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missykirshner19's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
luuluubuu's review
2.0
Story is very predictable. Sentences read like a 9th graders essay. All in all like a mediocre, boring netflix show.
cavityfila's review
5.0
I just loved this book. It as so well written and well researched, factors I've come to expect from Friedland's writing but this was by far her best book so far. It covers some very touchy subject matter in a manner that was both thought provoking and heart warming. It made me really sit down and think about what I would do in the characters positions and how one can easily argue both sides. The dialogue and thoughts of the characters were very real and believable. You really feel for these people and the untenable position they have been put in, through no fault of their own, but are in just the same. The conclusion was riveting and I closed the book with a huge smile on my face. What more could you ask for!
notwarriors's review
4.0
He Gets That From Me is a dual perspective novel in the point of view of two families. It takes place in a few different places in time.
First we have Maggie. She is a young mom of a toddler who dreams of going to college. She takes an opportunity to carry a baby for a gay couple, Chip and Donovan. Maggie carries the babies (twins) for Chip and Donovan, delivers them and then carries on with her life with her husband and son. The money she got for carrying the babies gives her the opportunity to go to school as she always dreamed.
Then we follow Donovan, who several years in the future has done one of those ancestry-DNA-family-tree things and has just found out that one of their twins, Kai, is not biologically related to anyone in their family. How is that possible if Kai and Teddy are twins? It is a thing apparently. Kai is the biological son of Maggie and her husband, Nick. Does that mean that Kai should move in with Maggie and Nick since he is their biological son? Or should he stay with Chip and Donovan, since they are his parents who have raised him?
It was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times. I quite liked this and read it quickly as I was eager to see what the fate of these two families would be.
First we have Maggie. She is a young mom of a toddler who dreams of going to college. She takes an opportunity to carry a baby for a gay couple, Chip and Donovan. Maggie carries the babies (twins) for Chip and Donovan, delivers them and then carries on with her life with her husband and son. The money she got for carrying the babies gives her the opportunity to go to school as she always dreamed.
Then we follow Donovan, who several years in the future has done one of those ancestry-DNA-family-tree things and has just found out that one of their twins, Kai, is not biologically related to anyone in their family. How is that possible if Kai and Teddy are twins? It is a thing apparently. Kai is the biological son of Maggie and her husband, Nick. Does that mean that Kai should move in with Maggie and Nick since he is their biological son? Or should he stay with Chip and Donovan, since they are his parents who have raised him?
It was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times. I quite liked this and read it quickly as I was eager to see what the fate of these two families would be.
kntaylor1216's review
2.0
I liked the idea of this book so much more than I liked the actual execution of this book. A really original idea, but the minutiae of it dragged me down. Disappointing ending, as it seemed to come out of nowhere.
Down on her luck due to some bad choices, Maggie is broke, and raising her young son with her fiancé. When she sees an ad for surrogacy, she decides to bear children for a gay couple in New York. The year is 2008. And this book was published in 2021. Gay couples aren’t a ‘big deal’ anymore- but Friedland continued to make the sexuality of the adoptive parents a main focus of the novel. When it turns out that the adoptive, and sperm donors to their children, are not biologically related, to one of their sons, all hell breaks loose for both the parents of the boys, and Maggie and her now husband.
Kai and his brother deserved more focus in the book, and given the ending, perhaps Maggie and Nick’s marriage deserved more attention as well.
Down on her luck due to some bad choices, Maggie is broke, and raising her young son with her fiancé. When she sees an ad for surrogacy, she decides to bear children for a gay couple in New York. The year is 2008. And this book was published in 2021. Gay couples aren’t a ‘big deal’ anymore- but Friedland continued to make the sexuality of the adoptive parents a main focus of the novel. When it turns out that the adoptive, and sperm donors to their children, are not biologically related, to one of their sons, all hell breaks loose for both the parents of the boys, and Maggie and her now husband.
Kai and his brother deserved more focus in the book, and given the ending, perhaps Maggie and Nick’s marriage deserved more attention as well.
anthsu's review
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
thepagelady's review
4.0
As a young mother of a toddler Maggie dreams of being a teacher and financial stability. When she finds an ad in the paper offering thousands of dollars for women to willingly gestate other people's babies at first she finds this to be silly! But she can't help but think of all the ways that money would improve her life. After deciding to go for it, it's not long before she is chosen to carry for a married couple from New York Chip and Donovan Rigsdale.
It has been ten years since she gave birth to twins! She has gotten her degree and has built a family of her own. She has everything that she wanted! So why is the fertility clinic asking her for a follow up DNA test?
What really makes a family?
This was a very engaging and thought provoking read! Told from Maggie and Donovans point of view from the present and the past you get a unique view to both sides of the story but also it makes it easier to connect with the characters! It is definitely an emotional read about family unconditional love but also the sacrifices that we make for our loved ones! You really can't help but feel for the characters and become involved with them! But as a mother the twins are the ones that hit me the hardest! This will be one of those books that will have you thinking long after you've finished! Happy reading everyone!
It has been ten years since she gave birth to twins! She has gotten her degree and has built a family of her own. She has everything that she wanted! So why is the fertility clinic asking her for a follow up DNA test?
What really makes a family?
This was a very engaging and thought provoking read! Told from Maggie and Donovans point of view from the present and the past you get a unique view to both sides of the story but also it makes it easier to connect with the characters! It is definitely an emotional read about family unconditional love but also the sacrifices that we make for our loved ones! You really can't help but feel for the characters and become involved with them! But as a mother the twins are the ones that hit me the hardest! This will be one of those books that will have you thinking long after you've finished! Happy reading everyone!
madamepot's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
booksandbedtime's review
4.0
Maggie, a toddler mom, decides to become a surrogate for Donovan and Chip - a happily married gay couple in New York. Maggie needs the money from the surrogacy to go back to school and finish her degree. She knows understands that the babies she’s growing in her belly are not hers - and never questions it.
That is until she gets a call 10 years later saying that one of the twins is biologically hers and her husbands.
I really enjoyed this one. I loved how accepting and thought-provoking it was. What makes a family? Is it DNA and genetics? Is it our choices and who we choose to love? What is right?! The dual perspectives make you question everything. It’s one I thought I had figured out - but hold on, because you don’t!
Thank you BookSparks for the book!
That is until she gets a call 10 years later saying that one of the twins is biologically hers and her husbands.
I really enjoyed this one. I loved how accepting and thought-provoking it was. What makes a family? Is it DNA and genetics? Is it our choices and who we choose to love? What is right?! The dual perspectives make you question everything. It’s one I thought I had figured out - but hold on, because you don’t!
Thank you BookSparks for the book!
rochelleweinstein's review
5.0
Five beautiful stars for this book that tackles one of the most thought-provoking questions...what makes a family? Jackie Friedland has once again kept me turning pages (two day read) and wrestling with-- what would I do? Perfect for book clubs and those looking for a well-written, thoughtful read.