Sunday, March 28, 2021

3.28.2021 - Other People's Children

 Other People's Children by R.J. Hoffmann

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for granting me a digital ARC of this amazing debut novel by R.J. Hoffman - 5 stars!

Gail is desperate for a child.  After suffering multiple miscarriages, her and her husband, Jon, are trying to adopt a baby.  Gail is obsessive with making lists - trying to control things that she really has no control over.  Jon had a difficult childhood with a mother who suffered from mental illness and eventually was raised by an aunt and uncle.  He's more terrified of having a child and worried that he will fail his child as he was failed.  The couple is finally picked by Carli, a pregnant teenager, to adopt her baby girl after its birth.  Carli wants only the best for her baby and knows that she can't support her.  Carli's mother, Marla, is furious at Carli for giving up her baby and tries to take matters into her own hands.  These three mothers are all doing what they feel is right.

Told in various points of view from all three women and Jon, you will find yourself empathizing with the feelings of everyone involved.  This is one of those Sampson-type decisions where there are no real winners or losers.  This book is beautifully written and the emotions, characters and situations felt so very real.  I read it with my heart in my throat and couldn't stop reading until I was finished.  Bravo for a fabulous debut - looking forward to more from this author.

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