The Other F-Word was an interesting read and a unique perspective on family. I would give it to teens who feel that they come from unconventional families and need characters to relate to. It was a little slow at times but, overall, pretty good.

Natasha Friend is fantastic. Her realistic fiction is just what older middle school students are looking for and this one was no exception.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

This was alright, but something about it felt forced. Like a middle grade novel trying too hard to be YA.

Wonderful character development about real issues re IVF, adoption, cancer, anxiety, family issues... absolutely surprised me. I think 14 was a bit young for Hollis to be hooking up left and right with Gunner but I guess in this day and age, things do start really young. Otherwise, it was an extremely well done, realistic book and I look forward to more of her work.

I was pretty meh on this book. It started off fairly cute. The alternating POVs had distinct voices. It seemed like an interesting presence. But it simply didn't hold my attention, and I really, really couldn't connect to Hollis, who didn't seem to care that one of her moms had died.

This book was practically perfect. I consider myself a fairly pessimistic person, and always find at least one or two annoyances with every book. Even if they are minor. I think good reviews should always point out the good AND the bad, so I like to explore what I like and what didn't work as well for me. So as I'm reading this book, I'm like WHAT am I going to say that I would change?? Upon closing the book, I realized I got nothing.

So this book is initially about Milo and Hollis (and the book features them as duel narrators) and how they are half siblings-- related through their sperm donor. They had met as small kids and haven't kept in touch, but now Milo wants Hollis to help him find out who their sperm donor is. Milo SAYS it's for medical reasons (he has severe allergies), but it becomes obvious that the reason goes way deeper than that.

Eventually they find out that there are more people that had children using the same donor as theirs-- meaning they have OTHER half-siblings. They all join in group email sessions discussing everything from their feelings about finding their donor to home life to genetics to everyday life things.

Milo has this pot-head friend at school, and I kind of thought ah-ha!! This is what I'm not going to like about this book. The D-Bag friend. But, no. JJ freaking GREW on me. Once we really get to know JJ, it's impossible not to like him.

So what exactly did I love about this book: Besides everything?? Okay, I loved the way the author handled Hollis and her hook-ups with Gunner (a football player that she was using to get back at a friend and also distract her from her feelings). It could have left me with a bad taste in my mouth-- but I kind of loved Hollis for it. FINALLY!! A girl who admits that she likes hooking up. It's okay for us to do it too people!! Also, I think a lot of people use sex and sexy-times as a way to feel good about themselves or for all sorts of various reasons that have nothing to do with the person they're hooking up with. I love that that was explored.

I loved all the siblings and their relationships with each other!! I loved the parents and all their issues and complicated feelings about the kids wanting to find the donor. I loved how Ms. Friend took us on a journey-- and that journey ended up being really exciting. By mid-point in the book, I was on pins and needles waiting for them to figure out how to find their donor & wondering what this man would think about finding out his sperm donation resulted in having 5 children.

This was the most unique book that I've read in a long time. It didn't go into any usual tropes and it didn't randomly let a romance take over the plot when there were bigger issues to deal with. I can't wait to read more by Natasha Friend!!

OVERALL: This book needs WAY more attention. I thought it was witty, silly, nuanced, and one of the most unique YA books I've read in a long time. Do yourself a favor and add this to the TBR.

This book review is scheduled to post at the blog on 3/28/17

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<font face="Georgia"> <h3>Welcome to another session of Turning Pages!</h3><p>I need to get every single one of the books this person has read, so I can bask in the sarcasm and snark of the dialogue. I really enjoyed all the 'feels' I had reading this book, and can practically guarantee that you will, too.</p>

<p><i><b>Synopsis</b></i>: Milo lives with his two mothers, Frankie and Suzanne. Milo's had it kind of rough. He's skinny with wild, curly hair, and he's never quite fit into the world of junior high. In part, it's because Milo has catastrophic allergies -- peanuts, melons, tomatoes, coconut, gluten, wheat, dairy -- sooo many things. He's so tired of the EpiPen and the drama attached to every meal eaten away from home. He'd just like a piece of pizza, just once, hold the drama. He wishes desperately that he knew his sperm donor - not just as someone to figure out where the allergies are coming from, but sometimes... sometimes he'd just like someone else to talk to. About his life. And so, he contacts a girl he met when he was six -- who shared the same sperm donor, Hollis.</p>

<p>Hollis lives with her single mother - though once she had two. Pam died of cancer when she was in the second grade, and her remaining mother has been weird ever since. She cried for years, and drank wine. And now she's in the phase of talking to Pam's picture. She carries one with her. Hollis' mother seems not to notice that her wild-haired, Goth-influenced, tongue-pierced daughter isn't exactly thrilled about how her mother interacts with Pam's memory. Unfortunately, Hollis' mother doesn't seem to notice how conflicted Hollis is about everything. She's decided that... <i>Pam</i> would want Hollis to talk to Milo. That <i>Pam</i> would want Hollis to go and meet Milo in person. Hollis would like to call BS on the whole thing. This isn't about Pam! This is about Hollis, and she's ...snarky and angry and really, really, really wishes that she'd gotten to say goodbye to Pam when she died. But, a nurse's prejudice against a lesbian family and Hollis being only seven had worked against them. And there's more -- but Hollis isn't telling.</p>

<p>When Hollis and Milo meet - and soon find more children of this same sperm donor, through a website aimed at connecting donor progeny with their donors, it's amazing. FaceTiming and texting each other is great. Finding a group of people roughly the same age who have so much in common -- from looks to quirks to skills is like finding more ready-made family. There is an ease and joyousness to their interactions. And then, through Milo's research, and his weird friend JJ's persistent assistance, they find their sperm donor, #9677. Suddenly, Milo, Hollis, and their siblings are confronted with a real person -- and the <i>other</i> f-word... the <i>father</i> word. Are they ready for him? Is <i>he</i> ready for them?</p>

<a target= _blankhref="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BtSpQZjifLo/WNMFMDiX1AI/AAAAAAAAGyw/fQRwEj67XnolmYp5USlbkqGFtf3ocsv6gCLcB/s1600/29102849.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img hspace=10 align=right src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BtSpQZjifLo/WNMFMDiX1AI/AAAAAAAAGyw/fQRwEj67XnolmYp5USlbkqGFtf3ocsv6gCLcB/s400/29102849.jpg" width="266" height="400" /></a><p><i><b>Observations</b></i>: This is an ensemble novel, which is narrated by turns, so it may take some readers time to find their feet. Hollis is an acquired taste - she holds grudges, is mean to her mother, and is basically you on a bad day, which may cause the more judgmental among us to hold back from her. Keep reading. This novel delves into the topic of in-vitro fertilization, bullying, friendship, and family. There is mild drinking and drug from some characters. The novel delves into sexual diversity in that two sets of parents are lesbian. Though JJ's adoptive parents are Jewish, there isn't much ethnic diversity in the novel, except for a stock character Latina maid.</p>

<p>This is a novel written by someone who knows the craft well. There is snark and sideways humor and geeky, cheesy parents and anxious, stressed, helicoptering parents. There is grieving and finding joy again, making out and deciding to stop. There is numbing of emotion, and letting oneself feel -- even feel fear and pain that goes with that feeling. There is an ending which is so perfect that I want to hug it and pet it a bit. It is spontaneous and joyful, and full of possibilities -- for both utter disappointment and terrifying happiness.</p>

<p><i><b>Conclusion</b></i>: This is a great book - original, heartfelt, funny, sweet, and real. I wish I'd written it. Barring that wish coming true, I can at least press it firmly into the hands of every reader I know. ENJOY IT.</p>
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<hr width=55%><p>I received my copy of this book courtesy of the publishing company You can find <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/aff/readersrant7?product=978" target=_blank><i>THE OTHER F-WORD </i></a> by Natasha Friend at an online e-tailer, or at a real life, independent bookstore near you!</p>
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Although I received a copy of this e-book from NetGalley, all opinions remain my own.

This is another of those big social issue books. Two kids, fathered by sperm donors, work together to seek out the man who gave them half their genetics. I thought the author did an amazing job with how the kids must have been feeling, going into the project. It gave me another viewpoint that I wouldn't have otherwise thought of. The characters were interesting. I thought they showed some real growth through the book.

I think this book was very well written. I would totally recommend it to my friends.

Another meh read for me. Couple of things that caused me stank face:

1. Really? Milo has severe allergies, so his doctor advises him to seek out his sperm donor? For why? Not gonna cure Milo. Now, maybe I can accept that Milo is using his illness as an excuse, a reason that cannot be traced back to his personal need to locate the man. Regardless, weak. Not believable.

2. So, both Milo and Hollis seemingly disregard their non-biological mothers as their mom. I really didn't like this. In fact, throughout the narrative, Hollis speaks of her as her mother's partner. This changes a bit toward the end of the story, but it still doesn't make sense. Why is necessary to have two different families headed by same-sex parents, and the children in both families question the non-birth parent as having legitimate authority. I actually borderline hate this choice by the author.

3. I'm not really bothered by Hollis' physical relationship with Gunnar. However, I am put off by the reason Hollis hooks up with this guy. I'd rather a character mess around because he/she/they simply likes to engage in physical relationships than to use sexuality as a way to seek revenge. I'm not, by any means, what is considered a traditional feminist, but I do see Hollis' behavior as a bit exploitative. I don't know that I could, in good conscience, put this book in the hands of a teen girl.

JJ is the book's only redemption, I think. I really liked how the character was written. But one supporting character does not make a good book. This one is a no for me.

The storyline of this book is relatively simple, so I think whether or not someone enjoys the novel will depend on how much they like the characters.

Hollis and Milo are half-siblings who share the same sperm donor father. When Milo gets frustrated by the limitations of his severe allergies, he decides to try to discover more about the man who fathered him. Having met Hollis once when they were small children, Milo reaches out to her to get her support for his search. Hollis, however, only supports him reluctantly until they discover that they have several other half-siblings. Positive interactions with their newfound family then help both Milo and Hollis deal with the issues each of them have with the family they’ve always known, their parents.

The characters are what makes this book worth reading. I liked Milo a lot. He’s got a lot to deal with between his allergies and the smothering parenting of one of his mothers, but he mostly seems to be a pretty level-headed kid who is realistic about his expectations for his search. Hollis was less likeable; in the first chapter, she was so angry and unpleasant to her mother that I wasn’t sure I even wanted to read the book. I stuck with it, though, and eventually it becomes clear that a lot of her hostility and acting out are due to unresolved grief over the death her other mother. As the book progresses, she softens, and the reader gets to see the person under that hard shell.

Milo’s friend JJ almost steals the show from both of them, though. Introduced initially as a pothead, JJ has his own family problems as the adopted son of loving but often absent parents. Like Hollis, he’s acting out, and the process of discovery that Milo and Hollis embark on helps him with his issues as well. Plus, he’s just kind of an adorable goofball.

One other thing I liked about this book was the ending. I won’t give it away, but I will say that it’s not a Disneyfied outcome where absolutely everything is happily resolved at the end.

Recommended for readers who like contemporary YA novels focusing on family issues.

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hollis and Milo have a lot in common: unmanageable hair, bushy eyebrows, and lesbian moms. Oh, and they come from the same sperm donor. Hollis has no interest in interrupting her life to track down the man who contributed to her conception, but Milo is determined to find him and see if he's the reason for Milo's many dangerous allergies. Along the way, these half-siblings discover that they're not the only products of Donor #9677. But could contacting a man who merely contributed his sperm to a lab result in unforeseen consequences? I was afraid this novel was going to end up shoving the lesson of "appreciate the family you have" down the reader's throat, but I was pleasantly surprised. The characters deal with complex issues, most notably family and acceptance, but they each have individual ways of reacting to the situations in the novel. The author doesn't try to force a lesson upon the reader, but instead presents the characters as though they are real people telling their own stories in their own ways.

This book offers compelling characters in an interesting situation. Hollis and Milo begin to contact their half-siblings and search for their sperm donor (Milo enthusiastically, Hollis reluctantly), and almost despite themselves, they and their families begin forming bonds with these long-lost relatives. It’s a subject I’ve never read about before, and I really enjoyed it.

"That's all they wanted, wasn't it? Milo thought. To know where they came from? It wasn't right, it wasn't wrong, it just was."

In the 90s, test-tube babies, as babies conceived in vitro fertilization were called back then, were headline news and a huge topic of conversation in the LGBT community. I remember regular conversations with lesbian friends about who'd they'd prefer to have as their sperm donor if they decided to go that route to have a child. A stranger via a sperm bank? A family member? A friend? Gay guys were scrutinized on the dance floor by their lesbian friends like never before. I also had a friend who donated her eggs, which is a much more complicated and painful procedure than donating sperm.

One of the main arguments against using a sperm bank was that the kids wouldn't know who their dad was beyond a number and some basic descriptive information. Some countered that it was the same as being adopted. There were more issues, of course, and this novel addresses many of them.

I was drawn to this book but a bit skeptical. The description gave me pause:
A fresh, humorous, and timely YA novel about two teens conceived via in vitro fertilization who go in search for answers about their donor.

Milo has two great moms, but he's never known what it's like to have a dad. When Milo's doctor suggests asking his biological father to undergo genetic testing to shed some light on Milo's extreme allergies, he realizes this is a golden opportunity to find the man he's always wondered about.

Hollis's mom Leigh hasn't been the same since her other mom, Pam, passed away seven years ago. But suddenly, Leigh seems happy—giddy, even—by the thought of reconnecting with Hollis's half-brother Milo. Hollis and Milo were conceived using the same sperm donor. They met once, years ago, before Pam died.

Now Milo has reached out to Hollis to help him find their donor. Along the way, they locate three other donor siblings, and they discover the true meaning of the other F-word: family.

Trigger alert! I thought. Such a novel could be rife with homophobic sentiments and cringe-worthy scenes of heteronormativity. I don't read a lot of LGBT novels due to the obligatory gay bashing scene and/or homophobic attitudes presented as "facts," but this novel is a breath of fresh air.

As the description states, the story is about a teenaged boy named Milo who lives in Brooklyn and a teenaged girl named Hollis from Minnesota, both of whom have lesbian moms. They met once when they were little kids and at the beginning of the novel are brought together again as teens. They track down more half siblings--kids whose heterosexual parents couldn't conceive. There's also Milo's best friend, JJ, a major character in the story, who is adopted.

There's so much that is gracefully packed into this story. There are the big issues at hand: what the kids struggle with, how the in vitro kids have similar yet different issues from the adopted, and how the parents cope with their own challenges regarding their decisions and fears. Also touched upon are numbing one's feelings, dating, bullying, gender vs genes, and grief after losing a parent/partner, among other things.

I was pleasantly surprised by this tender and seemingly "real" novel. I put "real" in quotation marks because I don't have direct experience with these issues, but I have friends who've dealt with a variety of them, both when they were children and now as parents. From what I know of their stories, this novel rings true.

In the end, being a teenager is hard no matter where you come from and who your parent/s is/are. As Milo's friend JJ says, "None of them get us, dude...They're parents."

Title: The Other F-Word
Author: Natasha Friend
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Publishing Group / Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (Release date: March 7, 2017)
Bottom Line: Highly recommend to teens and YA readers interested in non-traditional family stories and LGBT issues.
Source: Review copy via NetGalley

I'd almost say this book was inevitable. With studies now being conducted on the long term affects of being conceived via sperm donors it is not surprising that novelists are exploring the topic. While its not without issues it's largely charming and could spark some good conversations about the nature of famliy and grief.

N/A. I only review books I've completed. I really have no recollection of requesting this title.

I had high hopes for this book, I loved that both sets of parents with gay, instead of just the teens. I thought this was going to be an amazing read. Sadly I was disappointed.

I didn't like the fact that Hollis was so terrible to her mom, and was very heartless when it came to her non birth mother. And the fact she seemed so cold hearted and rude. as a parent myself, not something I would put up with.

With Milo, I did not like the fact that he felt he NEEDED a man/dad in his life. I felt like the author could have portrayed the mothers to be strong, and everything Milo needed.

I didn't like the anger that was expressed in this book regarding the kids being sperm donor babies, I have a hard time believing that the kids would be upset about it. I'd like to think most children would be grateful they were brought to life.

It was a fast read, at points I had to push myself through it, but I think someone younger than me, may really enjoy this read.

This was so much fun! I assumed it would be upper middle grade, like Friend's last book WHERE YOU'LL FIND ME, and this one's a little older--the two main characters, Hollis and Milo, are 14 and 15 and in high school. But just like WHERE YOU'LL FIND ME, the book is an absorbing read. It certainly has its poignant moments, but my favorite parts of this novel are the funny ones. There's so much great banter, and J.J. Rabinowitz is one of the most fun and charming characters I've met in a novel in a long time. It has a dramatic premise for sure, but it was the relatable friend and family dynamics that really won me over.

I absolutely loathed the characters. They represented so many things that I hate about people. I could not finish, unfortunately.