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.

I have read a lot of favorable things about this book, but I rather struggled with it. The story is about India Allwood, a famous Broadway, screen and TV actress who places her first two children for adoption, the first when she was a senior in high school and the second when she was a senior in college. Later in life, she adopts 4 year old twins. Some of her life choices influence the way that the public sees her. and the paparazzi makes it more difficult.

I liked the book's focus on different kinds of families. I also liked the fact that although India gave up her children for adoption, she was still vehemently prochoice. The children in the story are interesting and in their own way, lovable.
I wasn't' crazy about the way in which the story dragged at time (in all, I think the book was too long), and I found the ending anticlimactic.

#netgalley

I am always going to be excited for a new Laurie Frankel book — she writes about tough topics with (what seems like) ease, and creates characters that stay with me for a long time. Family Family tackles adoption, something she has experience with as an adoptive mom, and what “family” really means. I loved the focus on India, and the peeks into what other characters were thinking (but I will say that Jack’s commentary about his birth mother and the model minority myth struck me as out of place and a little …off). The book was imbued with so much love and the story kept me wanting to keep reading until I closed it with a happy sigh.

I have said this many times since I first read This is How it Always is, and I will say it again... Laurie Frankel is INSANELY UNDERRATED! Too many times I read literary fiction and don't enjoy it because it feels forced. I hate it when an author sacrifices humor or relatability in a novel in the name of making the story seem high brow. Frankel manages to write about heavy topics such as adoption, teen pregnancy, and LGBTQ issues with respect and candor, but also humor and relatability. It's February and I feel certain this will be my favorite book of 2024.

Dear Family Family,
Oh, my heart! I don't know how Frankel did it, but she managed to write about so many dark, deep and uncomfortable topics with such a perfect sense of lightness. I absolutely loved the family in this story, and sprawling and unconditional and quirky as could be! All of your different voices came together in such a great combination, sometimes a cacophony and sometimes in such beautiful harmony. As the family grew and grew, adding more layers to their complexity, I fell more in love with each of them. You approached the idea of cancel culture, adoption, abandonment, trauma and everything else packed inside your pages with charm, and easy, but still with depth and so much heart.

Not all adoption stories are tragedies. This was such a great read! It was full of witty, fun, and always emerging characters; the choices we make that are right for ourselves; and family - all the found family that we might not even think about.

I have been fascinated by adoption my whole life. As a child, I read any book about adoption I could find. Adopting a child was a bucket listen item for me… one that the chaos of three children has unfortunate struck from the list. All the to say, this book sounded like it was right up my alley.

It was a very sweet story. I love that Frankel had a positive experience, and wanted to be sure more of those positive stories were out there. The book was full of endearing characters, and it worked well on audio.

For me, personally, I tend to prefer more than just a sweet story. I like character development and getting to know the inner thoughts of those going through big life things. If you’re looking for a feel good story, then absolutely read this one.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Laurie Frankel for an ARC of this audiobook.

3.5 stars

This is my first audiobook through NetGalley. I enjoyed the narrator. The story was great too. I would recommend this book to other readers. Great book cover as well.

There is something so special about Laurie Frankel. I always love her characters, and she has a particular knack for writing fascinating, precocious children and crafting youth dialogue as well. Laurie also writes what she knows, and this story of adoption and family is close to her heart. Family Family highlights that adoptive families are not always painful and full of strife. Instead, they are complicated and nuanced like all families.

Laurie Frankel does it again! I have loved her two previous novels and, while it took me a bit to get hooked on this one, I loved it just the same; in fact, it may now be my favorite of her novels. An absolutely gorgeous, and beautifully written, story of found family and the ways in which family = in whichever form it may take - finds us, bonds us and, sometimes, breaks our hearts. While I do not have any personal experience with it, I can only imagine that this is a fantastic representation (based on the author's experience, as shared in the author's note) of adoptive families - both adoptive and biological parents, children, other individuals involved in the process - and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend for fans of stories by authors like Ann Napolitano, Kevin Wilson, and Angie Kim.

Side note: the audio narration is fantastic!!

Wow! Laurie Fankel is such a beautiful storyteller. She has a way of bringing each of her characters to life vividly. You feel their emotions and are on the journey with them each step of the way. Though the back and forth between characters and timelines in this book felt a little chaotic, it matched the energy of the main character India well. Very enjoyable and thought provoking read. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of this book.

Another great family story by Laurie Frankel! This book wrapped me up in a feeling not unlike a cozy blanket.

This story follows India throughout and she’ makes for some interesting storytelling. There are parts of her adult life that are a bit slow, though help the character development of both India and her children.

The last third is very compelling and heartwarming and I didn’t see the end of the story coming. Great book that I thoroughly enjoyed.


Copy of the audiobook provided by NetGalley + Henry Holt & Co. but opinions are completely my own.

Writing: 5/5 Characters: 5+/5 Plot: 4/5

I loved absolutely everything about this audio book — the story, the writing, the characters, and last but definitely not least, the audio book reader.

This book follows India Allwood along two intersecting timelines: from precocious and unintentionally pregnant teen to TV super star and the weeks following a media storm raining down on India following her truthful comments about her recent movie’s position on adoption. You see, India has quite a personal relationship with adoption, having placed her baby with a family she specifically selected. On the other hand, the movie she stars in (and most of the way she sees adoption portrayed in the media) focuses only on the negatives: trauma, regret, and pain. When she admits in an interview that she doesn’t think the movie got it right — that adoption can (and usually is) a very good experience for all involved, it seems like everyone on the planet has nasty things to say about her. When her ten-year old twins see what she is going through, they decide that finding Rebecca — the baby 16-year old India delivered and placed — is the answer to all of their problems…

This book is incredibly well-written and covers all sorts of issues pertaining to families, relationships, aspirations, values, and, well, life with balanced and exceptionally articulate interactions, reflections, introspection and dialog. I cannot stress enough how happy I am with high quality dialog like the kind I found in these pages. As an aside, I found it interesting that I really did not take to 16-year old India. I found her to be a pain in the butt. But she grew on me as she grew on herself, figuring more things out, always striving to understand her own motivations and make good decisions, until by the time she was current day India I was ready to be her best friend.

I’m trying hard not to give away the many surprises that pop out along the way — suffice it to say that the pacing is excellent, the revelations are eye-opening and well-integrated in the plot, and I liked every single character in the book (and there are many). While covering adoption from many angles, the author (through the voice of India) is also very clearly pro-choice, with a great scene between India and some right-to-lifers camped out on her driveway seeking a mascot for their cause. The author also shows strong support for non-traditional family units — but again, I don’t want to give anything away… Lastly, some very in depth and illuminating commentary on the life of an actor!

Highly recommended.

"This Is How It Always Is" by Laurie Frankel is one of my favourite books! I was super excited to hear about her new novel "Family Family".
This story focuses on adoption depicted from different types of families. Told in multiple timelines and POV's, it is easy to follow.
This book is about love, parenting and more specifically adoptive family relationships.
Told in a positive light I was captivated by this heartfelt story on what makes a family.
Wonderful narration by Patti Murin.
The audiobook includes an author's note read by the author and a conversation between the author and Audie Award-winning narrator Patti Murin.

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

What constitutes a family? What is the wholeness of the family unit? This book explores that idea regarding adoption, parents, adoptive parents and biological parents and all of their roles in the family. This is handled in a really great way. Laurie Frankel does a great job of getting in deep to the emotional aspect of individual lives, her characters become real on the pages.

Family is number one in my life with God right along the side. There is so much to learn from and grow within our own families. No family is perfect, ever, and that is exactly the point of life and the family unit. There is so much to learn from one another. Being a daughter, sister, parent, etc has allowed me to grow and develop in ways that are hard but also rewarding.

I enjoyed this story of these adopted children, a mother who placed her child for adoption and the daily struggles within.

Thank you at MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of this book.