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In the Family Way
A group of suburban women help one another navigate their personal challenges, marriages, and pregnancies—both wanted and unwanted.
In 1965 America, women can’t have their own bank accounts and credit cards or sign their own leases; divorce is scandalous and difficult; and abortion is illegal. Every Tuesday a group of friends meet for a canasta game. As cards are drawn and discarded, these women share advice and confidences.
After prim and proper Lily Berg, a doctor’s wife, discovers she’s pregnant with her second child, she follows her friend Becca’s suggestion and takes in Betsy, a pregnant teen from the local home for unwed mothers. Betsy, who’s never met anyone Jewish before, is to live with the Bergs for six months, help with babysitting and housekeeping, have her own baby, and then agree to never contact the family again. But things quickly get complicated.
Moving and atmospheric, full of history and heart, In the Family Way captures the experiences of women on the cusp of liberation as they struggle with their own complex feelings about being wives, mothers, and women with their own dreams and ambitions.
In 1965 America, women can’t have their own bank accounts and credit cards or sign their own leases; divorce is scandalous and difficult; and abortion is illegal. Every Tuesday a group of friends meet for a canasta game. As cards are drawn and discarded, these women share advice and confidences.
After prim and proper Lily Berg, a doctor’s wife, discovers she’s pregnant with her second child, she follows her friend Becca’s suggestion and takes in Betsy, a pregnant teen from the local home for unwed mothers. Betsy, who’s never met anyone Jewish before, is to live with the Bergs for six months, help with babysitting and housekeeping, have her own baby, and then agree to never contact the family again. But things quickly get complicated.
Moving and atmospheric, full of history and heart, In the Family Way captures the experiences of women on the cusp of liberation as they struggle with their own complex feelings about being wives, mothers, and women with their own dreams and ambitions.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2025
159 people are currently reading
11900 people want to read
About the author
Laney Katz Becker
4 books61 followersI grew up in Toledo, Ohio and went to Northwestern University for college (where I majored in theater). I moved to NYC after graduation.
I've worn many hats, career wise, including advertising copywriter, freelance journalist, literary agent and author.
I have two married children and two grand children. My husband and I raised our kids in Chappaqua, NY, and then decided we'd had enough of the cold weather and moved to Palm Beach Gardens, FL a little more than a dozen years ago. He plays golf; I write. It works well. :-)
My website has all kinds of information about my writing life but here's the short version: "I especially enjoy writing historical novels that shine a light on something happening or relevant today."
I've worn many hats, career wise, including advertising copywriter, freelance journalist, literary agent and author.
I have two married children and two grand children. My husband and I raised our kids in Chappaqua, NY, and then decided we'd had enough of the cold weather and moved to Palm Beach Gardens, FL a little more than a dozen years ago. He plays golf; I write. It works well. :-)
My website has all kinds of information about my writing life but here's the short version: "I especially enjoy writing historical novels that shine a light on something happening or relevant today."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 439 reviews
June 10, 2025
5 stars. So timely with all the issues women faced in the 60s that are still relevant today.
January 19, 2025
This book is an emotional and consuming read. I got settled in for my evening reading time and then couldn't put it down. Start to finish in one sitting.
Set in the mid 1960s, the cast of characters are women who easily resemble those in our own lives or even ourselves. They face unfathomable choices and situations, but they are things any of us could encounter in our own lives. We never know how we'd handle such things until those moments come. There are moral/ethical choices and relationship choices, some with generational family impact. Each woman's story is unique, but at the same time they share so many common bonds.
My only complaint (if it could even be considered a one) was the reason the two women at the end came together. Even with that in mind, it's still one of the best books I've read recently.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for my just review.
Set in the mid 1960s, the cast of characters are women who easily resemble those in our own lives or even ourselves. They face unfathomable choices and situations, but they are things any of us could encounter in our own lives. We never know how we'd handle such things until those moments come. There are moral/ethical choices and relationship choices, some with generational family impact. Each woman's story is unique, but at the same time they share so many common bonds.
My only complaint (if it could even be considered a one) was the reason the two women at the end came together. Even with that in mind, it's still one of the best books I've read recently.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader copy in exchange for my just review.
October 26, 2025
In the Family Way, is about pregnancy and motherhood as you would expect, but it brought so much more to the table. (Pun intended!)
1960s! Everything was groovy.
Four women meet every week for canasta at each other’s kitchen tables. While cards are played, general life issues are brought up, but the most important part is the bond these women share.
One of the women, Lily, has taken an unwed teenager woman, Betsy, into her home to help with raising her toddler and general housework. Betsy, 15, was placed in a home for unwed mothers and Lily agreed to take her in. The story moves on from here at what pregnancy looked like in this decade. Women did not have contraception, could not obtain their own credit card and usually were fired from employment if they were expecting. The author was authentic in her view of this era. This was showcased when the characters who were pregnant were smoking and drinking because ultimately, this was not considered wrong or taboo.
The story ended perfectly, and with it, I have to think we have gained such liberties as women today. Sadly though, the art of gathering around a table is lost . It is much easier to send a text, but the camaraderie is just not the same.
This was a quick read but had a wonderful message. Highly recommend.
And there was a Jen Jen 🫛 🥕 in the story. #iykyk
1960s! Everything was groovy.
Four women meet every week for canasta at each other’s kitchen tables. While cards are played, general life issues are brought up, but the most important part is the bond these women share.
One of the women, Lily, has taken an unwed teenager woman, Betsy, into her home to help with raising her toddler and general housework. Betsy, 15, was placed in a home for unwed mothers and Lily agreed to take her in. The story moves on from here at what pregnancy looked like in this decade. Women did not have contraception, could not obtain their own credit card and usually were fired from employment if they were expecting. The author was authentic in her view of this era. This was showcased when the characters who were pregnant were smoking and drinking because ultimately, this was not considered wrong or taboo.
The story ended perfectly, and with it, I have to think we have gained such liberties as women today. Sadly though, the art of gathering around a table is lost . It is much easier to send a text, but the camaraderie is just not the same.
This was a quick read but had a wonderful message. Highly recommend.
And there was a Jen Jen 🫛 🥕 in the story. #iykyk
May 16, 2025
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Harper for choosing me.
I'd like to start by thanking Laney Katz Becker for writing this absolutely, stunningly beautiful masterpiece. This book tore my heart to shreds while somehow mending it simultaneously. The women in this book are all incredibly strong, intelligent and brave. They are all facing a moment in their life that quite literally will decide the rest of their futures. The way each of them manages to face everything with so much grace is not only beautiful but totally inspiring.
The emotions this book evoked in me were a roller-coaster. I laughed one moment, cried the next, laughed again and then felt so much rage that I literally threw the book against the wall and set it aside for a couple of days before going back to it. The amount of rage I felt coursing through my system left me with shaking hands and a headache. When I picked up the book and continued reading I was still raging, but I had to know what Rose would do. I had to know what would become of her and the rest of the women in this book. I am glad I now know what became of them. I am happy to report that my rage simmered and in its place I now feel relief, elation, and my heart is so full of love for these characters that I am sure I will never forget any of them or the journey they walked.
This was a powerful read full of fierce characters that support each other in wholesome, loving ways while they each faced the harsh realities of the time. The friendship between them is a breath of fresh air. The bond between Lily and Rose is magnificent. The relationship between Lily and Betsy is wonderful. Sarah's backstory is heartbreaking and her journey into motherhood was not easy by any means but it was absolutely beautiful. Becca is a strong, intelligent woman who is at her wit's end and simply cannot imagine bringing another baby into her orbit. She does what she needs to do for herself and what she feels is best for her family. Making that choice couldn't have been easy, I admired her the entire way through the book. Robin was ahead of the time, she was funny and smart and I loved that she was gently pushing her friends to see that there was so much more out there for them without judging them for being content with their lives (even if Lily did wonder "Is this all?" in private). Lily is sweet, supportive (in her own way) and although she's prim and proper she's open to learning about the world around her. Betsy is a naive young girl who has no idea what or how things that happened to her did but she handles her predicament with as much grace as a fifteen year old girl can be expected to have. My heart ached for her, I feared I wouldn't get to know how her life went after she left the Berg household, but I had the biggest smile on my face when I read about her in the end.
As for Lily and Rose's grandmother I adored her. She was exactly what I expected her to be in every way. Their father was truly an inspiration. He could've decided differently, he could've tried to convince his daughter not to go through with it, instead he unflinchingly decided his daughter's safety was more important than any stigma around her life and his unwavering support was so much like my own dad's that I cried for a long time remembering being in a similar situation and the way he simply hugged me and told me I had all of his support no matter what I chose to do- no matter what was said about me.
David, is a careful yet courageous man. He could have chosen to remain on the sidelines. He could have simply done nothing. Instead he put it all on the line. They say its the quiet ones we should be wary of, in this case that's true but in a very good way. His character was admirable and I will never forget what he did. For any of the women.
The character I most connected with was Rose. She was strong, intelligent and beautiful. Above everything else she was BRAVE. Especially for the time she was living in. I saw so much of myself in her that I felt like the author took parts of my own experiences and used them to create Rose and her story. It was decimating, soul-shattering and honestly one of the most impacting storylines I've read in a long time. Thank you again to Laney Katz Becker for writing this book. For writing Rose and her story. For giving a voice to so many women who don't have the ability to speak up.
As for Marty he is such a small, despicable and FOUL man. There was literally nothing, NOTHING to like about him. He was too good to be true from the moment he first appeared (I had an inkling from the very first moment and I couldn't explain why). I ended up hating him with every fiber of my being as if he was a real person and not a fictional character. I mean just the simple fact that he thinks he can say, "I'm the man of the house and you'll do what I say when I say it. Are we clear?" and "Rose I swear if you don't hold still, you're going to get hurt." and "You're my wife. I'm allowed to have sex with my wife." and be liked is a problem. A HUGE problem. There was nothing that could redeem him. Not even when he agreed to her terms. I am not even sure that he should be called a man, but sadly that is what he is just a small, disgusting man.
I'm going to end it the same way I began, simply by saying thank you Laney Katz Becker for writing this book and thanking Harper again for choosing me as one of the winners of the giveaway. I will definitely be adding this to the books I recommend whenever anyone asks me for a suggestion.
I'd like to start by thanking Laney Katz Becker for writing this absolutely, stunningly beautiful masterpiece. This book tore my heart to shreds while somehow mending it simultaneously. The women in this book are all incredibly strong, intelligent and brave. They are all facing a moment in their life that quite literally will decide the rest of their futures. The way each of them manages to face everything with so much grace is not only beautiful but totally inspiring.
The emotions this book evoked in me were a roller-coaster. I laughed one moment, cried the next, laughed again and then felt so much rage that I literally threw the book against the wall and set it aside for a couple of days before going back to it. The amount of rage I felt coursing through my system left me with shaking hands and a headache. When I picked up the book and continued reading I was still raging, but I had to know what Rose would do. I had to know what would become of her and the rest of the women in this book. I am glad I now know what became of them. I am happy to report that my rage simmered and in its place I now feel relief, elation, and my heart is so full of love for these characters that I am sure I will never forget any of them or the journey they walked.
This was a powerful read full of fierce characters that support each other in wholesome, loving ways while they each faced the harsh realities of the time. The friendship between them is a breath of fresh air. The bond between Lily and Rose is magnificent. The relationship between Lily and Betsy is wonderful. Sarah's backstory is heartbreaking and her journey into motherhood was not easy by any means but it was absolutely beautiful. Becca is a strong, intelligent woman who is at her wit's end and simply cannot imagine bringing another baby into her orbit. She does what she needs to do for herself and what she feels is best for her family. Making that choice couldn't have been easy, I admired her the entire way through the book. Robin was ahead of the time, she was funny and smart and I loved that she was gently pushing her friends to see that there was so much more out there for them without judging them for being content with their lives (even if Lily did wonder "Is this all?" in private). Lily is sweet, supportive (in her own way) and although she's prim and proper she's open to learning about the world around her. Betsy is a naive young girl who has no idea what or how things that happened to her did but she handles her predicament with as much grace as a fifteen year old girl can be expected to have. My heart ached for her, I feared I wouldn't get to know how her life went after she left the Berg household, but I had the biggest smile on my face when I read about her in the end.
As for Lily and Rose's grandmother I adored her. She was exactly what I expected her to be in every way. Their father was truly an inspiration. He could've decided differently, he could've tried to convince his daughter not to go through with it, instead he unflinchingly decided his daughter's safety was more important than any stigma around her life and his unwavering support was so much like my own dad's that I cried for a long time remembering being in a similar situation and the way he simply hugged me and told me I had all of his support no matter what I chose to do- no matter what was said about me.
David, is a careful yet courageous man. He could have chosen to remain on the sidelines. He could have simply done nothing. Instead he put it all on the line. They say its the quiet ones we should be wary of, in this case that's true but in a very good way. His character was admirable and I will never forget what he did. For any of the women.
The character I most connected with was Rose. She was strong, intelligent and beautiful. Above everything else she was BRAVE. Especially for the time she was living in. I saw so much of myself in her that I felt like the author took parts of my own experiences and used them to create Rose and her story. It was decimating, soul-shattering and honestly one of the most impacting storylines I've read in a long time. Thank you again to Laney Katz Becker for writing this book. For writing Rose and her story. For giving a voice to so many women who don't have the ability to speak up.
As for Marty he is such a small, despicable and FOUL man. There was literally nothing, NOTHING to like about him. He was too good to be true from the moment he first appeared (I had an inkling from the very first moment and I couldn't explain why). I ended up hating him with every fiber of my being as if he was a real person and not a fictional character. I mean just the simple fact that he thinks he can say, "I'm the man of the house and you'll do what I say when I say it. Are we clear?" and "Rose I swear if you don't hold still, you're going to get hurt." and "You're my wife. I'm allowed to have sex with my wife." and be liked is a problem. A HUGE problem. There was nothing that could redeem him. Not even when he agreed to her terms. I am not even sure that he should be called a man, but sadly that is what he is just a small, disgusting man.
I'm going to end it the same way I began, simply by saying thank you Laney Katz Becker for writing this book and thanking Harper again for choosing me as one of the winners of the giveaway. I will definitely be adding this to the books I recommend whenever anyone asks me for a suggestion.
September 29, 2025
I really liked In the Family Way, a story about a group of women in the 1960s. Some are married, some are pregnant, some are neither, and some want to be mothers.
The story follows the women in their domestic lives and in their friendships, centered around a weekly card game. While I liked some of the women more than others, I felt for each of them in their pursuit of what they wanted to be happy with their lives.
Reading this was a stark reminder about what limited rights women had in the 60s — A point we are sadly rapidly regressing toward now, more than 50 years later.
In the Family Way was a moving historical fiction story, and a great reminder of how much women do, inside and outside the home.
The story follows the women in their domestic lives and in their friendships, centered around a weekly card game. While I liked some of the women more than others, I felt for each of them in their pursuit of what they wanted to be happy with their lives.
Reading this was a stark reminder about what limited rights women had in the 60s — A point we are sadly rapidly regressing toward now, more than 50 years later.
In the Family Way was a moving historical fiction story, and a great reminder of how much women do, inside and outside the home.
May 29, 2025
OK THIS BOOK IS IMPORTANT!!
In case you didn't know (I didn't know!!!) "in the Family way" means pregnant lol and that is important to know before reading. ok moving on!! this story centers around a group of women in a suburban town in the 60s who are each on very different journeys related to pregnancy, motherhood, and family life. The 1960s setting serves as a harsh reminder of how far women have come and how hard women who came before us had to fight for everything we can do now. The characters in this book are vastly different, but the way the women support each other and listen to each other is so beautiful. This book is really powerful and I honestly learned a lot about the realities of life for women at that time.
Laney Katz Becker's writing was so vivid and each woman's personality shone through the plot beautifully. And the end of the book wrapped everything up in a way that made me tear up!! Not only did I love this book, but I think it is an important read for our current times.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper for the ARC!
In case you didn't know (I didn't know!!!) "in the Family way" means pregnant lol and that is important to know before reading. ok moving on!! this story centers around a group of women in a suburban town in the 60s who are each on very different journeys related to pregnancy, motherhood, and family life. The 1960s setting serves as a harsh reminder of how far women have come and how hard women who came before us had to fight for everything we can do now. The characters in this book are vastly different, but the way the women support each other and listen to each other is so beautiful. This book is really powerful and I honestly learned a lot about the realities of life for women at that time.
Laney Katz Becker's writing was so vivid and each woman's personality shone through the plot beautifully. And the end of the book wrapped everything up in a way that made me tear up!! Not only did I love this book, but I think it is an important read for our current times.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper for the ARC!
June 13, 2025
In the Family Way is a fictional look at the state of maternity care and abortion in the US in the 1960s.
The story is narrated by 3 women - Lily Berg, Rose Seigel and Betsey Eunbanks. Rose and Lily are sisters married to a lawyer and obstetrician respectively. Betsey is a 15 year old young woman who has found herself "in the family way" most likely due to ignorance of how female bodies worked. Lily has opened her home to unwed mothers before but in Betsey she senses a young woman who is curious and willing to learn.
As the stories unfold of Lily, Rose and Betsey (along with the other neighbourhood women) Laney Becker gives us a taste of various scenarios that women encountered before Women's Lib really took off.
There are several difficult subjects discussed including spousal control of finances, unplanned pregnancies, the adoption of illegitimate children, spousal abuse and the women's movement.
The story will be enlightening for a lot of people who perhaps don't realise how little women controlled in their lives even as recently as the 1970s. The women themselves provide various viewpoints - the happy housewife married to a decent man, the wife who unwittingly married an abuser, the wide who cannot stay pregnant and the wife who is prepared to undergo the dangerscof backstreet abortionists because of the laws.
I think this book is appropriate for our time as the repeal of Roe v Wade threatens to send women's rights back half a century and all the horrors that entails. With further attacks on legal abortions in the US women are fighting for their rights and their lives harder now than for many decades.
It is an emotive book that made me cry at times. I would definitely recommend a read no matter which way you lean on women's rights.
Thankyou to Netgalley and HQ Publishing for the advance review copy.
The story is narrated by 3 women - Lily Berg, Rose Seigel and Betsey Eunbanks. Rose and Lily are sisters married to a lawyer and obstetrician respectively. Betsey is a 15 year old young woman who has found herself "in the family way" most likely due to ignorance of how female bodies worked. Lily has opened her home to unwed mothers before but in Betsey she senses a young woman who is curious and willing to learn.
As the stories unfold of Lily, Rose and Betsey (along with the other neighbourhood women) Laney Becker gives us a taste of various scenarios that women encountered before Women's Lib really took off.
There are several difficult subjects discussed including spousal control of finances, unplanned pregnancies, the adoption of illegitimate children, spousal abuse and the women's movement.
The story will be enlightening for a lot of people who perhaps don't realise how little women controlled in their lives even as recently as the 1970s. The women themselves provide various viewpoints - the happy housewife married to a decent man, the wife who unwittingly married an abuser, the wide who cannot stay pregnant and the wife who is prepared to undergo the dangerscof backstreet abortionists because of the laws.
I think this book is appropriate for our time as the repeal of Roe v Wade threatens to send women's rights back half a century and all the horrors that entails. With further attacks on legal abortions in the US women are fighting for their rights and their lives harder now than for many decades.
It is an emotive book that made me cry at times. I would definitely recommend a read no matter which way you lean on women's rights.
Thankyou to Netgalley and HQ Publishing for the advance review copy.
June 9, 2025
5🌟 I love a good 60s vibe and this did not disappoint. All the women’s issues of the day… reproductive issues, infertility, unexpected pregnancy, unwed teen pregnancy, adoption, abortion, birth control, miscarriage, domestic violence, a woman’s role in the home, are all experienced by the cast of characters. The women’s friendships are strong and important and help them process and deal with everything that comes their way. Each of the women are so different, yet come together to support each other in immeasurable ways. This is a thought provoking and emotional read. A+ for the cover. For fans of Take My Hand and Looking for Jane.
May 6, 2025
In the Family Way by Laney Katz Becker is a powerful, emotional story set in 1965, where a group of suburban women support each other through marriage, motherhood, and pregnancies—both wanted and not at a time when women couldn’t open bank accounts, get divorced easily, or access legal abortion. I loved how easy this book was to read while still being emotionally powerful and rooted in historical detail, vividly capturing a moment when women were beginning to push against the boundaries of their prescribed roles. The characters feel real, and you will grow to care about them deeply. With today’s ongoing fight for reproductive rights, this book feels especially timely- a moving reminder of what women once went through and why we say, “we won’t go back.” TW: domestic abuse.
Thank you Harper Collins & the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Harper Collins & the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2025
This is a quick read with great voice. It’s a timely commentary that illuminates how far women have come and how female friendships, connection, and empathy are to credit for much of our progress.
And I think it sheds light on how political issues that end up diluted into two black and white policies are more complex and more nuanced than those political parties want you to believe. It is always good to have an issue “re-humanized” per se — whatever side you stand on.
I did feel it was a bit too on the nose and pointed, and I wish she had developed some of the side characters a bit more. It still made me think, made me cry, and I enjoyed it.
And I think it sheds light on how political issues that end up diluted into two black and white policies are more complex and more nuanced than those political parties want you to believe. It is always good to have an issue “re-humanized” per se — whatever side you stand on.
I did feel it was a bit too on the nose and pointed, and I wish she had developed some of the side characters a bit more. It still made me think, made me cry, and I enjoyed it.
September 24, 2025
If do it for the plot was a book… these characters were SO well-developed and the issues were heavy and real and raw and so perfectly portrayed. At times, I felt like I couldn’t possibly keep putting myself through the emotions, but the pace was so perfectly balanced that it never became entirely too much! An absolute must-read!
June 14, 2025
A bit on the nose for my taste but I hope it radicalizes some folks!
July 18, 2025
Who knew a short book could have such an impact? I loved the story, the writing, the characters, the everything. Ughh I just love strong women OK??
July 7, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this book. It should be THE book of the summer. In the Family Way talks about an incredibly important topic at an incredibly important time, and is a must-read for anyone who cares about women's rights in today's world. Laney Katz Becker's writing style is engaging, accessible, and elevated all at the same time. For me, the sign of a great book is when you miss the characters when you've finished reading it, and boy did I miss these characters when I was done.
Read on kindle; but can't wait to re-read on audio!
Update 7/7/25: just finished listening on audio and it is PHENOMENAL. There are three different narrators which really makes the book so much more dynamic. I HIGHLY recommend listening to the audio version!
Read on kindle; but can't wait to re-read on audio!
Update 7/7/25: just finished listening on audio and it is PHENOMENAL. There are three different narrators which really makes the book so much more dynamic. I HIGHLY recommend listening to the audio version!
November 17, 2025
Really like 2.5… This was an easy read but a bit boring and everything was so one dimensional, expected, and rushed. I appreciated the themes the book was trying to get at, the limited rights of women in the 60s surrounding reproductive care and finances. But it really just scratches the surface and surrounds a bunch of well-off white women in the suburbs. This could have been executed 1000x better and the writing is truly subpar at best.
August 27, 2025
I liked the set-up/premise of this novel but it just wasn't written as well as I'd like. Was hard to get into and just a little juvenile.
August 6, 2025
Timely read and a good reminder of what we have to be grateful for and what we have to keep fighting for today. I thought the characters were pretty flat and underdeveloped, and the journal entry style of the book left me wanting more world building. Still I read this in one sitting and I was moved
January 4, 2026
Beautiful
August 17, 2025
6++++ sterren! Een heel krachtig boek, een must read voor iedereen. Ik zat vastgeplakt aan dit boek en wilde het niet wegleggen. Zo indrukwekkend en belangrijk🥹🥹🥹
Want to read
December 10, 2024Eager to dive into the intense world of 1960s suburban America, where fierce female characters take center stage.
February 4, 2026
"Are we really so delicate we can't hear certain things, or are we just told that, and after hearing something over and over again, we begin to believe it?"
I devoured the last two hundred pages of Laney Katz Becker's In the Family Way in a single afternoon because I simply couldn't put it down. It had been a while since a novel had gripped me so completely. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did, but this little gem of a book pleasantly surprised me.
Despite its brevity, this character-driven story made me invested in its protagonists from the very beginning. I appreciated all the main characters, with their strengths, faults, and well-crafted arcs. Naturally, I'm a sucker for stories about groups of female friends, and, though I realize that this work focuses on a circle of privileged, wealthy people in 1960s America, I liked its exploration of various themes such as sexual liberation, abortion, divorce, and women's overall right to choose who to be and whom to be with.
I will admit that I kept waiting for something terrible to happen to at least one of the main characters, but that's just because I'm used to far less lighthearted books. The last few chapters required a certain suspension of disbelief due to a couple of absurd coincidences and less-than-convincing explanations, but I'll give the author a pass. It was wholesome, it vaguely reminded me of Desperate Housewives (minus the murders, of course), and that's enough for me.
If I had to give it a more precise rating, it would be four and a half stars. In the Family Way reeled me in as few books have, but the prose felt, at times, juvenile, and certain developments a little oversimplified. Was it also a bit on the nose? Yes, but I had a good time. I believe that imperfect books can still have an impact on us, and this one surely did.
June 5, 2025
This book really made me think. It's crazy how many things women weren't allowed to do in the mid 1960s. Couldn't buy a home without a man to cosign. Couldn't get a credit card in their name. Birth control? Only if you were married. Abortion was illegal so hospitals needed wards specifically for women who went septic getting back alley abortions or attempting to do one themselves. Divorce was next to impossible. Definitely not simply for irreconcilable differences. It seems many currently in power want to go back to this. Nothing against housewives. I'm far less stressed since I gave up my 20 year nursing career to be a SAHM. I do see the need to have a passion and a purpose. I need to read The Feminine Mystique (never have). I grew up in a conservative home. Went to church every week. Thought Christians were supposed to be conservative (its what the Baptists taught). It's taken me till my 40s to realize what I really think and believe. I'm a lot more liberal these days. Anyway my review seems all over the place:-p I enjoyed this story very much. Thanks Goodreads, the author, and publisher for the free print copy!!
July 9, 2025
3.5 rounded up. i think this book did a great job of showcasing the plight of middle class white women and the oppression they faced surrounding pregnancy, learning sex ed (though really the lack of sex ed at all), and abortion. it's so depressing that even as a very privileged group of women compared to WoC/poor women/queer women during this time, there was still a tremendous amount of really horrible shit that these women were subjected to. overall i did think this was worth the read, though i wish it had incorporated more of an intersectional lens
Or at the very least, I think I wished that this acknowledged that the struggles for women of color were different than those of white women? That class plays a huge role in access? like. I think this story is one that needs to be told, it's a very real and honest part of history and women's rights. But I also think by not acknowledging that the struggle historically has not been the exact same for every women, it removes a lot of the nuance. Idk I have a lot of thoughts
Or at the very least, I think I wished that this acknowledged that the struggles for women of color were different than those of white women? That class plays a huge role in access? like. I think this story is one that needs to be told, it's a very real and honest part of history and women's rights. But I also think by not acknowledging that the struggle historically has not been the exact same for every women, it removes a lot of the nuance. Idk I have a lot of thoughts
June 2, 2025
Wow. What a book. I absolutely loved it. My first time reading @laneykatzbecker and I wasn’t disappointed.
Set in 1960’s America, a beautifully written story about pregnancy, motherhood, family life and changing times.. It’s so captivating I was totally hooked from start to finish, I was pulled right into the story. I couldn’t put it down. It’s so powerful, poignant, atmospheric and full of history and heart.
I laughed. I cried. A rollercoaster of emotions throughout. Hard themes like teenage pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, rape and domestic abuse are covered. The writing style is full of empathy and so intimate.
The short chapters alternate between different POV’s from Betzy, Lily and Rose making it easy to read and follow. I loved the characters which are well drawn, relatable and feel so real. You get to care about them. .The women are strong, brave, intelligent and fierce. I loved the friendships between them and how they supported each other.
I learned so much from reading this book and it will stay with me for a long time. I liked the authors notes at the end of the historical facts.
Highly recommend. It’s well worth the read. Definitely one of my favourite reads of 2025 so far. I look forward to reading more from this author.
With thanks to #NetGallery #HQ @hqstories for an arc of #InTheFamilyWay in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 3 June 2025.
Set in 1960’s America, a beautifully written story about pregnancy, motherhood, family life and changing times.. It’s so captivating I was totally hooked from start to finish, I was pulled right into the story. I couldn’t put it down. It’s so powerful, poignant, atmospheric and full of history and heart.
I laughed. I cried. A rollercoaster of emotions throughout. Hard themes like teenage pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, rape and domestic abuse are covered. The writing style is full of empathy and so intimate.
The short chapters alternate between different POV’s from Betzy, Lily and Rose making it easy to read and follow. I loved the characters which are well drawn, relatable and feel so real. You get to care about them. .The women are strong, brave, intelligent and fierce. I loved the friendships between them and how they supported each other.
I learned so much from reading this book and it will stay with me for a long time. I liked the authors notes at the end of the historical facts.
Highly recommend. It’s well worth the read. Definitely one of my favourite reads of 2025 so far. I look forward to reading more from this author.
With thanks to #NetGallery #HQ @hqstories for an arc of #InTheFamilyWay in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 3 June 2025.
January 13, 2026
This book takes place in the 60s and yet is relevant in conversations today about women’s rights and bodily autonomy. The book has essentially two main characters for most of the book: Betsy (15 years old), who is the primary main character, and Lily (mother of one and pregnant with her second). Their lives come together when Lily and her husband agree to take in Betsy during her unexpected pregnancy. From there we meet the rest of Lilys friends in her Canasta group, her sister, her daughter, Jojo, and her husband, who is an obgyn. There are several great stories told here and I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the story arcs (there are several). I also liked the way each chapter had a different pov. The audiobook had great narration, especially for Betsy, and I think the narration of the audiobook made me like the book more than I would have otherwise if I had read it with my eyes.
February 14, 2026
3.5. I enjoyed it and found the premise engaging (especially now) and the writing easy to sink into. I had just finished another book with a similar setup, which probably influenced my reaction a bit. Overall, a solid 3.5 for me.
August 28, 2025
Not a great work of literature but I love reading books set in the 60s.
A group of women experience difficulties because of the low status women had during that time period.
A group of women experience difficulties because of the low status women had during that time period.
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October 14, 2025DNF at 8%
Not sure where I heard of this book but the writing is not my taste.
Not sure where I heard of this book but the writing is not my taste.
November 8, 2025
A solid four star read for me. I like the alternating viewpoints and the friendship of the women. I also adored the connections between the sisters, Rose and Lily. This was an easy read that packed an insight into life for women in the 60s. I am now going to have to read the Feminine Mystique!
February 16, 2026
An exploration of motherhood in 1965 follows Lily, a housewife pregnant with her second child and Betsy, an unwed teen sent to be a mother's helper for Lily. Lily's sister, Rose, newly married and Lily's neighborhood friends also figure into the story of how women felt about pregnancy and motherhood and the slowly changing attitudes of women. I enjoyed the characters and the way the author dealt with the issues felt true to the time period.
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