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Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood
Growing up as an adoptee and identical twin, Julie McGue will take you on her journey for identity and individuality, searching for answers through tragedy and adversity.
What is it like to grow up as an adoptee and be raised with your identical twin?
In this coming-of-age memoir, set in Chicago’s western suburbs during the 1960s to 1980s, adopted twin sisters Julie and Jenny become the oldest daughters in a big family made up of a mixture of adopted and biological children. The twins’ sisterly bond is tight as the two strive for individuality, identity, and belonging. But Julie’s parents’ continual addition of adopted and biological children to the family leads to a number of painful events: they encounter infertility, infant mortality, a child with special needs, and then, when Julie is sixteen, a sudden family tragedy.
Faced with these challenges, Julie questions everything—who she is, how she fits in, the circumstances of her adoption, where she belongs, her faith and idea of family. As their family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds are tested, Julie realizes her adoptive family is held together by love, faith, support, and her parents’ commitment to each other and family. But the life her parents have constructed is not one that Julie wants for herself—and as she grows older, she realizes how her parents’ goals and dreams differ from her own, and how the experiences that have formed her have provided a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.
What is it like to grow up as an adoptee and be raised with your identical twin?
In this coming-of-age memoir, set in Chicago’s western suburbs during the 1960s to 1980s, adopted twin sisters Julie and Jenny become the oldest daughters in a big family made up of a mixture of adopted and biological children. The twins’ sisterly bond is tight as the two strive for individuality, identity, and belonging. But Julie’s parents’ continual addition of adopted and biological children to the family leads to a number of painful events: they encounter infertility, infant mortality, a child with special needs, and then, when Julie is sixteen, a sudden family tragedy.
Faced with these challenges, Julie questions everything—who she is, how she fits in, the circumstances of her adoption, where she belongs, her faith and idea of family. As their family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds are tested, Julie realizes her adoptive family is held together by love, faith, support, and her parents’ commitment to each other and family. But the life her parents have constructed is not one that Julie wants for herself—and as she grows older, she realizes how her parents’ goals and dreams differ from her own, and how the experiences that have formed her have provided a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.
376 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2025
79 people are currently reading
2960 people want to read
About the author
Julie Ryan McGue
4 books53 followersJULIE RYAN Mc GUE is an American writer. Her award-winning memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging released in May 2021. It is about the five-year search that she and her twin sister undertook to find their birth relatives. On her weekly blog, “That Girl This Life,” Julie writes about finding out who you are, where you come from, and making sense of it. Her work has appeared in the Story Circle Network Journal, Brevity, Imprint, Adoption.com, Lifetime Adoption, Adoption & Beyond, and Severance Magazine. Personal essays appear in several anthologies: REAL WOMEN WRITE: Seeing Through Her Eyes, and Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
December 5, 2024
I received a free copy of, Twice the Family, by Julie Ryan McGue, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Julie and Jenny are twins from Chicago who were adopted. Being from Chicago I know a lot of places talked about in this book. I really liked this book.
November 14, 2024
Julie has always known she was adopted. When she became an adult. She wanted to make changes in her life that would benefit her. I liked this book.
December 20, 2025
PUBLISH DATE: February 4, 2026
Twice the Family by Julie Ryan McGue was a challenging book for me to finish, largely due to the narration and pacing.
The writing often felt repetitive and emotionally distant, which made it difficult to stay engaged, especially given the heaviness of the themes. Instead of being pulled into the story, I frequently found myself having to push forward, and that disconnect affected my overall experience.
Where this book succeeds is in what it leaves you thinking about after the fact.
It offers an honest look at adoption, identity, and grief, particularly the kind of grief that doesn’t always get acknowledged or named. I appreciated that the author does not villainize adoptive parents or romanticize reunions with biological family. Instead, she allows multiple truths to exist at the same time, which feels realistic and mature.
The quiet truth at the heart of this memoir is meaningful:
gratitude does not erase grief, and being chosen does not mean being unhurt.
While the execution didn’t fully work for me and led to a lower rating, the lessons and reflections stayed with me. This is a book I respected more than I enjoyed, and I can see it resonating with readers who connect deeply to its themes, even if the delivery didn’t land for me.
BOOK TITLE: Twice In the Family -A Memoir
AUTHOR: Julie Ryan McGue
NARRATOR: Katie Hagaman
PUBLISHER: Books Forward Audiobooks
FORMAT: Audiobook
DURATION: 14 Hours, 23 Minutes, 18 Seconds
I received a complimentary digital [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication.
Twice the Family by Julie Ryan McGue was a challenging book for me to finish, largely due to the narration and pacing.
The writing often felt repetitive and emotionally distant, which made it difficult to stay engaged, especially given the heaviness of the themes. Instead of being pulled into the story, I frequently found myself having to push forward, and that disconnect affected my overall experience.
Where this book succeeds is in what it leaves you thinking about after the fact.
It offers an honest look at adoption, identity, and grief, particularly the kind of grief that doesn’t always get acknowledged or named. I appreciated that the author does not villainize adoptive parents or romanticize reunions with biological family. Instead, she allows multiple truths to exist at the same time, which feels realistic and mature.
The quiet truth at the heart of this memoir is meaningful:
gratitude does not erase grief, and being chosen does not mean being unhurt.
While the execution didn’t fully work for me and led to a lower rating, the lessons and reflections stayed with me. This is a book I respected more than I enjoyed, and I can see it resonating with readers who connect deeply to its themes, even if the delivery didn’t land for me.
BOOK TITLE: Twice In the Family -A Memoir
AUTHOR: Julie Ryan McGue
NARRATOR: Katie Hagaman
PUBLISHER: Books Forward Audiobooks
FORMAT: Audiobook
DURATION: 14 Hours, 23 Minutes, 18 Seconds
I received a complimentary digital [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication.
October 20, 2025
Very touching story. At times, it was an emotional read watching the girls struggle.
Julie and Jenny Ryan were identical twins, born in 1959, by a single mother who named them different names. Their birth mother relinquished them to the state of Illinois and a Catholic Charity set out to adopt them with another Catholic family in need of children. They grew up loved, and but their parents kept adding more children to their family. Whether by birth or adoption, sometimes making the twins question if they belonged or not.
This book shows the events in the twins' lives and how they finally found their own identities, not the ones their parents expected from them.
A beautiful story
*I received an ARC via the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Julie and Jenny Ryan were identical twins, born in 1959, by a single mother who named them different names. Their birth mother relinquished them to the state of Illinois and a Catholic Charity set out to adopt them with another Catholic family in need of children. They grew up loved, and but their parents kept adding more children to their family. Whether by birth or adoption, sometimes making the twins question if they belonged or not.
This book shows the events in the twins' lives and how they finally found their own identities, not the ones their parents expected from them.
A beautiful story
*I received an ARC via the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read Twice a Daughter and loved it so I was excited to read about Julie and Jen's childhood and early adulthood. Twins obviously have a unique bond but also being adopted makes them even more unique. This story is told with such honesty. Parts were absolutely heartbreaking but other parts were inspiring.
I read Twice a Daughter and loved it so I was excited to read about Julie and Jen's childhood and early adulthood. Twins obviously have a unique bond but also being adopted makes them even more unique. This story is told with such honesty. Parts were absolutely heartbreaking but other parts were inspiring.
December 24, 2024
A fascinating, engaging, heartbreaking memoir about resilience and relationships. Very intriguing to learn about the twins and their struggles. Highly recommend.
Thank you, #Netgalley #Twicethefamily, for this ARC
Thank you, #Netgalley #Twicethefamily, for this ARC
December 19, 2025
3.5
ARC - no compensation for reviewing
Very heartfelt story centered around twin girls adopted into what becomes a large Irish catholic family. I enjoyed this work and appreciate how well written it is, engaging and eloquent without being patronizing. I did not feel the story was anything super unique and that many of the hardships discussed were experienced by the author second hand which made it a little less engaging but the pacing kept me from being too bothered by that.
ARC - no compensation for reviewing
Very heartfelt story centered around twin girls adopted into what becomes a large Irish catholic family. I enjoyed this work and appreciate how well written it is, engaging and eloquent without being patronizing. I did not feel the story was anything super unique and that many of the hardships discussed were experienced by the author second hand which made it a little less engaging but the pacing kept me from being too bothered by that.
November 17, 2025
Horrible book. Boring, boring, boring. Read to page 122 and couldn’t go any further. What was the point? Why did the author write this book? It was a DNF for me! And I’m so mad I wasted money buying it from Amazon!!!
February 4, 2025
I enjoyed McGue’s second book. This one is about her growing up in a bustling family with all the joys and sorrows.
McGue writes a heartfelt memoir full of candor and caring.
Her close relationship with her twin shines in every chapter as the Ryan family grows and then suffers some devastating losses.
I really liked the author’s first book about her search for her biological origins.
This book is equally captivating because it fills in her life in her formative years, college experience, and then as a young career woman in the early 80s.
It’s a great read.
Thanks to She Writes Press NetGalley and Books Forward for the physical and digital copies.
McGue writes a heartfelt memoir full of candor and caring.
Her close relationship with her twin shines in every chapter as the Ryan family grows and then suffers some devastating losses.
I really liked the author’s first book about her search for her biological origins.
This book is equally captivating because it fills in her life in her formative years, college experience, and then as a young career woman in the early 80s.
It’s a great read.
Thanks to She Writes Press NetGalley and Books Forward for the physical and digital copies.
May 12, 2025
A few weeks back, Bill Bryson, an author I generally like, gave an interview to the New York Times in which he said: “I get sent a lot of self-published books and most of the time it is just some anonymous person’s life and it is of no interest.” I begged to differ with him when I heard that, thinking of my experience reading memoirs by other adoptees that let me know I wasn’t alone in the feelings I had. Back in the 1990s, when I first picked up books by adoptee authors, I finally learned that I wasn’t crazy for the feelings I had and that what I felt was normal for an adopted person. It was a huge relief for me.
Unfortunately, none of that was present in Twice the Family. I realize now that the author dealt with her adoption and search in a previous book. I have added that to my “to be read” list because Julie Ryan McGue is quite a good writer. I was just disappointed that adoption wasn’t central to the story in this book.
Growing up as an adoptee and identical twin, Julie McGue will take you on her journey for identity and individuality, searching for answers through tragedy and adversity.
That was the blurb I read that got me interested in the book, which focuses on the author’s experience growing up in a home with three adopted children and several biological siblings. Their parents had always dreamed of a big, Irish family, but were struggling in the early years of their marriage to make that happen, so they turned to adoption. Julie and her sister, Jenny, were very lucky that Catholic Charities in Chicago had a policy not to separate twins and placed them together. There was also a hint that they tried to place children with a family where there was a similar background, so the children would feel like they fit in rather than standing out.
To read my complete review, please go to Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood by Julie Ryan McGue – Insights on Adoption and Family Life
Unfortunately, none of that was present in Twice the Family. I realize now that the author dealt with her adoption and search in a previous book. I have added that to my “to be read” list because Julie Ryan McGue is quite a good writer. I was just disappointed that adoption wasn’t central to the story in this book.
Growing up as an adoptee and identical twin, Julie McGue will take you on her journey for identity and individuality, searching for answers through tragedy and adversity.
That was the blurb I read that got me interested in the book, which focuses on the author’s experience growing up in a home with three adopted children and several biological siblings. Their parents had always dreamed of a big, Irish family, but were struggling in the early years of their marriage to make that happen, so they turned to adoption. Julie and her sister, Jenny, were very lucky that Catholic Charities in Chicago had a policy not to separate twins and placed them together. There was also a hint that they tried to place children with a family where there was a similar background, so the children would feel like they fit in rather than standing out.
To read my complete review, please go to Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood by Julie Ryan McGue – Insights on Adoption and Family Life
January 17, 2025
Twice the family is a warm, all-embracing hug of a book that is engaging, honest and easy to read. This coming-of-age memoir starts with the birth of identical twins, Julie and Jenny, in 1959 and their subsequent adoption by Jeanne and Jack Ryan, a young Irish Catholic couple desperate to start a large American family within a close-knit community in the western suburbs of Chicago. From the lows of miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth and disability to the highs of beauty pageants, twindom, love affairs and graduation, Twice the Family is thought-provoking, moving and life-affirming. Bad things may come in threes but drawing on love, faith, support and commitment Julie becomes the person she wants to be.
Many thanks to LibraryThing, the publisher and author for my ARC in return for an honest review.
Many thanks to LibraryThing, the publisher and author for my ARC in return for an honest review.
January 13, 2025
Julie Ryan McGue’s memoir, Twice the Family, is a moving tapestry of identity, adoption, and the enduring bond of sisterhood. Born as one of twin sisters and placed for adoption immediately after birth, McGue intricately weaves her story, charting her journey through a 1960s suburban upbringing with her adoptive Catholic family and the lifelong search for belonging. The book is structured into three sections—Identity, Belonging, and Becoming—each reflecting a stage in McGue’s life and emotional growth. Her vivid storytelling captures the complexities of love and loss while exploring what it means to be “chosen.”
What struck me first was McGue’s raw honesty. She doesn’t shy away from peeling back the layers of her experiences. For instance, her prologue—a visceral account of birth and separation from her sister—sets the tone for the deep emotional undercurrent of the book. The heartbreaking scene of her birth mother’s decision not to hold her daughters feels like a silent thunderstorm. It’s here that McGue’s storytelling shines, drawing you into her world where loss and love coexist. Her words made me think about identity in ways I hadn’t before.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the adoption day story in Chapter 2. McGue’s adoptive mother receives a surprise call informing her that she’s about to become a parent to twin girls. The excitement, nerves, and love are palpable. Her father’s corny jokes about “womb mates” and “bosom buddies” felt endearing and reminded me of family moments that stick with you. McGue’s ability to balance the warmth of family life with its darker and more uncertain aspects creates an authenticity that pulled me in. Yet, the overwhelming expectation to be “perfect” as an adoptee resonates throughout the book, raising questions about familial love and conditional acceptance. McGue’s struggle to reconcile her adoptive status with her desire to please her parents is both relatable and heartbreaking. It reminded me of the silent pressure many of us feel to fit into molds that don’t always align with who we are.
In the end, Twice the Family left me hopeful. While McGue doesn’t sugarcoat the emotional toll of adoption, she celebrates the resilience of family bonds—biological or otherwise. Her twin sister Jenny emerges as a pillar of strength throughout, and their connection underscores the unbreakable ties of shared experience. McGue’s reflections on faith, especially her mother’s belief that their adoption was a divine gift, add a layer of spiritual depth to the narrative.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend Twice the Family to anyone interested in memoirs that touch the soul. It’s especially poignant for adoptees or those connected to adoption, but its themes of identity and belonging make it universal. McGue’s prose is as heartfelt as it is insightful.
What struck me first was McGue’s raw honesty. She doesn’t shy away from peeling back the layers of her experiences. For instance, her prologue—a visceral account of birth and separation from her sister—sets the tone for the deep emotional undercurrent of the book. The heartbreaking scene of her birth mother’s decision not to hold her daughters feels like a silent thunderstorm. It’s here that McGue’s storytelling shines, drawing you into her world where loss and love coexist. Her words made me think about identity in ways I hadn’t before.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the adoption day story in Chapter 2. McGue’s adoptive mother receives a surprise call informing her that she’s about to become a parent to twin girls. The excitement, nerves, and love are palpable. Her father’s corny jokes about “womb mates” and “bosom buddies” felt endearing and reminded me of family moments that stick with you. McGue’s ability to balance the warmth of family life with its darker and more uncertain aspects creates an authenticity that pulled me in. Yet, the overwhelming expectation to be “perfect” as an adoptee resonates throughout the book, raising questions about familial love and conditional acceptance. McGue’s struggle to reconcile her adoptive status with her desire to please her parents is both relatable and heartbreaking. It reminded me of the silent pressure many of us feel to fit into molds that don’t always align with who we are.
In the end, Twice the Family left me hopeful. While McGue doesn’t sugarcoat the emotional toll of adoption, she celebrates the resilience of family bonds—biological or otherwise. Her twin sister Jenny emerges as a pillar of strength throughout, and their connection underscores the unbreakable ties of shared experience. McGue’s reflections on faith, especially her mother’s belief that their adoption was a divine gift, add a layer of spiritual depth to the narrative.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend Twice the Family to anyone interested in memoirs that touch the soul. It’s especially poignant for adoptees or those connected to adoption, but its themes of identity and belonging make it universal. McGue’s prose is as heartfelt as it is insightful.
December 20, 2025
This memoir is a moving and heartfelt tapestry of identity, adoption, and the enduring bond of sisterhood, brilliantly narrated by Katie Hagaman. Twice the Family by Julie Ryan McGue takes the reader on her journey growing up in Chicago's western suburbs between the 1960s and '80s as one of identical twins who were immediately placed for adoption. McGue intricately charts her path through a bustling adoptive Catholic family, charting her lifelong search for individuality and belonging.
This captivating memoir fills in the story of McGue’s formative years, college experiences, and early career as a young professional in the 80s, serving as an equally powerful read to her first book about finding her biological origins. The book is thoughtfully structured into sections—Identity, Belonging, and Becoming—each reflecting a stage in her emotional growth. McGue writes with raw honesty, shining a light on the complexities of love and loss while exploring what it means to be "chosen."
The narrative is incredibly touching, particularly in its portrayal of the struggles the twins faced as their parents continued to add children to the family, sometimes making them question their own place. McGue’s close relationship with her twin sister, Jenny, shines through every chapter, underscoring the unbreakable ties of shared experience, even as they sought separate identities. Her candid prose captures the visceral pain of their early separation alongside the warmth and humor of her adoptive family, like her father’s endearing corny jokes about "womb mates."
However, McGue does not shy away from the darker and more uncertain aspects of her life. She tackles the silent pressure many adoptees feel to be "perfect" and the heartbreaking moments where tragedy and loss test the family’s values and sibling bonds. Her ability to balance the joyful noise of a large family with the quiet emotional toll of adoption creates an authenticity that pulls the reader in.
McGue’s journey toward independence and her own concept of family is both inspiring and humbling. By the end, Twice the Family left me feeling hopeful, celebrating the resilience found in family bonds, whether biological or constructed. This memoir is a beautiful story and a highly recommended read for anyone interested in honest, insightful memoirs about self-acceptance, emotional growth, and uncovering where we truly belong.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This captivating memoir fills in the story of McGue’s formative years, college experiences, and early career as a young professional in the 80s, serving as an equally powerful read to her first book about finding her biological origins. The book is thoughtfully structured into sections—Identity, Belonging, and Becoming—each reflecting a stage in her emotional growth. McGue writes with raw honesty, shining a light on the complexities of love and loss while exploring what it means to be "chosen."
The narrative is incredibly touching, particularly in its portrayal of the struggles the twins faced as their parents continued to add children to the family, sometimes making them question their own place. McGue’s close relationship with her twin sister, Jenny, shines through every chapter, underscoring the unbreakable ties of shared experience, even as they sought separate identities. Her candid prose captures the visceral pain of their early separation alongside the warmth and humor of her adoptive family, like her father’s endearing corny jokes about "womb mates."
However, McGue does not shy away from the darker and more uncertain aspects of her life. She tackles the silent pressure many adoptees feel to be "perfect" and the heartbreaking moments where tragedy and loss test the family’s values and sibling bonds. Her ability to balance the joyful noise of a large family with the quiet emotional toll of adoption creates an authenticity that pulls the reader in.
McGue’s journey toward independence and her own concept of family is both inspiring and humbling. By the end, Twice the Family left me feeling hopeful, celebrating the resilience found in family bonds, whether biological or constructed. This memoir is a beautiful story and a highly recommended read for anyone interested in honest, insightful memoirs about self-acceptance, emotional growth, and uncovering where we truly belong.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 31, 2025
The rest of the story.
This book is the sequel to "Twice a Daughter" which deals with the author's search for her and her twin's biological parents. It doesn't pack the punch of the first book, but it does give you a deeper understanding of the family the girls were adopted into and how it shaped them.
The twins were born to an unwed mother during the "Baby Boom." Their mother gave birth at a Catholic hospital in Chicago that (fortunately) had a policy of keeping twins together. The Ryans were devout Catholics and dreamed of raising a large brood, but had multiple miscarriages. They were thrilled to be able to adopt the two girls and (a few years later) a male infant.
Although I grew up in an area with few Catholics, I can relate to the twin's childhood as it was a common one for older daughters in large families at the time. (And most families WERE large!) The older girls were expected to act as "little mothers" to the younger ones, usually without pay or much appreciation.
Mr Ryan was the sort of father seen on television shows ("Father Knows Best" or "Leave it to Beaver") more often than in real life. He was patient and loving with his children and (even rarer) valued his daughters as much as his sons. Although the family started out with little money, the kids attended private (Catholic) schools and their interests were encouraged.
Mrs Ryan loved her children, but she was short-tempered and unrealistic. Seeing how much responsibility she piled on her oldest daughters and how intolerant she was of any complaints, it's easy to see how they grew up trying to please her. Or (at least) not to provoke her anger.
The first two parts of the book are a good look at middle-class American life in the 1960s and '70s. It was NOT (as some people claim now) idyllic in comparison with life today. It was different. Some things were better and some things were worse.
I skimmed Part Three, which deals with the twins college life and Julie's professional and romantic life afterwards. If you're a reader of romance novels, you'll probably enjoy it.
It outlines the Ryan family dynamics and explains some of the things I found puzzling in "Twice a Daughter." It's almost impossible to understand a person without some knowledge of their childhood and family life. I don't think it's as good as the first book, but it gave me a deeper appreciation for "Twice a Daughter."
This book is the sequel to "Twice a Daughter" which deals with the author's search for her and her twin's biological parents. It doesn't pack the punch of the first book, but it does give you a deeper understanding of the family the girls were adopted into and how it shaped them.
The twins were born to an unwed mother during the "Baby Boom." Their mother gave birth at a Catholic hospital in Chicago that (fortunately) had a policy of keeping twins together. The Ryans were devout Catholics and dreamed of raising a large brood, but had multiple miscarriages. They were thrilled to be able to adopt the two girls and (a few years later) a male infant.
Although I grew up in an area with few Catholics, I can relate to the twin's childhood as it was a common one for older daughters in large families at the time. (And most families WERE large!) The older girls were expected to act as "little mothers" to the younger ones, usually without pay or much appreciation.
Mr Ryan was the sort of father seen on television shows ("Father Knows Best" or "Leave it to Beaver") more often than in real life. He was patient and loving with his children and (even rarer) valued his daughters as much as his sons. Although the family started out with little money, the kids attended private (Catholic) schools and their interests were encouraged.
Mrs Ryan loved her children, but she was short-tempered and unrealistic. Seeing how much responsibility she piled on her oldest daughters and how intolerant she was of any complaints, it's easy to see how they grew up trying to please her. Or (at least) not to provoke her anger.
The first two parts of the book are a good look at middle-class American life in the 1960s and '70s. It was NOT (as some people claim now) idyllic in comparison with life today. It was different. Some things were better and some things were worse.
I skimmed Part Three, which deals with the twins college life and Julie's professional and romantic life afterwards. If you're a reader of romance novels, you'll probably enjoy it.
It outlines the Ryan family dynamics and explains some of the things I found puzzling in "Twice a Daughter." It's almost impossible to understand a person without some knowledge of their childhood and family life. I don't think it's as good as the first book, but it gave me a deeper appreciation for "Twice a Daughter."
January 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️½ Review: Twice the Family — Julie Ryan McGue
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio advanced review copy.
I wanted to love this book more than I actually did.
I’m rating Twice the Family by Julie Ryan McGue 2.5 stars because while the premise had a lot of potential, the execution felt slow, dragged out, and honestly… boring for long stretches. I kept waiting for the story to deepen or shift into the part I was most interested in, and it just never fully got there.
What didn’t work for me
The biggest issue was lack of depth. There were many siblings and many moments, but most of them felt more like “mentions” than fully developed experiences. I actually couldn’t even keep track of all her siblings, because the book didn’t spend enough time developing them emotionally or giving enough detail to help them stick.
The writing often felt like it was moving through events without digging into them. I wanted richer context, more reflection, more emotional insight.
What I wish had been included
I truly expected the book to go deeper into her post-adoption life, but it barely touched what I most wanted:
• Her life raising the kids
• What it looked like living inside this “twice the family” dynamic long-term
• How adoption shaped her own identity and adulthood
Instead, it felt like the book hovered around the earlier stages and never fully delivered the longer arc.
And near the end, several major points were raised that felt dropped immediately after being mentioned, including:
• She was a late-in-life writer
• Her husband died
• There was no real follow-up on her relationship with Steve
• We didn’t get clarity or closure around her leaving her boyfriend
• The ending felt abrupt and incomplete
Those are huge life events, and I was surprised the book didn’t explore them in a more satisfying way.
What did have impact
There was one section that did carry emotional weight: the story involving Suzy and her brother who died. That was the only part that felt like it had true depth, where you could actually feel the loss and the stakes. I wish more of the book had been written with that level of emotional detail.
Overall
This just wasn’t as engaging as I hoped. It had an interesting foundation but didn’t deliver enough depth, payoff, or follow-through for me personally.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio advanced review copy.
I wanted to love this book more than I actually did.
I’m rating Twice the Family by Julie Ryan McGue 2.5 stars because while the premise had a lot of potential, the execution felt slow, dragged out, and honestly… boring for long stretches. I kept waiting for the story to deepen or shift into the part I was most interested in, and it just never fully got there.
What didn’t work for me
The biggest issue was lack of depth. There were many siblings and many moments, but most of them felt more like “mentions” than fully developed experiences. I actually couldn’t even keep track of all her siblings, because the book didn’t spend enough time developing them emotionally or giving enough detail to help them stick.
The writing often felt like it was moving through events without digging into them. I wanted richer context, more reflection, more emotional insight.
What I wish had been included
I truly expected the book to go deeper into her post-adoption life, but it barely touched what I most wanted:
• Her life raising the kids
• What it looked like living inside this “twice the family” dynamic long-term
• How adoption shaped her own identity and adulthood
Instead, it felt like the book hovered around the earlier stages and never fully delivered the longer arc.
And near the end, several major points were raised that felt dropped immediately after being mentioned, including:
• She was a late-in-life writer
• Her husband died
• There was no real follow-up on her relationship with Steve
• We didn’t get clarity or closure around her leaving her boyfriend
• The ending felt abrupt and incomplete
Those are huge life events, and I was surprised the book didn’t explore them in a more satisfying way.
What did have impact
There was one section that did carry emotional weight: the story involving Suzy and her brother who died. That was the only part that felt like it had true depth, where you could actually feel the loss and the stakes. I wish more of the book had been written with that level of emotional detail.
Overall
This just wasn’t as engaging as I hoped. It had an interesting foundation but didn’t deliver enough depth, payoff, or follow-through for me personally.
January 2, 2026
📚Twice the Family: A memoir of Love,Loss and Sisterhood
✍🏻Julie Ryan McGue
Blurb:
Growing up as an adoptee and identical twin, Julie McGue will take you on her journey for identity and individuality, searching for answers through tragedy and adversity.
"A heartfelt exploration of connection, community, and the unbreakable bond between sisters . . . Her journey beautifully reminds us of the strength we find within ourselves as we seek to uncover where we truly belong."— Simone Knego, author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You
In this coming-of-age memoir, set in Chicago's western suburbs between the 1960s and '80s, adopted twins Julie and Jenny provide their parents with an instant family. Their sisterly bond holds tight as the two strive for identity, individuality, and belonging. But as Julie's parents continue adding children to the family, some painful and tragic experiences test family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds.
Faced with these hurdles, Julie questions everything—who she is, how she fits in, her adoption circumstances, her faith, and her idea of family. But the life her parents have constructed is not one she wants for herself—and as she matures, she recognizes how the experiences that formed her have provided her a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.
My Thoughts:
Hidden Paths is an emotionally rich and beautifully told story of Emma’s journey from trauma to renewal. Julie told her story in such a captivating way and often left a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter so I just had to read one more. Deeply moving, capturing both the pain and hope that come with growing through hardship. The story deals with trauma, loss, and the slow, fragile process of rebuilding yourself, but it’s also filled with warmth and hope. It's an emotional read, one that will stick with me long after reading. Add this to your TBR list.
Thanks NetGalley, She Writes Press and Author Julie Ryan McGue for the advanced copy of "Twice the Family" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#SheWritesPress
#TwicetheFamily
#JulieRyanMcGue
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Julie Ryan McGue
Blurb:
Growing up as an adoptee and identical twin, Julie McGue will take you on her journey for identity and individuality, searching for answers through tragedy and adversity.
"A heartfelt exploration of connection, community, and the unbreakable bond between sisters . . . Her journey beautifully reminds us of the strength we find within ourselves as we seek to uncover where we truly belong."— Simone Knego, author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You
In this coming-of-age memoir, set in Chicago's western suburbs between the 1960s and '80s, adopted twins Julie and Jenny provide their parents with an instant family. Their sisterly bond holds tight as the two strive for identity, individuality, and belonging. But as Julie's parents continue adding children to the family, some painful and tragic experiences test family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds.
Faced with these hurdles, Julie questions everything—who she is, how she fits in, her adoption circumstances, her faith, and her idea of family. But the life her parents have constructed is not one she wants for herself—and as she matures, she recognizes how the experiences that formed her have provided her a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.
My Thoughts:
Hidden Paths is an emotionally rich and beautifully told story of Emma’s journey from trauma to renewal. Julie told her story in such a captivating way and often left a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter so I just had to read one more. Deeply moving, capturing both the pain and hope that come with growing through hardship. The story deals with trauma, loss, and the slow, fragile process of rebuilding yourself, but it’s also filled with warmth and hope. It's an emotional read, one that will stick with me long after reading. Add this to your TBR list.
Thanks NetGalley, She Writes Press and Author Julie Ryan McGue for the advanced copy of "Twice the Family" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#SheWritesPress
#TwicetheFamily
#JulieRyanMcGue
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 12, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars
My thanks to #netgalley #booksforwardpr and #julievanmcgue for an early release audiobook.
📌Julie McGue's exploration of identity, family, and belonging, in her #audiobook, offers readers a look into the life of identical twins and adoptees growing up in Chicago between 1960 and 1980.
Her storytelling kept me engaged as she navigated the complexities of her unique experiences. Yet, despite the well-crafted narrative, I kept wondering what mades her story stand out. What is unique about it? This thought became clearer upon completion of the book.
I learned this was the 2nd installment in a series. It follows the first volume titled Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging. (Amazon - https://amzn.to/45HEYxG.)
In this follow-up that I am reviewing, McGue delves deeper into family life, painting a picture of her experiences and relationships. While this second book is worth reading and a stand-alone, beginning with the first in the series would have provide a more comprehensive understanding of McGue's journey.
📌Strengths
McGue's writing is skillful, with a narrative that keeps the pages turning especially as I became a little more engrossed in her story.
The book explores profound themes of identity, family, and belonging, which should resonate with anyone who has pondered their own place in the world.
📌Concerns
The opening, which describes the birth of the twins, may not immediately captivate all readers. It didn’t me.
Narration Style: Some may find it challenging to adjust to the author narrating her own story in the audiobook version. While McGue's was easily understood, an alternative narrator would have enhanced the listening experience for me.
Julie McGue's memoir offers an insightful exploration of family dynamics and personal identity. While the series is best appreciated from the beginning, the second book stands as a meaningful continuation of her story. For those interested in themes of adoption, twinhood, and family life, McGue's work is both an engaging and enlightening read.
My thanks to #netgalley #booksforwardpr and #julievanmcgue for an early release audiobook.
📌Julie McGue's exploration of identity, family, and belonging, in her #audiobook, offers readers a look into the life of identical twins and adoptees growing up in Chicago between 1960 and 1980.
Her storytelling kept me engaged as she navigated the complexities of her unique experiences. Yet, despite the well-crafted narrative, I kept wondering what mades her story stand out. What is unique about it? This thought became clearer upon completion of the book.
I learned this was the 2nd installment in a series. It follows the first volume titled Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging. (Amazon - https://amzn.to/45HEYxG.)
In this follow-up that I am reviewing, McGue delves deeper into family life, painting a picture of her experiences and relationships. While this second book is worth reading and a stand-alone, beginning with the first in the series would have provide a more comprehensive understanding of McGue's journey.
📌Strengths
McGue's writing is skillful, with a narrative that keeps the pages turning especially as I became a little more engrossed in her story.
The book explores profound themes of identity, family, and belonging, which should resonate with anyone who has pondered their own place in the world.
📌Concerns
The opening, which describes the birth of the twins, may not immediately captivate all readers. It didn’t me.
Narration Style: Some may find it challenging to adjust to the author narrating her own story in the audiobook version. While McGue's was easily understood, an alternative narrator would have enhanced the listening experience for me.
Julie McGue's memoir offers an insightful exploration of family dynamics and personal identity. While the series is best appreciated from the beginning, the second book stands as a meaningful continuation of her story. For those interested in themes of adoption, twinhood, and family life, McGue's work is both an engaging and enlightening read.
February 12, 2025
I'm grateful to @netgalley and @shewritespress for the eARC of Twice the Family
The opinions in the book are of my own.
All hearts for this one. 🩷 Twice the Family is a memoir, and the prequel to Twice the Daughter. A coming of age memoir of an identical twin, and talks about the twins' experience of growing up as adoptees. The book traces Julie's growing up years in Chicago’s western suburbs between the 1960s and 80s.
It has blended elements of finding the sense of belonging, and individuality amidst the complexities that exist in adoptive families. The author has tastefully handled the relationship equations, and the ones with her sister and adoptive mother require special mention as they are written in an impeccable manner. They are raw, and quite evocative. I like the places where the author bares out her heart and emotions- it delivers the depth of expression required in such a strong life story.
The narrative journals the years and struggles the family faces because of numerous ups and downs- including conflicting beliefs within the extended family on the terms of adoption.
The slow or sudden changes, sometimes tragic too, shape the family, especially sibling bonds. It deserves special applause for the raw, vulnerable, emotional and courageous representation of sisterhood and at times in the "to walk in their shoes" manner. Not sure if that's a phase, but it should be. It's a quality that can describe a lot of things in a few words.
When people are not bound by blood, faith, love, hope, gratitude take the upper stage and guide the path to commitment. The author also talks about how these experiences in growing years shaped her identity and helped her to choose her own path and life she wanted to have. Every moment discussed in the book has some impact in one way or the other.
The book is written so beautifully, that at times you feel like it's not even non-fiction, and that's something. The language flows, is lucid, and quite grasping on the heart.
The opinions in the book are of my own.
All hearts for this one. 🩷 Twice the Family is a memoir, and the prequel to Twice the Daughter. A coming of age memoir of an identical twin, and talks about the twins' experience of growing up as adoptees. The book traces Julie's growing up years in Chicago’s western suburbs between the 1960s and 80s.
It has blended elements of finding the sense of belonging, and individuality amidst the complexities that exist in adoptive families. The author has tastefully handled the relationship equations, and the ones with her sister and adoptive mother require special mention as they are written in an impeccable manner. They are raw, and quite evocative. I like the places where the author bares out her heart and emotions- it delivers the depth of expression required in such a strong life story.
The narrative journals the years and struggles the family faces because of numerous ups and downs- including conflicting beliefs within the extended family on the terms of adoption.
The slow or sudden changes, sometimes tragic too, shape the family, especially sibling bonds. It deserves special applause for the raw, vulnerable, emotional and courageous representation of sisterhood and at times in the "to walk in their shoes" manner. Not sure if that's a phase, but it should be. It's a quality that can describe a lot of things in a few words.
When people are not bound by blood, faith, love, hope, gratitude take the upper stage and guide the path to commitment. The author also talks about how these experiences in growing years shaped her identity and helped her to choose her own path and life she wanted to have. Every moment discussed in the book has some impact in one way or the other.
The book is written so beautifully, that at times you feel like it's not even non-fiction, and that's something. The language flows, is lucid, and quite grasping on the heart.
November 30, 2024
Twice The Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood – Julie Ryan McGue – 2025 –
This book is the prequel to Twice A Daughter (2021). Julie Ryan McGue is an award-winning author who has written three books that focus on adoption and family life. She is a grandmother with four adult children and divides her residency between Indiana and Florida.
In 1959, following the birth of identical twin girls at Memorial Hospital in Chicago, the girls were transferred to Saint Vincents Orphanage operated by the Catholic Charities. In a closed adoption, Julie and Jennifer Ryan were adopted by observant and devout Irish-American Catholic parents. The couple adopted a 3-month-old boy called “Skeeter” (1961) and went on to have children of their own: Patrick, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Anne, Mark Edward (d. 04.01.1970) and “Susie” who was born visually impaired with special needs. The Ryans settled in LaGrange, Chicago, their children attended Catholic Schools until high school graduation, and were considerably active in their local parish.
The Ryans always openly discussed adoption with their children. Julie and Jenny were very close and overcame the stigma associated with adoption, and answered the curious questions of childhood friends. They did not begin to search for their birthmother until adulthood. As the oldest children, Julie and Jenny helped their mother care for their siblings and helped a great deal with housework and other chores. The Ryans were devastated when Susie tragically died from a preventable illness, and Mrs. Ryan was questioned by the police. The memoir concluded when Julie and Jenny attended college and eventually married. The love and value of close family ties was truly appreciated and celebrated. *I had to read this book when I saw the adorable cover featuring the twin girls in matching dresses! With thanks to She Writes Press via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.
This book is the prequel to Twice A Daughter (2021). Julie Ryan McGue is an award-winning author who has written three books that focus on adoption and family life. She is a grandmother with four adult children and divides her residency between Indiana and Florida.
In 1959, following the birth of identical twin girls at Memorial Hospital in Chicago, the girls were transferred to Saint Vincents Orphanage operated by the Catholic Charities. In a closed adoption, Julie and Jennifer Ryan were adopted by observant and devout Irish-American Catholic parents. The couple adopted a 3-month-old boy called “Skeeter” (1961) and went on to have children of their own: Patrick, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Anne, Mark Edward (d. 04.01.1970) and “Susie” who was born visually impaired with special needs. The Ryans settled in LaGrange, Chicago, their children attended Catholic Schools until high school graduation, and were considerably active in their local parish.
The Ryans always openly discussed adoption with their children. Julie and Jenny were very close and overcame the stigma associated with adoption, and answered the curious questions of childhood friends. They did not begin to search for their birthmother until adulthood. As the oldest children, Julie and Jenny helped their mother care for their siblings and helped a great deal with housework and other chores. The Ryans were devastated when Susie tragically died from a preventable illness, and Mrs. Ryan was questioned by the police. The memoir concluded when Julie and Jenny attended college and eventually married. The love and value of close family ties was truly appreciated and celebrated. *I had to read this book when I saw the adorable cover featuring the twin girls in matching dresses! With thanks to She Writes Press via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.
February 19, 2025
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...
The book does start out with the specifics of her birth – info that she could have only found out much later in life, after finding her birth mother. From there, she describes the situations her adoptive family found themselves in when they were presented with the idea of taking in newborn twins.
From there, we move more into Julie’s own recollections of growing up in Chicago – being a twin, and then having lots of younger siblings to help look after, going to Catholic schools, and otherwise navigating life.
Two stories I found interesting, and related:
Julie mentions that a common practice when she was born was to place adoptees with parents who shared similar physical traits with the birth parents – maybe hair or eye color, for example. This way, the kids would hopefully “fit in” with their adoptive family.
Later, in her high school and college years, Julie and her twin both enter contests in Chicago based on their being Irish (admittedly, a big deal in Chicago!). Of course, at the time, Julie didn’t know whether or not she was actually, biologically Irish at all – their Irish-ness came from their adopted parents. But, since they both looked Irish, who would argue with it? (And in fact, Julie won twice.)
The final chunk of the book moves away from family life, and into the years Julie started a career and found her eventual husband. This was a big shift, but I suppose that is accurate to the shifts most people’s lives undergo during their early twenties.
As I said, this read like a pretty straight-forward memoir. I think anyone could enjoy it, but especially if you have anything in common with our main character/author – Catholicism, Irish heritage, being a twin, being adopted, being a sorority girl in college, etc.
TW: miscarriages, stillbirth, abortion, and child death.
The book does start out with the specifics of her birth – info that she could have only found out much later in life, after finding her birth mother. From there, she describes the situations her adoptive family found themselves in when they were presented with the idea of taking in newborn twins.
From there, we move more into Julie’s own recollections of growing up in Chicago – being a twin, and then having lots of younger siblings to help look after, going to Catholic schools, and otherwise navigating life.
Two stories I found interesting, and related:
Julie mentions that a common practice when she was born was to place adoptees with parents who shared similar physical traits with the birth parents – maybe hair or eye color, for example. This way, the kids would hopefully “fit in” with their adoptive family.
Later, in her high school and college years, Julie and her twin both enter contests in Chicago based on their being Irish (admittedly, a big deal in Chicago!). Of course, at the time, Julie didn’t know whether or not she was actually, biologically Irish at all – their Irish-ness came from their adopted parents. But, since they both looked Irish, who would argue with it? (And in fact, Julie won twice.)
The final chunk of the book moves away from family life, and into the years Julie started a career and found her eventual husband. This was a big shift, but I suppose that is accurate to the shifts most people’s lives undergo during their early twenties.
As I said, this read like a pretty straight-forward memoir. I think anyone could enjoy it, but especially if you have anything in common with our main character/author – Catholicism, Irish heritage, being a twin, being adopted, being a sorority girl in college, etc.
TW: miscarriages, stillbirth, abortion, and child death.
December 28, 2025
Twice the Family follows Julie Ryan McGue’s journey from her own adoption to the day she welcomed her daughter into the world. It is a sweet, full-circle memoir that captures the life and times of an Irish Catholic girl growing up in Chicago. Starting with her and her twin’s birth, the story follows their parallel lives through college and into the "real world." It is a beautiful reflection on love, support, and the everyday reality of family life. I particularly appreciated how Julie shared her experience of being raised in a religious environment; she shows how you can care about your faith while still aligning your life with your own personal standards, dreams, and values. The biggest takeaway for me was the importance of trusting those who love you, but always trusting yourself first.
While McGue’s life isn’t filled with the extreme tragedy that many memoirs center around, her story is beautiful and engaging in its normalcy. It felt very relatable and moved at a quick pace that kept me wanting to hear what happened next. Listening to the ALC was a great experience, as the narrator spoke in a way that felt like a friend sharing their story over coffee. My only hesitation was the opening chapter about the birth; it struck me as a bit odd and almost made me stop listening. However, I am so glad I pushed through that initial hurdle because the rest of the book was well worth it.
Overall, I would give Twice the Family 4 stars. I highly recommend it to memoir lovers, especially those who prefer stories that aren't rooted in trauma. This book is a perfect fit for anyone who feels grateful for their found family or anyone who has learned to navigate a religious upbringing while staying true to themselves.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced listener copy!
While McGue’s life isn’t filled with the extreme tragedy that many memoirs center around, her story is beautiful and engaging in its normalcy. It felt very relatable and moved at a quick pace that kept me wanting to hear what happened next. Listening to the ALC was a great experience, as the narrator spoke in a way that felt like a friend sharing their story over coffee. My only hesitation was the opening chapter about the birth; it struck me as a bit odd and almost made me stop listening. However, I am so glad I pushed through that initial hurdle because the rest of the book was well worth it.
Overall, I would give Twice the Family 4 stars. I highly recommend it to memoir lovers, especially those who prefer stories that aren't rooted in trauma. This book is a perfect fit for anyone who feels grateful for their found family or anyone who has learned to navigate a religious upbringing while staying true to themselves.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced listener copy!
May 27, 2025
Family and Faith
This memoir has several themes that are consistent throughout; I'd say the two most prevalent ones being family and faith. It focuses also on the strong and loving bond between sisters Julie and her identical twin, Jennifer who are adopted as infants by the Ryans , an Irish Catholic couple who had suffered through several miscarriages in their attempts to start the large Catholic family they both longed for.
The book goes on to follow the family through the twins elementary school years as their parents begin having babies, including two who pass away in early childhood and the family must grieve their tremendous loss. With 5 living children in total, the household is squeezed for a while into a somewhat small but cozy home that is all the twins have ever known until a couple of years before college, the Ryans move into a bigger home. Eventually, this memoir covers years, college for the twins on their own away from parents and growing into the young women they want to be, and the reader follows them as they find love, decide on careers, establish lives, marry and begin building their own families. I did find it unusual however that once the twins are in college, it's almost as if they were only children because there is little mention of the siblings from then on and I for one, am curious as to the direction their lives went!.
I WILL say this memoir is a very long read. At times I found it rather "run of the mill" and somewhat tedious. However it's not a bad book, per say and due to the fact that the author (one of the twins', Julie) is a good writer and the book is well edited, I gave it a three star rating.
This memoir has several themes that are consistent throughout; I'd say the two most prevalent ones being family and faith. It focuses also on the strong and loving bond between sisters Julie and her identical twin, Jennifer who are adopted as infants by the Ryans , an Irish Catholic couple who had suffered through several miscarriages in their attempts to start the large Catholic family they both longed for.
The book goes on to follow the family through the twins elementary school years as their parents begin having babies, including two who pass away in early childhood and the family must grieve their tremendous loss. With 5 living children in total, the household is squeezed for a while into a somewhat small but cozy home that is all the twins have ever known until a couple of years before college, the Ryans move into a bigger home. Eventually, this memoir covers years, college for the twins on their own away from parents and growing into the young women they want to be, and the reader follows them as they find love, decide on careers, establish lives, marry and begin building their own families. I did find it unusual however that once the twins are in college, it's almost as if they were only children because there is little mention of the siblings from then on and I for one, am curious as to the direction their lives went!.
I WILL say this memoir is a very long read. At times I found it rather "run of the mill" and somewhat tedious. However it's not a bad book, per say and due to the fact that the author (one of the twins', Julie) is a good writer and the book is well edited, I gave it a three star rating.
January 14, 2026
I read Twice a Daughter before starting Twice the Family, and that definitely shaped my experience of this book. Because of that, I found the beginning quite hard to get into. Were a lot of the opening material felt familiar and repetitive. The prologue in particular was confusing, jumping back to the twins as newborns when in the previous book they were already in their fifties. It made the timeline feel oddly backwards, and for a while I struggled to see where this book was going.
In many ways, this story actually feels like it should have come first, followed by Twice a Daughter. This book works much better as a coming-of-age memoir about growing up adopted, while the first book focuses on the adult search for identity and biological family. Read in the order they were published, it left me feeling like I was retracing old ground before finally reaching the new, more emotionally engaging material.
I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator was clear, the delivery was very slow. I usually listen at 1.25x speed, but I had to increase this to 1.75x just to keep the pacing feeling natural, which made longer sections feel more of a slog than they needed to be.
That said, once the story settled into Julie and Jenny’s childhood and family life, it became much more engaging. The bond between the twins and the emotional complexity of their adoptive family was touching, and there were moments that genuinely stood out. Overall, this is a meaningful memoir with a strong heart, but for me the structure, repetition, and slow narration held it back — making it a solid but not standout three-star read.
Thank you NetGalley for the early listen.
In many ways, this story actually feels like it should have come first, followed by Twice a Daughter. This book works much better as a coming-of-age memoir about growing up adopted, while the first book focuses on the adult search for identity and biological family. Read in the order they were published, it left me feeling like I was retracing old ground before finally reaching the new, more emotionally engaging material.
I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator was clear, the delivery was very slow. I usually listen at 1.25x speed, but I had to increase this to 1.75x just to keep the pacing feeling natural, which made longer sections feel more of a slog than they needed to be.
That said, once the story settled into Julie and Jenny’s childhood and family life, it became much more engaging. The bond between the twins and the emotional complexity of their adoptive family was touching, and there were moments that genuinely stood out. Overall, this is a meaningful memoir with a strong heart, but for me the structure, repetition, and slow narration held it back — making it a solid but not standout three-star read.
Thank you NetGalley for the early listen.
November 16, 2024
Twice the Family by new to me author J.R.McGue is a story that will stay with the reader.
I read the blurb and was intrigued. A fantastic story about love, loss, healing and second chances.
Blurb: What is it like to grow up as an adoptee and be raised with your identical twin?
In this coming-of-age memoir, set in Chicago’s western suburbs during the 1960s to 1980s, adopted twin sisters Julie and Jenny become the oldest daughters in a big family made up of a mixture of adopted and biological children. The twins’ sisterly bond is tight as the two strive for individuality, identity, and belonging. But Julie’s parents’ continual addition of adopted and biological children to the family leads to a number of painful experiences: they encounter infertility, infant mortality, a child with special needs, and then, when Julie is sixteen, a sudden family tragedy.
Faced with these challenges, Julie questions everything--who she is, how she fits in, the circumstances of her adoption, where she belongs, her faith and idea of family. As their family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds are tested, Julie realizes her adoptive family is held together by love, faith, support, and her parents’ commitment to each other and family. But the life her parents have constructed is not one that Julie wants for herself--and as she grows older, she realizes how her parents’ goals and dreams differ from her own, and how the experiences that have formed her have provided a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.
I read the blurb and was intrigued. A fantastic story about love, loss, healing and second chances.
Blurb: What is it like to grow up as an adoptee and be raised with your identical twin?
In this coming-of-age memoir, set in Chicago’s western suburbs during the 1960s to 1980s, adopted twin sisters Julie and Jenny become the oldest daughters in a big family made up of a mixture of adopted and biological children. The twins’ sisterly bond is tight as the two strive for individuality, identity, and belonging. But Julie’s parents’ continual addition of adopted and biological children to the family leads to a number of painful experiences: they encounter infertility, infant mortality, a child with special needs, and then, when Julie is sixteen, a sudden family tragedy.
Faced with these challenges, Julie questions everything--who she is, how she fits in, the circumstances of her adoption, where she belongs, her faith and idea of family. As their family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds are tested, Julie realizes her adoptive family is held together by love, faith, support, and her parents’ commitment to each other and family. But the life her parents have constructed is not one that Julie wants for herself--and as she grows older, she realizes how her parents’ goals and dreams differ from her own, and how the experiences that have formed her have provided a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.
February 12, 2025
Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood by Julie Ryan McGue is her beautifully written memoir about growing up as an adopted child. Julie experienced all the normal feelings of abandonment, frustration, and hurt at being given up at birth, including fantasies about her birth mother and family heritage. However, the love and devotion she received from her adopted family was more than she could have expected. Through life, which could be confusing at times coupled with the inner turmoil, one thing in her life remained constant: her safehouse and twin Jenny, whom she cherished and adored. Desperate for a big family, Julie's mother, Suzanne “Jeanne,” expanded the Ryan family, which sometimes meant more stress and pressure, especially for the girls as they were the oldest. But despite the sometimes overwhelming family dynamic, the Ryan family remained a strong unit with family values strongly ingrained in each of the Ryan children. Julie wanted for nothing except closure on her biological family. Twice the Family is about the love of family, and the unshakeable foundation on which it was built.
Julie’s intelligence and insight showed from an early age. She was skilled at being able to read a room and could easily pick up on moods and energy. That intelligence pours over into her writing, which was engaging and soulful. Twice the Family was a memorable read, and I look forward to reading her award-winning first memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Julie’s intelligence and insight showed from an early age. She was skilled at being able to read a room and could easily pick up on moods and energy. That intelligence pours over into her writing, which was engaging and soulful. Twice the Family was a memorable read, and I look forward to reading her award-winning first memoir, Twice a Daughter: A Search for Identity, Family, and Belonging.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 8, 2024
This memoir is a heartfelt tribute to the complexities of family and the unending journey of self-discovery. Julie’s story will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with identity, family expectations, or the search for a place to belong. It’s an inspiring reminder that the road to knowing oneself may be winding, but it’s a journey worth taking. The story is told in a way that is so personal and engaging, I couldn't put it down.
Julie and her twin, Jenny, are part of a beautifully complex family, up bound by love but also challenged by the weight of family trials.
As I followed Julie’s quest for individuality, the narrative paints a poignant picture of sisterly bonds and family ties through painful realities: infertility, infant mortality, and a child with special needs. Then Julie begins to struggle with timeless questions about identity, belonging, and purpose. What does it mean to be family? And how can one truly know themselves within—or despite—family expectations and labels?
What makes Julie’s story especially captivating is her honesty in depicting both love and dissonance within her family. We see the values her parents uphold, their faith, and their resilience in the face of trials form the bedrock of their lives. Yet Julie realizes that her own goals and dreams differ from those of her parents, and through reflection and self-awareness, she ultimately finds the road map to her own sense of self and the person and mother she aspires to become.
Julie and her twin, Jenny, are part of a beautifully complex family, up bound by love but also challenged by the weight of family trials.
As I followed Julie’s quest for individuality, the narrative paints a poignant picture of sisterly bonds and family ties through painful realities: infertility, infant mortality, and a child with special needs. Then Julie begins to struggle with timeless questions about identity, belonging, and purpose. What does it mean to be family? And how can one truly know themselves within—or despite—family expectations and labels?
What makes Julie’s story especially captivating is her honesty in depicting both love and dissonance within her family. We see the values her parents uphold, their faith, and their resilience in the face of trials form the bedrock of their lives. Yet Julie realizes that her own goals and dreams differ from those of her parents, and through reflection and self-awareness, she ultimately finds the road map to her own sense of self and the person and mother she aspires to become.
December 26, 2025
itle: Twice the Family, a Memoir about Love, Loss and Sisterhood
Author: Julie Tyan McGue
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Katie Hagaman
Publisher: Books Forward Audiobooks
Genre: Memoir
Pub Date: February 4, 2026
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 384
I was drawn to this story as I have two adopted daughter that we adopted through Catholic Charities.
Story is set in Western Springs, Illinois which is in the Chicago western suburbs between the years 1960s and '80s. Starts March 6, 1958 when Julie and Jennifer are adopted as their mother died in childbirth. Their adopted parents Jean and Jack Ryan felt their dreams had been fulfilled as they now have an instant family. Their sisterly bond holds tight as the two strive for identity, individuality, and belonging. It is the story of the making of a family then and now.
Although I enjoyed this story, I really did not like Katie Hagaman’s performance of the characters- her voice was too smoothing – it made me want to fall asleep.
Author Julie Ryan McGue is an American writer as well as an adoptee and identical twin, Story is about the five-year search that she and her twin sister undertook to find their birth relatives.
Want to thank NetGalley and Books Forward Audiobooks for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date is schedule for February 4, 2026.
Author: Julie Tyan McGue
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Katie Hagaman
Publisher: Books Forward Audiobooks
Genre: Memoir
Pub Date: February 4, 2026
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 384
I was drawn to this story as I have two adopted daughter that we adopted through Catholic Charities.
Story is set in Western Springs, Illinois which is in the Chicago western suburbs between the years 1960s and '80s. Starts March 6, 1958 when Julie and Jennifer are adopted as their mother died in childbirth. Their adopted parents Jean and Jack Ryan felt their dreams had been fulfilled as they now have an instant family. Their sisterly bond holds tight as the two strive for identity, individuality, and belonging. It is the story of the making of a family then and now.
Although I enjoyed this story, I really did not like Katie Hagaman’s performance of the characters- her voice was too smoothing – it made me want to fall asleep.
Author Julie Ryan McGue is an American writer as well as an adoptee and identical twin, Story is about the five-year search that she and her twin sister undertook to find their birth relatives.
Want to thank NetGalley and Books Forward Audiobooks for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date is schedule for February 4, 2026.
March 10, 2025
J'ai reçu ce livre de la part de la part de LIBRARYTHING dans le cadre de son programme, the EARLYREVIEWER.
"Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood" de Julie Ryan McGue, explore le thème de l'adoption avec beaucoup d'émotions et de finesse. Un couple d'américains extrêmement croyant, décide d'adopter un enfant. Le destin en décide autrement, puisque ce seront deux jumelles qui leur seront données. Se tissent alors des liens indéfectibles d'amour et de loyauté. Ainsi qu'un amour fraternel unique au monde.
L'histoire éclatante et résolument moderne de ces fillettes, rejointe par d'autres enfants adoptés comme elles, et les enfants du couple, revisiteront le concept de famille élargie, pour le bonheur de tous.
"Le front uni qu'elles développent, leur permettent de se défendre, invincibles parce qu'étant Deux contre vents et marées"
Lisez le ! Un mémoire exaltant qui révèle l'incroyable force du mental, confronté aux tragédies familiales, aux deuils. De cette unique force, acquise ensemble, elles sortiront vainqueurs et s'affirmeront avec une force de caractère hors du commun. L'amour fraternel comme seul ciment, les liant à jamais.
Un récit qui offre une plongée au cœur de l'amour, qui, seul, répare les fissures du temps.
"Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood" de Julie Ryan McGue, explore le thème de l'adoption avec beaucoup d'émotions et de finesse. Un couple d'américains extrêmement croyant, décide d'adopter un enfant. Le destin en décide autrement, puisque ce seront deux jumelles qui leur seront données. Se tissent alors des liens indéfectibles d'amour et de loyauté. Ainsi qu'un amour fraternel unique au monde.
L'histoire éclatante et résolument moderne de ces fillettes, rejointe par d'autres enfants adoptés comme elles, et les enfants du couple, revisiteront le concept de famille élargie, pour le bonheur de tous.
"Le front uni qu'elles développent, leur permettent de se défendre, invincibles parce qu'étant Deux contre vents et marées"
Lisez le ! Un mémoire exaltant qui révèle l'incroyable force du mental, confronté aux tragédies familiales, aux deuils. De cette unique force, acquise ensemble, elles sortiront vainqueurs et s'affirmeront avec une force de caractère hors du commun. L'amour fraternel comme seul ciment, les liant à jamais.
Un récit qui offre une plongée au cœur de l'amour, qui, seul, répare les fissures du temps.
September 2, 2025
The subtitle of this book is A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood, so I should have known what was coming. But my word, this book really grips you and just has so many sad moments! (I’m also reading this one 9 months pregnant, so maybe that has something to do with it.). In the late 1950s, twins Jenny and Julie are adopted together. Their family grows and grows with more and more children, but with more children also comes more heartbreak. I don’t know what I expected of this book, but the storytelling is done in such an amazing way, it just draws you in and you can’t put it down. I was so invested in the lives of the members of this family. I was heartbroken over each setback they faced, and I was just flipping the pages waiting to find out what would happen with the family next. You find yourself really rooting for them, and I really enjoyed it overall. It’s also always interesting to me when I read about how things have changed in parenting, just in the past 50 or so years. Thank you so much to BooksForward for my copy!
January 21, 2025
A memoir of adopted twin girls, Twice the Family (2025) by Julie Ryan McGue is a fervid account of her growing up in the 1960s through 1980s, in the western suburbs of Chicago. Aware of her adoption and eventually part of a larger family, it's a heart-rendering tale of family, identity, various tragedies and the complexities of the experiences that form us. At times, it's a difficult read, yet inspiring and a testament to the identical sisters' bond that shines so brightly throughout the narrative. A touching book, in three parts, being Identity, Belonging, and Becoming via the personal lens of Julie’s adoption, family, and becoming the person she is. A tender tale with a four star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to She Writes Press and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.
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