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Any Other Family
The New York Times bestselling author of The Weird Sisters returns with a striking new novel about three very different adoptive mothers who face the impossible question: What makes a family?
Though they look like any other family, they aren't one--not quite. They are three sets of parents who find themselves intertwined after adopting four biological siblings, having committed to keeping the children as connected as possible.
At the heart of the family, the adoptive mothers grapple to define themselves and their new roles. Tabitha, who adopted the twins, crowns herself planner of the group, responsible for endless playdates and holidays, determined to create a perfect happy family. Quiet and steady Ginger, single mother to the eldest daughter, is wary of the way these complicated not-fully-family relationships test her long held boundaries. And Elizabeth, still reeling from rounds of failed IVF, is terrified that her unhappiness after adopting a newborn means she was not meant to be a mother at all.
As they set out on their first family vacation, all three women are pushed into uncomfortably close quarters. And when they receive a call from their children's birth mother announcing she is pregnant again, the delicate bonds the women are struggling to form threaten to collapse as they each must consider how a family is found and formed.
Though they look like any other family, they aren't one--not quite. They are three sets of parents who find themselves intertwined after adopting four biological siblings, having committed to keeping the children as connected as possible.
At the heart of the family, the adoptive mothers grapple to define themselves and their new roles. Tabitha, who adopted the twins, crowns herself planner of the group, responsible for endless playdates and holidays, determined to create a perfect happy family. Quiet and steady Ginger, single mother to the eldest daughter, is wary of the way these complicated not-fully-family relationships test her long held boundaries. And Elizabeth, still reeling from rounds of failed IVF, is terrified that her unhappiness after adopting a newborn means she was not meant to be a mother at all.
As they set out on their first family vacation, all three women are pushed into uncomfortably close quarters. And when they receive a call from their children's birth mother announcing she is pregnant again, the delicate bonds the women are struggling to form threaten to collapse as they each must consider how a family is found and formed.
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2022
390 people are currently reading
21752 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Brown
21 books868 followersEleanor Brown is the New York Times and international bestselling author of the novels The Weird Sisters, The Light of Paris, and Any Other Family.
She is also the editor of A Paris All Your Own. She lives in Colorado with her family.
She is also the editor of A Paris All Your Own. She lives in Colorado with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 833 reviews
July 23, 2022
Although I am an ardent fiction reader, I do read to learn; empathy is something I have gained through reading. Learning about different cultures, even in a fictional story, is a way to learn. In “Any Other Family”, which explores families, what it means to be a family, and open adoptions and family, I learned more than I expected. Author Eleanor Brown sneaks in the overwhelming emotions that lead to adoption, mostly infertility, the years and years of infertility and the heartbreaking losses of miscarriages. This sounds like a sad, miserable story, but it is not. Brown deftly adds humor and human hijinks to the story. Three families connected by their children who embark on a two-week family vacation! What could possibly go wrong? Think of your family vacations with just one set of parents, now there are three, not including the birth mother. Can you say “Forced Family Fun?”
“They look like any other family,” Brown writes. “They are a family formed by three sets of parents who adopted from the same group of biological siblings.”
Brianna, the birth mother, had one child and realized she could not take care of her. She decided to place her child up for adoption, with the caveat that it’s open. The adoptive parent agreed. Brianna chose her child’s preschool teacher; it was easy. And then, Brianna finds herself pregnant again! With twins! She finds a couple who agree to the open adoption and to include the other family in important family events. The mother of the twins, Tabitha, is an organizer. She takes control of the family events, birthday parties, holidays, occasional Sunday dinners. Brianna gets pregnant again. It is Tabitha who finds a family for the fourth child. Tabitha arranges this 2-week family vacation for all three families which now total four siblings. Brianna is to attend the family vacation, and calls in last minute, saying she cannot make it because, surprise! She’s pregnant….again.
Brianna, whom Brown spends little time on developing her character, is almost a side note. Brown never addresses how this woman can irresponsibly keep getting pregnant when she knows she cannot take care of her children. Plus, she makes the parents of her children find the other parents. She cannot be bothered. This irresponsibility is not addressed well, for me anyway. The oldest child is entering middle school. The youngest is still an infant.
I believe Brown had Brianna pass her responsibility of finding adoptive parents so that she could show in the story the sadness of the families who want to adopt. How she did that is through brief interludes of letters from prospective parents. Through the letters the reader feels the emotional rollercoaster of people wanting to adopt.
Each mother has her own chapter, providing alternating perspectives, and we learn their inner thoughts, fears, strengths, and dreams. Brown writes them with attention and kindness showing their humanity. We learn of the highly relatable complexities and nuances of each character. Even bossy Tabitha, the mother hen, we learn of her true intentions, and she becomes more relatable and enduring.
“How odd that they came on vacation only to feel further apart from each other. When she thinks of how close she hoped they would all become during these weeks together, she doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
In her Author’s Note, Brown informs the reader that she is an adoptive mother of a son. She intended to write a story of adoption exploring all the variables involved in adoptions. She’s an advocate of adoption and wanted to show how adoptive families choose to structure their families. She also showcased the emotional journey parents must go through to get to the decision to adopt. She admitted that she could not address all complexities of adoption in one story, and this is NOT a story of all adoptions.
I chose to listen to the audio, narrated by Brittany Pressley and 8 others who read the letters of prospective adoptive parents. The audio was done very well.
Motherhood and blended families are highlighted here. This is a story of family, made by choice, with the ideal of healthy, grounded children as the main intention.
“They look like any other family,” Brown writes. “They are a family formed by three sets of parents who adopted from the same group of biological siblings.”
Brianna, the birth mother, had one child and realized she could not take care of her. She decided to place her child up for adoption, with the caveat that it’s open. The adoptive parent agreed. Brianna chose her child’s preschool teacher; it was easy. And then, Brianna finds herself pregnant again! With twins! She finds a couple who agree to the open adoption and to include the other family in important family events. The mother of the twins, Tabitha, is an organizer. She takes control of the family events, birthday parties, holidays, occasional Sunday dinners. Brianna gets pregnant again. It is Tabitha who finds a family for the fourth child. Tabitha arranges this 2-week family vacation for all three families which now total four siblings. Brianna is to attend the family vacation, and calls in last minute, saying she cannot make it because, surprise! She’s pregnant….again.
Brianna, whom Brown spends little time on developing her character, is almost a side note. Brown never addresses how this woman can irresponsibly keep getting pregnant when she knows she cannot take care of her children. Plus, she makes the parents of her children find the other parents. She cannot be bothered. This irresponsibility is not addressed well, for me anyway. The oldest child is entering middle school. The youngest is still an infant.
I believe Brown had Brianna pass her responsibility of finding adoptive parents so that she could show in the story the sadness of the families who want to adopt. How she did that is through brief interludes of letters from prospective parents. Through the letters the reader feels the emotional rollercoaster of people wanting to adopt.
Each mother has her own chapter, providing alternating perspectives, and we learn their inner thoughts, fears, strengths, and dreams. Brown writes them with attention and kindness showing their humanity. We learn of the highly relatable complexities and nuances of each character. Even bossy Tabitha, the mother hen, we learn of her true intentions, and she becomes more relatable and enduring.
“How odd that they came on vacation only to feel further apart from each other. When she thinks of how close she hoped they would all become during these weeks together, she doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
In her Author’s Note, Brown informs the reader that she is an adoptive mother of a son. She intended to write a story of adoption exploring all the variables involved in adoptions. She’s an advocate of adoption and wanted to show how adoptive families choose to structure their families. She also showcased the emotional journey parents must go through to get to the decision to adopt. She admitted that she could not address all complexities of adoption in one story, and this is NOT a story of all adoptions.
I chose to listen to the audio, narrated by Brittany Pressley and 8 others who read the letters of prospective adoptive parents. The audio was done very well.
Motherhood and blended families are highlighted here. This is a story of family, made by choice, with the ideal of healthy, grounded children as the main intention.
August 8, 2023
Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown is a Unique Perspective of Traditional Family Structure!
The setting of this story is during a planned get-together, one of many for this extended family unit. Three sets of parents keeping four adopted biological siblings connected after the death of their custodial grandmother.
There's a focus on each of the adoptive-mom's idiosyncrasies: one that strives for perfection; another with trust issues stemming from her own childhood; and the newest mom, fresh from failed IVF treatments, feeling out of her element as a mom of a newborn.
Then the kids birth-mother drops a bomb!
She's pregnant, again, and asking for help bringing another adoptive couple into the fold...
Any Other Family is an original and interesting take on traditional family structure. Lots of moms, lots of dads, and one unmarried birth-mother who becomes pregnant time-after-time. The family dynamics feel a little wild and crazy at first, and without a doubt, it's a bicker-fest between the parents and a free-for-all for the kids, but it is 'vacation-time', after all.
No one was more surprised than me that a story that began all over the place, grew on me, and fairly quickly. It shares an intentional message about what one example of 'Open Adoption' could look like. It's a bit over-the-top but it clarifies how different the family structure can look in today's world. Being open about adoption always remains a choice, but the benefits could far out-weigh your children trying to find their birth family later in life. Who knows?
An audiobook narrated by Brittany Pressley is, once again, a satisfying listen!
Any Other Family is a thought-provoking, heart-warming, and unique Family Fiction story. It's one I enjoyed and recommend to those who also enjoy Family Fiction stories that are a little south of the norm.
3.75⭐rounded up!
The setting of this story is during a planned get-together, one of many for this extended family unit. Three sets of parents keeping four adopted biological siblings connected after the death of their custodial grandmother.
There's a focus on each of the adoptive-mom's idiosyncrasies: one that strives for perfection; another with trust issues stemming from her own childhood; and the newest mom, fresh from failed IVF treatments, feeling out of her element as a mom of a newborn.
Then the kids birth-mother drops a bomb!
She's pregnant, again, and asking for help bringing another adoptive couple into the fold...
Any Other Family is an original and interesting take on traditional family structure. Lots of moms, lots of dads, and one unmarried birth-mother who becomes pregnant time-after-time. The family dynamics feel a little wild and crazy at first, and without a doubt, it's a bicker-fest between the parents and a free-for-all for the kids, but it is 'vacation-time', after all.
No one was more surprised than me that a story that began all over the place, grew on me, and fairly quickly. It shares an intentional message about what one example of 'Open Adoption' could look like. It's a bit over-the-top but it clarifies how different the family structure can look in today's world. Being open about adoption always remains a choice, but the benefits could far out-weigh your children trying to find their birth family later in life. Who knows?
An audiobook narrated by Brittany Pressley is, once again, a satisfying listen!
Any Other Family is a thought-provoking, heart-warming, and unique Family Fiction story. It's one I enjoyed and recommend to those who also enjoy Family Fiction stories that are a little south of the norm.
3.75⭐rounded up!
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June 14, 2022As a birthmother in an open adoption, I’ve got some complicated feelings about this one.
The stereotypical and one dimensional characterization of the birthmother made me want to scream and I almost put down the book because of it
However, the portrayal of a family brought together through open adoption, the multiple biological siblings being raised in different households by nuanced adoptive parents - that was done well.
The kids were young enough where the focus that wasn’t on them or much of their emotions was reasonable - this really was the story of the adoptive parents which was done super realistically and multi-dimensional.
I don’t know there aren’t enough well done books about open adoption out there where I’ll tell you not to read this one but seriously birthmothers equating adoption with birth control or a quick decision - that story I’m completely exhausted by
The stereotypical and one dimensional characterization of the birthmother made me want to scream and I almost put down the book because of it
However, the portrayal of a family brought together through open adoption, the multiple biological siblings being raised in different households by nuanced adoptive parents - that was done well.
The kids were young enough where the focus that wasn’t on them or much of their emotions was reasonable - this really was the story of the adoptive parents which was done super realistically and multi-dimensional.
I don’t know there aren’t enough well done books about open adoption out there where I’ll tell you not to read this one but seriously birthmothers equating adoption with birth control or a quick decision - that story I’m completely exhausted by
July 30, 2023
I have read a slew of chick-lit books in my time. In earlier years, many female authors were writing in this manner. My reading tastes have evolved, after having been exposed to more literary books. "Any Other Family" is a quintessential chick-lit book. I felt irritated half of the time while reading it, while still enjoying some of it.
In the story, the author set up an implausible, contrived situation in which to look at the dynamics of adoption. Three young children are being raised by their grandmother, due to their mother being too young and immature to parent them herself. When the grandmother suddenly dies, adoption plans must be worked out. The 5 year old girl is adopted by a single woman (Ginger). The 2 year old twins are adopted by a couple (Tabitha and Perry).
The parents pledge to become a family unit in order to keep the siblings connected with each other. They feel uncomfortable with each other, yet agree to constant familial gatherings to keep the children together. They think of themselves as "the family". To further complicate the situation, the children's birth mother (Brianna) soon finds herself pregnant again and another couple joins the family when they adopt the baby.
The focus here is on the personalities of the adoptive mothers. Their frustrations and jealousies with each other are tirelessly explored. Part of the story entails the adoptive mothers reviewing potential adoptive parents' letters explaining why they would like to adopt a child. These letters are interesting to read and add depth to the novel.
The book kept me company this past week, but was not my cup of tea.
In the story, the author set up an implausible, contrived situation in which to look at the dynamics of adoption. Three young children are being raised by their grandmother, due to their mother being too young and immature to parent them herself. When the grandmother suddenly dies, adoption plans must be worked out. The 5 year old girl is adopted by a single woman (Ginger). The 2 year old twins are adopted by a couple (Tabitha and Perry).
The parents pledge to become a family unit in order to keep the siblings connected with each other. They feel uncomfortable with each other, yet agree to constant familial gatherings to keep the children together. They think of themselves as "the family". To further complicate the situation, the children's birth mother (Brianna) soon finds herself pregnant again and another couple joins the family when they adopt the baby.
The focus here is on the personalities of the adoptive mothers. Their frustrations and jealousies with each other are tirelessly explored. Part of the story entails the adoptive mothers reviewing potential adoptive parents' letters explaining why they would like to adopt a child. These letters are interesting to read and add depth to the novel.
The book kept me company this past week, but was not my cup of tea.
July 31, 2022
This book was a train wreck that I couldn’t look away from. The birth mother felt like a stereotype. 😬 The other mothers were also clichéd. These adults just needed to communicate and all the issues could’ve been resolved quicker and easier. I just could not stand Tabitha. And it was so obvious to me that Elizabeth had PPD, so how could everyone around her miss this?! Just wasn’t what I was expecting. The last few chapters were the only ones I enjoyed because there was growth out of the cliche molds they were put in.
July 10, 2022
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown is a story of three families tied together by their adopted children. As an adoptive parent, I appreciated how the author told a story of some of the varied ways families deal with the stresses and joys of adoption. I just loved this story of family, love, and motherhood.
This is the story of three families, who together make one family. The family consists of three sets of parents for four biological siblings. The oldest sibling of Brianna, the biological mother of the four children, is Phoebe. Ginger is the single adoptive mother of Phoebe. Next, Tabitha and Perry are the adoptive parents of the twins Taylor and Tate. And Elizabeth and John are the adoptive parents of the baby, Violet. These three families are tied together as these families try to keep the siblings together as much as possible. The families get together for dinners and plan vacations together in order for the siblings to be able to spend time together.
When Brianna, the biological mother of all four children, becomes pregnant once again, she asks the families to help her find adoptive parents for her fifth child. This causes some stress between the families as they all have their reasons for not wanting to take on another child, but not wanting to keep the siblings apart any more than they already are.
I thought the author did a wonderful job of describing the different feelings each mother has about motherhood and adoption. Each mother has a slightly different view of adoption and how they form a family, and each mother has a completely different experience. Also, the dynamic of the three families is very interesting. As they have decided to spend time together in order to keep the siblings together as much as possible.
Not all these characters are likable, but they are all relatable. I related most with Elizabeth as she struggles with a colicky baby, and is a bit overwhelmed at times. Tabitha is a bit much, but I understood her motivations to keep these siblings together. And Ginger has a backstory that makes her a bit reluctant to participate in all the activities. But one thing that I never questioned was the love these mothers have for their children. Their love manifested in many different ways, but it’s always there. The two husbands are in the story, but their characters are pretty one-dimensional, which is fine as the story is really about the mothers.
This is a unique family, that all work together to keep the siblings together and each of the families sacrifices just a bit in order to keep them all together.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys women's fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown is a story of three families tied together by their adopted children. As an adoptive parent, I appreciated how the author told a story of some of the varied ways families deal with the stresses and joys of adoption. I just loved this story of family, love, and motherhood.
This is the story of three families, who together make one family. The family consists of three sets of parents for four biological siblings. The oldest sibling of Brianna, the biological mother of the four children, is Phoebe. Ginger is the single adoptive mother of Phoebe. Next, Tabitha and Perry are the adoptive parents of the twins Taylor and Tate. And Elizabeth and John are the adoptive parents of the baby, Violet. These three families are tied together as these families try to keep the siblings together as much as possible. The families get together for dinners and plan vacations together in order for the siblings to be able to spend time together.
When Brianna, the biological mother of all four children, becomes pregnant once again, she asks the families to help her find adoptive parents for her fifth child. This causes some stress between the families as they all have their reasons for not wanting to take on another child, but not wanting to keep the siblings apart any more than they already are.
I thought the author did a wonderful job of describing the different feelings each mother has about motherhood and adoption. Each mother has a slightly different view of adoption and how they form a family, and each mother has a completely different experience. Also, the dynamic of the three families is very interesting. As they have decided to spend time together in order to keep the siblings together as much as possible.
Not all these characters are likable, but they are all relatable. I related most with Elizabeth as she struggles with a colicky baby, and is a bit overwhelmed at times. Tabitha is a bit much, but I understood her motivations to keep these siblings together. And Ginger has a backstory that makes her a bit reluctant to participate in all the activities. But one thing that I never questioned was the love these mothers have for their children. Their love manifested in many different ways, but it’s always there. The two husbands are in the story, but their characters are pretty one-dimensional, which is fine as the story is really about the mothers.
This is a unique family, that all work together to keep the siblings together and each of the families sacrifices just a bit in order to keep them all together.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys women's fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 22, 2022
I have been a stalwart fan of Eleanor Brown since first reading The Weird Sisters back in 2016 so I was excited to receive a drc from the publisher via Netgalley. Any Other Family is a creative exploration of how we define family and ultimately how much we owe to them. How much? How much? How much? Here we have an extended family bonded by the adoption of siblings. They all want the children to be part of each other's lives but accomplishing this is easier said than done. Of course, the adoptive parents have lives and needs, fears and desires of their own. Eleanor Brown skillfully weaves the multiple storylines and the rich, real characters. It's not smooth sailing but the parents grow and learn about each other and about themselves along the way. Can they find a way to balance the disparate needs of the children and the adults? It was a pleasure to find out.
I received a complimentary drc from the publisher via Netgalley.
I received a complimentary drc from the publisher via Netgalley.
July 8, 2022
4.5/5
If you like character driven stories about families this one was really good! It was such a unique look at what makes a family a family told over the course of one blended family vacation. The insights into motherhood were oftentimes spot on and fascinating, the author took a look at the darker side of parenting through the eyes of three flawed and relatable women. Their family dynamics were messy and dramatic and totally fun to read about. It’s also narrated by Brittany Pressley who I adore so the audio version is super engaging. Overall a vulnerable, messy and entertaining read.
If you like character driven stories about families this one was really good! It was such a unique look at what makes a family a family told over the course of one blended family vacation. The insights into motherhood were oftentimes spot on and fascinating, the author took a look at the darker side of parenting through the eyes of three flawed and relatable women. Their family dynamics were messy and dramatic and totally fun to read about. It’s also narrated by Brittany Pressley who I adore so the audio version is super engaging. Overall a vulnerable, messy and entertaining read.
June 21, 2022
This ended up being a very informative and interesting look at open adoptions. The family in this story though, are unusual in that there are 3 different sets of parents raising 4 children from the same birth parents - with the mother still involved. The parents have agreed to all stay connected in 0rder for the children to stay close and bonded.
I didn't really find any of the parents overly likeable, but definitely appreciated that they all recognized their weaknesses to some degree. The characters were a touch one-dimensional - with each playing a very specific role. Tabitha is the "perfect" mom - always prepared, always looking stylish, well-connected socially and happily married. Ginger is the single mom who never expected to be a mom. She is fiercely independent and struggles a bit socially when she must be around the whole family. She is very structured, and does not enjoy change. Elizabeth is the mom who tried everything to get pregnant, even several expensive rounds of IVF, to no avail. This leaves her feeling less than while she is still battling her perception of not being taken seriously as the baby of her family. She has always wanted to be a mom, but now that she has a baby, she's exhausted all the time not sure she can handle it. And then there is the birth mom, who keeps having babies, knowing that she will not be raising them. She will simply hand them off to "the family."
I did love seeing the dynamics of these parents with their huge personality differences trying to make it through a two-week vacation without pulling their hair out. Each women feels a little judged and a little unsure of their abilities. When they learn that the birth mom is again pregnant, each imagines a different outcome. Tabitha is unapologetically overjoyed, - there is nothing she loves more than a large family. Ginger is wary of potentially another parent group entering this family and growing their numbers even larger, and Elizabeth is adamant that she can not adopt this one. There are good conversations between the married couples and a good look at the stress this type of situation can have on a marriage.
The sections written on behalf of parents hoping to adopt are both hopeful and heartbreaking. They are small snippets of their background, and why they are interested in adopting. The far majority of this story focuses on the effects of open adoption on the parents. The oldest child, Ginger's daughter has a small part where she expresses her confusion, but the other children aren't really discussed. The children are all well adjusted, which I think left a little out of the story. Only one of the twins has what appears to be an anxiety related issue.
A great aspect of this book was the look at post partum depression and how help can be found for the mom. I didn't really find it believable to no one recognized this issue prior to a telephone conversation with a potential adopter, but maybe that was just me. While I wish there was a little more development to the characters and a little more about life outside of this 2 week vacation, overall it was an engaging and interesting read. I liked the style of writing and there was a great author's note at the end about her experience with adoption. I found the topic very interesting and the situations with "the family" complex and very realistic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/GP Putnam's Sons for the advance copy to read and review.
I didn't really find any of the parents overly likeable, but definitely appreciated that they all recognized their weaknesses to some degree. The characters were a touch one-dimensional - with each playing a very specific role. Tabitha is the "perfect" mom - always prepared, always looking stylish, well-connected socially and happily married. Ginger is the single mom who never expected to be a mom. She is fiercely independent and struggles a bit socially when she must be around the whole family. She is very structured, and does not enjoy change. Elizabeth is the mom who tried everything to get pregnant, even several expensive rounds of IVF, to no avail. This leaves her feeling less than while she is still battling her perception of not being taken seriously as the baby of her family. She has always wanted to be a mom, but now that she has a baby, she's exhausted all the time not sure she can handle it. And then there is the birth mom, who keeps having babies, knowing that she will not be raising them. She will simply hand them off to "the family."
I did love seeing the dynamics of these parents with their huge personality differences trying to make it through a two-week vacation without pulling their hair out. Each women feels a little judged and a little unsure of their abilities. When they learn that the birth mom is again pregnant, each imagines a different outcome. Tabitha is unapologetically overjoyed, - there is nothing she loves more than a large family. Ginger is wary of potentially another parent group entering this family and growing their numbers even larger, and Elizabeth is adamant that she can not adopt this one. There are good conversations between the married couples and a good look at the stress this type of situation can have on a marriage.
The sections written on behalf of parents hoping to adopt are both hopeful and heartbreaking. They are small snippets of their background, and why they are interested in adopting. The far majority of this story focuses on the effects of open adoption on the parents. The oldest child, Ginger's daughter has a small part where she expresses her confusion, but the other children aren't really discussed. The children are all well adjusted, which I think left a little out of the story. Only one of the twins has what appears to be an anxiety related issue.
A great aspect of this book was the look at post partum depression and how help can be found for the mom. I didn't really find it believable to no one recognized this issue prior to a telephone conversation with a potential adopter, but maybe that was just me. While I wish there was a little more development to the characters and a little more about life outside of this 2 week vacation, overall it was an engaging and interesting read. I liked the style of writing and there was a great author's note at the end about her experience with adoption. I found the topic very interesting and the situations with "the family" complex and very realistic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/GP Putnam's Sons for the advance copy to read and review.
July 31, 2022
Although a beautifully and thoughtfully written story (it would make a fantastic Hallmark Channel movie), the story did not kick enough for me.
I’ve become pretty dependent upon a strong plot and story arc and that was lacking for me.
I guess that is another way of saying this is a character driven story. The characters did not have a lot in common with me and caused that slight itchy feeling I get when I spend too long on Instagram trying to sort what I’m seeing and what is not being shown to me.
And maybe that is just another way of saying that stereotyping does happen in this book and no mother will identify wholly with Tabitha or Ginger or Elizabeth. I would imagine you will see pieces of yourself in each, mama.
I do want to go on record to say that Eleanor Brown wrote a great book about adoption. It’s just not a space or corner of the world I’ve resided in and so I didn’t feel at home in the story.
Oh, I know! This is another way to say this was a window book for me and not a mirror book for me.
I am in a mirror mood just now.
I’ve become pretty dependent upon a strong plot and story arc and that was lacking for me.
I guess that is another way of saying this is a character driven story. The characters did not have a lot in common with me and caused that slight itchy feeling I get when I spend too long on Instagram trying to sort what I’m seeing and what is not being shown to me.
And maybe that is just another way of saying that stereotyping does happen in this book and no mother will identify wholly with Tabitha or Ginger or Elizabeth. I would imagine you will see pieces of yourself in each, mama.
I do want to go on record to say that Eleanor Brown wrote a great book about adoption. It’s just not a space or corner of the world I’ve resided in and so I didn’t feel at home in the story.
Oh, I know! This is another way to say this was a window book for me and not a mirror book for me.
I am in a mirror mood just now.
July 25, 2022
{ @putnambooks #gifted Thank you for a finished copy of Any Other Family. }
𝘼𝙉𝙔 𝙊𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙁𝘼𝙈𝙄𝙇𝙔 by Eleanor Brown is a story about three families connected through their adoptions of siblings. Before I get any further into it, I think it’s important to acknowledge what the story is and is not. It’s not a universal story of adoption, as no story could ever be. Adoptions and the reasons for them are as varied as children themselves. No two families' experiences are the same and Brown acknowledges that in her author’s note. This is just one out of a myriad of possible adoption stories. The author highlights others with fictional letters from people hoping to adopt interspersed between the book’s chapters.
The family at the core of 𝘈𝘯𝘺 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 is, in fact, made of three smaller families who have each adopted one or two children from the same birth mother. From the onset, they have kept the siblings and their birth mother connected with Sunday dinners, birthday parties and holiday celebrations. As the story opens, they’re all spending a two week mountain vacation together. The three mothers’ enthusiasm for this level of closeness varies from overwhelming excitement to utter dread. These are three very different women and it’s their relationships that make up the heart of this story.
I liked the book very much, despite feeling that the women were a little one-dimensional, and the men mainly background. I definitely think the author did a great job highlighting aspects of both infertility and adoption that I’d not put enough consideration into. It shone a light on the insecurities of new motherhood in a way I felt was universal to all mothers. Most importantly, this book looked at what it is that truly binds a family no matter how it originally comes together. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
𝘼𝙉𝙔 𝙊𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙁𝘼𝙈𝙄𝙇𝙔 by Eleanor Brown is a story about three families connected through their adoptions of siblings. Before I get any further into it, I think it’s important to acknowledge what the story is and is not. It’s not a universal story of adoption, as no story could ever be. Adoptions and the reasons for them are as varied as children themselves. No two families' experiences are the same and Brown acknowledges that in her author’s note. This is just one out of a myriad of possible adoption stories. The author highlights others with fictional letters from people hoping to adopt interspersed between the book’s chapters.
The family at the core of 𝘈𝘯𝘺 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 is, in fact, made of three smaller families who have each adopted one or two children from the same birth mother. From the onset, they have kept the siblings and their birth mother connected with Sunday dinners, birthday parties and holiday celebrations. As the story opens, they’re all spending a two week mountain vacation together. The three mothers’ enthusiasm for this level of closeness varies from overwhelming excitement to utter dread. These are three very different women and it’s their relationships that make up the heart of this story.
I liked the book very much, despite feeling that the women were a little one-dimensional, and the men mainly background. I definitely think the author did a great job highlighting aspects of both infertility and adoption that I’d not put enough consideration into. It shone a light on the insecurities of new motherhood in a way I felt was universal to all mothers. Most importantly, this book looked at what it is that truly binds a family no matter how it originally comes together. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
January 26, 2022
Eleanor Brown's new novel is a fascinating, in-depth character study of an unusual blended family on vacation in Aspen for two weeks. The family consists of the four biological children of one young woman, who decided she was incapable of raising them herself. She doesn't figure as a main character here, but rather as a plot device.
The spotlight is on the three women who have adopted her children and who are committed to raising them as a family, getting everyone together for frequent events and periodic vacations. Tabitha and her husband have the 4-year-old twins. The primary organizer of the group, she delights in making everyone happy but is often unknowingly resented by the other two women for imposing on their personal lives. Eleven-year-old Phoebe chose to live with Ginger, who has no partner and had never envisioned adoption, and schoolteacher Elizabeth and her husband adopted the baby almost a year ago. Tabitha assumes Ginger will want to move closer to her when Phoebe is accepted at a school nearby. She is oblivious to the fact that Elizabeth feels she is a bad mother, after IVF put the family's finances in jeopardy and her husband loses his job.
Amidst the daily activities planned by Tabitha and enjoyed especially by the children, bad feelings escalate among the three women, fired not only by their current circumstances but by their pre-adoption backgrounds. It only fuels the flame when the biological mother is once again pregnant, and everyone assumes Elizabeth and John will add a second baby to their lives.
This is an intense tale told by an expert storyteller, with an uplifting but realistic ending that doesn't seem contrived. This review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
The spotlight is on the three women who have adopted her children and who are committed to raising them as a family, getting everyone together for frequent events and periodic vacations. Tabitha and her husband have the 4-year-old twins. The primary organizer of the group, she delights in making everyone happy but is often unknowingly resented by the other two women for imposing on their personal lives. Eleven-year-old Phoebe chose to live with Ginger, who has no partner and had never envisioned adoption, and schoolteacher Elizabeth and her husband adopted the baby almost a year ago. Tabitha assumes Ginger will want to move closer to her when Phoebe is accepted at a school nearby. She is oblivious to the fact that Elizabeth feels she is a bad mother, after IVF put the family's finances in jeopardy and her husband loses his job.
Amidst the daily activities planned by Tabitha and enjoyed especially by the children, bad feelings escalate among the three women, fired not only by their current circumstances but by their pre-adoption backgrounds. It only fuels the flame when the biological mother is once again pregnant, and everyone assumes Elizabeth and John will add a second baby to their lives.
This is an intense tale told by an expert storyteller, with an uplifting but realistic ending that doesn't seem contrived. This review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
July 29, 2022
An average, contemporary, family-life story, but the adoption angle makes interesting. Lovely interior, floral artwork.
July 10, 2022
4.5 stars
Thank you to Putnam for the copy of this book!
Any Other Family is a fantastic narrative about a family uniquely impacted and blended through the adoption of four kids from the same birth mother. While adoption is a difficult subject to write about well, Eleanor Brown has personal experience with adoption and clearly knows what she's talking about. She uses ethical and appropriate language and portrays the emotions of prospective adoptive parents so well through the heartbreaking letters between some of the chapters. Eleanor does mention the shortcomings of the story not having the perspective of the adoptees or birth parents, but she really does a fantastic job of sharing the adoptive parent side of the story: reasons for adoption, emotions, and general difficulty of parenting (even if for non-adoptive families).
I loved relating to all three of the moms in this story and feeling so validated in the fact that motherhood is HARD and there are so many unique stages of parenting... and sometimes, we just want to get through some of those stages quickly because they are ROUGH.
I will say that I wish the birth mother was portrayed a little more positively. Often, birth mothers are in difficult positions and each places children for adoption for her own reasons, which was the case here, but I'm ready for an adoption narrative that has a little more of a positive view of the birth mother instead of someone who is stuck in a cycle and never gets out. (Maybe that is the story of many, but I long to see that through placing for adoption, having an open relationship, and being able to live her life how she wants that a birth mother would be able to more easily get out of the cycle.) Regardless, this is a very good and emotional book, especially if you are a mother.
Thank you to Putnam for the copy of this book!
Any Other Family is a fantastic narrative about a family uniquely impacted and blended through the adoption of four kids from the same birth mother. While adoption is a difficult subject to write about well, Eleanor Brown has personal experience with adoption and clearly knows what she's talking about. She uses ethical and appropriate language and portrays the emotions of prospective adoptive parents so well through the heartbreaking letters between some of the chapters. Eleanor does mention the shortcomings of the story not having the perspective of the adoptees or birth parents, but she really does a fantastic job of sharing the adoptive parent side of the story: reasons for adoption, emotions, and general difficulty of parenting (even if for non-adoptive families).
I loved relating to all three of the moms in this story and feeling so validated in the fact that motherhood is HARD and there are so many unique stages of parenting... and sometimes, we just want to get through some of those stages quickly because they are ROUGH.
I will say that I wish the birth mother was portrayed a little more positively. Often, birth mothers are in difficult positions and each places children for adoption for her own reasons, which was the case here, but I'm ready for an adoption narrative that has a little more of a positive view of the birth mother instead of someone who is stuck in a cycle and never gets out. (Maybe that is the story of many, but I long to see that through placing for adoption, having an open relationship, and being able to live her life how she wants that a birth mother would be able to more easily get out of the cycle.) Regardless, this is a very good and emotional book, especially if you are a mother.
March 25, 2022
4.5 stars.
Imagine a woman giving birth at age 14 and her own mother is able to help out but then the grandmother passes away and the mother is like, I can't do this. She puts her child up for an open adoption and then gets pregnant again, this time with twins and puts them up for adoption and then does it again and the conditions come about that the families who adopt the children are to stay as one big family. And what does that look like?
Eleanor Brown (the Weird Sisters, also quite good) has written a family dynamics novel that really was compelling and also irritating but really so readable. It could be a movie, and the way movies are going, it probably will.
So we have Tabitha and I pictured her as Rebecca from Ted Lasso. She's rich and very super organized and pushy and 'just wants to help'. She has adopted the twins, Tate and Taylor and she wants to take the whole family on vacation in Aspen but the other families, specifically the mothers are not so keen. Elizabeth who has adopted little Violet is struggling with the fact that she has not been able to have her own child and has been sucked dry emotionally and financially by it and Violet is very cranky all that time. And then there's Ginger who is single and adopted Pheobe, the oldest child and she adores Pheobe but likes her life the way they have created it and doesn't like to be pushed into things like Tabatha often does.
SO they are all on vacation when the birth mother calls and is like, guess what ? I'm pregnant again.
This was the irritating part. This woman who has had been pregnant several times knowing she doesn't want to be a mom and is just depending on the adoptive families to handle it- I mean, what about birth control? but the way it's written they do address it but it doesn't get too snarky.
There is some other drama that brings the snark that I really enjoyed. This was a book that brings adoption and the many kinds to the forefront but gives its juicy readable quality, something like maybe Liana Moriarty used to do (sorry, but her books have gone down hill).
Imagine a woman giving birth at age 14 and her own mother is able to help out but then the grandmother passes away and the mother is like, I can't do this. She puts her child up for an open adoption and then gets pregnant again, this time with twins and puts them up for adoption and then does it again and the conditions come about that the families who adopt the children are to stay as one big family. And what does that look like?
Eleanor Brown (the Weird Sisters, also quite good) has written a family dynamics novel that really was compelling and also irritating but really so readable. It could be a movie, and the way movies are going, it probably will.
So we have Tabitha and I pictured her as Rebecca from Ted Lasso. She's rich and very super organized and pushy and 'just wants to help'. She has adopted the twins, Tate and Taylor and she wants to take the whole family on vacation in Aspen but the other families, specifically the mothers are not so keen. Elizabeth who has adopted little Violet is struggling with the fact that she has not been able to have her own child and has been sucked dry emotionally and financially by it and Violet is very cranky all that time. And then there's Ginger who is single and adopted Pheobe, the oldest child and she adores Pheobe but likes her life the way they have created it and doesn't like to be pushed into things like Tabatha often does.
SO they are all on vacation when the birth mother calls and is like, guess what ? I'm pregnant again.
This was the irritating part. This woman who has had been pregnant several times knowing she doesn't want to be a mom and is just depending on the adoptive families to handle it- I mean, what about birth control? but the way it's written they do address it but it doesn't get too snarky.
There is some other drama that brings the snark that I really enjoyed. This was a book that brings adoption and the many kinds to the forefront but gives its juicy readable quality, something like maybe Liana Moriarty used to do (sorry, but her books have gone down hill).
May 20, 2022
ANY OTHER FAMILY is not just any other family drama.
The story follows four biological siblings and three sets of adoptive parents who vow to raise the children together despite living in three different households.
Tensions run high when this unconventional family takes their first summer vacation together. They receive a surprising call from the children’s biological mother announcing she is pregnant and looking for a family to adopt her baby.
Interspersed throughout the novel are brief excerpts from families that are seeking to adopt. I love the representation of the varied experiences of people looking to build their families through adoption and the emphasis that each story is different. The author’s note is incredibly thoughtful and touches on additional issues surrounding adoption that weren’t covered in the story.
As an adoptive mother herself, author Eleanor Brown brings her own authentic perspective to the story. Her novel raises interesting questions about what constitutes a family, motherhood expectations and the complexities of living in community.
RATING: 4.5/5
PUB DATE: July 12, 2022
A big thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows four biological siblings and three sets of adoptive parents who vow to raise the children together despite living in three different households.
Tensions run high when this unconventional family takes their first summer vacation together. They receive a surprising call from the children’s biological mother announcing she is pregnant and looking for a family to adopt her baby.
Interspersed throughout the novel are brief excerpts from families that are seeking to adopt. I love the representation of the varied experiences of people looking to build their families through adoption and the emphasis that each story is different. The author’s note is incredibly thoughtful and touches on additional issues surrounding adoption that weren’t covered in the story.
As an adoptive mother herself, author Eleanor Brown brings her own authentic perspective to the story. Her novel raises interesting questions about what constitutes a family, motherhood expectations and the complexities of living in community.
RATING: 4.5/5
PUB DATE: July 12, 2022
A big thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2022
This book hits all the emotions on motherhood, the things no one ever talks about. No matter if you adopted a child or had a biological child. The good, bad and the ugly, motherhood it's this ball juggling and everyone is judging you, or so you think. Also, why does it feel like everyone you know can get pregnant so quick and you have been trying for years.
This story follows three families in open adoption of four siblings, to keep the siblings close they do everything together. Just when they are getting use to this big family the birth mother of children is pregnant again and wants one of them to take this new baby. Is one of them ready to take this new child or do they help find a new family? This new baby seems to affect each family differently. What is going to be best for this baby?
I am the oldest out of six and when we all get together, it can be stressful, it is the happy moments you remember not the time you argued about something stupid.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me this book for my honest review.
This story follows three families in open adoption of four siblings, to keep the siblings close they do everything together. Just when they are getting use to this big family the birth mother of children is pregnant again and wants one of them to take this new baby. Is one of them ready to take this new child or do they help find a new family? This new baby seems to affect each family differently. What is going to be best for this baby?
I am the oldest out of six and when we all get together, it can be stressful, it is the happy moments you remember not the time you argued about something stupid.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me this book for my honest review.
August 2, 2022
I really, really enjoyed this complex family story about three couples who have adopted children with the same birth mother and are raising them together. Taking place during a joint family vacation, these couples have to decide if they'd be interested in another addition when the birth mother reaches out letting them know she's pregnant again and offering them this fourth child.
Told with alternating POVs, this complicated and messy story was such a great look at modern parenting and the challenges of motherhood - in its many, many different forms. I absolutely adored this big hearted book on audio with an amazing full cast of talented narrators. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Laurie Frankel!
Told with alternating POVs, this complicated and messy story was such a great look at modern parenting and the challenges of motherhood - in its many, many different forms. I absolutely adored this big hearted book on audio with an amazing full cast of talented narrators. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Laurie Frankel!
April 27, 2024
3.5 stars
July 12, 2022
I’d have liked this book a lot more a year ago, before the Supreme Court had overturned Roe v. Wade and before adoption was, for me, synonymous with couples holding signs saying we’ll adopt your baby (while looking like the last people on Earth you’d trust with a child). And before I’d learned more about the trauma adoptees can face and about the horrors of the foster care system in this country. Because this book is a lovely story with an interesting take on adoption, but I just couldn’t read it without all that background floating around in my mind, as much as I tried to ignore it.
Eleanor Brown is a wonderful storyteller, and in this highly readable book she’s created compelling characters who face interesting struggles — and she’s done so at a nice, tidy pace. The book focuses on the three adoptive mothers — Tabitha, Ginger, and Elizabeth — who are a little stereotypical but are distinct from each other and present different views of the adoption system in this country and on the idea of what makes up a family. (The men and the children definitely take a backseat to these three, for better or worse.) The family is tied to together by the fact that they’ve all adopted children from the same birth mother, who keeps hooking up with the same birth father, so all the children are biological siblings. And the families want to make sure the children know their siblings and extended families (and the birth mother, because this is an open adoption and she’s part of their lives).
The group dynamics and personalities come to a head as the families spend two weeks together in a mountain lodge. And their frustrations with themselves and each other boil to the surface when they get news that their children’s birth mother is — shocker! — pregnant again. (The birth mother, Brianna, isn’t a particularly well-done character and seems to perpetuate some harmful stereotypes about women who choose to put their children up for adoption. But I do appreciate that there were small mentions about a woman’s choice.) All three women have different reasons for not wanting to adopt this child into their family, but all are nervous about what including another family into this pod of theirs could do to the group dynamic. The three women often frustrated me, but I found them (scarily, at times) relatable and was interested in reading about their struggles and viewpoints.
Brown shows the heartbreaking side of adoption by including letters from potential adoptive parents for this new child. I’d never really thought about the process of choosing a family for a child, but I liked the way Brown laid it all out. As a character remarks in the book, pregnant people don’t choose a family in the same way — they just get pregnant. And some people, who absolutely deserve to have families, aren’t going to be chosen as adoptive parents in this harrowing and über competitive process. That’s reality, but it sucks. And it’s not always fair when you’re literally deciding who gets to be a parent and who doesn’t get to have kids.
This family might be unconventional, but they’re held together with a wonderful bond and a deep love of their children. Plus, in a sense, they are the truest kind of family: They all drive each other bonkers.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Eleanor Brown for proving me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Eleanor Brown is a wonderful storyteller, and in this highly readable book she’s created compelling characters who face interesting struggles — and she’s done so at a nice, tidy pace. The book focuses on the three adoptive mothers — Tabitha, Ginger, and Elizabeth — who are a little stereotypical but are distinct from each other and present different views of the adoption system in this country and on the idea of what makes up a family. (The men and the children definitely take a backseat to these three, for better or worse.) The family is tied to together by the fact that they’ve all adopted children from the same birth mother, who keeps hooking up with the same birth father, so all the children are biological siblings. And the families want to make sure the children know their siblings and extended families (and the birth mother, because this is an open adoption and she’s part of their lives).
The group dynamics and personalities come to a head as the families spend two weeks together in a mountain lodge. And their frustrations with themselves and each other boil to the surface when they get news that their children’s birth mother is — shocker! — pregnant again. (The birth mother, Brianna, isn’t a particularly well-done character and seems to perpetuate some harmful stereotypes about women who choose to put their children up for adoption. But I do appreciate that there were small mentions about a woman’s choice.) All three women have different reasons for not wanting to adopt this child into their family, but all are nervous about what including another family into this pod of theirs could do to the group dynamic. The three women often frustrated me, but I found them (scarily, at times) relatable and was interested in reading about their struggles and viewpoints.
Brown shows the heartbreaking side of adoption by including letters from potential adoptive parents for this new child. I’d never really thought about the process of choosing a family for a child, but I liked the way Brown laid it all out. As a character remarks in the book, pregnant people don’t choose a family in the same way — they just get pregnant. And some people, who absolutely deserve to have families, aren’t going to be chosen as adoptive parents in this harrowing and über competitive process. That’s reality, but it sucks. And it’s not always fair when you’re literally deciding who gets to be a parent and who doesn’t get to have kids.
This family might be unconventional, but they’re held together with a wonderful bond and a deep love of their children. Plus, in a sense, they are the truest kind of family: They all drive each other bonkers.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Eleanor Brown for proving me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 31, 2022
4-5 stars? RTC. This was excellent!!!
December 4, 2022
Unconventional family stories are fun to read and give us an understanding of unfamiliar situations, allowing for development of empathy. Any Other Family is about open adoption, siblings and how their adoptive families chose to raise them together as one big family. Although the subject may be complex, this is an easy and engaging read. You may know I love an explanatory visual up front like a map or diagram, and bonus…Eleanor Brown includes a simple family tree that can be referred to as you get to know her characters!
Summary:
Any Other Family is a heartwarming story about three sets of parents that become an extended family when they adopt siblings and agree to maintain the biological relationships of their children to each other and the birth mother. While on a two week family vacation to Aspen Colorado, they get a phone call from the children’s birth mother telling them she is pregnant again and she wants them to choose the new parents.
The three moms, Tabitha, Ginger and Elizabeth bring who they are and their own baggage into parenting, and the story is told by each of them in alternating views by chapter. Tabitha was an only child and lonely growing up; as a mom she is wound a bit tight. Ginger was not in control as a child so as an adult she keeps people at a distance, and Elizabeth suffered loss and recently went through unsuccessful fertility treatments so she is intense and full of emotion.
Any Other Family is about adoption, the responsibilities that come with parenting, and what makes a family. I enjoyed this unconventional family, the author’s use of humor and her engrossing storytelling; I highly recommend the book! Follow Book Nation by Jen for author Q & A!
Summary:
Any Other Family is a heartwarming story about three sets of parents that become an extended family when they adopt siblings and agree to maintain the biological relationships of their children to each other and the birth mother. While on a two week family vacation to Aspen Colorado, they get a phone call from the children’s birth mother telling them she is pregnant again and she wants them to choose the new parents.
The three moms, Tabitha, Ginger and Elizabeth bring who they are and their own baggage into parenting, and the story is told by each of them in alternating views by chapter. Tabitha was an only child and lonely growing up; as a mom she is wound a bit tight. Ginger was not in control as a child so as an adult she keeps people at a distance, and Elizabeth suffered loss and recently went through unsuccessful fertility treatments so she is intense and full of emotion.
Any Other Family is about adoption, the responsibilities that come with parenting, and what makes a family. I enjoyed this unconventional family, the author’s use of humor and her engrossing storytelling; I highly recommend the book! Follow Book Nation by Jen for author Q & A!
September 1, 2022
After a set of siblings loses the grandmother who cares for them, they're adopted into three separate homes by new parents who commit to keeping the children connected. They come together as a big happy family for Sunday dinners, holidays and birthdays, and now a two-week shared summer vacation. The kids thrive under the arrangement, but the situation is more of a challenge for the three mothers, who have little in common besides the family. Tabitha always dreamed of a large extended clan and is delighted to organize every occasion to make things perfect, but she's frustrated that her efforts are so often met with complaint and pushback. Ginger is averse to chaos and change, and she's tolerated so much already for the sake of her daughter, but she isn't sure she can handle the further complications the family keeps throwing at her. And Elizabeth is exhausted from her baby's difficult first year and the unsuccessful fertility treatments that preceded it, and she's harboring the secret fear that she isn't cut out for motherhood after all. Two weeks of togetherness (carefully scheduled by Tabitha, of course) were going to be enough of a strain before a big piece of family news upsets the status quo.
I love the three complicated women at the heart of this book and the whole joyful mess of their unconventional family. Tabitha, Ginger, and Elizabeth could have been caricatures of easily sketched types of mothers, but instead each one has layers. The way they clash but also care for each other is nuanced and believable, and their interactions make for a great story. The book is full of emotion as well as humor, and it delighted me from beginning to end.
I love the three complicated women at the heart of this book and the whole joyful mess of their unconventional family. Tabitha, Ginger, and Elizabeth could have been caricatures of easily sketched types of mothers, but instead each one has layers. The way they clash but also care for each other is nuanced and believable, and their interactions make for a great story. The book is full of emotion as well as humor, and it delighted me from beginning to end.
June 14, 2022
Any Other Family is a very modern adoption story about 3 families that adopt 4 siblings from the same birth parents and the forge their own family together. While spending a two week vacation together, they are tasked with finding another set of adoptive parents for the children’s new sibling that has yet to be born.
Though I was very excited to read a book that focused on adoption, I felt like the author glossed over the difficulties and triumphs of adoption and focused instead on the conflicting personalities of the adoptive parents, which were a bit dramatic for adults. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
Though I was very excited to read a book that focused on adoption, I felt like the author glossed over the difficulties and triumphs of adoption and focused instead on the conflicting personalities of the adoptive parents, which were a bit dramatic for adults. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 13, 2022
This is a lovely story about family and the many ways we define it. It follows three sets of parents who adopted children from the same birth mother. Together, they form a larger family and raise the four children together despite living in different households. When they find out the birth mother is pregnant once again and wants one of them to keep the baby, the three women have to figure out what to do next. The audiobook for this was GREAT!! A full cast of characters and lots of emotions portrayed through the narrators’ voices. I felt connected to each woman’s individual story as well as the group dynamic.
Read if you like:
-Blended families
-Stories that explore adopting
-Family dramas
-Raw and emotional reads
-Varying POVs
Thank you PRH for providing me with this audiobook!
Read if you like:
-Blended families
-Stories that explore adopting
-Family dramas
-Raw and emotional reads
-Varying POVs
Thank you PRH for providing me with this audiobook!
March 31, 2023
"Обыкновенная Семья" - это вторая книга на тему усыновления, прочитанная мною в прошлом году. Да, я очень медлительная в плане написания рецензий. Прочтение было продиктовано тем, как мне понравилась в свое время "Имя, Котрое Она Дала Мне". "Обыкновенная Семья" также повествует о сложностях усыновления, но теперь с точки зрения приемных родителей.
Есть три женщины - Табита, Джинджер и Элизабет, которые живут в разных городах и относятся к разным социальным слоям. Их ничего не связывает между собой. Ничего, помимо того мизерного факта, что все они являются приемными матерями. И не просто приемными матерями, а приемными матерями детей, которые являются сиблингами. Дабы дети не были травмированы разлукой, женщины регулярно устраивают совместные посиделки и вместе проводят праздники. При этом, опять же, у них самих нет ничего общего. И в эту весьма хрупкую нормальность врывается сюрприз в виде родной матери детей, Брианны, которая забеременела в четвертый раз. Она хочет, чтобы Табита, Джинджер и Элизабет нашли родителей и для этого ребенка, так как именно им придется строить с ними отношения, дабы не разлучать братьев и сестер.
Каждая глава ведется от лица одной из трех героинь, что позволяет взглянуть на ситуацию с разных точек зрения. Тут стоит отметить, что Элинор Браун хорошо прописала персонажей и их мотивацию, благодаря чему понятно откуда у их решений и характеров ноги растут. Ты можешь не соглашаться с персонажами, но ты их понимаешь.
Табита была единственным ребенком в семье, и ее родители были довольно взрослыми когда она появилась на свет. Она не могла найти общий язык со своими сверстниками и была довольно одинокой. Из-за этого она хочет более близких отношений с Джинджер и Элизабет. Она хочет, чтобы они стали сестрами, которые будут проводить все каникулы и праздники вместе. Вот только представление Табиты о динамике отношений между братьями и сестрами исходит из голливудских рождественских фильмов, где в семье полное взаимопонимание, никто никогда не ссориться и все друг-друга любят. В реальной жизни это, разумеется, так не работает. Табита крайне навязчива и, я бы даже сказала, прилипуча. Она наседает и наседает и с таким человеком очень легко устать такому интроверту как я, например. Табита, ввиду отсутствия нормальных социальных навыков, не способна видеть дальше своего носа, и это ее главный недостаток. Но злиться на нее особо не выходит, потому что она действительно хочет как лучше. В Табите восхищает то, что она не пускает ничего на самотек и всегда пытается найти выход из проблемных ситуаций.
Джинджер самая взрослая среди этой троицы. У нее уже есть четко отлаженный ритм жизни и рутина, которую она менять не собирается. В отличие от Табиты, она выросла в большой семье, вот только у нее с членами семьи были абсолютно разные темпераменты и идеи досуга. Ее родители могли внезапно среди ночи решить отправиться в путешествие автостопом, а к утру уже оказались бы в другом штате. Отсутствие стабильности в детстве и побудило Джинджер цепляться до последнего за стабильность во взрослом возрасте. Вот только жизнь такова, что перемены в ней неизбежны, особенно когда в деле еще и замешан ребенок. Собственно арка Джинджер заключается в принятии того факта, что иногда тебе придется жертвовать своим комфортом ради близких, но это необязательно что-то плохое.
Примечательной чертой Джинджер также является то, что она одинока (у нее нет ни возлюбленного, ни близкого круга друзей), но ей в этом одиночестве комфортно. Оно ее не пугает, так как Джинджер довольно самодостаточная личность. Вот только она уже не одинока, и возможно, ей это даже нравиться.
Главы Элизабет, пожалуй, были самыми тяжелыми в плане эмоций. Элизабет самая молодая и ей досталась опека над самым младшим ребенком - годовалой Вайолет. У Вайолет постоянные колики в животе, она плохо спит, плохо есть, и понять, что ей нужно практически невозможно. У Элизабет в свою очередь хронический недосып и непроработанная депрессия, связанная с собственным бесплодием и провальными попытками забеременеть. У других мам все легко: их дети не плачут. Другие мамы всегда улыбаются и никогда не хотят биться в истерике от собственного бессилия. Другие мамы умудряются совмещать уход за ребенком и работу. И Элизабет этих самых "других мам" ненавидит. У Элизабет все идет наперекосяк. Элизабет скучает по временам, когда Вайолет в ее жизни не было. Не потому что она не любит Вайолет, а потому что она физически и морально истощена. Элизабет чувствует себя виноватой. И в ее голову так и лезет навязчивая мысль о том, что, возможно, ей не суждено было быть хорошей матерью, и поэтому она была лишена возможности иметь биологических детей.
У Элизабет также есть один существенный недостаток, который дополнительно портит ей жизнь. Ей обязательно надо выходить из любой проблемы победителем. Во время ссоры она может в особо грубой форме начать бить человека по самым слабым местам. По этой же причине она не может никому рассказать о своих чувствах и переживаниях - боится, что сочтут слабой.
Собственно, конфликт строится вот на чем: все три женщины ищут новых родителей для еще нерожденного ребенка Брианны. В то же самое время, Табита хочет убедить Элизабет и ее мужа взять ребенка себе. Элизабет сама как-то заявила, что хочет большую семью. Таким образом не надо будет вставлять в эту весьма хлипкую динамику еще людей. Элизабет яро противится данной идее, потому что уже не справляется с Вайолет, куда ей еще одного ребенка? Джинджер же делает вид, что ее эта ситуация и вовсе не касается.
Повествование временами обрывается письмами, которые потенциальные приемные родители шлют Табите. Пожалуй, самым интересным мне показалось письмо мужчины, который хочет детей, имеет для них необходимые условия, но ему не дают никого усыновить, так как он не женат и связывать себя узами брака не собирается. В обществе бытует мнение, что детей хочет именно женщина, и именно она в основном будет заниматься их воспитанием. Мужчина не может просто хотеть иметь детей, тем более не родных ему по крови. Были также письма, затрагивающие тему интернационального усыновления, а также того, что иногда родители могут хорошо воспитывать детей одного пола, но понятия не иметь, что делать с детьми другого.
Многим англоязычным рецензентам не понравилось то, что г-жа Браун никак не раскрыла Брианну. Впервые она родила в пятнадцать от своего школьного возлюбленного. Этот самый школьный возлюбленный регулярно то появлялся в жизни Брианны, то исчезал, оставляя ее снова беременную и брошенную. Почему Брианна раз за разом принимает его обратно? Почему они даже не пытаются предохраняться? Почему, в конце-концов Брианна просто не сделает аборт? Эти вопросы остаются без четких ответов, но оно было ожидаемо. Ибо эта история изначально вовсе не про Брианну. И даже не про ее нового ребенка. Она про то, что даже спустя год тесного общения между Табитой, Джинджер и Элизабет так и не возникло по-настоящему доверительных отношений, которые способны выдержать даже дуновение ветерка. Стоит возникнуть проблеме, как все рушится. Им надо было научиться видеть себя со стороны и разговаривать.Чтобы они стали именно семьёй, а не просто людьми, у которых дети оказались кровно связанны, и только поэтому они вообще друг с другом разговаривают.
Как и в случае с "Имя, Которое Она Дала" - это не краткий художественный мануал по усыновлению, где раскрыты все подводные камни данного процесса. Это конкретный эпизод из жизни одной конкретной семьи. Да, странной и запутанной, но все-таки семьи.
Эта книга также затрагивает тему материнства в частности. Что люди вкладывают в это понятие и как представление о нем меняется с течением времени. Что каждый возраст ребенка чреват своими взлетами и падениями. Ты никогда не перестаешь учиться быть хорошим родителем своим детям.
Элинор Браун этой книгой Америку, мягко говоря, не открыла. Ничего революционного здесь нет. Но это очень светлая и приятная история, когда подняла мне настроение. А иногда этого вполне достаточно.
Рецензия на Livelib
Есть три женщины - Табита, Джинджер и Элизабет, которые живут в разных городах и относятся к разным социальным слоям. Их ничего не связывает между собой. Ничего, помимо того мизерного факта, что все они являются приемными матерями. И не просто приемными матерями, а приемными матерями детей, которые являются сиблингами. Дабы дети не были травмированы разлукой, женщины регулярно устраивают совместные посиделки и вместе проводят праздники. При этом, опять же, у них самих нет ничего общего. И в эту весьма хрупкую нормальность врывается сюрприз в виде родной матери детей, Брианны, которая забеременела в четвертый раз. Она хочет, чтобы Табита, Джинджер и Элизабет нашли родителей и для этого ребенка, так как именно им придется строить с ними отношения, дабы не разлучать братьев и сестер.
Каждая глава ведется от лица одной из трех героинь, что позволяет взглянуть на ситуацию с разных точек зрения. Тут стоит отметить, что Элинор Браун хорошо прописала персонажей и их мотивацию, благодаря чему понятно откуда у их решений и характеров ноги растут. Ты можешь не соглашаться с персонажами, но ты их понимаешь.
Табита была единственным ребенком в семье, и ее родители были довольно взрослыми когда она появилась на свет. Она не могла найти общий язык со своими сверстниками и была довольно одинокой. Из-за этого она хочет более близких отношений с Джинджер и Элизабет. Она хочет, чтобы они стали сестрами, которые будут проводить все каникулы и праздники вместе. Вот только представление Табиты о динамике отношений между братьями и сестрами исходит из голливудских рождественских фильмов, где в семье полное взаимопонимание, никто никогда не ссориться и все друг-друга любят. В реальной жизни это, разумеется, так не работает. Табита крайне навязчива и, я бы даже сказала, прилипуча. Она наседает и наседает и с таким человеком очень легко устать такому интроверту как я, например. Табита, ввиду отсутствия нормальных социальных навыков, не способна видеть дальше своего носа, и это ее главный недостаток. Но злиться на нее особо не выходит, потому что она действительно хочет как лучше. В Табите восхищает то, что она не пускает ничего на самотек и всегда пытается найти выход из проблемных ситуаций.
Джинджер самая взрослая среди этой троицы. У нее уже есть четко отлаженный ритм жизни и рутина, которую она менять не собирается. В отличие от Табиты, она выросла в большой семье, вот только у нее с членами семьи были абсолютно разные темпераменты и идеи досуга. Ее родители могли внезапно среди ночи решить отправиться в путешествие автостопом, а к утру уже оказались бы в другом штате. Отсутствие стабильности в детстве и побудило Джинджер цепляться до последнего за стабильность во взрослом возрасте. Вот только жизнь такова, что перемены в ней неизбежны, особенно когда в деле еще и замешан ребенок. Собственно арка Джинджер заключается в принятии того факта, что иногда тебе придется жертвовать своим комфортом ради близких, но это необязательно что-то плохое.
Примечательной чертой Джинджер также является то, что она одинока (у нее нет ни возлюбленного, ни близкого круга друзей), но ей в этом одиночестве комфортно. Оно ее не пугает, так как Джинджер довольно самодостаточная личность. Вот только она уже не одинока, и возможно, ей это даже нравиться.
Главы Элизабет, пожалуй, были самыми тяжелыми в плане эмоций. Элизабет самая молодая и ей досталась опека над самым младшим ребенком - годовалой Вайолет. У Вайолет постоянные колики в животе, она плохо спит, плохо есть, и понять, что ей нужно практически невозможно. У Элизабет в свою очередь хронический недосып и непроработанная депрессия, связанная с собственным бесплодием и провальными попытками забеременеть. У других мам все легко: их дети не плачут. Другие мамы всегда улыбаются и никогда не хотят биться в истерике от собственного бессилия. Другие мамы умудряются совмещать уход за ребенком и работу. И Элизабет этих самых "других мам" ненавидит. У Элизабет все идет наперекосяк. Элизабет скучает по временам, когда Вайолет в ее жизни не было. Не потому что она не любит Вайолет, а потому что она физически и морально истощена. Элизабет чувствует себя виноватой. И в ее голову так и лезет навязчивая мысль о том, что, возможно, ей не суждено было быть хорошей матерью, и поэтому она была лишена возможности иметь биологических детей.
У Элизабет также есть один существенный недостаток, который дополнительно портит ей жизнь. Ей обязательно надо выходить из любой проблемы победителем. Во время ссоры она может в особо грубой форме начать бить человека по самым слабым местам. По этой же причине она не может никому рассказать о своих чувствах и переживаниях - боится, что сочтут слабой.
Собственно, конфликт строится вот на чем: все три женщины ищут новых родителей для еще нерожденного ребенка Брианны. В то же самое время, Табита хочет убедить Элизабет и ее мужа взять ребенка себе. Элизабет сама как-то заявила, что хочет большую семью. Таким образом не надо будет вставлять в эту весьма хлипкую динамику еще людей. Элизабет яро противится данной идее, потому что уже не справляется с Вайолет, куда ей еще одного ребенка? Джинджер же делает вид, что ее эта ситуация и вовсе не касается.
Повествование временами обрывается письмами, которые потенциальные приемные родители шлют Табите. Пожалуй, самым интересным мне показалось письмо мужчины, который хочет детей, имеет для них необходимые условия, но ему не дают никого усыновить, так как он не женат и связывать себя узами брака не собирается. В обществе бытует мнение, что детей хочет именно женщина, и именно она в основном будет заниматься их воспитанием. Мужчина не может просто хотеть иметь детей, тем более не родных ему по крови. Были также письма, затрагивающие тему интернационального усыновления, а также того, что иногда родители могут хорошо воспитывать детей одного пола, но понятия не иметь, что делать с детьми другого.
Многим англоязычным рецензентам не понравилось то, что г-жа Браун никак не раскрыла Брианну. Впервые она родила в пятнадцать от своего школьного возлюбленного. Этот самый школьный возлюбленный регулярно то появлялся в жизни Брианны, то исчезал, оставляя ее снова беременную и брошенную. Почему Брианна раз за разом принимает его обратно? Почему они даже не пытаются предохраняться? Почему, в конце-концов Брианна просто не сделает аборт? Эти вопросы остаются без четких ответов, но оно было ожидаемо. Ибо эта история изначально вовсе не про Брианну. И даже не про ее нового ребенка. Она про то, что даже спустя год тесного общения между Табитой, Джинджер и Элизабет так и не возникло по-настоящему доверительных отношений, которые способны выдержать даже дуновение ветерка. Стоит возникнуть проблеме, как все рушится. Им надо было научиться видеть себя со стороны и разговаривать.Чтобы они стали именно семьёй, а не просто людьми, у которых дети оказались кровно связанны, и только поэтому они вообще друг с другом разговаривают.
Как и в случае с "Имя, Которое Она Дала" - это не краткий художественный мануал по усыновлению, где раскрыты все подводные камни данного процесса. Это конкретный эпизод из жизни одной конкретной семьи. Да, странной и запутанной, но все-таки семьи.
Эта книга также затрагивает тему материнства в частности. Что люди вкладывают в это понятие и как представление о нем меняется с течением времени. Что каждый возраст ребенка чреват своими взлетами и падениями. Ты никогда не перестаешь учиться быть хорошим родителем своим детям.
Элинор Браун этой книгой Америку, мягко говоря, не открыла. Ничего революционного здесь нет. Но это очень светлая и приятная история, когда подняла мне настроение. А иногда этого вполне достаточно.
Рецензия на Livelib
July 22, 2022
Synopsis: Three very different sets of parents adopt biological siblings in open adoptions. Together, they create a larger “family” so that the siblings can maintain relationships with one another. During their whole family vacation, they receive news from the birth number that she is, yet again, pregnant. Will any of the adoptive parents take on another baby?
Thoughts: This was a beautiful story of adoption and what “family” means. Fans of Far From the Tree would absolutely love this one. There was excellent representation of parenthood (the various forms it can take), as well as struggles with fertility. Additionally, I loved the interspersed adoption applications/vignettes. This story is heavily character-driven, which doesn’t always work for me; however, this was very well done and written beautifully. Although not a parent myself, the reader experiences the multitude of emotions associated with parenthood— it is rewarding and exhausting.
Note: be sure to read the author’s note at the end— she has a personal connection to adoption. I did a combination of reading and listening, and the audio for this was great!
Thank you to Putnam & PRH audio for my book & access to audio!
Thoughts: This was a beautiful story of adoption and what “family” means. Fans of Far From the Tree would absolutely love this one. There was excellent representation of parenthood (the various forms it can take), as well as struggles with fertility. Additionally, I loved the interspersed adoption applications/vignettes. This story is heavily character-driven, which doesn’t always work for me; however, this was very well done and written beautifully. Although not a parent myself, the reader experiences the multitude of emotions associated with parenthood— it is rewarding and exhausting.
Note: be sure to read the author’s note at the end— she has a personal connection to adoption. I did a combination of reading and listening, and the audio for this was great!
Thank you to Putnam & PRH audio for my book & access to audio!
September 18, 2023
I have no idea why this book is only rated 3.67 stars. I loved this book! Is it bad that I secretly wanted the single guy who desperately wanted children to be the adoptive parent to Briana’s baby? Ugh my heart ached for all the hopeful parents.
P.S. I love Perry ❤️
P.S. I love Perry ❤️
July 29, 2022
Overall I would give this a 4.5. But I feel I am judging harshly, because I am a child of adoption from the 1960s. Gosh, family is complicated, and wonderful, and consternating, and . . . family. And that is what this story ultimately conveys.
This is a brave story. It commences with what most would call a blended family, spending a two-week vacation together in Aspen, Colorado. There, but not physically present, are the biological parents Brianna and Justin of all the children in this book. The adoptive parents, the adult human beings who love and live and struggle through every single day of their children's existence, are all physically present together at this family vacation. It is just too much for Brianna, and Justin has skedaddled off to Alaska for a job.
So, honestly, I struggled through the first few chapters, because seriously no one in their right mind would ever do this. I mean, it's cute and adorable and hopeful and all that, but life doesn't ever really construct its way like this.
And then I settled in. The chapters are told by (mostly) the three adoptive moms. Ginger the single mom, who in her 40s adopted Phoebe, when Phoebe at her own volition claimed Ginger as her own. Tabitha, who in her late 30s and recently-married to her most-special-person Perry, was so ready to be a mom and adopted the twins Tate and Taylor. And then Elizabeth, who along with her husband John wants so badly to be parents after all the miscarriages and failed IDF attempts, has a crazy car wreck one day that amazingly leads to their adopting baby Violet.
It's a lot. And for real, family is a lot, no matter how your family got constructed.
There were so many tiny moments in this book that hit me right in the gut. Me and my sister -- we had different biological parents. Me and my first pregnancy -- we had no biological history to offer, because her dad and I were both adopted. My nephew -- the world was opening to a little more information about adoptions -- so maybe my sis or bro-in-law might look a little like his bio-folks, but who knows. And my sis and I -- late in life we both got to know our biological siblings -- what an intrigue to pursue about the whole nature/nurture conundrum. I had occasionally, as a paralegal and a lawyer, been involved in private adoptions. My sister had, as a social worker, often been involved in all the ways that children can need and acquire a new family.
At th end of the day, I can't really objectively evaluate this story, because it all just turns out to be very personal for me. But I sure do appreciate Eleanor Brown's attempt to explore family and how complicated family can be. And golly gee we are all so lucky to have at least one family, and those of us who get to have extra families are just exponentially conundrummed -- that's a place I'll stand any day.
This is a brave story. It commences with what most would call a blended family, spending a two-week vacation together in Aspen, Colorado. There, but not physically present, are the biological parents Brianna and Justin of all the children in this book. The adoptive parents, the adult human beings who love and live and struggle through every single day of their children's existence, are all physically present together at this family vacation. It is just too much for Brianna, and Justin has skedaddled off to Alaska for a job.
So, honestly, I struggled through the first few chapters, because seriously no one in their right mind would ever do this. I mean, it's cute and adorable and hopeful and all that, but life doesn't ever really construct its way like this.
And then I settled in. The chapters are told by (mostly) the three adoptive moms. Ginger the single mom, who in her 40s adopted Phoebe, when Phoebe at her own volition claimed Ginger as her own. Tabitha, who in her late 30s and recently-married to her most-special-person Perry, was so ready to be a mom and adopted the twins Tate and Taylor. And then Elizabeth, who along with her husband John wants so badly to be parents after all the miscarriages and failed IDF attempts, has a crazy car wreck one day that amazingly leads to their adopting baby Violet.
It's a lot. And for real, family is a lot, no matter how your family got constructed.
There were so many tiny moments in this book that hit me right in the gut. Me and my sister -- we had different biological parents. Me and my first pregnancy -- we had no biological history to offer, because her dad and I were both adopted. My nephew -- the world was opening to a little more information about adoptions -- so maybe my sis or bro-in-law might look a little like his bio-folks, but who knows. And my sis and I -- late in life we both got to know our biological siblings -- what an intrigue to pursue about the whole nature/nurture conundrum. I had occasionally, as a paralegal and a lawyer, been involved in private adoptions. My sister had, as a social worker, often been involved in all the ways that children can need and acquire a new family.
At th end of the day, I can't really objectively evaluate this story, because it all just turns out to be very personal for me. But I sure do appreciate Eleanor Brown's attempt to explore family and how complicated family can be. And golly gee we are all so lucky to have at least one family, and those of us who get to have extra families are just exponentially conundrummed -- that's a place I'll stand any day.
July 24, 2022
This was such an enjoyable read and it was such an interesting concept for a book. I love a good character driven story, especially about a family and this book pleased me in every way. I felt like I was apart of the family from the very first page. Each character showed a different story of motherhood, adoption and family. I didn’t like the ending at first, but I’ve grown to love it because it’s almost like it’s my decision to choose what family the characters chose to adopt the new baby. I loved this book so much. 4.5 stars !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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