instagram account where you can enter the tour-wide giveaway to win a hardcover copy of Far From Normal by Becky Wallace! Open internationally.
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Follow the Tour!
September 21
@paperfury – Bookstagram + Blog
September 22
@epochnovels – Bookstagram
September 23
@thereaderandthechef – Bookstagram + Blog
September 24
@book_bound_ – Bookstagram
September 25
@per_fictionist – Bookstagram + Blog
September 26
@findherreading – Bookstagram
September 27
@shelflifechronicles – Bookstagram + Blog
September 28
@theladysparks – Bookstagram
September 29
@nurse_bookie – Bookstagram + Blog
September 30
@storybookend – Bookstagram
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About Becky Wallace
In second grade, Becky Wallace had to sit in the corner because she refused to write anything besides princess stories and fairy tales (and because she talked too much). Her time in isolation gave her plenty of opportunities to dream up the fantasy worlds she’s been dabbling with ever since. She was lucky enough to find her own, real-life prince charming. They have four munchkins and live in a happy little town outside Houston, Texas.
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