One Ordinary Day at a Time

By Sarah J. Harris

What it’s about?

From Goodreads:

Behind every ordinary day, behind every ordinary story, there’s an extraordinary one just waiting to happen…

The uplifting, original new novel from the award-winning author of The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder.

TWO PEOPLE

Simon Sparks is the man you know from behind the counter at the local Prince Burger (‘hold the gherkin!’), fry shovelling, shelf stacking, hiding away from the world. And Jodie Brook is the single mum you see crossing the street with her son Zak – always chasing a dream she can’t reach.

ONE LIFE

What if life could be so much more? When Simon and Jodie’s worlds collide, it upends everything they know. But in chaos comes opportunity. And for every person who’s ever doubted them, they find someone who’ll finally believe…

ONE ORDINARY DAY AT A TIME

From the award-winning author, Sarah J. Harris, comes a warm, uplifting story about ordinary people, extraordinary tomorrows, and all the ways that life can surprise us…

What I think:

Oh my goodness!

I loved The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder and this is equally wonderful.

Jodie and Simon are such brilliant drawn characters that I was fully invested in their story from page one and could not put this book down.

Jodie is so resilient – overcoming the tragedies of childhood and domestic violence, she is determined to do whatever it takes to make life better for her son. She is witty and sarcastic, intelligent and empathetic.

The Jon job at her local burger bar may not be glamorous but it fits in around her college course and her child care. She can also use the free food vouchers when money is tight.

There she meets Simon. He is gifted and mathematical- a tortured genius. Who, despite his education, is also scarred by his childhood and super competitive father who pushed him to be brilliant from a young age.

As the friendship between Jodie and Simon begins to develop they find that each of them is revealing more of their true self to the other with unexpected consequences. Learning to trust people again and make friends does not come naturally to either of them and some of the secrets are still incredibly painful.

I loved this book.

It’s so poignant and heart-warming. And it’s so positive. Harris’s characters, while remaining true to themselves and the integrity of the story, get their second chances. But they work hard for them.

Thank you Netgalley for my gifted copy of this wonderful story.