Title: The Other Family
Author: Loretta Nyhan
Narrator: Mary Robinette Kowal
Published: April 2020, Brilliance Audio
Length: 8 hours 56 minutes
Source: Publisher
Summary:
From the bestselling author of Digging In comes a witty and moving novel about motherhood, courage, and finding true family.
With a dissolving marriage, strained finances, and her life in
flux, Ally Anderson longs for normal. Her greatest concerns, though, are
the health problems of her young daughter, Kylie. Symptoms point to a
compromised immune system, but every doctor they’ve seen has a different
theory. Then comes hope for some clarity.
It’s possible that
Kylie’s illness is genetic, but Ally is adopted. A DNA test opens up an
entirely new path. And where it leads is a surprise: to an aunt Ally
never knew existed. She’s a little wild, very welcoming, and ready to
share more of the family history than Ally ever imagined.
Coping
with a skeptical soon-to-be-ex husband, weathering the cautions of her
own resistant mother, and getting maddeningly close to the healing Kylie
needs, Ally is determined to regain control of her life. This is her
chance to embrace uncertainty and the beauty of family—both the one she
was born into and the one she chose.
My thoughts: I don’t typically read reviews before picking up a book, however I did happen to read the author’s comments on her book and I am so glad I did as it gave such great insight into this book and perhaps gave me just a little more appreciation for why this story was written. Yes, it is a fictional story, however we all know that most authors get their stories from little nuggets of truth gleamed from the world around them and that is exactly what happened here.
I loved this story. It was the perfect book to get lost in right now. It’s light and funny, but also has it’s poignant moments, too. This book touches on a number of themes, most importantly showcasing what it means to be a family and the lengths we go to for those we love.
What do you do when your daughter suffers from a severe peanut allergy but you are adopted and do not know your genetic makeup? You take a DNA test of course! But this comes with it’s own set of issues because the mother who raised her isn’t too happy to find out Ally is digging into her biological family, who just happens to live nearby. What ensues is a family reunion of sorts with some subterfuge, some laughs, some tears and a whole lot of drama.
This book is heartfelt and real. It will have you laughing and tearing up, and you will fall in love with all the people you meet along the way. It is full of dynamic, flawed characters that you will be rooting for as they try to find the best way to overcome a deadly peanut allergy. I highly recommend this book…it is the perfect book to escape in for a few hours.
Audio thoughts: I loved listening to this one – I thought Mary Robinette Kowal did a fantastic job with the voices, really bringing this story to life. She gave each of the characters their own unique voice, and her pacing and intonation were spot on. This was a very enjoyable audio book.
