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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
3.5- there were elements of this book I really liked, but I also found the plotting to be overly contrived. So we land at a 3.5. Worth reading, but not in my top.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Laurie Frankel does it again. With Family Family, she delivers a sharp, hilarious, and heartfelt novel about the many ways we define, shape, and hold onto family.
India Allwood, a former Broadway-bound teen turned Hollywood star, is at the center of this story—witty, complicated, and unforgettable. What sets this novel apart is how intentionally it reframes adoption. India doesn’t place her child for adoption because she’s out of options—she does it because she wants to give someone else the joy of motherhood. That nuance is rarely explored in fiction, and Frankel handles it with insight, care, and humor.
Told through alternating timelines and perspectives, Family Family offers a layered and twisty narrative, rich with revelations, past secrets, and moments of laugh-out-loud banter. Frankel’s signature wit shines brightest in the dialogue, particularly early scenes between India and her mother, Sarah. Their exchanges are both hilarious and profound—true highlights of the book.
This novel is about big love, family, and what happens when the truth behind our decisions finally comes to light. It has scandal, it has depth, it has heart—and it keeps you guessing until the final act.
Highly recommended for fans of character-driven stories, smart humor, and modern family narratives.
Technically a 3.5. I love the premise of this book and the message it shares in relatable, funny, sweet ways. It just seemed that the story got a bit too involved and turned in on itself at times. At one point the phrase "Spy Kids, but with adoption" went through my mind. I was glad that the final page clarified the "first love" phrase and that it ended how it ended, but it just took a bit of a convoluted path to get there.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is so heartwarming especially because you see the how adoption and the different types of family dynamics are viewed from a child’s perspective. Beautifully written and executed.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was the perfect book for an audiobook.
There was a lot of greatness in here. Believable characters, real moments, important issues. The writing was great too - easy to laugh at.
My only negative was the different timelines were challenging sometimes, especially at the beginning when I wasn’t fully solid in the characters, and I think probably especially in the audio format. Also, that section about the play and show during the pandemic and the section felt like an unnecessary add-on.
There was a lot of greatness in here. Believable characters, real moments, important issues. The writing was great too - easy to laugh at.
My only negative was the different timelines were challenging sometimes, especially at the beginning when I wasn’t fully solid in the characters, and I think probably especially in the audio format. Also, that section about the play and show during the pandemic and the section felt like an unnecessary add-on.
This was cute but a little bit slow at times, very wholesome though and I like the way it shows the layers of relationship in a very unconventional family
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced