Pretty much every mom on earth will tell you if prompted, that they would do anything for their kids. In Other People's Children by RJ Hoffman, a few women get put through the wringer and have to prove just how serious they are when they say 'anything.' A pregnant teen finally decides after much deliberation to give up her baby for adoption, though her mother does not want her grandbaby reared by strangers. She chooses Gail and Jon Durbin, a couple who have endured three miscarriages and are at this point desperate to have a baby. The intersection of these women and their desires regarding having or being a family slowly comes together as outside forces and emotions threaten plans. You will definitely want to read on to see what happens, as this borders on a page turner. The characters are well-drawn and developed. However, they are almost too developed, as some chapters did seem to drag and include more info than the reader really needs. Regardless, if you can get through a couple of meandering chapters, you will be rewarded with a really fascinating read that will make you want to call your mom or another matriarchal woman in your life to remind them that you love them.

I did not care for this at all. None of it made a lick of sense I'm not sure if the author ever met a woman before but this was the most childish, bad Lifetime movie book ever. No one's motivations made any sense. The only part that seemed interesting or authentic was the woman working in her family's knife sharpening business. I wondered if this was a reflection of the author's real-life because it seemed grounded and made sense in a way the rest of the book did not all.

I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review .

Other People’s Children was an emotional book. It deals with the heavy topics of infertility and adoption, so if that could be an issue for you maybe skip over this book. If not, I highly recommend reading it.

I loved that R.J Hoffmann gave us every character's perspective. As the reader, getting to see all of their struggles, thoughts, and fears during the story made them all the more real and really allowed me to connect with them. I understood why each character was doing what they were and even if I didn't necessarily agree, it made it hard to judge them. Paige's perspective brought a nice balance to Gail's, Jon's, Marla's, and Carli's. She was a neutral character who didn't pick sides and isn't as connected as all the other characters become. She's a great moral anchor for the reader to see the merit of both sides of the coin. I wasn't sure why she was included at first but after stewing on it after finishing the book I see her merit now.

Hoffmann also included some amazing character growth as we see families piece together and characters make hard decisions out of love however right or wrong those decisions may be. he choices they make lead them to grow in surprising directions and made the story even more satisfying in the end.

It still blows my mind that this is Hoffmann's first book. I would have never been able to tell from the book itself. His writing was easy to read and he included some great pacing. My favorite aspect of this story is how he made the reader question what it means to be a mother. All of the characters are trying to grasp that concept and in the end it leads many of them to make some insane choices for motherhood. But as the reader you wonder yourself if they were justified? What would you do in that situation?

The only thing that I didn't like about this book was the ending. It definitely was not a bad ending but for me it was unsatisfying. I wanted something more concrete that wasn't as open but that's a minor complaint.

If you're looking for a contemporary fiction book about love, loss, and family I highly recommend checking out Other People's Children you will definitely enjoy it.

Having children is a blessing, but not always as easy for each and every couple. Some couples go through procedure after procedure with no results. While others will get pregnant only to suffer devastating losses of a human life.
Gail & Jon Durbin do everything that the doctors want and after losing several babies it takes a toll emotionally on Gail and Jon. Marriages can suffer and employments can be affected.
The Durbins finally decide to look int adoption and they meet Carli who chooses them to have her baby.
Even this type of scenario can be a dangerous pursuit on both sides to even include the parents of the individuals involved.

The author portrays a magnificent view of what could transpire between individuals who are involved in a relationship of an emotional adoption. However, the author could have made the storyline a little clearer and more cohesive to pull things together. She leaves the readers wanting more and things are not resolved in the families.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the ARC.

It has been a while since a book has left me in an internal debate with myself. It was challenging the internal biases I had and I loved being presented with a perspective I normally would not be privy to. I was filled with anxiety and anticipation of how the story was going to end.

Rating: 5/5

TW: miscarriages
Spoiler-free review

‘Other People’s Children’ is a story about two families. Gail and Jon Durbin moved to the suburbs to prepare for extending their family. Unfortunately, Gail had miscarried three times which has set them on the path for adoption. After several fall through, they finally seem to have a change in luck when Carli chooses them. However, Carli’s mother Marla will not allow her new chance at motherhood to be taken away from her without a fight. This forces Carli to re-examine her feelings toward motherhood and sets her on the path she initially tried to block. The story takes on an adventure of forgiveness, protecting families, and how to come to terms with failed expectations.

This book reminded me a lot of Little Fires Everywhere as it also tackled adoption and the discussion of protecting families so I feel if you enjoyed that book, you would love this one as well.

I loved the structure as each chapter bounced between various characters' points of view so we were able to develop a deep level of character development, connection with whichever side you were rooting for, and a deeper sense of empathy which allowed the ending to truly feel satisfying.

It often made me reflect on how far I would go if I was in either family's position. I appreciated how at the end both sides showed empathy for each other since, at the end of the day, they each understood how much they valued family, how to make decisions in favor of the child, and everyone's right to a family.

I loved this book and the rollercoaster ride it took my anxiety on. Each family also had conflicts that were explored which was an additional storyline I loved seeing evolve. Relationships between parents and children and relationships between spouses. Situations like these can make and break people and families. Each family had different outcomes but took an adventurous route to show how far people can go to get what they feel they deserve.

My initial stance on who’s side I was on changed by the end and I accredited that to how well the author explored and portrayed both perspectives. I wasn’t expecting it to happen but I’m glad it did as it showed me everyone deserves the right to change their mind.

Other People’s Children by R.J. Hoffman is a heart-twisting book about a couple who have suffered many disappointments with multiple miscarriages resulting in adoption as their last chance for a family. When they are selected, it appears that everything this couple had dreamed about will come true. But things change beyond all control when the past meets the presence. A doting mother versus a hateful mother, an abusive mother versus a loving mother, can often change the trajectory of a person's life. When the birth mother changes her mind and wants the baby back, it sets in motion a series of tragic events. A very well-written book and a stomach-turning story about love and loss and family and hope. I loved it.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC but my opinion and review are my own and without bias. #OtherPeoplesChildren @rjhoffmannwrites @netgalley @simonandschuster

Other People's Children hit me right in the heart. As a mom, I am not sure I could have made many of the decisions that were made in this story. Gail and Jon tried to have a baby and lost them three times. Gail has started to become obsessed with having a baby, and once they decide to adopt, they are stuck in waiting. But one day, Gail gets a call from Paige, the social worker--a young girl named Carli has chosen them to be the adoptive parents when she gives birth. But Carli's mom, Marla, is adamantly against giving the baby away. Once the baby is born, Marla forces Carli to look at the baby and her feelings begin to change. Gail and Jon get to take baby Mya home and immediately become attached. But Marla has other plans for her grandchild, and she will stop at nothing to make it happen, including continuing to abuse Carli.
I found myself getting so frustrated with Gail and her obsession. While I understand wanting to have a child, obsession is unhealthy. I also got extremely frustrated with Carli, as she allowed someone else to control her after she had made the decision to put the baby up for adoption. And finally Marla. Oh, Marla. Abusive, mean, nasty, and even pays two men to "take care of" the adoptive parents. This book really threw me in an emotional tornado that I was not expecting, but I absolutely loved it. And the happy ending made me teary-eyed and hopeful for Carli, Mya, Gail and Jon's futures.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review of it. I was able to get about 40 percent through but could not finish. I did not like how it was told by so many different people and the bad language started getting crazy.

This is not a book to pick up to relax after a hard day - the subject is a tough one and the characters go through a LOT. However, it is well written and a story that kept this reader engaged from the beginning.
Despite some Lifetime Movie- type moments, it’s a book I’ll be recommending to friends who enjoy emotional stories with a bit of a race-to-the-finish feel.

This was a quick easy read for me because I could not put it down! Gail and Jon have tried for years to have children but have been unable to. Finally, 18-year-old Carli picks them to be the parents of her unborn baby and they are over the moon with happiness. A baby girl is born that they named Maya. After a few days, Carli begins to have second thoughts. This book is so good and it moved right along. I think what I liked most about this book was that all the characters had flaws and/or issues.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC of this fantastic read in exchange for an honest review.

In Other People's Children, the author R. J. Hoffman looks at parenting from different perspectives, that of a childless couple trying to adopt after multiple miscarriages, a pregnant teenager who wants to give her baby up for adoption and a grandmother who doesn't want her daughter giving up her first grandchild. The situation is fraught, which leads to multiple bad decisions by all parties involved.

Gail and Jon Durbin moved to the Chicago surburbs when they found out she was pregnant. They were ready for it all, parenthood, the house, the children...but unfortunately, shortly after moving to their dream home,Gail miscarries that pregnancy...and several afterwards. They decide to try adoption and when Carli, a teenager from a blue-collar neighborhood nearby chooses them to parent her unborn child, they are over the moon. However, Carli's mother has different thoughts on the adoption...and is very clear about them. However, Carli realizes that she lived in a house where she was verbally and physically abused my her mother and doesn't want her baby raised in that environment, she wants better for the baby, and for herself and raising a child is not the way to get that as a teenager.

I found Other People's Children to be heartbreaking on so many levels...but can see how this can happen in all walks of life, no matter what your socio-economic level is. Hoffman does an excellent job of exploring the subject, although his characters do make some ill advised decisions. Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is such an important topic. I'm glad RJ Hoffmann wrote this as I am sure it will help people as they navigate trying to become a parent as well as educate others about the challenges and longing that some couples feel.

When Jon and Gail Durbin are chosen by young unwed mother, Carli, to adopt her unborn baby, they are overjoyed to finally have the family they've always dreamed of. When Carli decides she wanted the baby back, they aren't ready to turn baby, Maya, over no matter what the law says. This is a heartbreaking novel about a baby caught between the love of two families. The author does a good job of keeping things evenhanded, making all of the characters sympathetic, and not making it easy to choose sides. Even when characters act in ways that may be less than honorable, enough of the character's background has been revealed to at least make it understandable why they would behave the way they do. However, that only makes the book that much more gut-wrenching and makes it even harder to know whom to root for. It definitely does keeps you interested throughout though and makes you want to keep reading. Although some aspects of the ending of the story seem a little bit too convenient overall this is a deeply affecting book.

Thanks to #netgalley #simonandschuster #rjhoffmann I’ve had the pleasure to read an #advanedcopy of #otherpeopleschildren it was recently reviewed on #buzzfeed as a book to read. Let me tell you. I am glad I listened 😂🙈 I can’t imagine the horrors of what it must feel like to struggle with #infertility to say I’ve been #blessed is an understatement. We come to know and grow with this couple. First as they try to become pregnant and again as they create books to hopefully be chosen as that couple. The couple who gets to #adopt a baby. But. What happens when the #birthmom rescinds. What if she wants her baby? Follow this dramatic. Sad. Happy. Tear filled. Emotional journey. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #readerofinstagram #readerforlife #bookwhore

“She had refused the urge to find the fulcrum of it all, the tipping point between right and wrong, and she refused again.”

OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN is a look at how far a mother will go for her child. in this story, three different women are faced with choices to make about their families, their dreams, and their futures. the line between right and wrong blurs for each of them, and the result is a book that will keep you turning the pages (especially the second half!). I’d proceed carefully with this book if your personal story has caused you to be sensitive to miscarriage, infertility, or adoption. 3.5/5⭐️—it was good

thank you to @simonandschuster and @netgalley for the digital copy of this book!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It may be in my top 5 books of the year. It does contain a negative adoption experience and infertility/ miscarriage so if those are triggers for you you may want to avoid this title.

The book was such a heartbreaking view of what it means to be a mother and how that consumes you completely. I thought it was so well done.

How far would you go to to keep a child? Gail and Jon have had three miscarriages and they decide to adopt. Carli is an 18-year-old pregnant girl who decides her best option is to put her baby up for adoption and she chooses the Durbins. Carli's mother is nasty, foul-mouthed who barely took care of her own kids but decides she wants her granddaughter. I knew who I didn't want to get the baby Maya but you'd have to decide that for yourself.

Jon and Gail were a complicated couple. They didn't seem to belong together. Gail worked in her family's knife grinding business. She was close to her father but her mother was an alcoholic who seemed to resent Gail. Jon was raised by his aunt and uncle who provided him the love and constancy that his mentally ill mother could not. After three miscarriages Gail became more and more obsessed with having a child, writing lists of all the things she needed to do to get a baby and how to raise it. After having Maya home for a few days Carli refuses to sign the final consent and wants her baby back. Or does she really or is she manipulated by her mother, Marla.

So many things to think about and the ending was a roller coaster ride with the ups and downs finally ending satisfactorily.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book to read.

I loved this book!! Hoffmann works family relations very well and all the problems the characters face seem to be real, relatable. Great work. My full review will be up at Write or Die soon.

I am sorta torn with this book while I did get into it and it was a quick read. I never really just got fully involved with a character. I did like the twists and turns and once you got to the halfway point you couldn’t put the book down! There were a lot of characters but it was written in a way that is was easy to keep them separate in your head.

As a person who has always wanted kids, but couldn't have them, my heart broke for the Durbin's but also Carli. Giving up a baby has to be the hardest thing.

Marla, Carli's mom is ready to disown her a though up her child. At what length will the Durbin's go to keep baby Maya? Read to find out! Well done!