A review by kinga1204
Family Family by Laurie Frankel

emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

It's complicated. I loved this book for many reasons, but strongly disliked it for many reasons too. I don't think the dual timeline worked, especially with fairly short chapters, I got whiplash every five pages. It wanted to do too much, talk about every possible scenario in the realm of pregnancy/adoption

(the teen pregnancy, the single mom adoption, the "my career is just getting started" pregnancy, the gay couple adoption, the "tricked me into getting you pregnant" concept, the abusive parents losing rights, the mixed-race family...)

, and it was just. Too. Much. It was thought-provoking for sure, and had good discussions, some great characters, and I might have appreciated all of the themes explored in an essay collection, but this was too messy for me (and then too beautifully resolved).