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  • Just an Ordinary Family

  • By: Fiona Lowe
  • Narrated by: Rebecca Macauley
  • Length: 16 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (274 ratings)

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Just an Ordinary Family

By: Fiona Lowe
Narrated by: Rebecca Macauley
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Publisher's Summary

Liane Moriarty meets Jodi Picoult in this tensely negotiated story of family ties, betrayal, and sacrifice.

Every family has its secrets....

Alice Hunter is smarting from the raw deal life has thrown her way: suddenly single, jobless, and forced to move home to her parents' tiny seaside town. And now she faces an uncomfortable truth. She wants her twin sister Libby's enviable life.

Libby's closest friend, Jess Dekic, has been around the Hunter family for so long she might as well be blood. She's always considered herself a sister closer to Libby than Alice ever could be....

Libby Hunter has all of life's boxes ticked: prominent small-town doctor, gorgeous husband, and two young daughters. But when she is betrayed by those she loves most, it reveals how tenuous her world is....

For Karen Hunter, her children are a double-edged sword of pain and pride. She's always tried to guide her girls through life's pitfalls, but how do you protect your children when they're adults?

As the family implodes, the fallout for these four women will be inescapable....

Best-selling Australian author Fiona Lowe wields a deft hand, creating utterly addictive storytelling that will have you questioning your own perceptions of what family is.

Praise:

"Fiona Lowe weaves an extraordinary story of loss, love, and forgiveness." (Glam Adelaide)

"If you loved Big Little Lies, you'll want to devour Fiona Lowe's Just an Ordinary Family next." (Mamamia)

"Drama, upheaval and family secrets feature in the latest novel by Fiona Lowe, the undisputed queen of Australian small-town fiction...a moving character-driven tale that steadily draws you into its thrall." (Canberra Weekly)

©2020 Fiona Lowe (P)2020 HarperAudio

Critic Reviews

"Fiona's insight into the fickle nature of life, the way relationships evolve, what a tough gig parenting can be and how best intentions can so easily come undone makes it simple to identify with her characters and lends an authentic resonance to this roller-coaster story." (Australian Country)

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What listeners say about Just an Ordinary Family

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Tried by couldn’t listen to the narrator

Not sure if the story is a 1 star or 5. Sadly, the woman reading the book is unpalatable, I couldn’t get through an hour.
Such a shame.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

LOVED!

Wow this was a roller coaster of emotion! Loved every second and didn’t predict anything!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Okay

There are some interesting characters in this book but overall it was a bit drawn out. Some of the plot twists were quite obvious too. I also found the narrator's voice a bit annoying, like really whispery a lot of the time. Having said that I did end up finishing all 16 hours of it and it tied things together nicely at the end so overall 3+ stars.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book

I really loved reading this book. It was tense in parts but also emotional and funny with laugh out loud moments. it constantly kept me coming back for more.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great story to get hooked on.

11 hours is not wasted on this story. it's in depth insightful and entertaining. Unexpected turns. You go on a journey with the characters. I had a movie going on in my imagination. Loved it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Caz
  • 07-09-2020

Enjoyable and well paced

This is a very pleasant listen, the narrator is enjoyable and the story meanders at a good pace. It's not revelationary, not particularly suspenseful, but the plot twists are admirably delivered and believable. I liked the characters, I felt like I knew them and their seaside town was familiar. I laughed a little, had a good cry and all up enjoyed this book from start to finish.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Twists and Turns

Loved the multi dimensional story! Many twists and turns. A little long in parts but all came together. Certainly wouldn’t forward it as much of the plot sneaks up on the listener.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Heartfelt and thought provoking

the storylines cover many different joyous occasions and hurdles faced by families. Well written and enjoyable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just An OrdeneryFamily byFiona Lowe 💜

I really enjoyed this book it was happy and Sad and to loose a child is devastating my son 3 months 6 day SIDS ...Life can be hard even harder when you loose a child Thank you everyone 💜💕💞💓❤💖🖤💗💙💚

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

amazing

I love how Rebecca Macauley narrates your novels. The stories within the story amazing

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.