'Completely Normal (and other lies)' Book Review

Teenage girlhood takes centre stage in the emotive, comedic and beautifully crafted novel Completely Normal (And Other Lies) by Biffy James. 

This Young Adult (YA) book follows Stella Wilde as she falls into a friendship/relationship with Isaac Calder, the most popular guy in school. The problem is Isaac already has a girlfriend: the gorgeous and kind Grace Reyes. When Isaac is killed in a car accident, Stella has to deal with her grief in private, while Grace can publicly mourn. For how long can Stella keep lying to her toxic friends, her divorced parents, and herself about her relationship with Isaac? And how will the truth coming out impact her newfound friendship with Grace?

The book touches on many complex topics; from young love and toxic friendships to grief and depression. These themes are all handled with a wonderful balance of care, nuance and humour, because as Diane (Stella’s therapist) puts it: grief is weird.

The relationship between Stella and Isaac blossoms out of a chance encounter outside Stella’s therapist's office. Fuelled by questions from Isaac’s wonderfully curious younger sister Paris, the two get to know one another and realise that despite existing in different social circles, they get along well. This relationship, which can only exist within the walks from Stella’s therapist’s office to the train station, quickly grows into something neither of them can name. Stella is accustomed to snide comments by her toxic friends, but slowly learns she can be her full self around Isaac — filter-free. As you read, you cheer for Stella as she opens up and shares her vivid inner world with someone else. Isaac likewise finds he can share pieces of himself he can’t with anyone else — not even Grace.

Their conversations dance around the topic of Grace, not daring to break the spell of solace they’ve been able to find in one another. However, cracks form, and your anxiety heightens, as they outgrow the time limits imposed by their short walks to the train station. They begin navigating how to communicate outside this safe bubble — something from the get-go you anticipate won’t end well.

Biffy’s decision to write the story in a close first-person perspective allows you to sympathise with Stella and understand why she falls for this boy. Her thought process is at times messy and her subsequent reactions drastic, but you see every piece leading up to the decisions she makes. There are, however, points in the story where you will lean back and view the unfolding events with a concerned eye as you watch the choices Stella makes, and the actions Isaac doesn’t. Biffy doesn’t pull any punches in this book and allows every character to be poignantly flawed.

While the story focuses primarily on Stella and Isaac’s undetermined relationship and the aftershocks of his death on those left behind, the book is additionally underscored by a strong theme of friendship. Specifically female friendship.

Stella is “friends” with three girls who she befriended in year seven. Five years on, and she’s grown in a different direction to them. However, as much as Stella wishes to leave them and their compliment-insults behind, she knows “you can’t just break up with friends like you can a boyfriend”. So, she toughs it out, resolves herself to quiet agreement, and tries to blend in to escape belittling from Reena, the group's resident Gen Z Mean Girl™️.

This toxic friendship is wonderfully outshone by Stella’s newfound friendship with Grace. While unhealthy for other reasons, their friendship is a far better representation of what a healthy female friendship can look like. Both girls can be themselves and open up in a way each only could with Isaac. Also, Grace admits that while she and Stella don't hate their current friends (well, Grace doesn’t), she does feel like she has outgrown them. However, with no precedent for ending female friendships set, they both remain in their groups until they can hang out at other times away from the jealous judgement of their friends.

Stella and Grace’s friendship reads incredibly naturally thanks to Biffy’s writing. Every scene is layered with things unsaid by both characters. While reading, you can see Grace has gears turning behind her eyes and is careful with what information she shares with Stella, especially during the early phases of their friendship. Biffy has written the development of their friendship — from acquaintances, to being paired for a school project, to friends — incredibly well. Grace is a fully fleshed-out character with her own motivations, aspirations, and secrets.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for a funny-serious Australian YA novel about female friendships, messy characters, and complex emotions. I highly recommend you add it to your TBR pile and book your free ticket to hear Biffy James speak at the Brisbane Writers Festival 2024.

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Biffy James, author of Completely Normal (and Other Lies), will be at Love YA Day on June 1st in conversation with Megan Williams (Let’s Never Speak of This Again) in a session moderated by Jane Sullivan. Tickets are free but places are limited so book your tickets fast!