A review by wopphicreviews
Family Family by Laurie Frankel

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

5.0

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.