How to Be a Normal Person

By: TJ Klune

Narrated by: Derrick McClain

Gustavo Tiberius is not normal. He knows this. Everyone in his small town of Abby, Oregon, knows this. He reads encyclopedias every night before bed. He has a pet ferret called Harry S. Truman. He owns a video rental store that no one goes to. His closest friends are a lady named Lottie with drag queen hair and a trio of elderly Vespa riders known as the We Three Queens.

Gus is not normal. And he's fine with that. All he wants is to be left alone.

Until Casey, an asexual stoner hipster and the newest employee at Lottie's Lattes, enters his life. For some reason, Casey thinks Gus is the greatest thing ever. And maybe Gus is starting to think the same thing about Casey, even if Casey is obsessive about Instagramming his food.

But Gus isn't normal and Casey deserves someone who can be. Suddenly wanting to be that someone, Gus steps out of his comfort zone and plans to become the most normal person ever.

After all, what could possibly go wrong?

©2015 TJ Klune (P)2016 Dreamspinner Press

ALL THE STARS FOR THIS. ALL OF THEM.

Any additional comments?

Oh, Derrick McClain, you hit a home run with this one.

He brought Gustavo Tiberius to life, made Casey Richards so much more than just an asexual stoner hipster, and I loved what he did to make Lottie and We Three Queens so real.

ALL THE STARS FOR THIS. ALL OF THEM.

This. This was...awesome and fantastic and wonderful and heartwarming and touching and sad and funny and just...I want to fangirl all over this so hard. But in a totally not gross way.

Gustavo Tiberius is not normal. After his father, Pastor Tommy dies, Gus settles into a his daily routine. It's very much a wash, rinse, repeat kind of life until the day he and his ferret, Harry S. Truman, walk into Lottie's Lattes and he meets Casey Richards, a stoner hipster who turns his world upside down.

Gus is immediately both repelled and fascinated by Casey...but more time spent with Casey makes Gus want something he's never really thought to want before: he decides he wants to be "normal" so he can be with Casey. What follows is both touching and hilarious as Gus sets about trying to be the best normal person he can be with some interesting results.

This story about a man who accepts everyone, even if he's snarky about it, gave me so many feels. I got a total heart boner. Seriously, this story good touched me all over my heart.

There are three things I expect from a TJ Klune story: 1. To laugh. Oh, how I laughed. I laughed a lot. 2. To have wookie-cry-face at some point. Yep, that happened too. The laughs and the feels in this are more muted than in other TJ stories, but no less magnificent. And 3. To learn something. Which I did. I learned a little more about acceptance, asexuality, and being true to yourself.

I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS ENOUGH. Buy this book. Now. Go. Seriously. Go get this book right now!

Wanna make yourself happier? Listen to this one!

What did you love best about How to Be a Normal Person?

The character "Gus" and how the narrator absolutely brought him to life!

What other book might you compare How to Be a Normal Person to and why?

I have never read another book like this. It seemed like a quirky premise for a rom-com, and boy was it a refreshing read!

What does Derrick McClain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings all the characters to life, but in particular, Gus, Casey, and the customer service rep. at the monopolizing phone & cable company. : )

Who was the most memorable character of How to Be a Normal Person and why?

Gustavo Tiberius, because he is so socially awkward and so decisively contrary to nearly everything in the world! He is one very unique and somewhat sheltered guy that the book revolves around.

Any additional comments?

This book is a work of art! It has got to be the funniest, most enjoyable book I have ever listened to! I don’t know how many times I just laughed out loud at that quirky character, Gus, and I could just picture Casey, the "asexual stoner hipster” that Gus fell in love with. I will definitely be recommending it to friends for a feel-good, fun read! This one will be worth reading and re-reading, as well! Before I was half way through, I had already bought 3 more of Klune's books, and I am really, really looking forward to it!

Loved this story!

This story is so warm and awesome. I get why Casey and the others love Gustavo Tiberius, because he is such an amazing character, and oh my god, it was so funny and great to be in his company in this story. There is little angst, but plenty of feeling.

I haven’t listened to this narrator before, but he did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. Especially Gus. I am definitely looking for more books he has narrated.

TJ Klune + Derrick McClain = Perfection!!

Any additional comments?

There's not much I can say about this one that hasn't already been said. I really, really enjoyed it.... Gus, Casey, the We Three Queens, Lottie, the Three Ironic Amigos, Harry S. Truman, all of them!! A special shout out to Mitzi from Pacific Northwest Cable. She was hilarious! As was Stoner Scrabble, Monkey Island Adventures, and Puppy on a Hot Tin Woof. Oh my god, I can't even type a review without cracking up. But it's not all laughs. The relationship between Gus and Casey is very real. And very sweet. I loved them together. Excellent narration by Derrick McClain! 5 stars all around!!

TJ Klune at his best!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely! And I have, even to people who don't read mm cause it doesn't have any explicit sex scenes. But this book IS THE FUNNIEST, SWEETEST and just darn good! The writing is far superior and even in a comedy TJ brings a bit of angst and feelings. And the narrator is excellent!

What did you like best about this story?

EVERYTHING!

Which scene was your favorite?

I can't honestly pick just one cause it was chalked full of them.

If you could take any character from How to Be a Normal Person out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Gus, definatly Gus

Any additional comments?

Just BUY THIS YOU WON'T BE SORRY

best non-hipster, hipster

oh my gods, this is one of the best things ever.
Gus is so grumpy and Casey is so not and they are just so funny. Where does TJ come up with this stuff? The phone calls with the internet provider? I just can't. The websites he visits and what they say?

A ferret named Harry S. Truman, a dad named Pastor Tommy. We Three Queens that you're just not sure what they are, (sisters, friends, lovers) even til the end, an asexual stoner hipster, and most importantly, Gustavo Tiberius. Hawaiian shirt wearing, scowl face making, Encyclopedia reading, non internetting, non-hipster hipster. I can't wait to listen to this again

Loved!

I love Gustavo Tiberius.
That's it, that's the review.

Okay, apparently Audible needs more words than that...

Derrick McClain was great, he did a wonderful job of bringing all the characters to life.
How to Be a Normal Person was a fantastic listen, all around.

A delight

Weird, funny, and earnest, “How to Be a Normal Person,” had me grinning and cringing (but not too much) in the best way. Both Gus and Casey were deeply relatable. The performer also just had this particular and perfect inflection when saying “What the Hell” and “oh my God.” Cannot recommend this enough, especially for asexual representation!

This book feels like home.

I have listened to this book 3 or 4 times now, and it truly gets better every time.
I wish TJ Klune books never ended, I’m enamored.
The narrator is incredible and makes the whole experience so enjoyable.
You should listen to this book and all of the other books by TJ Klune.

I can't get enough of his books!!

I am positively in love with everything about his books! I hate giving away details about books but all I can say is I love these characters and TJ Klune's humor in his novels are amazing! I end up laughing out loud listening to them and sometimes people look at me crazy for it but oh well. On to his next one.