Family Family

A Novel

By: Laurie Frankel

Narrated by: Laurie Frankel, Patti Murin

This program includes an author's note read by the author and a conversation between the author and Audie Award-winning narrator Patti Murin.

"Murin guarantees Frankel’s story is impeccably, convincingly, utterly heard. A creative process-illuminating author/narrator 'geeking out' interview provides a delightful aural bonus."—Booklist

​“Not all stories of adoption are stories of pain and regret. Not even most of them. Why don’t we ever get that movie?”

India Allwood grew up wanting to be an actor. Armed with a stack of index cards (for research/line memorization/make-shift confetti), she goes from awkward sixteen-year-old to Broadway ingenue to TV superhero.

Her new movie is a prestige picture about adoption, but its spin is the same old tired story of tragedy. India is an adoptive mom in real life though. She wants everyone to know there’s more to her family than pain and regret. So she does something you should never do—she tells a journalist the truth: it’s a bad movie.

Soon she’s at the center of a media storm, battling accusations from the press and the paparazzi, from protesters on the right and advocates on the left. Her twin ten-year-olds know they need help–and who better to call than family? But that’s where it gets really messy because India’s not just an adoptive mother…

The one thing she knows for sure is what makes a family isn’t blood. And it isn’t love. No matter how they’re formed, the truth about family is this: it's complicated.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.

©2024 Laurie Frankel (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Frankel has written a funny, heart-wrenching, deeply personal story about the meaning of family and holding fast to one’s beliefs. India is the star of Frankel’s novel, but the supporting characters are warm and vibrant, each getting their own opportunity to shine. Highly recommended for fans of Frankel and those who enjoy literary fiction featuring witty dialogue and thought-provoking topics."—Library Journal (starred)

"...Frankel offers a hilarious and sobering view of adoptive parenting through her portrayals of the cheerful and honest India and Rebecca’s open-minded adoptive mother...this is great fun."—Publishers Weekly

"Frankel finds the truth of modern family within the sparkly, funny characters."—Booklist

Wish I Could Give ½ Stars for a 3.5 Overall

Lots to like about this audiobook. Murin’s narration was excellent. The dialogue was engaging. Characters were complex and compelling. As a social worker, I found the issues raised were done so with care and thoughtfulness. Downsides for me were that the plot dragged on half way through the book and the novel became preachy.

Best book of the year

I had no expectations for this book but I found it quickly became a favorite. It has very engaging characters who are funny and smart in all the right ways. The topics are thought provoking yet I also found myself laughing out loud several times. Super enjoyable. Get it!

What is a real Family?

Laurie Frankel is always a sure bet. This book is just as lovely as her others.

This time we're talking adoption. All kinds of adoptions! This book explores family of choice and family of blood, and it is delightful.

Complex Family

I really like Laurie Frankel's voice and her compelling family stories.
What is and constitutes family?
The emotions, sentiments expressed here feel real and relatable.

Sweet and Authentic

Thank you for the author Laurie Frankel giving us the joyful journey of humans in the adoption community. Thank you for the narrator Patti Murin bringing the vivid life each character in my heart.

Thought Provoking

There's so much good in this book, as well as so much to think about.
Character development was exceptional narrator was wonderful and the story and everything it means to be a family, will sit in my mind for a while. Highly recommend!

Unusual understanding of complexity of families

I absolutely loved this book. There wasn’t a character that I wouldn’t want to meet and they were diverse and so complex. I was sad to finish the book; similar to leaving my family after a holiday.
Thank you for such a great story!

Book of banter

This is a good story and it is well narrated. I enjoyed it, but having said that, I had one issue with it. In my opinion, banter is fun, but if it goes on for too long, it's exhausting. This entire story was told with the tone of endless banter. I would still recommend it, especially if your life has been touched by adoption in ANY way.

Murin is a narrative genius

I found this book searching for performances by Patti Murin. She is amazing and creates such depth in the characters. This book was a 5 star treasure. Until the end. We'd spent hours digging into backstory, character and plot development, foreshadowing, only to have the last moments tied up quickly and ineffectively. I love to want more from my favorite authors, but this ending was so abrupt that I thought I had missed a chapter. If this is Frankel's usual style, I will likely not look for more of her works.

Sooooooo slow

I really tried but could not get into it. The premise of getting pregnancy not once but twice and giving up your kids??