Anything But Ordinary by Lara Avery

Anything But Ordinary by Lara Avery
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336



Summary: An inspiring, bittersweet love story about making every day count.

Bryce remembers it like it was yesterday. The scent of chlorine. The blinding crack and flash of pain. Blood in the water.

When she wakes up in the hospital, all Bryce can think of is her disastrous Olympic diving trial. But everything is different now. Bryce still feels seventeen, so how can her little sister be seventeen, too? Life went on without her while Bryce lay in a coma for five years. Her best friend and boyfriend have just graduated from college. Her parents barely speak. And everything she once dreamed of doing—winning a gold medal, traveling the world, falling in love—seems beyond her reach.

But Bryce has changed too, in seemingly impossible ways. She knows things she shouldn’t. Things that happened while she was asleep. Things that haven’t even happened yet. During one luminous summer, as she comes to understand that her dreams have changed forever, Bryce learns to see life for what it truly is: extraordinary.

My Thoughts: I did not know what this book was about when I first starting reading it. I remember reading the summary a few months ago and knowing I wanted to read it, thats it.

I am so happy I read it! We are introduced to Bryce who loves swimming. She was 17 years old when this happened. She’s a diver and one day during competition she dives and never wakes up. She is in a coma for five years. Yes, you read that right, 5 whole years. She wakes up and everyone has moved on. Her best friend is dating her boyfriend, her younger sister is now 17 years old.

She wakes up, and is in a state of shock, but in my opinion, she handled the whole thing pretty well. She seemed very mature and ready to get back on her feet (literally). Her family has changed so much and her best friend and boyfriend have graduated high school, graduated college, and went backpacking, and are ready to start their lives together in another state. Everything is different.

There is also a new guy in Bryce’s life named Carter. He is attending medical school and he worked at the hospital. He really complicates Bryce’s feelings.

Bryce keeps having flashbacks and premonitions. She goes into a state of dreams.

I’m not sure what else to say about this, the ending was a bit off for me. It was confusing at first and took a minute to understand it. Maybe that was the point. I didn’t love the ending. But I got the point, I really did.

The characters were easy to like, and Bryce really made me feel for her. I understood everything she was going through and the challenges she faced.

Overall: I honestly loved this one, despite its few flaws, and yes there were a few. But it was still a beautiful story.

Cover: It’s very blue and I love that the girl is diving! This is the cover I would pick for the book, it really draws you in and makes you want to read it! 

What I'd Give It: