This book was a really cool look and take on the growing up of the family of the president. This is definitely a family book and there are a lot of cool things to learn about the Bidens!

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* 4.5, I didn't know anything much about the Biden family so this was a very interesting read. Would recommend, especially since it is about the Bidens not just The President.

I loved this book. I loved how feisty and opinionated Valerie is. I also really loved her personal stories. The Biden family has been through so much and this book brought me to tears several times. I also like her honest and unvarnished opinion of the bad actors in politics today.

I received an audio copy of Growing up Biden by Valerie Biden Owen from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

Valerie is Joe Biden’s sister and they are best friends. The first section of this book deals with growing up in Scranton and Delaware. We have something in common since we both went to Catholic schools in the 50’s and 60’s. When Joe started his political career, Valerie joined him as campaign manager. The tone of this book is Family Is Everything. We all know Joe Biden’s story. This is Valerie Biden Owen’s story.

I liked this audio. Valerie was the narrator. She did an adequate job. At times I wished a professional narrated since you could tell Valerie was losing steam. I voted for Joe Biden so I appreciated this memoir. My question did she ever get made at a family member. That would make it more normal that perfect. 3 stars.

Valerie Biden Owens has worn a million hats her entire life, including, but not limited to: mother; campaign manager; consultant; and teacher. While Valerie possesses an array of titles, her most famous title to-date is sister of President Joe Biden. Growing up on the East Coast, Valerie brings listeners (and readers) into her world with detailed stories of what it was like growing up Biden and how it made her who she is today. Valerie doesn't shy away from stories related to tragedy, like when her sister-in-law and niece were killed in a car accident. But Valerie also shares the heartwarming, inspiring stories, such as when she was one of the first female campaign managers for a federal Senate race as well as a Presidential campaign. Through her candid memoir, listeners and readers alike are transported back in time to watch Valerie grow, teach and learn, lead others, and make waves during a time when many women were expected to fill the standard social roles of the mid-1900s.


Let me begin by saying that I have always seen Valerie as an almost elusive political operative, so when I saw she was putting out a memoir, I knew I had to get it. Starting from her very first memories as a young child in a traditional Irish-Catholic family, Valerie tells the story of who she was, who she is, and who she's becoming. I think Valerie is an effective storyteller and she gets to the point/moral of her stories quickly and candidly - sometimes in an almost whiplash manner. In terms of book content, readers and listeners can expect to get a front row seat to everything Biden-related from the heart-warming and good to the really ugly and bad. I received the audiobook version of Growing Up Biden and I enjoyed Valerie as a narrator - a lot of her personality came through and, as a listener, I could feel how emotional some topics were which helped humanize the book. Initially, I thought the book was going to focus on Valerie herself and less on her brother's journey from Senate to White House. However, that just shows how little I actually knew about Valerie before reading this book because she was just as involved in President Biden's journey as he himself was. My only true critique of Growing Up Biden relates to its timeline as the book jumped around quite a bit, and, since this is the first time I've read a book directly about the Biden family, there were a handful of times where I had to skip back and re-listen. Overall, I think this is a quality memoir - it's direct, honest, and quick. If you have an interest in the Biden family and want an insider's view from beginning to end, I think Growing Up Biden is your best choice (that is until President Biden leaves office and writes his own memoir, of course).


4/5


Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for an advanced listening copy of Growing Up Biden in exchange for an honest review.

I immensely enjoyed listening to 'Growing Up Biden' by Valerie Biden Owens.

Valerie is Joe Biden's sister. She tells of the wonderful raising of a working-class/middle-class family of the Bidens and their love of their family shines in this telling of the Biden family. Valerie and Joe's close relationship and his relationship with his grandchildren for me seem to set family goals. They make something that is challenging so easy, family is family. But for the Biden after listening to Valerie's rendition it is their strong foundation of learning great life skills from the parents.

Valerie's voice is fantastic for audiobook telling. Also, one of my favorites was when she told that Joe Biden had to wait to be sworn in as Senator because he was the youngest Senator to be elected, was twenty-nine and had to wait until he was thirty for the swearing-in.

A wonderful account of a sister of a United States President and such enjoyable listening.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review*

As you can probably guess by her name, Valerie Biden Owens is the sister of President Biden.

Although she has worked with her brother throughout all of his political campaigns and while in office, so there is a lot about his political career, this isn't just a book exclusively about the president. This is truly a book about the family itself, from the days of their childhood until current times.

For being non-fiction, this is a really engaging book. The stories from their childhood are vivid and engaging, the stories of all their friends and relationships and the over-arcing theme of "family comes first, always" and the tight relationships between the Biden siblings are all really interesting to read about.

One story that really stood out was when Mrs. Owens talks about the loss of Joe Biden's wife and baby daughter. She describes the accident and the crushing loss for the family in such detail, you're in tears hearing her talk about it. And she really lets you into how a tragedy like this sends ripples throughout the entire family and how they learn to get up and start again.

Overall, this was a truly interesting book!

Very much appreciated the opportunity to hear Valerie Biden Owens’ story, especially told by the author! I enjoyed “the other side” perspective as some of these compelling stories have been told by President and First Lady Biden in their respective memoirs. What an incredible relationship Mrs. Owens and the President have shared. Definitely renewed my childhood desire for an older brother. I found this story about one of America’s most significant political families encouraging, endearing, and enlightening. Thank you to the author, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this advanced copy! Thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend.

Biden Owens's memoir of family is beautifully written, without compromising her characteristic honesty and bluntness. The warmth and protectiveness the author feels for her big brother--indeed, for every member of the Biden family whether legal or honorary--is evident throughout the book, whether on the campaign trails or walking the reader through the gut-wrenching losses of Neilia and Naomi Biden and the family cocooning in the aftermath. I loved the insider descriptions of each family member, living or gone, and how much love Ms Biden Owens obviously feels for each one. I also appreciated the glimpses into now-President Biden's feelings on varying political issues and flashpoints, and what guides decisions he makes on those. I read this title via the audiobook version, which is read by the author, and that amplifies all the highs and lows of loving, living, and Growing Up Biden.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love reading political books and with so many depressing ones on the market, I found this book to be uplifting and refreshing. President Joe Biden's sister writes a loving memoir about her herself, her family and her famous brother in a style that is sincere, blunt and humorous.

Valerie Biden is Joe Biden's younger sister and they grew up in a close knit Catholic family. They are friends as well as siblings and because of the tragic death of his first wife and baby daughter in a car accident, Valerie and her husband moved in with Joe and his boys. Valerie was a full-time caregiver to the boys as they recovered from their injuries and adjusted to life without their mother. She later was a driving force in his political campaigns and raised her own 3 children while staying close to all of her nieces and nephews.

Valarie is a wonderful story teller and she includes many anecdotes about life in the Biden family. She also shares the horrific details of the car accident, and honestly talks about Joe's unsuccessful early runs for president. The Irish Catholic families use colorful language and lots of emotion and she includes all that too. I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. I always appriciate when an author reads their own book and Valerie did a nice job. Listening to the audio, I was sometimes confused on the dates and sequence of events - perhaps the paper copy included those??

"It isn't easy raising an older brother."

With those words, Valerie Biden Owens had me. I listened to most of the audio book while driving about and, thus, wasn't really taking notes aside from early on, but I think that circumstance was actually a plus. As it was, I listened, really listened to her words and took in what she was saying. I liked her. I've never met nor expect to meet her but feel like I know her now. Not only do I feel I know her, but she helped cement my gut instinct about that big brother, you know, who just happens to be President of the United States, that he's a genuinely nice guy. Don't get me wrong. No president is perfect but I came away from "Growing Up Biden" feeling like I had seen the human side of a genuinely good guy. In the process, we get to know Valerie and her family as well as the entire Biden family as people we might know and like.

Since I wasn't taking notes aside from the early going, I won't try to detail the entire memoir. The focus is on the family, I should note, although politics have certainly influenced the entire Biden family. Even behind the scenes, it wasn't easy. I don't think I ever knew Valerie Biden Owens was the first female to manage a presidential campaign, not to mention one of the first females to strategize and manage any campaign. She faced and met the challenge as she juggled a high pressure job with raising her own family. She's been with her brother from the beginning, from his early forays into politics through today. At some point, Valerie remembers that Joe said about her, "She's been my best friend since I was three years old." She remembers that they certainly disagreed occasionally but intuitively trusted each other.

I recall hearing about the eagle taking flight over one of President Biden's final campaign stops. What I didn't know was his sister's reaction as the first thought that came to her mind was that the late Beau Biden was keeping an eye on them. Human moments like that, which continue throughout the book, make this a special kind of memoir. It shares not only Owens' view of life as a Biden but how that life and the events shared have shaped not just them but have shaped the world. I wish I knew her. Heck, I wish I had known the entire family. Like any family they've had their share of ups and downs, joy and tragedy, but I found much to admire and relate to. Lovely book. Lovely family.

Thanks so much #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for giving me the opportunity to "meet" Valerie Biden Owens. I already admired her big brother. Now I want to give her a hug.

I really enjoyed this audio narrated by the author. Valerie is President Biden's sister. I love how she talks about her relationship with her brother and their family. She shares many stories of their childhood all the way up to the election. They are very close and she stepped up when Joe lost his first wife and daughter in a car accident.

She is very transparent on her relationships including her husbands and others. She examines many things through out their lives. She was instrumental as a fierce sister and protective of everyone in her family. I found her narrative very transparent and it was refreshing. I loved her comparison of the light and the candle. You will have to read this novel to find out what she meant.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced audio and Celadon Books for a physical copy of this book. This book is due out April 12, 2022.

I was able to listen to an eARC Audiobook version of Growing Up Biden, by author Valerie Biden Owens, thanks to @netgalley. She also narrated the audiobook and I felt it gave authenticity to her stories. This isn’t an actor playing various parts within a story, these stories are about her life and experiences and the inflections and emotions in her voice were as real as if the events were happening that day. Whether I was listening to the book while driving my kids to and from school, cooking dinner or laying down to sleep, I felt drawn in by Valerie’s voice and her stories. It honestly made me feel like I was transported back to the days where I’d sit with my grandmother as she’d tell me stories about her life. Listening to Growing Up Biden was like warm chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven or wrapping up in a blanket fresh from the dryer; it felt comforting and nostalgic.

Our current President, Joe Biden and his siblings are not from my generation. In fact I looked up what generation he was classified under during the election cycle and was surprised to learn that he was not an elder Baby Boomer but instead a younger member of the Silent Generation. Valerie, only a few years younger than her brother Joe, is also a member of that generation. So listening to her stories that quite literally start at the beginning of her life and travel to the present; with more emphasis on the past, was like a history lesson for me. Not just about the Biden family, whom I only knew cursey information about, but also about a time in history that I’ve only ever heard about but never experienced.

I think it is very easy to hear the name Biden and immediately think of Joe, but Growing Up Biden helped teach me about other members of the family who are just as formidable, just as strong, just as smart as the one we elected to run our country.

Valerie was her own trailblazer as a campaign manager for her brother in a time where women were relegated to secretarial positions and answering phones. Her no nonsense approach to politics and being able to firmly stand her ground are why we, as Americans, know his name. My daughters would often pipe up with questions about why people would make the comments they did to Valerie or challenge her authority. Being raised as “no means no” tween/teens girls in the year 2022, this concept is foreign to them. This lesson in the trials women face has no boundary of age. The discussions that came from listening to this book, I think, would have made Valerie proud.

Obviously politics plays a role in this book, but I appreciated that Valerie didn’t go far into the Trump era Presidency. This book is about the Biden childhood, the Biden parents, the siblings and their relationships, their experiences as they aged and into the present with Joe’s victory. Are there some Republican/Trump comments, yes, but it shouldn’t distract from the whole piece regardless of what side of the aisle you sit.

I really enjoyed this audiobook by Valerie Biden Owens - huge thank you to Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy.

I LOVE memoirs about people in politics/government.So often we forget to remember the people in our government are human and I love hearing about their life outside of their political persona. Before listening to this book, I did not realize the roles that Valerie Biden Owens held in her brother's career. She has basically ran all of his campaigns since he was in his early 20's in the 70's when women were not working in those types of jobs. She says "I was the kid sister whose brother pulled up a chair for her at a table where there had been no room for women". I really enjoyed this audiobook and would definitely recommend for anyone who is a fan of political memoirs.

Also, not really important, but I found Valerie Biden Owen's voice so incredibly soothing. It was like listening to your grandma tell you a story. :)