Wish I could feel better about sequels.

Ordinary World
By: Elisa Lorello

Genre: Casual Fiction, Slight Romance, Bargain Bin
Content: PG-13
Grade: B-
Sticking with the Author: As of now, she has written no other works of fiction

Coming off my bargain bin high after finding Faking It a few weeks ago, I would have to say I was slightly disappointed with the follow-up in Ordinary World. I was originally sad to let all the characters go and even missed them a little, which is unusual for me as I don't often get too attached. Now, part of me wishes I had left them where they were.

In Ms. Lorello's defense, her style and word choice was still excellent. I had many read out loud moments again in the sequel. I was truly impressed, yet again, with the language, the cadence and feel. But though her story arc in Faking It flailed somewhat and was definitely unbelievable at times, I felt Ms. Lorello had stayed true to real life in the end. Things are messy. In the end of Ordinary World, it was that the author tried too hard to give readers the ending most probably craved after the first novel.

I do give extra credit for the fact that her book opens and spends a lot of time defying the concept of happily ever after. Sometimes life just sucks and people die. Andi has been happily married to Sam for six years when the book opens and quickly loses him in a car crash. She loses her mind with grief, can no longer function and finds joy in nothing. Her happiness had been so wrapped up in Sam that it seems she is now empty. It's a scary concept that many of us can relate to, especially when you have the privilege of being married to your best friend. It would be hard believe that their end wouldn't be your end too.

I like that Andi is broken and she stays broken, though I did want to smack her often enough. Lorello does not give us a cure for what ails her. But as the time moves on, Andi tries to pick herself up. She goes to Italy on a vacation that was to be a surprise from Sam for the both of them. She is reunited with Devin (aka hot escort) from the last book, whose name is actually David (Devin was his hot escort name) in a bathroom in Rome.

Their romance rekindles, sort of. Even when they are alone, there is always three people in the room. Though Sam occupies very little page time alive, his presence is felt through the entire book. He is always there. The Andi she has become while being married to Sam feels like she is cheating on her husband when she is with David (the version of Devin that wants to be with her and is no longer inaccessible)- so she kinds of hedges her bets and tries to be friends with Devin instead. The use of the two names throughout the book is a not-so-subtle attempt to divide the character in half, to show the before and after of both their friendship and David/Devin's personality. Clever perhaps initially, but it gets to wear on the reader once it surpasses its usefulness.

David's understanding of Andi's situation was as impressive as it was unbelievable, and I had a difficult time believe it was he same man (not that six years can't change you).

The story was still above average and the writing was incredible. I am anxious to see if Ms. Lorello sticks with fiction. I'll be happy to pick up another title she pens.