We Are Totally Normal

Naomi Kanakia's novels include We Are Totally Normal and Enter Title Here. Additionally, her stories have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, Clarkesworld, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Lightspeed, Indiana Review, and Nature. She has received fellowships from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and the Lambda Literary Foundation. Originally from Washington, DC, Naomi now lives in San Francisco.

"A touching novel about all the confusions and intensities of high school, from sexuality to peer pressure... The novel deftly negotiates the complexities of teenage friendships and relationships with insight and compassion." — Teen Vogue"We Are Totally Normal downplays its literary sensibility with lighthearted humor and smart, bantering dialog. This book is a great choice for readers interested in LGBTQ+ and QPOC romance and post-Millennial coming-of-age stories." — them.us"With its fast, dialogue-driven pacing, humor, and finger on the youthful pulse, this book will find an eager audience in queer and questioning teens, especially those of color." — Booklist"[We Are Totally Normal's] strength lies in the normalization of negotiating the complex social structure of teenage friendships and relationships." — Kirkus Reviews"This is not a typical coming-out narrative.... The most interesting parts of the book deal with Nandan’s conflicted feelings about masculinity and gendered friendships, as he struggles to understand the power dynamics among his male friends and longs for close platonic friendships with girls." — School Library Journal"This story could be what a reader out there needs." — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)"Told through the eyes of one of the most endearing and real characters I’ve ever met, We Are Totally Normal is validating, entertaining, and filled with love." — Kacen Callender, Stonewall award-winning author of This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story&#8220Nandan’s fresh perspective is a gift—I can’t wait for readers to experience it!” — M-E Girard, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of Girl Mans Up“A brilliant coming-of-age story. Every teen needs this book.” — Julian Winters, award-winning author of Running With Lions“An endearing, messy, and honest exploration of identity that reminds us that discovering who we aren’t is as important as discovering who we are.” — Shaun David Hutchinson, author of We Are the Ants and Brave Face"An engrossing and palpable story that is in no rush to have all the answers, and that's totally normal."  — Sara Farizan, award-winning author of Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel“Incisive, funny, and gloriously messy.” — Kelly Loy Gilbert, author of Picture Us in the Light“A perfect story about the complications of sexuality and identity. I adored this book from beginning to end.” — Mason Deaver, author of I Wish You All the Best“A fresh and rare exploration of sexuality, identity, friendship, and love.” — Dahlia Adler, author of Under the Lights"Raw, intimate, and unflinchingly honest, We Are Totally Normal fully embraces the messiness and unpredictability of the human heart.  — Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of Firsts, Last Girl Lied To, and All Eyes on Her"One of my favorite things about how much queer YA we get these years is that we’re finally allowed to have the messy stuff, the representation that isn’t the neatest and most pristine and clear cut.... Is Nandan bisexual? Is he in it to be more interesting? Is he always going to be “different” now, even more than before? So many questions and no great answers, but exploring the complexity of it all is the beauty of this book." — LGBTQ Reads