Any Other Family

Three families raise four biological siblings who were adopted from the same mother. The adoptive mothers - Tabitha, Elizabeth, and Ginger - have created an unconventional arrangement to keep the children connected, including shared vacations and weekly video calls. During a two-week summer vacation in Aspen, the carefully maintained balance between the families faces a test. The biological mother's pregnancy announcement forces them to confront their insecurities and examine their roles in their unique family structure. Through shifting perspectives between the three mothers, the novel explores adoption, motherhood, and the true meaning of family bonds. The story tackles questions about what makes a mother, how to honor biological connections while building new ones, and the work required to sustain chosen family relationships.

Readers describe this as a thoughtful exploration of open adoption dynamics, though many found the pacing slow and repetitive. The focus on day-to-day family interactions resonated with adoptive parents who saw their experiences reflected. Likes: - Authentic portrayal of complex emotions around adoption - Strong character development, especially of the three mothers - Realistic depiction of blended family challenges - Nuanced handling of birth mother relationships Dislikes: - Plot moves too slowly with limited action - Too much internal monologue - Characters' issues feel unresolved - Some found it hard to distinguish between the mothers' voices Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (500+ ratings) Reader quote: "Brown captures the messy reality of trying to create family connections where none naturally exist." - Goodreads reviewer Another reader noted: "The premise was interesting but the execution dragged. Too much telling rather than showing." - Amazon reviewer

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo This multi-generational story follows four sisters navigating complex family bonds and long-buried secrets after an adoption brings unexpected connections to light.

All Adults Here by Emma Staub A mother and her three grown children confront their past decisions and current relationships when a family crisis forces them to reconsider what it means to parent and be parented.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell Three siblings reconnect years after a traumatic childhood disruption involving their adoptive family, leading them to uncover dark truths about their past.

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper Four siblings return home to sit shiva for their father, bringing their spouses, children, and unresolved conflicts under one roof for seven days.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Two families become intertwined through their children and a controversial adoption case that divides their community and forces them to examine their beliefs about motherhood.

🌟 This novel was inspired by Eleanor Brown's own experience as an adoptive mother and her connections within the adoption community. 📚 The book explores the complex dynamics of three sets of parents who adopted biological siblings, mirroring real-life "adoption constellation" arrangements. 👶 Open adoption, which is featured prominently in the story, has become increasingly common in the U.S., with approximately 95% of modern adoptions having some level of openness. ✍️ Eleanor Brown previously wrote The Weird Sisters, which spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was translated into multiple languages. 🤝 The author spent three years researching and interviewing adoptive families, birth mothers, and adoption professionals to ensure authentic representation in the novel.