A first read for me by this author -and a really good one. A difficult review to write without divulging too much of the plot.India Allwood is the central character and we follow her from her childhood dreams to her role as a major star. Her latest movie is about adoption and SHE HERSELF gives its one-sided view of adoption a “ negative review” and thus engenders a controversy. Without revealing too much of the novel, she herself has had 2 pregnancies-both given for adoption-and has in turn adopted 2 emotionally scarred children. She’s the main character but FAMILY-in all its variations and nuances -is really the main theme of the book. A long read but well worth it-at times funny at times heartbreaking, but most of all insightful with lots of “ food for thought”.

Family Family by Laurie Frankel covers several topics, but one of the primary ones is what constitutes a family? How do families come into being, and of the multitude of ways that can happen, what are the benefits and drawbacks? Other topics touched upon are adoption, abortion, celebrity and privacy etc.

My daughter, in the past year, told me that there is controversy surrounding adoption/ adoptees and I wasn't aware of it. As in many areas, there is much to learn here. Families, no matter their origin or iteration, are complicated and imperfect.

Family Family was a good solid read. If you like Family Drama, you will likely enjoy this book.

Four stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Laurie Frankel writes from her heart and from her experiences, drawing in her readers as if they are her friends. Family Family is a complex story about India Allwood and the unique path she took to her own family. As a teenager, India made the bold decision that she was going to become an actress, but as predicted, the path is not an easy one. Loaded with secrets and heart wrenching realistic life experiences, Frankel weaves India’s story about pregnancy, adoption, love and heartbreak all while not losing sight of your dreams.

Bouncing between characters and story lines, Family Family is one of those books you can’t wait to finish but also don’t want to end. Much like Frankel’s other novels, you are left asking yourself questions and reflecting on your own life and experiences.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review

Utterly charming and engrossing, I could not put this book down until I'd finally reached the last page. Focused on adoption from all angles, and focused on the myriad definitions of the word "family", this book will touch your heart and make you think deeply. I can't wait to nag everyone I know to read this one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance!

FAMILY FAMILY is a big-hearted (you guessed it…) family drama that explores the nuances of adoption and the family we choose.

Actress India Allwood finds herself in the midst of a media storm when she asserts her true feelings about her latest movie: its depiction of adoption as tragic is one-dimensional and flat out wrong. India knows firsthand the complexities of family as an adoptive mother to twins and her own layered past.

I just adored the way this story unfolded. Through this rich cast of characters, Laurie Frankel confronts readers with ideas about who and what constitutes a family. As an adoptive mother herself, Frankel has a clear message about the way “unconventional”/non-biological families are perceived by those with “traditional” family structures. Rather than viewing adoption as a last resort to build a family, Frankel explores the various reasons why people choose the path of adoption as their first option.

If you love complicated family stories be sure to pick up FAMILY FAMILY.

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: January 23, 2024

READ THIS IF:
-Reading about fictional celebrities and musical theater strike a chord
-You appreciate authors who write from personal experience
-You read and enjoyed ANY OTHER FAMILY by Eleanor Brown

Many thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Laurie Frankel is back! I really enjoyed this story about adoption and family. Lots of layered themes in this fun, fast read about how families come in together in many different ways. This would make a great book club read.

What makes a family? Laurie Frankel’s newest novel explores this question by taking a deep dive into adoption, choice, single parenthood, same sex parenthood and the struggles that all families deal with. India Allwood knew early on that she wanted to be a serious actress and she planned her life accordingly until she became pregnant at sixteen. She is resolute in her decision of what she will do and what follows is a beautiful story that follows both her professional and personal journey into her early 30’s. There’s a wonderful cast of characters of children and adults and their point of views and how they fit together is handled with compassion, humor and love. If you are a parent, you will likely see pieces of yourself and your children somewhere in this thought provoking novel. Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Co and Laurie Frankel for writing a story we can all relate to and giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: January 23, 2024.

Look, all I'm saying is there's a reason that Laurie Frankel is one of my favourite authors of all time, and this book is it. A beautifully told story that was equal parts hilarious, poignant, insightful, and thoughtful. Readers who loved books like The Celebrants will flock to this one, and I cannot wait to recommend this book as a Librarian to all my readers.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy! Family Family by Laurie Frankel is the story of India Allwood, an actress. The story starts with her in high school, and continues with her as she grows up. She gets pregnant twice and gives both babies up for adoption, then she adopts two children of her own. She is an advocate for adoption, and tries to show that there are different reasons for people to adopt and also to offer their baby for adoption. We meet all the children, their adoptive parents, and their fathers. A lot of the story moves toward a big conclusion, with all parties represented. There is a lot going on in this book, a lot to keep up with. #familyfamily #lauriefrankel #netgalley #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #booknerd #whattoread #readingtime #bookaddict #ilovetoread #ilovebooks #needtoread #readallday

Laurie Frankel’s latest book, Family Family, is an ode to the beauty of families everywhere. Every family is unique and every family has a story to tell, and Ms. Frankel’s tribute is beautiful indeed. This book has it all, young ingenue who turns into a major celebrity, scandal, no-regrets characters intertwined throughout the story, and the central theme of love conquering all. As is always true with Ms. Frankel’s work, Family Family is beautifully written and is sure to be a hit.

Thank you @henryholtbooks for this @netgalley ARC of Family Family!

When I read One Two Three back in 2021, it burrowed under my skin and has sat with me ever since. So when I saw this come up on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it.

And oh, did it burrow under my skin just the same. Laurie delivers characters who are complicated, layered, both heart wrenchingly relatable and also surprising and unpredictable. She tells stories that make you think and gives you characters from diverse lives and backgrounds. And she makes you cry while doing it.

When India Allwood’s prestigious acting career opened the door for her to tell a story about adoption, she was apprehensive. Not for any of the reasons you might expect, though.

As an adoptive mother, India doesn’t feel that her or her children’s lives are any “less than” because of the circumstances that lead them to each other. She is open and honest (sometimes maybe too honest) with her twins Jack and Fig, and while she agrees that adoption is a complex and nuanced and, all too often, traumatic experience, she also knows that sometimes, it is wonderful, too.

But when she says this out loud, her high-profile and unapologetic nature results in a near instantaneous backlash that sends shockwaves through the internet - and then her world.

Because India is much more than an adoptive mother. And as the threads of her and her children’s lives are plucked and unraveled, she knows one thing for certain: no matter how much love, or blood, or history, or lack of any (or all) makes a family, one thing all families have in common is complexity.

Propulsive, heartfelt, and oh so beautiful, Family, Family takes the reader on a journey through India Allwood’s self-discovery. What does it mean to raise a family? To raise yourself? With her trademark poignant humor, Frankel delivers another compelling tale full of quirky characters and family drama. 5 big stars for this one! Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt for my gifted ARC!

Meet quirky India Allwood, she keeps ripped up notecards in her pocket for when you need to celebrate with some confetti, she has dreamed of being an actress her whole life, and now she is a famous one! Except – she has stepped in it – she spoke badly about her new movie and now she is in a PR mess and her family is stepping in to help – but who India’s family is, that is what makes this story interesting. This novel looks into what defines a family. At its core this is a novel about adoption, but it is also a novel about the multiple ways that families can be created and structured and the different ways you can love someone.

I wasn’t sure I would love this novel as much as I did because India was just a little bit too much for me, but I ended up really just enjoying all of the characters and the story so much that I couldn’t put it down. Laurie Frankel’s voice has a unique quality to it that I have always appreciated and I like her novels so I was so excited to read this one; and her personal story at the end made this even more worthwhile for me. This is a fun and meaningful story which is a combination that I think Frankel excels at.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for this ARC to review

Lights, camera, action! This was a great read. I came into it not really knowing what to expect, but it sucked me in. I love how complicated and accurate it portrayed the definition of a family, not something defined solely by blood or love. This would make a wonderful book club read!

I have not read anything by this author before but I will definitely be checking out her backlist of books. I had a great time reading this one and I really enjoyed the plot and characterization. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This book was so beautiful and will definitely be one of my favorites of this year. Such a beautifully written story of family and found family and what exactly makes a family. It is also about choices and love and parenting. Could not recommend this book more. If you liked “This is What it Always is,” you will like this.

I was so excited for this ARC. I first discovered this author from Reese’s book club which featured “This is How it Always Is” and then went “One Two Three” which I also very much enjoyed. This book has a similar sentiment to the ones mentioned above which features a strong portrayal of family dynamics. As someone who is adopted, this book was probably the one I connected to the most. There are laugh out loud moments, moments that made me cry, and moments that made me feel something. This book is still something I think about weeks after reading it and will be one I will be recommending when it is released in January 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company and Laurie Frankel for this ARC.

In this novel we meet India Allwood, starting with her teenage dreams and transitioning back and forth between more recent time frames and her lifestyle as a television celebrity. Throughout we learn of her choices regarding childbearing and adoption, relationships and growth, and how that families come in all shapes and sizes.

I really enjoyed this novel, the growth of India as well as her family and children, and found it to be a wonderful exploration of adoption and family. I would have liked a little more about the adoptive families and a little less about India's acting adventures, but that may be just me. Each character was delightful and well drawn out so maybe thats why I wanted more of even the minor characters. This is another winner from Laurie Frankel.

Thank you to Net Galley for an e galley in return for an honest review.

I really loved the message of this book that family is what you create, whether it be biological or via adoption. I thought the author's note at the end was very good. I knew the author had a trans child, but I didn't know that she had a child via adoption. I loved that her and her husband chose adoption instead of trying to conceive naturally.

In this novel, India has a love of theater, although she can't sing, and she finds herself pregnant as a senior in high school. While there is an easier road she could have chosen, India decides to have the baby and give it up for adoption. That child is trying to come find her in the present-day strand of this dual timeline novel.

While I really loved the last 1/3 of this novel, I struggled some with the first 2/3. I felt it languished in India's career more than I would have liked. I wanted to know more about her biological children and the adoptive parents from their perspectives. It was only later in the novel that I got what I was looking for, so that is my reason for taking off 1 star.

Overall, this is a very solid novel that explores multiple facets of adoption. I really appreciated those perspectives and the author's sentiments.

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt publishers for allowing me to read an arc. I have read several books by Laurie Frankel so was pleased to get a copy. Laurie Frankel has a superb writing process where you feel emotionally attached to the characters as she covers sensitive issues in her stories. This book covers adoption as a sensitive issues but she does it with such charm.