Thank you to Netgalley for my copy. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. This was maybe my most anticipated book of the year. Maybe my expectations were too high?

The banter/humor in the dialogue was wonderful—which was what I was expecting—and I thought I was going to love it in the first few chapters.

But we lost the plot, IMO, and a lot of Frankel’s thoughts were repetitive, long winded, and . . . I don’t know . . . I feel like we lost the story to an opinion piece. Don’t get me wrong: I’m glad this perspective on adoption exists. It was just missing something for me that I can’t quite put my finger on. But I seem to be in the minority on this one.

Big fan of Laurie Frankel. Loved this book and the it's portrayals of adoption from many different perspectives. At some point, I didn't understand India but I think that was the authors point. It's not for us to understand but to empathize. Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

Family drama is one of my favorite types of books to read. I love the idea of needing family, but being wary of calling upon them for help. This book shows that turmoil well, I need you, but I don't want to need you. Well done. Worth all the hype.

I really enjoyed this book. It tended to be a bit wordy at points but that was not enough to give it a positive rating. Some stereotypes were annoying like her depiction of pro lifers. And her disparaging of organized religion might turn some off. It is very funny in some parts and I think the overall message of the book (families are made in many many different ways) is a good one. I have no experience personally with adoption and would love to read some comments with those who are. All in all I feel this is one of the best books I have read this year and will definitely seek out other books by this author

I had a really hard time reading the beginning of this book because of many, many similarities India Allwood and I have shared in life. Parts of this novel were (horrifically???) auto-biographical for me, but ultimately India and I chose to go down very, very different paths. It was so interesting to me to see a pre-teen girl fall in love with theater as much as I did- and the catalyst being seeing a production of Guys & Dolls was hysterical (and scary) to me. Mine was a dinner theater production in 2003 somewhere in Virginia on a school trip- where I realized quite fast there was nothing else on this earth I wanted to do in my life. I still haven't gotten to play Adelaide, but one day...

This book was surprisingly therapeutic for me. Imagine getting pregnant as a teenager and seeing the path not chosen written out so interestingly in a random novel you asked for because it was a Book of the Month pick. I didn't agree with everything India did--- I don't think I would have made the same mistakes twice... but her utter selflessness was really interesting to me. Her choosing to decide that giving people blessings meant she was deserved her own blessings in return was such a weird way to think about teenage pregnancy- but also so inspiring? India's tenacity and drive were so great, and she worked so hard for everything in her life. It was so refreshing in books that are, typically, very sad dramas.

The supporting cast of characters in this novel were incredible, and I wish we could have gotten more. From India's children, to her ex boyfriends, to her mom, to her colleagues, to the very hateable reporter, everyone in this book was such a good time whether you loved or hated them- and each character had such a specific purpose it was incredible watching the plot weave itself together. Questions you didn't even know to ask got answered, and I thought that was incredibly fun.

This is a beautifully written book with wonderful characters and is full of heart. If you like books about families definitely pick this one up.

This was the first Laurie Frankel book I picked up - thank you to my book club for the recommendation as I don't know if I would have known about the book without them!

Laurie Frankel is a talented author who makes hard subjects easier to understand the nuances. I have loved her previous books and this one did not disappoint. I also loved This is how it always is.

I am not a lit fic reader in general but I'll always make an exception for Laurie Frankel. Honestly, I went into this one blind which I never do. I requested it from NetGalley just because of the author so I had no clue what I was signing myself up for.

It's not an easy read but it is very powerful. There are some trigger warnings to take into consideration especially since the book deals very heavily with pregnancy, children, adoption, etc.

I found myself judging the main character a lot right along with everyone else and then taking pauses to confront my thoughts and reframe them. I love the way the story depicts the choices pregnant people have to make when deciding if they want to have children, either now or in their future. I also loved how the characters redefined the definition of family, especially because the family system here is really unique.

Go into this one with an open heart and an open mind.

Family Family is a heartwarming, thought-provoking story about what constitutes a family. India Allwood wants to be a Broadway star, never mind the fact that she can't sing. When she becomes pregnant at 16 right after getting accepted to her dream theater school, she decides to share her good fortune by making someone else's dream come true through adoption. Switching to the present day, India has just starred in a movie about adoption and angers a number of internet trolls by declaring that the trauma narrative present in all adoption stories is not representative of everyone's experience. As the book flips back and forth between the early 2000s and the present, we learn why India has strong opinions on adoption and family.

This novel is excellent. I loved the way the characters spoke about their ideas and their thoughts. The children, while perhaps a bit unrealistically precocious, were interesting and funny and full of life. While not necessarily believable that India would have been so articulate as a teenager, her eloquence as an adult and a mother was believable and enjoyable to read. Her instinct to protect all her children is something all mothers will recognize, but the way she goes about it may be different than people would expect which adds depth to this novel. With fluid prose and a cast of quirky characters, this book is a moving and uplifting page-turner.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this bright, loving story. Everything about this book will leave you feeling brighter than when you started. Family is family and there are so many ways to define. Frankel creates characters that enter your heart as soon as you meet them. It's a book you will read and continue to think about and smile about way beyond the last page.

This is officially one of my favorite things I’ve read so far this year. I loved the back and forth stories of character history and the identity and family formed when India’s world goes array.

Family Family is a captivating exploration of family and adoption, filled with unanswered questions and unexpected revelations!

Laurie Frankel’s "Family Family" is a heartfelt story around the complexities of family, adoption, and the profound impact of individual choices. Frankel dives into the intricacies of parent-child relationships, showcasing the challenges and the beauty that come from these connections.

What sets "Family Family" apart is its refreshing perspective on adoption. While many narratives tend to focus solely on the trauma associated with adoption, Frankel portrays the many emotions, including joy and love, that accompany the decision to give another family the gift of a child. Through the lens of one woman's journey, the novel navigates the messy terrain of familial bonds, challenging the notion that family is solely defined by blood ties.

Frankel’s writing style is engaging and authentic, drawing readers into the lives of her characters with empathy and insight. The narrative unfolds with a slight sense of humor, making it both a thought-provoking and enjoyable read. As a first-time reader of Laurie Frankel, I was thoroughly impressed by her storytelling and will certainly look for more of her work in the future.

"Family Family" resonates on a deeply human level. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates a well-crafted story about the complexities of family and the bonds that unite us.

Thank you Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co for allowing me to read and review Family Family on NetGalley.

Published: 01/23/24

Stars: 3

Disappointing. The author chose to write on adoption -- a topic she was well-versed in. In doing so, she added an uncommon take that I didn't see as a rational choice until more than midway through the book. I was waiting for the usual and customary adoption abuse story. Kudos to Frankel for not selling out. The main character's thoughts on adoption gave me a perspective I had never read or thought about.

India is unapologetic. Her lifestyle was such that choices she made on repeat I found irresponsible as well as believable. (Not spoiling)

It is the last third of the book where the story fell apart. I do believe Frankel had the skill and experience to write a more credible and feasible story with a believable ending. There is profanity.

I was not a fan of the dialogue, excessive bantering. The characters had unique personalities that didn't mesh with me.

I can't think of anyone I would recommend this to, but I do know the reason for the adoptions I won't forget.

I loved all of Laurie Frankel’s previous work but this was a miss for me. I thought the purpose of the story was great and I appreciated the different perspective on adoption, but I felt like the story was too drawn out.

I truly enjoyed this book! I loved the character development and the characters themselves. I thought the concept was interesting and refreshing - especially knowing that Laurie herself has an adopted child. I loved that there was romance but it wasn't the entire focus of the book. Fig was such a cutie, I enjoyed her commentary - it felt real. The different POVs and timelines threw me a bit, but I eventually eased in.

This tells the story of what makes a family a family and what does that mean. The story is a contemporary drama that shares the story of an adopted woman and how she deals with that trauma and the life and family she wants to create. Great story, great pacing and great overall execution.

I really loved this book and feel as though all should have a read. The representation is has for adoptive families is amazing and I think there needs to be more stories showing this side of adoption. I also enjoyed the characters and the kids in this story.

I have found all of Laurie Frankel's novels to be thought-provoking looks at interesting topics, and Family Family is no different. This one is about an actress who has both given kids up for adoption and adopted kids herself, so she has a very unique perspective on the subject. When she shoots a movie about adoption, she finds herself in the middle of controversy after sharing some of her opinions.

This book is about how adoption and family are perceived and the opinions surrounding the issue. And I have read many reviews of this book that have strong opinions aobut how adoption was portrayed in this book, which is a little ironic given that it is exactly what the book is about. Personally I don't have experience with adoption firsthand, so I don't know that I have a right to an opinion. But I think it's interesting to be able to look at an issue from a variety of perspectives; this is one perspective! I didn't think this book was trying to (nor is it required to) give an all-encompassing picture of adoption.

This story wants to help people see the positive side of adoption, when adoption has led to positivie experiences for everyone-- the birth mom, the adoptive parents and the adopted kids. I didn't think it diminished the hardships of adoption nor did it ignore the fact that adoption can lead to a lot of difficulty and struggle. But it did show a positive picture of what family and adoption can look like, and I enjoyed reading it and pondering it.

Thank you, NetGalley for this review copy. As a fan of family dramas and character studies, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is my first and only 5-star read so far this year. For those who wish for fame, this provides a glimpse into the downsides of always being in the spotlight. Issues of adoption, single parenting, and complex family structures are explored.