This was a great family drama. I love the topic of adoption in this one as it’s not written about often enough.

A family drama with such rich commitment to preserving the past and tying it to the future. I really liked this one and will read from this author again.

This audiobook was incredible. I could not stop listening. It will absolutely open your mind to the definition of family and found family. The narrator was so, so good. Laurie Frankel is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

I have always adored Laurie Frankel's adoration of family--and all the complexities that come with family units of all kinds. She truly pushes herself to the limit in Family Family as she tackles adoption and the ups and downs--as well as the preconceptions from society. An audiobook that shines thanks to a brilliant writer and a wonderful narrator (Patti Murin)!

This was my favorite book of the month. I loved the complex family and the deeper narrative of choice and family and what should be mourned and what should be celebrated. I loved the cancel culture exploration. Mostly I loved the characters and the relationships and the way the Family came together. Were the characters all likeable? Nope, but in this book it did not matter, in a book that can make me like the unlikable I always call that a win and this one I call a home run!

I was not expecting the intricacies of adoption and the intelligence level of India, especially as a pregnant 16 year old. Actually, most characters in this book seemed highly intelligent, except for those involved in media. As I was reading, I kept thinking "stars - they're just like us" but in a very ironic way.
<i>Family Family</i> is a deep dive into the difference or cohabitation of the family your are given and the family you choose.
I ended up deleting a bunch of my review for fear of spoiler alerts. I will just say that there some parts that I'm still questioning. ButI did find this book very endearing, especially seeing the perspectives of the biological kids and the adopted kids and how they all accepted/welcomed each other.

I absolutely adored this story and the perspectives it gives on adoption, family, and love. The narration is top notch and the writing is brilliant. This has been one of my favourite audiobook listens of 2024! Thank you to MacMillan Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC version of this audiobook.

Frankel really excels in creating lovable characters and great dialogue that is often humorous. I wasn't so fond of the plot in "Family Family". The transition between the past and present didn't flow well at times and it was quite long and meandering. Sometimes I had a hard time following it and after a point it became more like a soapbox than an actual story.

The audiobook done by Pattie Murrin was done really well. Her voices for the various characters were distinct and easy to follow.

Yes, the book is uplifting, hopeful, and the positive look at adoption. While this was a great take on a very emotional subject, the story itself did not hold my attention like I thought it. would. The characters were fine, but not so engaging enough for me to want to keep going back to the book. The only character I liked was India, both young and older, and I realized I only cared to read about her to an extent.

This is definitely an unpopular opinion as most people seemed to devour this book. I felt it was boring throughout most of it as it became a chore to keep going chapter after chapter. India duped her own movie, ok so...? The kids wanting to know about the girl India had given up as a teen, ok so...? There wasn't an anchor for me to really keep me so invested to really enjoy the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This novel is about how complicated families are. There’s family, and then there’s family family. The title of this book appears multiple times throughout the novel, but there is one particular instance that brought the tears. In fact, I cried multiple times reading this book. The relationships are written to perfection, especially in some of the backstory segments. So is it weird that the characters don’t feel like real people to me? The dialogue is not at all natural. The wordplay reminded me of the Tree Stooges, and somehow of Wes Anderson. Everything is kind of surreal and exaggerated. The characters use words like “dwebs” and “smears” to describe the press. There is world building for a superhero Viking character that does not appeal to me at all. But in the end I feel like I got to know this family. They made me laugh and cry, they even bored me a little bit in the middle, but I love them and I care what happens to them. It doesn’t make sense, I know.

The audiobook narrator was fantastic.

This title was archived and removed from my net-galley account (even though I had downloaded it) before I was able to finish so I am unable to give feedback of this audiobook. I will post a review of the book itself to the eBook!

Family Family by Laurie Frankel is another delightful look into family dynamics, our relationships with our blood and chosen family, and unconditional love. This book specifically explores adoption and the relationships that adoption creates within families. This book read as a puzzle that was slowly being put together piece by piece.

I enjoyed the story and the writing, the authors note is a nice layer of context for why this story was personal to the author, which clearly elevated this story. Overall, another fantastic read from Laurie Frankel.

Patti Murin did a fantastic job with the audio recording - the performance was entertaining and easy to follow.

Thank you to the NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC - Family Family is out now!

Classic theatre actress India Allwood - instantly recognizable after adding the lead in a highly a successful tv series to her name records a pandemic project that she is not to thrilled about - an adoption story full of tragic loss and drugs. This portrayal of adoption does not reflect India‘s lived experience neither does it she supposes that of a big number of adoption cases. When she voices this opinion in a maybe less than ideal way while doing promotion for the movie her comments go viral and she finds herself in the center of a media shitstorm. Since adoption has played into quite a few key moments in India‘s life there are quite a few interested parties aside the usual paparazzi (or „smears“ as India‘s 10-year old twins call them). The twins Fig and Jack were my very favorites among so many lovely characters since they were precocious but so well captured for 10 year olds and their worldview.
If you enjoy quirky, unforgettable character driven stories with family and found family drama, this may be just the kind of story for you as well. It is a fabulous story about family, belonging, adoption, quite obviously, but also friendship and love. It is a beautiful multi-layered and multifaceted story that I devoured and highly recommend - Laurie Frankel is a brilliant writer and I loved this one just as I loved This Is How It Always Is and One Two Three.
I listened to the beautifully narrated audio and it was a joy to listen to. As things were piling up I found myself unable to stop listening, inventing chores and lengthening my dog walk to keep going.

3.5 stars
Laurie Frankel always gives us stories full of complex & complicated interpersonal & family dynamics. That is especially true with “Family Family”! India is a force of nature and so are her children. This is a great selection for your book club groups- lots to talk about.
*I would have given this book 5+ stars for Patti Murin’s narration alone!!

Families are made in all kinds of ways - birth, adoption, choice... In Family Family, Laurie Frankel examines them all. To death.
I did enjoy the beginning of the book as we got to know India, a young woman who wanted to be a Broadway star and would stop at nothing to get there. This included her choice to deliver her babies and place them for adoption. One child is placed with a single woman parent. Later, the second child is placed with a married gay couple. Later in life, she herself adopts twins. The story goes on to when India is famous and during a press junket interview, she says something against the storyline of the film and how she supports adoption. Now made into the face of pro-life, she tries to explain that she is not that person, she is pro choice and her choice was adoption. This is leads to her being "cancelled" by angry social media participants from all sides. To say more would be to give away too much.
It is odd because the book started feeling like it had gone on forever and I was at the half way point, but at the same time it felt as if she glossed over the feelings of the children. It is addressed, but not at the same depth as those of the adults.
For me, the more it began to draw out, the more the impact of the beginning of the book was lost. My family is from non-traditional methods not discussed in the book. I am open to all of the options that are discussed. However I felt that she circled the airport over and over and I was wanting her to land the plane so the adventure could begin.

My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the Arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Laurie Frankel's quirky universes, populated by full casts of exquisitely imagined and multifaceted characters, are a lot. In a good way! As in One, Two, Three and This is How it Always Is (the latter is a favorite of mine), this novel teems with lovable and unique characters. There are questionable choices, drama onstage and in real life, loving relationships both near and far, and some surprising twists and turns. Frankel is so talented at painting her characters and making their personas relatable, even when their decisions are not. These days, empathy seems non-existent. Trust me when I say, not in Frankel's worlds.

I listened to an ARC of Family Family from #Netgalley..

This novel was so interesting and raw. I loved the concept and the bio-ethics / societal questions the subject matter raises and felt Laurie Frankel deftly dealt with them. A great discussion piece for book club for SURE, especially for folks who are considering or have children as well as those who don't. Great narrator and performance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of FAMILY FAMILY.
FAMILY FAMILY by Laurie Frankel offers a compelling exploration of the complexities surrounding adoption within a family dynamic. As a huge fan of Frankel's previous novels, I was so excited for this latest book. While her adept storytelling skills are evident in the rich character building and their interconnected narratives, I found the overarching message about adoption to be somewhat heavy-handed at times. Frankel's insistence on challenging common misconceptions surrounding adoption is commendable, yet occasionally overt. While FAMILY FAMILY certainly upholds Frankel's reputation for crafting poignant narratives, I must confess a lingering affection for her previous title, ONE TWO THREE, which still holds the top spot in my heart.
The audiobook was very well done! Fantastic narration.

I loved this book! The characters were well developed and the storyline flowed well. I received the audio arc and really enjoyed the audio quality. I especially enjoyed the growth of India and how she navigated her dreams while not letting circumstances define her. The author’s note was really insightful about how she approached the topic of adoption.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book!

I just loved this book. Laurie Frankel breathes life into her characters in such a way that I feel like they become an extension of my own family. Their realities are messy and true and real.

India Allwood is the sole perspective. She is a smart and talented high schooler raised by a single mother but is an outsider with peers until a new kid arrives at school. Girl and boy fall in love, get pregnant and choose adoption for their child. India follows her dreams, her passion. Years later she falls in love again, gets pregnant again ad chooses adoption again. More years pass and India becomes more successful, deciding to adopt as a single mother. She has always kept her personal life personal, private, until her "secret" gets out. India has never felt shame or guilt but has also never felt the need to share. The media loves flashy headlines and through the flash, a beautiful story of a non-traditional family unfolds.