Family Family opens as India Allwood is being cancelled. Star actress of a popular TV show, India is taking heat for problematic depictions of adoption in a film she's just starred in. India refuses to back down or concede, adding fuel to the fire. Through jumps back and forth in time starting from 16-year-old India to present day 32-year-old India, we find out that her reaction to the drama stems from a close relationship with the process of adoption. As the novel goes on, we understand India's story more clearly and Frankel unfurls a unique story of how families get made all different kinds of ways.

Frankel's method of storytelling in Family Family makes for an entertaining journey that keeps the reader hooked. India, her children, and all the other characters we come to know are charming and heartbreaking all at once. It is a bit of a long story and I feel the latter quarter or so dragged on a tad, but resolving the Allwood family story is worth the effort.

After DNFing two books in a row, I knew Laurie Frankel's newest release would not disappoint. India is an actress and her latest movie centered around adoption is facing scathing reviews from critics and the general public. India's response is flippant, but she has her own personal connections with adoption that are slowly revealed as the story unfolds, switching between the present day and a few decades in the past. The format of the book is unusual, but it was not hard to follow the timeline of events.

As I've mentioned in previous reviews of Frankel's works, she has a gift for writing young characters in a fresh way. She can reach into their psyches and express their deepest desires and worries in a genuine and mature way. Her young characters are fearless and ambitious, not afraid to go after what they want, even if it is a little misguided. Frankel also has the uncanny ability to take difficult situations and add both humor and a heartwarming story. The banter between the characters is witty and endearing, and the dynamics she portrays are wholly unique and compelling. Each person is so unapologetically themself, devoid of any pettiness or narcissism. The crazy family dynamic she creates in this book is unexpected and unconventional but completely filled with love. She draws from her own personal experience with transracial adoption and has captured the essence of family beautifully.

Family Family was my first Laurie Frankel book but won't be my last! This book sucked me in from the start with its likeable characters and remarkably fast-paced story. The story centers around the life of India, who is an actress that causes controversy when she makes some statements about adoption when promoting her new film. It turns out India's personal life has been touched by adoption in several ways, and it's such a pleasure the way we learn about those during the course of the story. This is a story with heart, with laughs, and with great food for thought. Utterly delightful read!

Thank you Laurie Frankel for writing your powerful and moving novel “Family Family”. It’s a story with deep insight into the much needed to talk about topic of adoption. I fell in love with the protagonist who is a world famous mega star. She is the most honest, thoughtful and strong women who you cannot help admire even when faced with unimaginable, and heartbreaking decisions. This book is about parenting in all its forms. It’s about unconditional love, family and the acceptance of family in all its varied structures.

Thank you NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I love Laurie Frankel’s characters, they never disappoint. I enjoyed this book almost as much as This is how it always is, and much more then One Two Three. She is a great writer with such unique characters and the humor in her storytelling keeps you engaged..it makes you rethink what makes a family & the beauty in crating your own story

Laurie Frankel has done it again - taken a tenuous, nuanced family topic and created a beautiful story ripe for discussion. Each of these characters are so well developed and human, I can’t decide who I enjoyed most.

India Allred is a famous Hollywood actress who gets in hot water when she makes some comments about her recent movie surrounding adoption, and her past comes to light. But despite how the public may want her to feel about the topic of adoption, India is steadfast in her perspective and her experience that there need not always be trauma or perfect closure linked to every adoption.

I loved the voices of Fig and Jack, and I really enjoyed how the book jumped between present day (taking course roughly over the span of a week) and back in time so we got to watch India grow up. It was so fun to put the pieces together between then and now - what is why I actually think the bulk of the metal was the most enjoyable part of the book. It was such a joy to meet other characters from throughout India’s life, and to see how she grew from an independent young girl into an independent woman.

This book was masterfully written and makes the reader consider family and the creation of family in a new light, and my favorite type of book is one that makes you rethink some thing you thought you understood. Must read!

Thank you NetGalley For providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Laurie Frankel has done it again. Family Family is a lovely and engaging story about the complicated gossamer of human connections that really hits you in the feels. She shares an uncommon, but indispensable, story of adoption and the many ways that families exist.

The novel invites us into the life of India Allwood, an actor and single adoptive mom to Fig and Jack. Her carefully balanced life is upset when some misunderstood comments about her recent movie about adoption take the media by storm. India and her family find themselves navigating uncharted waters as they attempt to rectify the situation.

Frankel’s writing is so skillful and beautiful. She truly has a knack for capturing the nuances of emotions and showing the dialectical nature of relationships. Family Family is rich with ideas that make you ache and is tempered with humor and lightness for a strikingly readable story of love, loss, unbreakable bonds, and finding ones footing through life challenges. I love that the characters are well developed and relatable. They are flawed, but likable. The story takes place in the present, but there are interspersed chapters that give us the history of the characters. Frankel has laced together the past and the present seamlessly.

I give Family Family five out of five stars. It is a well written quick read that really takes on the idea of adoption from a needed perspective. Bravo Laurie Frankel and thank you for putting this book out into the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.

Stories about families are not my go-to, but this has humor and an engaging plot and more, and I was pleasantly surprised. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free copy for review!!

I really liked the story but I feel like there was just too much unnecessary info that I couldn't keep my attention on the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Family Family
By Laurie Frankel
Jan. 23, 2024
Henry Holt
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Beautiful story and happy! It’s a story you won’t soon forget! As the book bounces from character to character we piece together the life of Indias childhood and the lives of her children, standing ovation to Frankel for another book well done!
4 stars

A new Laurie Frankel novel is always cause for a celebration. This time, Frankel turns her sharp eye on the issue of adoption. An author's note shares that Frankel adopted her daughter and has always intended to write a story like this albeit highly - highly! - fictionalized one. The novel brims with activity and characters - a lot happens in Family Family's 400 pages. As expected, Frankel delivers clever banter, quirky main characters and important secondary players to tell the story of actress India Allwood and the many tentacles of her family, which is really a way to tell the story of how and why society portrays adoption as either a tragic story with a tragic ending or a tragic story with a "Hollywood feel good ending." Along the way, Frankel ponders who gets to tell the story and how the story becomes co-opted by those with an agenda. Above all, Frankel reminds me us that no matter what we think about parenting a child - bio, adopted, through marriage - and how we prepare, parenthood will never be what we expect or hope and that's entirely OK! She also reminds us that the definition of family is large, flexible, unconventional and all encompassing. Thanks NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for the ARC.

Family Family was fantastic!! I loved everything about it! It’s such a beautiful story and India was such a refreshing character. I thought the way adoption was written about was brilliant. This is one of those books you will remember and tell everyone you know to read. Definitely one of my favorites of the year!

Laurie Frankel is a gifted writer - her words and plot lines draw you right in. This really appealed to me as a mother and as someone who really values family. Highly recommend!

Good messages but not a fan of the writing style. Did like the ending tho.

With thanks to NetGalley & Henry Holt and Co. for this e-ARC!

You probably don't know this about me, but I'm adopted.

At 4 days old, I was brought home by my parents because my birth mother was too young to keep me. She got pregnant in high school. Her parents made her go to a Catholic girl's home until I was born, and only after I was given up for adoption was she allowed to return home.

I met my birth mother decades ago and although we saw each other quite a bit at first, I can't remember the last time we spoke. I do know the identity of my birth father, but I've never met him and probably never will.

My story is my own, and I would change nothing. I have the best family and it was only through the selfless act of my birth mother that I'm able to be here today.

So, it goes without saying that I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the latest book by Laurie Frankel is about adoption.

Laurie Frankel writes about what she knows. This Is How It Always Is remains my favorite book by Frankel and was inspired by her transgender daughter, who was also adopted from Korea, and the inspiration behind this book.

Because this topic is so important to me, I desperately wanted to love this book. I did like the underlying story, but it was way too long and at times, tedious to read.

I wasn't a huge fan of the main character, and I felt like there were too many characters for this storyline. But, such is the reality of family! It can be chaotic, lack cohesion, confusing, and so much more. So, even though this book wasn't my favorite, I'm still so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read it.

Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt Books for the ARC, and thank you, Laurie Frankel, for writing a book about adoption.

⭐⭐⭐💫 rounded up.

Pros: I’ve read Laurie Frankel’s last three books and find her to be a dependable author for when I’m looking for a book that will make me think. I love that her books examine complex and nuanced families and make for great book club discussions. Including this book, I’ve enjoyed a lot of recent releases and soon-to-be released books that take place in or center around the theater. Structurally, I really liked this book’s use of short chapters and flashbacks/flashforwards, which kept the plot moving forward.

Cons: There were times I had to suspend reality a bit, but I understood how those somewhat-unbelievable plot points contributed to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for the opportunity to read this book.

I will officially read anything Laurie Frankel writes! This was such a unique, funny, timely, and poignant read about the many sides of adoption. The characters were creative yet relatable and I loved how the author told a cohesive story of adoption from so many different perspective. I agree with Frankel that adoption isn’t discussed enough, and when it is, it’s often talked about as a less than ideal option. This book was incredible- a necessary and entertaining read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co for the ARC. Laurie Frankel has written another powerful book about family, the love of a parent, and all the emotions connected with it. What a beautiful book that spoke to me as a mom, as a friend, and a book lover. This book is a must read. Thought provoking and real.

India Allwood is one of a kind. She's a well known TV start and just hoping to launch a movie career when aspects of her teenage life are brought to life. They aren't secrets, but they weren't broadcast and suddenly India finds herself in a public position of discussing choice, adoption and more.

This story is just so beautiful, so happy. As the book bounces from character to character we piece together India's childhood and the lives of her children. It's truly a patchwork of stories that comes together to be a quilt you will never forget.

Laurie Frankel illustrates again and again that family comes in all shapes and sizes and India is an inspiration to us all
Pick up this wondrous book! .
#HenryHolt #FamilyFamily #laurieFrankel

Another fantastic book by Laurie Frankel. She addressed different perspectives on the origination of families. She also touches on some controversial topics.

Well-developed characters. I loved the dual timeline to get to know the main characters, their hurts, joys & accomplishments. She has become an author I will automatically read going forward.

Honestly, Laurie Frankel is someone I would love to sit down and have a conversation with based on her books that I've read - honest, straightforward, and down to earth.

Don't miss this book coming out in February of 2024
#NetGalley #LaurieFrankel #Adoption #FamilyFamily