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cfallon10's review
4.0
not much plot but very interesting!
reminded me of my fertility clinic days
good unexpected twist
loved the characters and suspense
very current
reminded me of my fertility clinic days
good unexpected twist
loved the characters and suspense
very current
mishale1's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Definitely makes you think about what makes a family a family. We know it’s not always dna.
About ten years ago, Maggie was a young woman with a toddler at home. She wanted to get her life in order, she wanted to go back to school. She has barely talked to her parents since she dropped out of college a few years earlier. She definitely does not want to ask them for help. She also does not want to ask her boyfriend Nick, he is her son’s father but she’s definitely not sure about whether she’ll wind up with him.
Donovan and Chip are a happily married couple. They decide to look for a surrogate to carry children for them. After a talk with the specialists, they are convinced that the smartest thing to do is to take a sample from each of them and implant multiple donor eggs in a gestational carrier. She says it makes sense financially, and time wise, to try to have two babies at once rather than go through the whole surrogacy process twice. She encouraged them not to dna test the babies unless they had to for medical reasons. Knowing both men donated samples means they could just both picture themselves as the biological father of atleast one child.
Of course both men couldn’t help picking up on subtle cues about which child was biologically theirs. Chip can see his appearance mirrored back in Teddy and Donovan has always seen his traits in Kai.
Then one day the boys do a dna related project in school and everything explodes.
I would love to say more about what happened but it’s not on the book cover’s description so I feel like it would be a spoiler.
Let’s just leave it at this: Maggie is contacted by the fertility clinic.
There were a lot of surprises in store. I thought Nick was awful many a time throughout this book but I was surprised sometimes by how he handled the situation. I guess you can’t really predict how anyone would act in this situation.
Very compelling story!
About ten years ago, Maggie was a young woman with a toddler at home. She wanted to get her life in order, she wanted to go back to school. She has barely talked to her parents since she dropped out of college a few years earlier. She definitely does not want to ask them for help. She also does not want to ask her boyfriend Nick, he is her son’s father but she’s definitely not sure about whether she’ll wind up with him.
Donovan and Chip are a happily married couple. They decide to look for a surrogate to carry children for them. After a talk with the specialists, they are convinced that the smartest thing to do is to take a sample from each of them and implant multiple donor eggs in a gestational carrier. She says it makes sense financially, and time wise, to try to have two babies at once rather than go through the whole surrogacy process twice. She encouraged them not to dna test the babies unless they had to for medical reasons. Knowing both men donated samples means they could just both picture themselves as the biological father of atleast one child.
Of course both men couldn’t help picking up on subtle cues about which child was biologically theirs. Chip can see his appearance mirrored back in Teddy and Donovan has always seen his traits in Kai.
Then one day the boys do a dna related project in school and everything explodes.
I would love to say more about what happened but it’s not on the book cover’s description so I feel like it would be a spoiler.
Let’s just leave it at this: Maggie is contacted by the fertility clinic.
There were a lot of surprises in store. I thought Nick was awful many a time throughout this book but I was surprised sometimes by how he handled the situation. I guess you can’t really predict how anyone would act in this situation.
Very compelling story!
rebleejen's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is an interesting and thoughtful story about what it means to be a parent and the importance of our biological ties versus the bonds that are solidified through the long, hard work of caregiving. The ending is a bit like if Jodi Piccoult and M. Night Shyamalan had a baby, and I'm still trying to decide how I feel about it, but ultimately, I guess it works.
robynthereader's review
4.0
While the blurb about the book made me want to read it instantly, I wasn't emotionally prepared for the roller coaster I found myself on as I turned the pages of this gorgeous novel. From surrogacy to queer families, from mental illness to custody battles, there's so much good in this book that tore my heart open time and again. I both hated and loved each of the parents in this novel, and only wish I'd heard more from the three boys whose lives were also dramatically affected by the decisions these adults made. A must-read!
potterandpromises's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
novelsandjava's review
3.0
This is one heart wrenching, emotional yet overall very good book that you wont forget. You get two POV's by getting the couple and the surrogates sides. You learn so much about DNA, birth, family, and technology. Being a parent or soon to be parent you get to learn a lot through this one and what it is like to be or have a family.
Thank you to Booksparks for having gifted me a copy of this book, Definitely think everyone should read this one.
Thank you to Booksparks for having gifted me a copy of this book, Definitely think everyone should read this one.
jkxmilmom88's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
s_eeweaver's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
shelleyann01's review
5.0
He Gets That From Me is heartbreaking...Just heartbreaking. Jacqueline Friedland’s beautifully written novel is compelling and intense. Each character is so fully described that you understand why they make certain choices. Some characters are unlikeable but Hoffman gives enough of their history to make you have some sympathy for them. From the blurb I knew what I would be reading about and knew it wouldn't be a straight forward tale. He Gets That From Me is a surrogacy story, but it is the characters that are the focus of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of Friedland's characterizations.
The difference between the two families, and who are really the parents, is the main theme. Friedland sees it in many layers, not black and white. And in the end...none of it matters. The characters are reduced to pure, desperate emotion. This is an amazing story that made me feel all the feels. All the stars.
Disclosure:
Thank you NetGalley, Jacqueline Friedland and SparkPress for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#HeGetsThatfromMe #NetGalley