Book of the week: The survivor's guide to family happiness- Maddie Dawson

This book is a love story, I think, at least I read it that way. Not the typical romance stories between 2 people, but a love story about loving yourself, of being comfortable about what you have and have not; and of where you came from and where you are at. It starts with the birth mother's narration of the day that that kick-started the rest of the book. I'd say the true main character is Nina. She is adopted and the last of her adopted family has died and now she is floundering around about where she belongs and who she belongs to. From there, you see her deciding to go on a journey to find her birth family. She has no luck with the agency (or not strictly legal luck) but in the midst meets a younger sister who she knew from going to school. Her sister, Lindy's adoptive story was different but while she has the husband, the kids a fulfilled career, and still full and obnoxious adoptive family, she is also...finding herself-especially when she meets Nina and is sort of coaxed into this journey to find their birth family or least information about them. With every new birth family member you meet (there is only 3) the narration flips between them. It slowly weaves a tale of survival of the past, the present, and the future. The ending of this tale is a happy one but as the storytelling is very realistic, it has that vibe. The reader reads the messes, the baggage, the regrets, and the results of all that. Nina (along with the reader) come to understand and appreciate all the happiness that is wrapped up all around it. In the end, you get to see how Nina finally accepts where she belongs and how she belongs in it. She gets her happily-ever-after...just the realistic version that blends the family she had, the family she makes, and the family she finds.
I enjoyed this story. It was fictional but it had a dose of realism like you could believe it all happening out in the real world. If any of her other books are like this, she is one author I have to read occasionally, as most of the book has me crying (it was so REAL to read and I am finding I am sensitive to all the emotions out there). There were some good words of wisdom in this book too, about life and the state of belonging, of being happy, or well, just surviving.

I do recommend this book, but if you are one that easily cries, have something to wipe your eyes/nose with so you can finish the book!

 

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