Review | Family Family by Laurie Frankel
CONNECT WITH A BOOK inspires today’s T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
“You never forget your first love... So, don’t forget...”
*This page contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase from these links I will make a commission at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Family Family by Laurie Frankel
2024 Publication Date: January 23
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️
Best Domestic Fiction Books
T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read
Table of Contents
T.I.M.E. BEST BOOK REVIEW
One Family's Tale... Uncommonly Told...
The landscape of domestic fiction is frequently painted with the broad strokes of nuclear family ideals, often neglecting the nuanced colors of reality — especially when it comes to stories of adoption. Laurie Frankel's latest offering, Family Family, invites readers into a narrative that challenges preconceived notions while elegantly insisting that the core of a family is more complex than blood or conventional rhetoric.
Standout Features of Family Family
• A Fresh Take on Adoption
Domestic fiction enthusiasts and family drama readers alike will be drawn to Frankel's exploration of adoptive family life, not as a tale marred by pain, darkest secrets and regret but as a multi-hued portrait of love, identity, and resilience. The novel harmonizes the protagonist's dual role as a Hollywood actress and an adoptive mother, deftly serving a storyline that subverts the tired tropes often weaved into adoption narratives.
Through the protagonist India Allwood, Frankel poses an evocative question... Is there space in contemporary fiction and media to depict adoption stories that deviate from tragedy and enter into joy and fulfillment?
India's journey peeks behind the curtains revealing a world where telling your truth can be both liberating and a dramatic catalyst for a media whirlwind.
• Beyond the Glamour: The Essence of Family
Frankel pulls us into the heart of India's personal life — Championing the theme that families forge their own bonds beyond the genetic ties society so often emphasizes.
This book will undoubtedly be at home on any list of best domestic fiction books not just for its storyline but for its capability to provoke contemplation on what truly makes family. The twin ten-year-olds that anchor the heart of the story are a testament to this, their innocence adding depth to their mother's decision-making under the spotlight's glare.
• Bridging Fiction with Reality
Family Family sails into a candid, authentic exploration of modern family dynamics, taking readers through the choppy waters of public scrutiny and private dilemmas...
How does one navigate motherhood and a career when the omnipresent lens of the public eye blurs the line between right and wrong?
How does a family remain intact amid external pressures aiming to redefine or dismiss its validity?
These are the themes Frankel spins into a tale that is as entertaining as it is significant, making this work a must-read for admirers of Laurie Frankel books and newcomers to her poignant writing alike.
• Laurie Frankel's Expert Craftsmanship
Laurie Frankel is no stranger to weaving complex narratives that resonate with readers—and her craft shines throughout Family Family. Her ability to navigate the tricky synergy between India's private and public personas accentuates the every-person aspect of her character.
This is a heroine that many will find personable, admirable, and embody an all-too-human connection as she takes her stand.
EPILOGUE
For those who yearn for substantial, heart-string-tugging narratives, Family Family is more than just another entry in the family drama novels genre — It's a stand-out piece that boldly states... Family is love in action, a multifaceted journey of discovery and acceptance.
In Frankel's expert hands, what could have been another cliché becomes an ode to families of all configurations.
We live in a world where the definition of family continually evolves... And it begs us to ask whether we are ready to embrace its myriad forms. With Family Family, Laurie Frankel has certainly laid out the invitation.
Our job, as readers — and as members of the wider human family — is to show up, one page at a time.
And I invite you to embrace the complexities and the joys... India Allwood's story isn't just a narrative to entertain (although it certainly does)... It's a nuanced reflection beckoning us to find our place within the tapestry of what a family truly means.
Hoping you keep reading... And keep exploring the beautiful complexities of life through literature... Cheers!... ✨😎✨
BOOK DETAILS
Pages: 400
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sub-Genre: Domestic Fiction | Literary Fiction
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ Closed Door Romance
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: NYC | Los Angeles
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Movie: Instant Family ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
MORE T.I.M.E. TOP BOOK PICKS from…
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
BOOK SYNOPSIS
India Allwood's journey from an awkward teenager to a noted actor uncovers the complexities of adoption.
When her latest film portrays adoption as a tragedy, India — an adoptive mother herself — sets out to reveal the fuller spectrum of emotions it entails, far beyond pain and regret.
Her candid and spontaneous remarks to a journalist sparks a media frenzy, challenging societal perceptions of her own unique, non-traditional family... And the dominoes start to fall from there!
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION
The importance of embracing diversity within traditional narratives and stereotypes.
Families can take different forms and still be loving, supportive, and valid.
The importance of communication and honesty within a family, especially in times of struggle.
India's journey in the book shows how speaking your truth can be both liberating and healing, even if it may come with consequences.
The importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The protagonist, India, faces numerous challenges throughout the story but she never gives up on her family and her values.
Reader's Guide Available from MacMillan Publishers
BOOK QUOTE
"Give it time... It will pass..." — Family Family by Laurie Frankel
For More Best Book Recommendations…
Denise’s Reading List Directory
Updated daily as I read and post my T.I.M.E. Book Reviews… With recognition to the books who made it to “the top of the pile” with my T.I.M.E. Best Books To Read picks by category and genre.
Click on any link in the Reading List Directory below to “jump” right there in a snap!
➾ Have questions about how I review books?… See my complete overview on my book review policy…
SHOP MY SHOP for Book Accessories
MORE BOOK REVIEWS for Contemporary Fiction
