This was so good! As an adoptive mother, maybe it resonated a little more for me, but I actually think it’s a story about all families, one that all readers will relate to. I fell in love with each one of the characters, and I feel like I’m going to miss them. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Laurie Frankel’s novels are known to be thought-provoking and often touch on hot-button topics. This one was particularly thought-provoking for me. It’s about adoption and what makes a family. I was intrigued by the topic as I am an adopted child. Adoption was a true gift for my family. My beloved parents waited a long time for a baby, and they were truly amazing parents. The premise of this book is that adoption causes trauma for many involved. Wasn’t my experience at all. India grew up wanting to be an actress and she’s destined for the stage. We travel with her on her journey from a sixteen year old to a huge star in her 30s. Her newest role is in a movie about adoption and she says some things that go viral. The media storm around her and her adopted children brings many other people from India’s past back into her life. Ms. Frankel as usual does a terrific job letting us know the characters. I loved India’s children, Fig and Jack. The three star rating is only because I personally couldn’t identify with the drama and trauma of adoption.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I consistently enjoy Laurie Frankel's books, and this one was no surprise. While the text veered into convoluted at times, with perhaps too many characters, I found it deeply engrossing and appreciated the character development throughout

Laurie Frankel has written another wonderful novel.I was drawn in from the first pages I loved the story the characters her writing style is so involving .Expect this book to get a lot of deserved attention.#netgalley #family family.

A family story with a famous actress in the middle. I liked it, I think if you like stories about what makes up a family and what it means to be a family you'd really enjoy this. I thought it was a little long for a not-so-complicated book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I absolutely loved this. The characters were lovable. The plot kept me engaged. The writing style was excellent. I will now be reading all the books by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I am clearly in the minority here, but this wasn’t for me. This author’s books are LONG and this one felt way too long. I didn’t care for the main character - pretentious manic-pixie-dream-girl vibes - and thus found it difficult to care about the plot. However. I did love the kids, and the writing was pretty fantastic, characters were strong. I just couldn’t get invested. 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.

I haven't read such a good book in a while! I liked everything about this one -- the writing, the plot, the characters. India Allwood is a famous actress whose family secrets are exposed, causing her to come to a reckoning about what family truly is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company Publishing for the advanced review of this book.

I adored Family Family. It is clear that Frankel writes about what she knows and she doesn’t shy away from complicated and nuanced topics….this book is all about adoption, and her creativity and imagination in building this story is really striking.

India is an incredible protagonist- imagine the most straight-forward practical person you know, and then pump them full of drama, optimism, grace, confidence ,and a little magical thinking (the good kind) and this is India. I want her to be my mom. I want to be her friend. This is a story that really takes place in the span of a week but it does jump back and forth in time to give the reader more insight into how India got to the current week she is living.

Read it. ❤️

Another beautiful book by Frankel that explores the not often explored - this time adoption. We meet young India who is desperate to be an actress. And I loved her characterization and quirks. We flip forward to present day where in fact India is a mega star. But she’s been thrust into controversy over a new movie about…adoption. The way Frankel intertwines the stories and introduces her characters is quite something. And I loved her characters proclivities like India ripping up more card and throwing them like confetti. Some of that reminded me a bit of the quirky characters of John Irving’s tomes and India as a strong female character who is unapologetic in her beliefs gave me some Elizabeth Zoey vibes. In all I really enjoyed this thought it did take me a tad longer to read as I savored the story. I won’t be surprised if the pub date of this one moves or is picked for a book club come 2024.

I was so excited to receive Laurie Frankel's new novel, Family Family. One of my favorite books of all time is "This Is How It Always Is." Family Family' is such a wonderful book. It has everything; family relationships, adoption, celebrity status, love, and incredibly appealing characters that aid in telling the story. The book is beautifully written, and as much as I sped through it, I never wanted it to end. I bought it for two friends that are having upcoming birthdays and have a family history of adoption.

You know those kinds of books where you are like, “let me just read one more chapter,” well, it was that kind of book. So good! Laugh out loud funny with witty banter between the strong characters and relationships, well-paced, thought-provoking on the important topic of adoption (a refreshing viewpoint), clever, and easy to read! My fave yet by Laurie Frankel! A standing ovation from me for sure!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Laurie Frankel advocates for family in all her books. She does not seem to see families as one size fits all and normalizes those families that are different. I also like that this book showcases adoption as an option to abortion. India, the main character, carries a child for 9 months (not once but twice) and then gives the child to someone that desperately wants one. India does it for love of others and for kindness. I really liked this book and highly recommend it.

“No one,” Fig giggled. “I’m just saying Mom’s mad now, but I still think calling Lewis was the right thing to do. Sometimes less is more, but not with family. With family, more is more.”

Laurie Frankel's "This is How it Always Is" was my favorite book of the year when it came out and ever since then I've been an avid fan. I could not wait to get my hands on "Family Family" and not only did it not disappoint but I am confident it will be my favorite read of 2023 alongside one other novel. This story was incredibly beautiful.

“This is what parenting is, India. Solving impossible-to-solve problems while also experiencing deep crises of faith while also being kind of annoyed while also never getting enough rest. These problems only ever go away by changing into different equally impossible problems. This is how it always is for all parents, no matter how you came by your children.”

I could easily quote the entire book. I love the way Frankel writes. I love the parents she creates. I love the combination of vulnerability and strength they always display. I find myself wishing deeply that these were real people and in my life. I love them so.

“Normal parents who have their kids from birth so there’s no mystery, nothing about their children they don’t know or understand.” “In the entire history of time, India, throughout the wide vast universe, there has never been a parent for whom that is true.”

This is the story of a super-famous actress, India whose life starts unraveling as a result of some comments she makes about a movie she was recently in. The story goes back and forth between two timelines, the present day after things start unraveling and the past when India is in high school all the way to present day.

“You were five. Everything you did was gross. Then you’d cry because your fingers were cold. So I gave you a fork. Then you ate out all the strawberries and cried because it wasn’t strawberry ice cream anymore.” “What did you do?” “Opened a bottle of wine.” “About me?” “Waited for you to grow out of that phase and hoped the next would be more rational.”

This book is about adoption, parenting, siblings, parenting in all of its forms and of course it's all about love. It's about all the ways we can love our kids, all the ways we can love each other, all the ways we can create family and we can support and be there for each other.

“Not to,” her mother said. “With. Talk with them. Discuss what they’re scared about. Discuss what you’re scared about. Be honest with them. Tell them everything you can think of.” “Why?” “They’re family.” She could hear her mother’s shrug over the phone. “They’ve got a right to know.”

It is one of the most beautiful books I've read. It broke my heart open multiple times and I fell in love with these flawed and loving characters over and over again. I don't think there's any way you will not absolutely love this book.

Make sure to read the author's note at the end, too, it made me love Frankel even more. Now I have to pray that she can write quickly because I can't wait to read more of her stories.

with gratitude to netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I am a big Frankel fan. In fact, her novel THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS, is on my recommended list for all my students working toward teaching degrees. Again, she hits the mark with this novel of adoption and the question of what creates a family.

She creates an especially lovable group of adoptees and their parents as they go on a search for biology, but wind up with finding the meaning of LOVE. The children are so well portrayed that I felt I could visualize them, and share in their journey.

This novel is a winner that reading groups will love and enjoy discussing.

Thank you Netgalley for this thoughtful and lovely novel.

I wish there were more than 5 stars to give! This book is both emotional and funny in so many ways. India is fierce and opinionated, and she is so real. She gives zero f’s what the world thinks of her. I just loved all of the characters, but especially Jack and Fig and their dialogue with Lydia. This is definitely going to be on my best books of the year list. I so admire Laurie Frankel’s style of writing and all of her books have been amazing (I need to go back and read The Atlas of Love, that is the only one I haven’t read, but I am sure it will not disappoint.) Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. It has been such a privilege to be able to write this review!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This book is magical. I love the topic of adoption and how people build their families this way. I'm a mom through adoption and my mom is a birth mom. I am fascinated by all the ways there are to make up families. This book explores that and in a way that is beautiful to read. Five stars! I'll be sharing!

4.5 I enjoyed this book so much! This author writes characters you will love. The book centers about family, especially families formed through adoption. I love how the author portrays adoption as beautiful and sometimes first choice, not a choice of last resort. At the end the way the families all come together feels slightly contrived and yet I didn't even mind because I love all the characters so much. Highly recommend. I plan to read everything she writes since I already enjoyed her book This is How it Always Is.

What can a popular movie and TV star teach the world about family? Everything it seems. India Allwood’s life is upended when her comments concerning her recent movie about adoption go viral. Her refusal to apologize only makes things worse. Who better to come to her defense than her daughter Bex who India placed for adoption when she was sixteen. And Bex was contacted by Fig, India’s adopted ten year old daughter. Yes, it’s complicated. Families are.

This glorious, sprawling novel by gifted author Laurie Frankel is full of surprises, laughter and tears. It’s a story with characters impossible to forget. Fig and her twin brother Jack have a horrendous back story. Robbie the zen hen, Ajax and Henri, the Andrews and Lewis are vividly described but India is the hero here. Her ambition, determination and ideals stand out. And as she says “Regardless of how they get made, family is a force to be reckoned with.” 5 stars.

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

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. Family, Family is a beautiful story that stitched together the stories and lives of actress India Allwood’s family. The story begins with news that India’s latest film about adoption has sparked a lot of controversy because she’s told a publicist that she believes the film is bad and paints a bad light on adoption. As an adoptive mother, she knows there is more to the story and new pieces of her history come to light that emphasize that even more.

I thought this book was an excellent family story. It was very unconventional and different from other stories I’ve read, which made the story feel very fresh and more enjoyable to read, in my opinion. I loved India’s character and enjoyed the dual timeline of the story, where we got to learn about her past and how she arrived to the opening scene of the book; she is a very feisty, strong character and I think she developed so well over the course of the story. All of the kids in the book were also very likable and by the end of the story, I could distinctly understand and “feel” their personalities.

While the book was a little lengthy, I really enjoyed being in this world and would’ve stayed with the characters for even longer. There was a fun plot twist that also helped me further invest myself into the story and made me eager to continue on. All in all, this was a very heartwarming story with a sweet, beautiful ending. I think the author really helped bring to light the many positives that can come from different family structures and helped shine a light on many basic tenets about the concept of “family” that ring true no matter what it looks like.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially to fans of character driven stories and fans of family stories. While this book discusses important topics, I think it’s got a fair amount of levity in it as well, making it an overall excellent choice!