I really really loved this book! This Is How It Always Is was a favorite book of mine a few years ago. I started reading it to join a book club and it really started my reading journey again. Family Family to me is definitely in the same vein. I loved the characters and seeing how they develop and changed in the book. I do not want to give away much of this story since there were many twists I was not expecting. However, the main character, India, is a powerhouse character. She is so full of life and love and her perspectives on family and adoption are so genuine. Seeing her grow up and develop relationships while achieving her goals made this book just a joy to read. There is just so much love in this book and the characters are so well developed I think anyone will be able to relate. Great read and a great book club read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely loved Family Family by Laurie Frankel! This book is the definition of "just one more chapter", I was hooked from the beginning! The stories and themes in Family Family are so unique and thought provoking. I enjoyed the dual timelines through the story and the multiple POVs. I will absolutely be recommending this book to my friends and followers!

If you like interesting character driven stories that explore family - you should read Family Family. I love Laurie Frankel’s writing and was very drawn into the story of India Allred. When the story begins, India is a famous actress raising her ten year old twins. We then see her story in alternating timelines jumping between the present and going through India’s life starting when she was a teenager.

There were times the story felt a little long to me but mostly I found myself thinking how much I really like India. I went in without knowing much about the story and am surprised to see how much is shared in the synopsis - personally I think too much. If possible, jump in without reading that and just let India’s story unfold.

I alternated between reading the ebook and the audiobook - the audiobook narration is excellent and there is an interview with the author at the end that I really enjoyed. I highly recommend the audiobook! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free ebook and audiobook to review.

Laurie Frankel is such a compelling storyteller. 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 is a wholly original, messy, complex and tender story about adoption and so much more. (PUB 01.23) Thank you

“𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵? 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰.”*

This thought provoking story had me utterly captivated. The writing: purposeful and intentional.The plot: short propulsive chapters with alternating time periods. The characters: a varied cast that were rich, flawed, nuanced and unforgettable.

It's like Frankel treated the story like an onion that she peeled it back layer by layer. One layer was full of humor and ridiculousness while the next was brimming with more contemplative themes.

“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴,” 𝘍𝘪𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥. “𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘴, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢—𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.”*

*Quoted from ARC, not final copy.

I will preface this by saying know the trigger warnings before going into this book because there are quite a few (drug addiction, sexism, body shaming, mentions of abuse, miscarriages, eating disorders and that isn’t even everything).

I’m having a hard time witg my thoughts on this one because while I enjoyed the story and it was unique- I felt very put off by the Christianity storyline / character this revolved around. I don’t want to say too much without giving away spoilers, but this definitely made me think differently about the story.

Overall this was enjoyable and I’d love to hear from parents who have adopted / those who have been adopted.

What makes a family, family? Whether you have a chosen family or a biological one, Laurie Frankle's new novel, 'Family Family,' will make you take a deeper look at what family means to you.

India Allwood grew up aspiring to be an actor. This book follows her rise to fame from sixteen-year-old Broadway sensation to a TV star.

After the release of her latest film, she finds herself facing online backlash that not only threatens her career but also her family. The book jumps between timelines, taking us back to see how she got to where she is now. The time jumps keep the plot fast-paced and had me wanting to turn the page to see what happens next.

The story of adoption, love, and chosen family will remind you that not every family looks the same, but they are equally real and valid.

I loved this book and had to remind myself to slow down, I so badly wanted to see how it would end, but didn't want it to be over.

The family depicted in Frankel's novel is flawed but lovable, as most families are. In the end, I wanted to be a member of India Allwood's messy but beautiful family, family."

I love Laurie Frankel’s writing and will read anything she writes! She writes about important and relevant topics like no other author. And this was solidified for me by her new novel Family Family, which comes out on January 23.
The only thing that I knew about this novel when I requested the book on Netgalley was that Laurie Frankel was the author. I wanted to go into the novel not knowing anything and discovering it all on my own. And I loved going in blind.
Therefore, I will not give any synopsis of the story. Rather I will write that this book gave me goosebumps and could not have been written by any other author. She writes about how the world SHOULD be regarding lots of different topics, which provides the reader with so much food for thought.
I highly recommend this book to all types of readers. And it’s a must read for those who read and loved This Is How It Always Is.
Many thanks to #Netgalley and #HenryHolt for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't know much about this book going into it, just that I loved Laurie Frankel's previous book. But as the title suggests, this is a beautiful story about family. Family family. I love the narrative structure of the back and forth, doling out important details one at a time. I loved this book- highly recommend you pick up a copy upon publication day. Thanks to Netgalley for an eARC!

I flew through this book- it is engaging, thought-provoking, and has some of the best "kid" characters I've read in a while. I absolutely adored Fig and Jack. It's laugh out loud funny, at the same time it's addressing the important topic of adoption. While I didn't love it quite as much as This Is How It Always Is, I think her readers will enjoy this one and it's sure to be a big hit for bookclub discussions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the eARC.

This was a beautiful and gorgeous read. If you've read this author before you know that from the first page you're going to love this book, but you might not understand what's happening for a chapter or two. Maybe three. And that is absolutely how this book went for me. I swear, in the beginning, I kept flipping back and forth to make sure I was following who was who regarding mother and daughter. And that was absolutely intentional.

This is the story of India, a famous Hollywood actress who is the mom of twins, Fig and Jack. She also placed a baby for adoption when she was 16. And 20. This is the story of how all of their lives are woven together into the most beautiful of tapestries ever made.

I loved every single page, every word. It was stunning. Will think about it for a long time. Is it too early to say it's one of my best reads of 2024?

Great title - you will get it when you read the book. The main character India, a famous Hollywood actress, is the best - we should all carry torn up papers and shredded index cards in our pockets for those times you need confetti to toss to celebrate a moment. I don't want to spoil the surprises of this book as things unfold but will say my favorite parts were India's high school and college years - and least favorite parts were the present day capers. Really enjoyed the author's note at the end which explained her motivation for the story. In some ways this book would be a good companion to Tom Lake. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy!

The only thing that was a disappointment to me about this book was that it had to end. I loved all the characters and I loved the relationships they had with one another. The conversations are whip-smart and to the point and overall All in all the Allwood (et al) family is charming and just proves the point that there are many kinds of families and they can be complicated. This is probably one of the few books where there are no antagonists only good people trying to make happy and safe lives for their kids and each other. Even the "smears" and the pro-life extremists are not horrible people, so the book is a pleasant read from start to finish. I would love a sequel to find out what Bex, Lewis, Jack, and especially Fig do next...

Laurie Frankel has officially cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me!

This book was so wonderful! A feel-good story about adoption and the way unconventional families are formed, this book was full of lovable characters, memorable quotes, and the best quippy writing style!

The language of this book was so much fun, it felt very similar to the quick witted style of Gilmore Girls. I loved how the characters interacted - all of the dialogue had an air of humor, even when the topics were serious,

This may have a very hopeful message and be an overall feel-good book, but the subject matter is serious and it has an important message. Adoption is powerful - and although most of the adoption stories we hear are tragic, that doesn't accurately represent the community. I loved this positive and uplifting story!

My favorite part of this book was the multiple timelines. I loved that we got to switch back and forth between present day and India's past, it really helped paint a full portrait of this unconventional matriarch and the way she created her perfect, weird, loving family.

I love that Laurie Frankel writes about topics that are important to her - she always does such a beautiful job and teachesthe reader new perspectives.

FIVE HUGE STARS!

The narrative of "Family Family" revolves around the theme of family, focusing predominantly on adoption. At the age of 16, India, who aspires to be an actress, faces the challenge of an unexpected pregnancy. Recognizing the potential impact on her acting dreams, she makes the difficult decision to place her child for adoption. Subsequently, India not only adopts twins but also achieves stardom in the entertainment industry. The plot unfolds as India stars in a movie centered on adoption and, during an interview, expresses dissatisfaction with the portrayal of adoption in the film and similar narratives. The story delves into how India and her family navigate the repercussions of this interview.

In drawing a parallel with Laurie Frankel's "This Is How It Always Is," a powerful exploration of a family with a transgender child, "Family Family" prompts deep reflection on the true essence of family. The book, much like Frankel's work, leaves a lasting impact and encourages readers to contemplate the profound meaning of family bonds.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader's Copy (ARC) of "Family Family" in exchange for providing an honest review.

I really enjoyed this novel about family with an in depth look at adoption from all angles and a rare perspective that adoption isn’t always sad and desperate . This story takes place over one week. The main character a famous actress named India faces a media firestorm that could end her career when she makes some controversial comments about a movie she is in about adoption. We then go back and forth from present day to India’s past where we learn about her romantic relationships and pregnancies. In the present day, all of her children and their biological and adoptive parents converge into one messy, complicated yet beautiful experience of family. I love Frankl’s unique, crisp and witty writing style. She writes about family how we really experience it. This novel is based on Frankl’s own experience of adoption you can read about in the authors note. I loved the authors note. Frankl describes family life as “harried , hectic sublime and exalted, entangled and blessed “ and who couldn’t relate to that? I will definitely be reading more of Frankl’s backlist and highly recommend this one.

India always knew she wanted to be an actress, and she made it happen. Her most recent movie was about adoption, and when asked her thoughts on the movie, she maybe, sort of lets out her true feelings. The movie shows the bad sides of adoption, but India is an adoptive mom and it’s been an amazing experience for her and her children. Now the media is in a full frenzy however with her agent and production company looking for a televised apology.

This synopsis is such a small part of what this book is about. It truly goes so much deeper than all that. I went in fairly blind and I will tell you that’s how I recommend you go in as well! Laurie Frankel has such a way of writing about insanely difficult topics in such unique and enticing way. I was immediately drawn into the story, and love every second of this read. I don’t want to say much more because you honestly should just read it!

"What makes a family isn’t blood. And it isn’t love. No matter how they’re formed, the truth about family is this: it's complicated."

India Allwood has always wanted to be an actor. In high school she was overlooked for the school play every year as the director always chose a musical and India can’t sing. In college she found her way into many theater productions. Was it talent, or her exceptional study skills (before the audition she memorized the entire play)? No matter, she got the part and eventually worked her way up to Broadway star and then to television star and then as a TV Superhero.

What India had forgotten is that once she is in the limelight her thoughts and opinions are not to be shared. Everyone, from her agent to the producers have an opinion on what she can share and how she must live her life.

When India stars in a movie that presents adoption in the same old stereotypic light, she shares with a journalist that she is tired of the same old tropes about adopted children and families and it is a bad movie. A media storm ensues with the paparazzi, protestors and advocates from both left and right making her miserable.

But India has knowledge of all types of adoptions, and she is not backing down. "Not all stories of adoption are stories of pain and regret. Not even most of them. Why don’t we ever get that movie?” When her twin 10 year olds decide to help mom get out of the mess she's in they send out a call of help. Who do you call in a situation like this? Family!

An engaging, well-written and entertaining book. Everything you want in a novel about family relationships. Funny, charming and full of love plus, a long list of terrific characters. I have loved every Laurie Frankel book that I have read this is no exception. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Everyone needs their stories not just told, but created.“ Thank you to NetGalley, Laurie Frankel and Henry Holt and Co. for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: January 23, 2024

#emptynestreader #instagram #FamilyFamily #LaurieFrankel #HenryHoltCo #fiction #ARC #NetGalley #AdvancedReleaseCopy #Family #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #JanuaryReads #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #TheBookIsAlwaysBetter #FreadOM #ReadBannedBooks #FreedomtoRead #BooksPushSocietyForward

I have read a couple of books by this author before. She is a good writer that tackles topics that make you think. This book is no exception, however, it wasn't as intriguing to me as her others. I found myself putting this one down for long periods of time before returning to it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A really beautiful book loaded with twists and turns yet easy to read. The story itself was heartbreakingly clear and so emotional. Lengthy but worth it.

Absolutely loved this book. I love the way Frankel can write about issues - in this case, adoption - that have the potential to be contentious (and she acknowledges this situation as part of the book) but treats the topic with empathy and humor. The young point-of-view characters are presented in ways that seem both realistic the their age and relatable to adults. Though I sometimes get irritated with books of this ilk, finding them a bit overly-sweet for my taste, that was not the case with this one. It just had all the feels, in the best of ways.