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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
3.5 this book felt chaotic to read, which I think was the point. I liked both alternating stories, but felt like they got too wordy at times.
I took my time with this one (especially since I didn’t finish in time and then had to wait on hold for a few weeks). The book shows the complex perspectives of family and portrayals of adoption. The child-child and child-adult dynamics were incredible. It was nothing like I’ve read before.
3.85 Stars - Rounded Up to 4.
"Sometimes less is more, but not with family. With family, more is more."
Overall, I really enjoyed this heartwarming story about adoption and family. I read Laurie Frankel's book "This Is How It Always Is," and I was looking forward to the strong character development and simple yet thought-provoking writing style that hooked me in the last book I read of hers. I appreciate how Laurie Frankel humanizes hot-button issues in an impactful way. For the most part, she delivered. I thought India was a powerful character and I was instantly hooked by her story. Although I am not a mother and have little experience with adoption, the author's note put a lot of perspective on the story for me. However, I think that the "more is more" approach should not necessarily apply to the plot. While I was really into India's story, I thought that the 3rd person POV coupled with switching timelines made the overall plot disjointed at times and it was harder to get to know the characters in greater depth. I also thought that the book took me longer to get through than I would have liked - I think parts towards the end describing the longevity of the kids' travel could have been cut for length.
I think this book is definitely going to be talked about in 2024 and will be a strong contender for book club picks. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, and I look forward to discussing this book with others!
"Sometimes less is more, but not with family. With family, more is more."
Overall, I really enjoyed this heartwarming story about adoption and family. I read Laurie Frankel's book "This Is How It Always Is," and I was looking forward to the strong character development and simple yet thought-provoking writing style that hooked me in the last book I read of hers. I appreciate how Laurie Frankel humanizes hot-button issues in an impactful way. For the most part, she delivered. I thought India was a powerful character and I was instantly hooked by her story. Although I am not a mother and have little experience with adoption, the author's note put a lot of perspective on the story for me. However, I think that the "more is more" approach should not necessarily apply to the plot. While I was really into India's story, I thought that the 3rd person POV coupled with switching timelines made the overall plot disjointed at times and it was harder to get to know the characters in greater depth. I also thought that the book took me longer to get through than I would have liked - I think parts towards the end describing the longevity of the kids' travel could have been cut for length.
I think this book is definitely going to be talked about in 2024 and will be a strong contender for book club picks. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, and I look forward to discussing this book with others!
I really enjoyed this book and also acknowledge that some of the depictions of adoption are problematic and centered on a privileged white birth mother making choices based in generosity, which we know isn’t the typical story. Selling this book as a representation matters take is not so honest. The author is an adoptive parent. This is the narrative adoptive parents hope for. Everyone is thankful and better off. No one is harmed. There is no trauma. So I’m holding both, somehow. Because as a totally unrealistic fairy tale, this book was fun.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company Publishing for the advanced review of this book.
I adored Family Family. It is clear that Frankel writes about what she knows and she doesn’t shy away from complicated and nuanced topics….this book is all about adoption, and her creativity and imagination in building this story is really striking.
India is an incredible protagonist- imagine the most straight-forward practical person you know, and then pump them full of drama, optimism, grace, confidence ,and a little magical thinking (the good kind) and this is India. I want her to be my mom. I want to be her friend. This is a story that really takes place in the span of a week but it does jump back and forth in time to give the reader more insight into how India got to the current week she is living. A book about family (and what that looks like in all its’ amazing forms), parenting, siblings, growing up.
“Family begets family” - Read it. ❤️
I adored Family Family. It is clear that Frankel writes about what she knows and she doesn’t shy away from complicated and nuanced topics….this book is all about adoption, and her creativity and imagination in building this story is really striking.
India is an incredible protagonist- imagine the most straight-forward practical person you know, and then pump them full of drama, optimism, grace, confidence ,and a little magical thinking (the good kind) and this is India. I want her to be my mom. I want to be her friend. This is a story that really takes place in the span of a week but it does jump back and forth in time to give the reader more insight into how India got to the current week she is living. A book about family (and what that looks like in all its’ amazing forms), parenting, siblings, growing up.
“Family begets family” - Read it. ❤️
[4.5]
I was not expecting this! So funny and heartwarming. A story about adoption and how family comes in many forms. Highly recommend
I was not expecting this! So funny and heartwarming. A story about adoption and how family comes in many forms. Highly recommend
I love this exploration of what makes a family a family. There are so many different types of families and all are valid.
Maybe 3.5⭐️? I liked it, but it was long and I found my attention wavering several times. Could just be bad timing for me! Overall a nice narrative, and a fresh perspective!