India Allwood could only remember wanting to be an actress when she grew up. Nothing could divert her from that path in life. As an adult, having realized her goal, India opens her mouth to a reporter and tells the truth. The media storm that follows has the power to destroy both India's career and her family.

Having really liked One Two Three, I eagerly requested to read Family Family. Where the characters flew off the pages of the aforementioned book, they really fell flat in this one. I did not care for India and could not find any kind of connection to her. Her self-centeredness seemed forced and not at all natural. The plot had its own issues, with the author taking the reader back and forth in time. Done well, books such as these can be interesting, but Family Family was not. Two distinct timelines with interwoven characters were the novel's downfall.

The audio version of the book was well narrated, with good inflection and a great stage presence. The narrator brought the character of India to life and gave her a voice.

As I struggled to finish Family Family, I would not recommend it to other readers. That being said, I enjoyed both This is How it Always is and One Two Three. I would recommend those books by Laurie Frankel to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Audio Copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to review this book was my own.

I enjoyed this book immensely.
The author crafted characters that felt real and were genuinely easy to connect with. There wasn’t a single character I didn’t appreciate in this story. The plot had several unexpected turns that caught me off guard, which I really enjoyed. Some moments made me laugh, nod in agreement, and even cheer for the characters. The author's notes at the end were especially insightful and definitely worth taking the time to read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review.

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿?
If your answer is yes, you already know her books are a magical experience and if your answer is no, you need to pick one up!
Another fantastic book from Laurie Frankel that took my breath away, it was heart-wrenching, thought-provoking and simply captivating.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this complimentary audiobook.

𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 by Laurie Frankel, Author released January 23, 2024.

Family Family is another wonderful book by Laurie Frankel. Centred around family and adoption, it felt like an interesting exploration around these topics and the layers of India Allwood’s life. Frankel is such an expert at writing dynamic characters and well developed plot lines. Even though the characters experiences are vastly different from my own, I could feel and empathize because of the excellent writing.
For me, the narration helped immerse me in the story. I thought it was well done and easy to listen to.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I enjoy books with complicated family dynamics, and this one definitely hits the mark. This one is about adoption and how love doesn't have to be about blood.

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for a review.

This is the story of India Allwood. We watch her story unfold from high school until present day, as she works her way from dreaming of stardom to making it on Broadway and then Hollywood. This is also the story of family, and all the shapes and sizes they may come in. This is the story of adopting and giving up for adoption. Additionally, it is the story of what happens when you make the "wrong" comments about the movie you just starred in and suddenly find yourself in a media shitstorm. The story is told from a number of POV's and a timeline that goes backwards and forwards, and was honestly a little confusing to this reader in the beginning, as I did not initially realize it was all the same person's story until I got a little further into the book.

Laurie Frankel does a great job of creating strong and interesting characters. India is likeable and a little kooky. I loved the way India would work hard to get what she wanted and the way she interacts with the other characters in the book, especially her kids. Patti Murin is one of the best narrators I have heard. Every character had their own, distinct voice. There was never a question who was speaking. She helped these characters come even more to life than Frankel did.

I thought this was a good, thought-provoking book. You might have to suspend your disbelief a bit, because there are certainly events in this book that seem a tad unrealistic, but if you can put that aside, you will enjoy this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about different types of families all filled with love. I absolutely loved this novel and the message behind it. I loved the found family theme and how three stories are all intertwined together. A beautiful novel that I will be recommending to all. Laurie Frankel is now an auto buy author for me.

I also loved the narrator and the way Patti Murin was able to bring the story to life.

Family Family was such a great book with a storyline centering around family and adoption. I love the author’s writing, and how she seamlessly pushes the hot topics of our time with her captivating storytelling.

🎧I listened to the audiobook format, which was performed by Patti Murin, and I thought the audio narration was a great choice. With multiple timelines, a diverse family, and a close look at how families are created, I thought it was such a special read.

*many thanks to Holt, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

Is there anything Laurie Frankel can’t write? This book was amazing and I wanted to listen at all times. The concept of how families are made and come to be was really well done, probably because the author adopted her own kids. All of the characters were well written and had me rooting for them. I loved the narrator, the story, everything!

This is an amazing story about a journey of adoption and the full family it creates. India Allwood brings life into the world twice and this created two families, because at that moment she wasn't ready to be a mother. But later when she has the desire to become a mother she doesn't feel that she should welcome more life into the world but to choose the adoption route. Such an interesting twist. These choices definitely made her she was. Also all the children of India all are unique. I appreciate these aspects.

This novel explores the complexities of modern family dynamics. The prose is elegant and there is rich character development making delving into the lives of one family and the intricacies of love and sacrifice. I loved the authors ability to capture the voices of each character with nuance and depth. The family dynamics were both insightful and relatable across past and present. I think the novel was slightly too long, with such exquisite prose that felt too involved at times.

3 1/2 stars

I didn't love this book as much as everyone else in my network seemed to (maybe it was just super overhyped for me before I read it), but I can still appreciate it as a really well-written novel with

My thoughts and feelings on adoption are complicated and though I do appreciate that this novel looked at some of the positive adoption stories (and yes, there are many), in some ways, I felt like it painted a one-sided overly bright picture of adoption and ignored so many of the issues. It also didn't seem very believable to me from the way characters and parents spoke about unplanned pregnancy (I don't want to give anything away) to some of the things that happened in the book and decisions that were made. <spoiler>Notably, it seemed so odd to me that India put two babies up for adoption within a few years because her career was so important to her and then right as her career is launching, decides to adopt. Huh?!</spoiler>

I don't think the book needed to be so long and there were some parts, especially near the end that really dragged for me. I appreciate Laurie Frankel's ability to put a story together that brings light to modern day topics, but the child characters often have odd quirks to them that feel unrealistic. They're often wise beyond their years in ways that don't feel believable.

Overall, Family Family is certainly entertaining enough and I do think many advocates for adoption and people who have had incredibly positive adoption experiences without any trauma will love this one.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to audibly read and review Family Family on NetGalley.

Published: 01/23/24

Narrator: Patti Murin

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 crazy about the narrator. I think it was the dialogue (excessive bantering) as well as the characters unique personalities that I had the issues with; however I'm not certain. Her voice 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.

This audiobook is so great that as soon as I finished I got a copy of the book to enjoy it again! This book by Laurie Frankel has multiple timelines and follows a variety of families and characters that come together in a unique and special way. In present day, India is mother two twins, Fig and Jack, who are 10 and the family lives in LA. When India's most recent movie gets some pretty rough media coverage she finds that her stance on adoption and abortion and many other topics is suddenly up for debate. As Frankel takes readers down a variety of winding paths we get to see how India got to where she is today and why her opinions on adoption might actually be worth listening to, if anyone stopped to actually listen to what she had to say about it (something paparazzi and journalists don't often do). Filled with a variety of interesting and diverse characters each with their own unique and well-developed storylines, this book is one that I think many could connect with. As someone who loves reading books about adoption and diverse families, this was of course the perfect book (and audiobook) for me, but it also was one that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a well-written fiction story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to listen to this audiobook.

Laurie Frankel's "Family Family" is about a complicated but happy, functioning family. It's also  about a successful, single, career woman and her experiences with adoption. 

Despite its long, nearly 14-hour length -- with an author's note and interview between the narrator -- it is a very enjoyable read. And a quite progressive look at a modern family.

I love that adoption is positively portrayed.

4.5 stars, rounded up

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy of this audiobook via the NetGalley app.

3.5*
Frankel set out to tell the story of adoption from a positive viewpoint. She felt most stories centered on adopted children who are victims of emotional or even physical trauma. In this book her main character India Allwood is an aspiring actress. She finds herself pregnant as a teen and decides to carry the baby to full term and then give the infant up. In doing so, her dream of becoming an accomplished actress can remain on course.

Years later, India is a major celebrity. She takes an acting role in a movie that portrays adoption in a negative light. When interviewed about the film, she creates a firestorm when she admits she didn’t like the movie’s portrayal of adoption and this results in the media learning how she herself had willingly given up a child.

Adoption and also foster care are often fodder for fictional stories showing the horrors that sometimes occur. My parents were foster parents to many children and it was a loving environment. So I understand the desire to show a favorable portrayal of a situation that is often cast in a negative light. However, I’m not sure this story focused so much on the effect on the children as it did on how India dealt with unwanted pregnancies.

The media frenzy that ensued with India’s revelation brings the children and her role as birth mother into sharp focus. The children in the story bring their own stories to light. Two of them who are not her biological children, are especially endearing. They bring another aspect to this story of adoption. Frankel is skilled with creating strong, interesting characters and they are the strength of the book.

Frankel’s point about what constitutes a family is valid and is appreciated. Furthermore, her effort to shine a positive light on adoption is commendable. Readers are encouraged to read her note at the end where she addresses her own adoption connection and validates her motivation for the novel.

The audio was capably narrated by the Patti Murin and the interview at the end gives Frankel’s own voice a chance to share her commitment to the topic of adoption. Listening to this commentary is crucial to a better appreciation for those who listen to the audiobook.

This book was both parts amazing and frustrating. The reader is exceptional. She is the star here. Five stars star. The book has some funny moments. Some heartwarming moments. Some totally absurd moments. There are a ton of plot holes, but there are some really easy things that should have been hard and some hard things that should have been easy. Still. I am super glad I picked it up. Thank you.

Family Family was a new perspective on the adoption story. I appreciated the various perspectives employed in telling the story, and I especially liked Fig's narrative style. The book deals with adoption not as a last resort or as something that is inherently traumatic, but rather a conscious and beneficial choice. I also liked the portrayal of the media to try to put someone in a distinct box about their values, and I liked India's strong desire to not be labeled. Overall, there were a few issues I had about believability of a few plot points, but overall it was an enjoyable read of a different type of "family family."
i liked the audio narration as well.

This book is about how family’s are made and chosen and the beauty of adoption. But it’s not all light and easy, it was told with grace and humor and made you feel for these kids and the mom who had to make so many difficult choices in her life.

My first netgalley audiobook review! I tandem read this but I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook experience. I feel as if the narrator perfectly voiced the main female character. I will search out more audiobooks done by this narrator.