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emeryrachelle's review against another edition
4.0
Grant's writing style lets you see into her life and the journey from a New York City newlywed to a mother of four and an adoption non-expert. She speaks to you as if to her best friend and shares the true emotions and complications hiding in the world of adoption. When I received the book, I feared it would be merely a how-to or tip book for prospective adoptive parents. Now, though, I can with certainty say that it was nothing of the kind.
This is not a boring, factual 'everything you need to know about adoption' book. Instead, it is a honest, personal 'this is how it went for us' journal. The story jumps from memories before the adoption process began to a problem with red tape and back to their first meeting with their daughter, but the transitions are surprisingly smooth and the writing is usually easy to follow and connect with.
There are a few areas where the story pauses to share bits of information - about special needs children, when it's best not to adopt, and the truth about HIV, to name a few. Most of this was important to the Grants' story and easy to read through, but one sentence jumped out at me. Page 49 has some thoughts from another adoptive mother:
"Sometimes people remark that her girls are fortunate that she chose them. 'I get fired up about this because... all children are chosen," Pam said. 'Abortion and birth control are our rights; people can choose them.'"
I am a firm pro-lifer. I read this part several times, trying to pass over it and finish the book, but it was like my eyes were super-glued to that sentence. Abortion is not a right; it may currently be a choice in more parts of the country than I'd like, but that doesn't make it a human right. Murder is never a right.
That said, I do have to point out that page 77 says many women believe abortion is not an ethical choice. It seems the author never set out her own opinion; just laid out what she knew to be others' thoughts. But page 49 still grabbed me, and it lowered the book's value just a little in my opinion.
I give this book 3.5 stars.
I received this book for free through BookSneeze in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own
This is not a boring, factual 'everything you need to know about adoption' book. Instead, it is a honest, personal 'this is how it went for us' journal. The story jumps from memories before the adoption process began to a problem with red tape and back to their first meeting with their daughter, but the transitions are surprisingly smooth and the writing is usually easy to follow and connect with.
There are a few areas where the story pauses to share bits of information - about special needs children, when it's best not to adopt, and the truth about HIV, to name a few. Most of this was important to the Grants' story and easy to read through, but one sentence jumped out at me. Page 49 has some thoughts from another adoptive mother:
"Sometimes people remark that her girls are fortunate that she chose them. 'I get fired up about this because... all children are chosen," Pam said. 'Abortion and birth control are our rights; people can choose them.'"
I am a firm pro-lifer. I read this part several times, trying to pass over it and finish the book, but it was like my eyes were super-glued to that sentence. Abortion is not a right; it may currently be a choice in more parts of the country than I'd like, but that doesn't make it a human right. Murder is never a right.
That said, I do have to point out that page 77 says many women believe abortion is not an ethical choice. It seems the author never set out her own opinion; just laid out what she knew to be others' thoughts. But page 49 still grabbed me, and it lowered the book's value just a little in my opinion.
I give this book 3.5 stars.
I received this book for free through BookSneeze in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own
crysrowe's review against another edition
4.0
Full review coming soon on the site, but I thought this was a beautiful portrayal of one family's adoption journey. She really dives into the good and the bad. For anyone interested in adoption or anyone interested in stories of real people, it's a terrific read.
amcclelland1975's review against another edition
4.0
http://fouragainsttwo.com/index.php/2011/05/10/book-review-love-you-more/
bstaats's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 Stars (rounded up to 3)
Those of you who have been following my blog for a while, know that I occasionally review Christian living and Christian fiction books as well.
I requested Love You More to review because adoption is something I've been interested in for a long time, and hope to be involved with personally in the future. And this book sounded like it would be such a touching read.
And parts of it were beautiful, and utterly moving but as a whole, I was disappointed with the book.
I appreciated Jennifer Grant's honesty in writing, as she fully acknowledges that adoption is difficult and that it is not for everyone. She continually emphasizes the idea that adoption is for people who are passionate about it and excited by the idea of it.
But when it came to the actual storytelling, it felt like something was lacking. The beginning chapters seemed to jump around a fair amount chronologically, which made it difficult to follow the order of events and took away from the natural reading flow of the book.
And similarily, those earlier chapters contained significant amounts of background information and stories. I was expecting more details about the actual adoption process and the aftermath of adopting Mia, rather than a (rather slow) build up that seemed to be filled with disconnected stories.
In that aspect, I was disappointed. The ending did contain more details about the process and how Mia and Grant's family adapted to living together, and those were my favourites parts by far. But there just didn't seem to be enough of them.
Copy received from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review; no other compensation was received.
Those of you who have been following my blog for a while, know that I occasionally review Christian living and Christian fiction books as well.
I requested Love You More to review because adoption is something I've been interested in for a long time, and hope to be involved with personally in the future. And this book sounded like it would be such a touching read.
And parts of it were beautiful, and utterly moving but as a whole, I was disappointed with the book.
I appreciated Jennifer Grant's honesty in writing, as she fully acknowledges that adoption is difficult and that it is not for everyone. She continually emphasizes the idea that adoption is for people who are passionate about it and excited by the idea of it.
But when it came to the actual storytelling, it felt like something was lacking. The beginning chapters seemed to jump around a fair amount chronologically, which made it difficult to follow the order of events and took away from the natural reading flow of the book.
And similarily, those earlier chapters contained significant amounts of background information and stories. I was expecting more details about the actual adoption process and the aftermath of adopting Mia, rather than a (rather slow) build up that seemed to be filled with disconnected stories.
In that aspect, I was disappointed. The ending did contain more details about the process and how Mia and Grant's family adapted to living together, and those were my favourites parts by far. But there just didn't seem to be enough of them.
Copy received from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review; no other compensation was received.
rachelalittle's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful book! If you have any interest in adoption or different cultures I would definitely recommend it 👌🏻
jasminemarie's review
3.0
This memoir is about a woman's journey through adopting a daughter from Guatemala and the changes in her life along the way. Grant already had three biological children of her own, but answers God's calling and adopts fourth child - a little girl. This book is written for parents of all kinds, but couples that are thinking about or have been through adoption will find Grant's personal story inspirational, but also very real.
Grant shares herself very openly throughout the book and does not hold back on sharing her insecurities, doubts and battles with her own perceptions (as well as society's) of parenting. Grant does a great job of keeping God at the center of her story and sharing her real struggle to do God's Will. I enjoyed hearing her "voice" pour out of the pages. It felt very much like I was having a conversation with a close girlfriend. I appreciate that she does not hold back on the challenges of the adoption process.
Also, I appreciated that Grant shared her heart for children living in poverty around the world. She provides resources for those interested in adoption, but also for those wanting to support organizations that work to positively impact the lives of children around the world.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was that I felt like she jumped around a little bit and at times it was hard to figure out if she was flashing back or not.
Overall:
It was a great read for a new mother like myself even though God has not put on my heart to adopt. I definitely recommend it to parents of all kinds.
For more reviews from the bookish mama, please click here.
Grant shares herself very openly throughout the book and does not hold back on sharing her insecurities, doubts and battles with her own perceptions (as well as society's) of parenting. Grant does a great job of keeping God at the center of her story and sharing her real struggle to do God's Will. I enjoyed hearing her "voice" pour out of the pages. It felt very much like I was having a conversation with a close girlfriend. I appreciate that she does not hold back on the challenges of the adoption process.
Also, I appreciated that Grant shared her heart for children living in poverty around the world. She provides resources for those interested in adoption, but also for those wanting to support organizations that work to positively impact the lives of children around the world.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was that I felt like she jumped around a little bit and at times it was hard to figure out if she was flashing back or not.
Overall:
It was a great read for a new mother like myself even though God has not put on my heart to adopt. I definitely recommend it to parents of all kinds.
For more reviews from the bookish mama, please click here.
kellyhager's review
4.0
This is the story of how Jennifer and her husband David adopted their youngest child, Mia. They had three other children (Theo, Ian and Isabel) and then decided to adopt one more. Mia's from Guatemala, which adds another dimension to the adoption (she's obviously adopted, which can cause stares and insensitive comments from strangers).
This isn't really a "how t0" book on the best way to add to your family (although there are helpful tips, books and websites in the back of the book) but rather the story of how it worked in their case.
Difficult topics aren't ignored. As I said, strangers make snide comments and some of her friends weren't supportive. Also, it took a long time for Mia to come home and when she did, adjustments had to be made (obviously).
If you believe (as I do) that sometimes the most helpful books are the ones that let you know you're not alone, I think many adoptive families would find a great deal of value in this.
This isn't really a "how t0" book on the best way to add to your family (although there are helpful tips, books and websites in the back of the book) but rather the story of how it worked in their case.
Difficult topics aren't ignored. As I said, strangers make snide comments and some of her friends weren't supportive. Also, it took a long time for Mia to come home and when she did, adjustments had to be made (obviously).
If you believe (as I do) that sometimes the most helpful books are the ones that let you know you're not alone, I think many adoptive families would find a great deal of value in this.
caffeinatedbibliophile's review
4.0
I received this book after winning it from Goodreads First Reads. As a young mother hoping to adopt in the future, this book was a wonderful look into the joys, struggles, and process of adopting a child. The only thing I disliked about it was the constant references to Biblical passages and how everything was God's will and the like. Not because I am not a Christian (which I'm not, but I have a great deal of respect for most Christians I've known), but because it occupied a bit too much of the book in my opinion, which slowed the process of reading down at times. Overall it was a wonderful book, but I think she could have left out a few things like that.
This book was the story of one woman's journey through adoption and rearing children. She takes us through the ups and downs, the hopelessness and joy, letting the reader into her family for a little while. If you're a parent and/or thinking about adoption in the future (and especially, I'm sure, someone who has already adopted), this book is for you.
This book was the story of one woman's journey through adoption and rearing children. She takes us through the ups and downs, the hopelessness and joy, letting the reader into her family for a little while. If you're a parent and/or thinking about adoption in the future (and especially, I'm sure, someone who has already adopted), this book is for you.
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