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More Than Enough: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 24 Feb 26A woman confronts the surprising results of an ancestry test and begins to question the meaning of family and friendship in this wise, tender novel teeming with life—from the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author of After Annie
No one knows you like your book club.
High school English teacher Polly Goodman can talk about everything and anything with the women in her book club, which is why they’ve become her closest friends and, along with her veterinarian husband, the bedrock of her life. Her students, her fraught relationship with her mother, her struggles with IVF—Polly’s book club friends have heard about it all.
But when they give Polly an ancestry test kit as a joke, the results match her with a stranger. It is clear to Polly that this match is a mistake, but still she cannot help but comb through her family history for answers. Then, when it seems that the book club circle of four will become three, Polly learns how friendships can change your life in the most profound ways.
Written with Anna Quindlen’s trademark warmth, humor, and insight into the power of love and hope, More Than Enough explores how we find ourselves again and again through the relationships that define us.
No one knows you like your book club.
High school English teacher Polly Goodman can talk about everything and anything with the women in her book club, which is why they’ve become her closest friends and, along with her veterinarian husband, the bedrock of her life. Her students, her fraught relationship with her mother, her struggles with IVF—Polly’s book club friends have heard about it all.
But when they give Polly an ancestry test kit as a joke, the results match her with a stranger. It is clear to Polly that this match is a mistake, but still she cannot help but comb through her family history for answers. Then, when it seems that the book club circle of four will become three, Polly learns how friendships can change your life in the most profound ways.
Written with Anna Quindlen’s trademark warmth, humor, and insight into the power of love and hope, More Than Enough explores how we find ourselves again and again through the relationships that define us.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 24, 2026
22 people are currently reading
9329 people want to read
About the author
Anna Quindlen
86 books4,731 followersAnna Marie Quindlen is an American author, journalist, and opinion columnist.
Her New York Times column, Public and Private, won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992. She began her journalism career in 1974 as a reporter for the New York Post. Between 1977 and 1994 she held several posts at The New York Times. Her semi-autobiographical novel One True Thing (1994) served as the basis for the 1998 film starring Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger.
Her New York Times column, Public and Private, won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992. She began her journalism career in 1974 as a reporter for the New York Post. Between 1977 and 1994 she held several posts at The New York Times. Her semi-autobiographical novel One True Thing (1994) served as the basis for the 1998 film starring Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
August 27, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up
A contemporary, relatable story of a woman facing the challenges that life doles out. It’s a lovely story with characters to connect with. This is the third book I’ve read by Anna Quindlen and enjoyed exactly because of that. Her characters are ordinary people dealing with things that many of us know about first hand - grief, loss, terminal illness, a parent with dementia, family relationships sometimes fraught with resentment held for years, troubled teens, infertility, those DNA tests that change people’s lives . But she also gives us time to reflect on the wonderful parts of life that many of us know - love, friendships, family ties.
I’m not going to go into the details of Polly Goodman’s story as they can easily be found by reading the book description. I’ll just add that I’m glad to have a few more of Quindlen’s novels to read. The story was somewhat predictable leaving me guessing correctly answers and an ending that Polly didn’t see, thus the 3.75 stars. However, Quindlen does such a good job of portraying the realistic things, both good and bad in people’s lives , I have to round it up . I also loved Polly’s book club where no one read the books selected. That was the rule - no reading or discussing the book, just a bitch session where they told each other everything. Reminds me a group I belong to !
I received a copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley.
A contemporary, relatable story of a woman facing the challenges that life doles out. It’s a lovely story with characters to connect with. This is the third book I’ve read by Anna Quindlen and enjoyed exactly because of that. Her characters are ordinary people dealing with things that many of us know about first hand - grief, loss, terminal illness, a parent with dementia, family relationships sometimes fraught with resentment held for years, troubled teens, infertility, those DNA tests that change people’s lives . But she also gives us time to reflect on the wonderful parts of life that many of us know - love, friendships, family ties.
I’m not going to go into the details of Polly Goodman’s story as they can easily be found by reading the book description. I’ll just add that I’m glad to have a few more of Quindlen’s novels to read. The story was somewhat predictable leaving me guessing correctly answers and an ending that Polly didn’t see, thus the 3.75 stars. However, Quindlen does such a good job of portraying the realistic things, both good and bad in people’s lives , I have to round it up . I also loved Polly’s book club where no one read the books selected. That was the rule - no reading or discussing the book, just a bitch session where they told each other everything. Reminds me a group I belong to !
I received a copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley.
November 18, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
This was such a sweet heartwarming story. I love books about DNA stories and reveals! The way the author kept us tethered to each part of the story while slowly bringing us along was so beautiful. I love Anna Quindlen’s storytelling and I think if you like literary books that are character driven, I think you’ll really enjoy it.
This was such a sweet heartwarming story. I love books about DNA stories and reveals! The way the author kept us tethered to each part of the story while slowly bringing us along was so beautiful. I love Anna Quindlen’s storytelling and I think if you like literary books that are character driven, I think you’ll really enjoy it.
September 21, 2025
*** 9/21/25 *** Finished up this short 256-page slow-burn "deeper meaning" novel centered on Main Character Polly's relationship with her book club friends, her husband and his large boisterous family, and her mother, father, and brother. Then she develops a new set of relationships via a teen girl who she is visibly different from, yet they show a DNA connection via a 23-and-me type test.
The good news is that this story got properly edited to not be a 350-page novel that bores the reader. It also covers a LOT of relatable issues for modern women - remarriage, in-laws, having an ill parent, having a not great relationship with another parent, infertility, working with young women as a teacher. All within a layer of "English major" literature references because that is what Polly teaches at her all-girls high school.
The other good news is that the story wraps up nicely. Some people may like loose ends tied up in their fiction, and some may not, but I definitely like it when it happens.
With that said, I didn't get emotionally connected to Polly as deeply as I expected to, and even though there was some plot movement, it was minimal and seemed like the action we saw was expressly the plot forward without being super interesting to the reader. I think the reason for this lack of connection is that the entire novel is told from Polly's perspective so we cannot, by design, get any deeper with other characters than what Polly observes or experiences. It is a single lens POV but it left me feeling a little less invested. Also the plot development was very light, despite there being a big reveal at the end that the entire novel is based on and hints at.
Also, for some odd reason I kept confusing the names of her brother (good guy) with her ex-husband (not good guy) and had to keep reminding myself who was who lol.
Overall, a well written book with great technical skill, but not one I was terribly passionate about. 4-stars. Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
*** 9/20/25 *** I'm nearly 50% through this upcoming Feb 2026 release by prolific writer (this will be book 88 I think!?!), Anna Quindlen. A contemporary fiction featuring many familiar tropes - book club, second marriages, infertility, "sandwich" generation women, and chilly mom/daughter relationships - it also is written over a foundation of mystery sparked by DNA test results that the Main Character Polly is trying to unravel.
I'm an impatient reader when reading plots that have a fairly singular unanswered theme, and often find the rest of the character development a bit dull in comparison, as I race to the finish to get to the twist I know is coming. This book is a bit like that, but Quindlen is such a masterful technician with her writing that it is still a joy to read. We have relatable people and events, bookending identifiable items at the end of a chapter, a clear 'inciting incident' in the beginning of the book, and well constructed dialog/chapters. So there is joy in reading a good writer, no matter the plot.
Full review coming soon! Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The good news is that this story got properly edited to not be a 350-page novel that bores the reader. It also covers a LOT of relatable issues for modern women - remarriage, in-laws, having an ill parent, having a not great relationship with another parent, infertility, working with young women as a teacher. All within a layer of "English major" literature references because that is what Polly teaches at her all-girls high school.
The other good news is that the story wraps up nicely. Some people may like loose ends tied up in their fiction, and some may not, but I definitely like it when it happens.
With that said, I didn't get emotionally connected to Polly as deeply as I expected to, and even though there was some plot movement, it was minimal and seemed like the action we saw was expressly the plot forward without being super interesting to the reader. I think the reason for this lack of connection is that the entire novel is told from Polly's perspective so we cannot, by design, get any deeper with other characters than what Polly observes or experiences. It is a single lens POV but it left me feeling a little less invested. Also the plot development was very light, despite there being a big reveal at the end that the entire novel is based on and hints at.
Also, for some odd reason I kept confusing the names of her brother (good guy) with her ex-husband (not good guy) and had to keep reminding myself who was who lol.
Overall, a well written book with great technical skill, but not one I was terribly passionate about. 4-stars. Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
*** 9/20/25 *** I'm nearly 50% through this upcoming Feb 2026 release by prolific writer (this will be book 88 I think!?!), Anna Quindlen. A contemporary fiction featuring many familiar tropes - book club, second marriages, infertility, "sandwich" generation women, and chilly mom/daughter relationships - it also is written over a foundation of mystery sparked by DNA test results that the Main Character Polly is trying to unravel.
I'm an impatient reader when reading plots that have a fairly singular unanswered theme, and often find the rest of the character development a bit dull in comparison, as I race to the finish to get to the twist I know is coming. This book is a bit like that, but Quindlen is such a masterful technician with her writing that it is still a joy to read. We have relatable people and events, bookending identifiable items at the end of a chapter, a clear 'inciting incident' in the beginning of the book, and well constructed dialog/chapters. So there is joy in reading a good writer, no matter the plot.
Full review coming soon! Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 25, 2025
ARC for review. To be published February 24, 2026.
4 stars.
Polly Goodman is an English teacher at a private girls’ school in NYC. She has the world’s most perfect husband and she desperately wants a baby but has been unable to conceive. She also has some pretty outstanding friends, her book club, Jamie, Helen and Sarah. Sarah is her best friend and is incredibly wealthy.
As a bit of a joke her friends give her a DNA kit as a gift. She uses it and gets some surprising results (of course) that lead to her meeting a teenager. We go on from there.
This was such a gentle and enjoyable book. It’s a shame Polly can’t get pregnant, but, man, most people would be jealous of her life (even though she has more issues; a mom she doesn’t jibe with and her beloved father has dementia. The time they spend together is lovely.. Still, Polly has it pretty good.) If you are looking for a read that goes down easy this is for you.
4 stars.
Polly Goodman is an English teacher at a private girls’ school in NYC. She has the world’s most perfect husband and she desperately wants a baby but has been unable to conceive. She also has some pretty outstanding friends, her book club, Jamie, Helen and Sarah. Sarah is her best friend and is incredibly wealthy.
As a bit of a joke her friends give her a DNA kit as a gift. She uses it and gets some surprising results (of course) that lead to her meeting a teenager. We go on from there.
This was such a gentle and enjoyable book. It’s a shame Polly can’t get pregnant, but, man, most people would be jealous of her life (even though she has more issues; a mom she doesn’t jibe with and her beloved father has dementia. The time they spend together is lovely.. Still, Polly has it pretty good.) If you are looking for a read that goes down easy this is for you.
September 1, 2025
While this book had a great premise, and I really enjoyed the first few chapters, for me it fell off quite a bit in the second half. I feel this would have worked better as a short story. The sub plots and additional characters seemed to not go anywhere.
I very much enjoyed the idea of a woman taking a DNA test and going down a bit of a rabbit hole, uncovering that she has additional relatives that she didn’t know about. Polly was a relatable character and I really liked Sarah and her friends, there was some really funny dialogue from her brother.
Good concept, and a few great scenes. I thought the ending was quite touching.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. Book to be published February 23, 2026.
I very much enjoyed the idea of a woman taking a DNA test and going down a bit of a rabbit hole, uncovering that she has additional relatives that she didn’t know about. Polly was a relatable character and I really liked Sarah and her friends, there was some really funny dialogue from her brother.
Good concept, and a few great scenes. I thought the ending was quite touching.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. Book to be published February 23, 2026.
September 7, 2025
I’ve been reading and admiring Anna Quindlen since the 80s. I even had the pleasure of meeting her a few times. Once I ran into her in the elevator at the New York Times (I worked there for a few years back in the mid-80s). She responded warmly to my hello. I was awestruck to meet her, as many people are when they meet celebrities. I never cared about movie stars or musicians, but writers? Writers are my celebrities. I still recall her chipped nail polish and her utter lack of pretense. These synched up with who she was on paper and made me admire her even more.
Her books aren’t formulaic per se, but they do have recurring themes related to family and the dynamics between parents and adult children, and illness and loss, and female friendships. This book has all of that and Quindlen delivers a beautifully written, tender story, as she always, reliably, does.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Her books aren’t formulaic per se, but they do have recurring themes related to family and the dynamics between parents and adult children, and illness and loss, and female friendships. This book has all of that and Quindlen delivers a beautifully written, tender story, as she always, reliably, does.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2025
3.5 rounded up. Nicely written family drama. After getting very surprising and unexpected results from an ancestry kit, Polly slowly works her way to a rather predictable conclusion. Polly's work, her family life, her struggles and her friends weren't quite interesting enough to me to justify the very long passages of flashbacks, asides, ruminations and insights. I just wanted her to get on with it! The mystery at hand, that is. Which is why I read it in the first place. Am I impatient much? Not always, but yes, this time. Dragging it out was just too much.
Thank you yo NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thank you yo NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
November 17, 2025
I have loved Anna Quindlen for years, since I read One True Thing in the late '90s. (I'm showing my age here!). I was so excited to read More Than Enough as I knew it would be excellent. It did not disappoint!
Polly Goodman is a high school English teacher who is given a DNA test by her best friends and members of her non-reading book club. The DNA test comes back with a surprising result - a long lost relative that she knew nothing about. As she delves into her family history, her difficult relationship with her mother and dealing with her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis become fraught with challenges. After a book club friend's difficult diagnosis, Polly realizes that the boundaries between friendship and family can blur in the most unexpected ways.
There are so many good things to say about this book. I loved how the author infused humor into the novel - Polly's relationship with her brother, the alpaca farm, the quirky friendships between the members of the book club. I thought that the author did a great job of dealing with difficult relationships - Polly's care for her father, even though he doesn't know her, the charged mother / daughter relationship, meeting the family found through DNA. It was all engaging.
Having said all that, this wasn't my favorite Anna Quindlen book. I did want to find out what happened to the characters, but there were times that I thought the story dragged a bit, even in such a short novel. And the story line was very disjointed, almost rambling in places. Often, I had to remind myself what happened previously so I could understand what was happening later in the novel.
Overall, in typical Anna Quindlen form, this was a heartbreaking, yet uplifting, novel. 4 ⭐s!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy. The book is scheduled to be published on February 24, 2026.
Polly Goodman is a high school English teacher who is given a DNA test by her best friends and members of her non-reading book club. The DNA test comes back with a surprising result - a long lost relative that she knew nothing about. As she delves into her family history, her difficult relationship with her mother and dealing with her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis become fraught with challenges. After a book club friend's difficult diagnosis, Polly realizes that the boundaries between friendship and family can blur in the most unexpected ways.
There are so many good things to say about this book. I loved how the author infused humor into the novel - Polly's relationship with her brother, the alpaca farm, the quirky friendships between the members of the book club. I thought that the author did a great job of dealing with difficult relationships - Polly's care for her father, even though he doesn't know her, the charged mother / daughter relationship, meeting the family found through DNA. It was all engaging.
Having said all that, this wasn't my favorite Anna Quindlen book. I did want to find out what happened to the characters, but there were times that I thought the story dragged a bit, even in such a short novel. And the story line was very disjointed, almost rambling in places. Often, I had to remind myself what happened previously so I could understand what was happening later in the novel.
Overall, in typical Anna Quindlen form, this was a heartbreaking, yet uplifting, novel. 4 ⭐s!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy. The book is scheduled to be published on February 24, 2026.
August 28, 2025
I was so sorry not to have loved this book as I'm an admirer of Anna Quindlen and appreciate her choices. Somewhat reminiscent of Jodi Picoult, she gathers themes from contemporary life, in this case a surprising result from a DNA test which was given to the central character more or less as a joke. We've seen this set-up before in fiction and non-, so the answers to the puzzle are not very difficult to suss out. The reason for the rather low rating is I don't feel this was as focussed as Quindlan's previous works, that there was a lot of repetition and the characters were almost too goody two-shoes. Several could attain sainthood. I'll keep reading her though based on what I know she's capable of.
December 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced reader copy of More Than Enough by Anna Quinlan in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
More Than Enough is a short, quiet, and tender novel that packs an emotional punch. The beautifully written story is told from the perspective of Polly, a 43-year old high school English teacher, as she navigates love and loss with her family and 3 close book club friends. The novel is full of heavy topics - infertility, pregnancy loss, cancer, dementia, parental relationships, and genealogy.
The novel’s characters are so carefully crafted and fully developed that I became invested in their stories. I especially adored Polly’s sweet husband and loving but no-nonsense brother. Along with her supportive friends and in-laws, Polly navigates infertility, her best friend’s terminal cancer diagnosis, her father’s dementia, a fraught relationship with her mother, and a surprise in her DNA test. It took some time for me to warm up to Polly, but I cheered for her to discover that her life is “more than enough”. If I had one complaint, it would be that there is a LOT going on in this short book. If you enjoy quiet, character-driven literary fiction, I highly recommend this deeply moving novel—just be sure to check the trigger warnings first. 4/5⭐️ (Pub date: 2/24/26)
More Than Enough is a short, quiet, and tender novel that packs an emotional punch. The beautifully written story is told from the perspective of Polly, a 43-year old high school English teacher, as she navigates love and loss with her family and 3 close book club friends. The novel is full of heavy topics - infertility, pregnancy loss, cancer, dementia, parental relationships, and genealogy.
The novel’s characters are so carefully crafted and fully developed that I became invested in their stories. I especially adored Polly’s sweet husband and loving but no-nonsense brother. Along with her supportive friends and in-laws, Polly navigates infertility, her best friend’s terminal cancer diagnosis, her father’s dementia, a fraught relationship with her mother, and a surprise in her DNA test. It took some time for me to warm up to Polly, but I cheered for her to discover that her life is “more than enough”. If I had one complaint, it would be that there is a LOT going on in this short book. If you enjoy quiet, character-driven literary fiction, I highly recommend this deeply moving novel—just be sure to check the trigger warnings first. 4/5⭐️ (Pub date: 2/24/26)
September 28, 2025
Outstanding new story from Anna Quindlen. Family, loss, love and friendship are the cornerstone to this wonderfully written story. Polly is our main character with a book club of friends, parents who are aging and no longer get along, her brother as a comrade and active listener as well as a career as a teacher and a wonderfully kind husband as they continue to try to have a baby. That's a lot. And as the story unfolds we discover the history of her parents, her upbringing and the friendship she didn't ask for that changes her life.
September 21, 2025
I like a great deal about this book. I found the characters complex and likeable for the most part, and the plot was satisfying. I don't always feel so positive about Quindlen's work, so I was happy to have a good read from this novel. She develops difficult situations and relationships with sensitivity and empathy. Even the characters that seem negative, come through as full people that we can understand. As a General Fiction read, I found it fit the bill.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2025
In this heartfelt novel by Anna Quindlen, Polly, age 43, struggles with infertility, her father’s dementia, and a difficult relationship with her mother. When her book club friends give her a DNA test kit as a gift, she is startled and confused by the results that show she has a purported relative previously unknown to her.
At the same time Polly is dealing with all those challenges, she is blessed with a loving, supportive husband, and she is very close with her brother and best friend. She has a job she loves as an English teacher at a private girls’ school. Her close relationships and her fulfilling career are well-explored, and I enjoyed that the story was well-balanced between Polly’s struggles and joys.
Quindlen is masterful here at creating sympathetic characters who feel relatable and most often likable. The relationships among the characters are always interesting and usually heartwarming. Even the more minor characters are well-drawn and enrich the story.
Although there is real sadness and loss, the novel feels uplifting and hopeful. It was a pleasure to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an advance reading copy of More than Enough.
At the same time Polly is dealing with all those challenges, she is blessed with a loving, supportive husband, and she is very close with her brother and best friend. She has a job she loves as an English teacher at a private girls’ school. Her close relationships and her fulfilling career are well-explored, and I enjoyed that the story was well-balanced between Polly’s struggles and joys.
Quindlen is masterful here at creating sympathetic characters who feel relatable and most often likable. The relationships among the characters are always interesting and usually heartwarming. Even the more minor characters are well-drawn and enrich the story.
Although there is real sadness and loss, the novel feels uplifting and hopeful. It was a pleasure to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an advance reading copy of More than Enough.
December 2, 2025
Book clubs are great! High school English teacher Polly Goodman talks about everything with her book club, except the book. They’re her closest friends and, with her veterinarian husband, her support system. Her students, her relationship with her mother, and her IVF struggles have all been shared with her book club.
When the book club gives Polly an ancestry test as a joke, the results surprisingly match her with a stranger, a sixteen-year-old girl. Polly seriously doubts that the results are accurate. Despite that, she can’t ignore it, as she explores her family history. When the friendship circle shrinks, Polly learns how her friendships have profoundly transformed her life.
I am out with lanterns looking for myself.
-Emily Dickinson
REVIEW
MORE THAN ENOUGH is an intriguing story of family, friendship and loss. Polly was a completely relatable character. Her book club friends, her relationship with her mother, and her fertility struggles are all profound women’s issues. The story is engaging, and Anna Quinlen’s fans will enjoy it.
Quinlen’s writing smartly captures Polly’s feelings and frustrations about her life. Polly’s character is fairly well-developed, and I especially enjoyed her interactions with her husband, brother, and even her mother.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Publisher Random House
Published February 24, 2026
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
August 23, 2025
Absolutely adore this book! Amazing characters make it even more enjoyable and Polly is one I could really relate to. This book is heavy on themes of friendship and family and at times it was heart warming and other times it was a mix of emotion. I loved the plot overall. This is one of those books that sticks with you long after you finish it. I enjoyed it so much I read it in a few hours. I already miss the characters!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 27, 2025
Thank you Net Galley and Random House for allowing me to read and review this novel.
More Than Enough follows Polly who takes a DNA test and discovers she has a family member she didn’t know about. Polly is also facing infertility issues.
Polly also has 100 other things going on in her life.
The first half of this book was strong. The writing is beautiful and the characters were starting to be fleshed out. I was intrigued by the initial premise and also curious about all the other subplots.
Unfortunately, a little over halfway through it started to fall flat for me. I was wondering how any of the sub plots were important to the main plot. I pushed through hoping all the loose ends would tie up nicely but I don’t feel like they did.
(Also there was about a 5 year time jump I wasn’t prepared for? I thought she was 38 and next thing I knew she was 43? Did I miss something?)
I felt like I was being pulled from one subplot, to another, then back to the first, etc. Simply, there was too much going on and the story failed to make me care about any of the side stories enough to feel anything for those characters.
I also predicted the ending, however, I didn’t predict the long winding road that got us there.. by the end I was just ready to be done with it.
Some pros:
Again, the writing is well done. They had me in the first half. I really enjoyed the friendship of the women. I love Polly’s relationship with her brother. I love her husband, Mark, and his family. Sarah deserved the world! Everyone else, I could have lived without.
More Than Enough follows Polly who takes a DNA test and discovers she has a family member she didn’t know about. Polly is also facing infertility issues.
Polly also has 100 other things going on in her life.
The first half of this book was strong. The writing is beautiful and the characters were starting to be fleshed out. I was intrigued by the initial premise and also curious about all the other subplots.
Unfortunately, a little over halfway through it started to fall flat for me. I was wondering how any of the sub plots were important to the main plot. I pushed through hoping all the loose ends would tie up nicely but I don’t feel like they did.
(Also there was about a 5 year time jump I wasn’t prepared for? I thought she was 38 and next thing I knew she was 43? Did I miss something?)
I felt like I was being pulled from one subplot, to another, then back to the first, etc. Simply, there was too much going on and the story failed to make me care about any of the side stories enough to feel anything for those characters.
I also predicted the ending, however, I didn’t predict the long winding road that got us there.. by the end I was just ready to be done with it.
Some pros:
Again, the writing is well done. They had me in the first half. I really enjoyed the friendship of the women. I love Polly’s relationship with her brother. I love her husband, Mark, and his family. Sarah deserved the world! Everyone else, I could have lived without.
September 2, 2025
Polly Goodman teaches English at Windsor, an exclusive private school for girls. Mostly she loves her job but there are times when she's not sure what a particular student might need from her. She has the mix of girls - the bright ones, the mean ones, the ones with intrusive mothers, and the ones hanging on by their fingertips.
Polly was en route to a PhD when she found out that her husband was cheating on her. How could she have been so blind?! Everyone else saw him as a rotten catch, but Polly was smitten. She ditches her PhD program, gets her Master's degree and begins teaching at Windsor,
Her second husband, Mark, is one of the good ones. He loves Polly, emotionally supports her, and they have great sex, at least when they're not in the middle of an IVF fertility cycle. Polly, 38 years old when the book starts, is desperate to have a child. So is Mark. They are conscientious, following all their fertility doctor's instructions. Why then is she getting her period every 30 days like clockwork? She is despondent over this.
Polly is in a book club with her closest friends. They tell each other everything - the only rule is that they don't read the assigned monthly books. As a joke, the book club members get Polly an ancestry/genetics test. (Think 23andme or ancestry.com). They figure that, with potential parenthood looming on the horizon, Polly might benefit from knowing her lineage. Little do they know they mystery it will uncover.
Anna Quindlen gets relationships, especially families and friendships. She catches the lifelong uneasiness between Polly and her mother alongside the intimate connection between Polly and her now demented father. Her love for her brother is whole hearted and has the depth of the Titanic. I laughed and cried at the unique love between Polly and her loyal and quirky friends. This is a book to cherish. My only concerns are the frequent repetitions in this already short novel. (Really! I remember what I read two chapters back). And the prodromal warnings of things to come. I would have liked better editing. This book didn't need filler as it stands tall and proud on its own.
Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel which is scheduled to be published in early 2026. The review is totally my own.
Polly was en route to a PhD when she found out that her husband was cheating on her. How could she have been so blind?! Everyone else saw him as a rotten catch, but Polly was smitten. She ditches her PhD program, gets her Master's degree and begins teaching at Windsor,
Her second husband, Mark, is one of the good ones. He loves Polly, emotionally supports her, and they have great sex, at least when they're not in the middle of an IVF fertility cycle. Polly, 38 years old when the book starts, is desperate to have a child. So is Mark. They are conscientious, following all their fertility doctor's instructions. Why then is she getting her period every 30 days like clockwork? She is despondent over this.
Polly is in a book club with her closest friends. They tell each other everything - the only rule is that they don't read the assigned monthly books. As a joke, the book club members get Polly an ancestry/genetics test. (Think 23andme or ancestry.com). They figure that, with potential parenthood looming on the horizon, Polly might benefit from knowing her lineage. Little do they know they mystery it will uncover.
Anna Quindlen gets relationships, especially families and friendships. She catches the lifelong uneasiness between Polly and her mother alongside the intimate connection between Polly and her now demented father. Her love for her brother is whole hearted and has the depth of the Titanic. I laughed and cried at the unique love between Polly and her loyal and quirky friends. This is a book to cherish. My only concerns are the frequent repetitions in this already short novel. (Really! I remember what I read two chapters back). And the prodromal warnings of things to come. I would have liked better editing. This book didn't need filler as it stands tall and proud on its own.
Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel which is scheduled to be published in early 2026. The review is totally my own.
October 12, 2025
I'm giving this book a 3.5 rating rounded up to 4 stars.
I enjoyed the story and the writing. The characters were people that I think I would like to know and spend time with. But the description of the book led me to believe that the story would be about the main character, Polly, trying to find related family members after she is given an ancestry test kit as a joke by her friends. However, there is so much more to this story that that part tends to get lost.
Though, there are answers at the end about the ancestry DNA results, I still felt that the story had so much going on in it: her four best friends “the Book Club” and their close relationships; the information about her first marriage that leads to her ongoing second marriage; her difficulty in conceiving a child that takes her and her husband through the IVF process; her career as a high school English teacher at a local prestigious girls’ school and some of their problems; her difficult relationship with her mother, the judge, and the sadness of her father living in a care facility due to the onset of Alzheimer’s; a section that deals with the death of a loved one; and dealings with her husband’s whole family -- there is a LOT going on in this book. And I didn’t even mention the alpaca farm!
Overall, I did like this book enough to give it a good rating. But it felt a little busy.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Anna Quindlen, and Random House for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
I enjoyed the story and the writing. The characters were people that I think I would like to know and spend time with. But the description of the book led me to believe that the story would be about the main character, Polly, trying to find related family members after she is given an ancestry test kit as a joke by her friends. However, there is so much more to this story that that part tends to get lost.
Though, there are answers at the end about the ancestry DNA results, I still felt that the story had so much going on in it: her four best friends “the Book Club” and their close relationships; the information about her first marriage that leads to her ongoing second marriage; her difficulty in conceiving a child that takes her and her husband through the IVF process; her career as a high school English teacher at a local prestigious girls’ school and some of their problems; her difficult relationship with her mother, the judge, and the sadness of her father living in a care facility due to the onset of Alzheimer’s; a section that deals with the death of a loved one; and dealings with her husband’s whole family -- there is a LOT going on in this book. And I didn’t even mention the alpaca farm!
Overall, I did like this book enough to give it a good rating. But it felt a little busy.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Anna Quindlen, and Random House for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
September 2, 2025
I’m always excited to receive a new release from an author I’ve enjoyed in the past. I move them right to the top of my “to read” list. This one didn’t disappoint. Her writing is so easy to read and enjoyable; each conversation flows and they all sound real. There are numerous side plots in the book and they all held my interest and added to the story. I definitely recommend this book.
I did have a bit of trouble with one of the critical scenes near the end of the book; it didn’t ring true to me. But overall I still enjoyed this read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I did have a bit of trouble with one of the critical scenes near the end of the book; it didn’t ring true to me. But overall I still enjoyed this read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! The main character, Polly has infertility issues that trouble her and her husband, Mark. She also has completed an ancestry kit and found a match. The story itself is interesting but what I loved most about this book is the characters and their relationships. She has special relationship with her father, her brother and her three book club friends. Meanwhile the relationship with her mother is strained.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 12, 2025
Anna Quindlen writes books that deal with important topics. This one deals with infertility, but also with what it means to be family. Polly does one of those DNA tests when given the kit as a bit of a joke for her birthday. Dealing with that is threaded throughout the book, but the book seems to me to be more about what makes someone part of your family besides a biological connection. Polly has wonderful friends, especially Sarah. She is a well loved teacher to her students. She has strong connections to her in laws. Anna Quindlen has written a quiet story that will resonate with many readers. This story will stay with me for a long time.
November 16, 2025
As always, Quindlen delivers. Her beautiful writing engages you from the first page. Like meeting up with an old friend to hear her story. I loved the characters and the gentle story of women's friendship, family, and love, which not only kept me turning the pages but was also emotionally meaningful. I thought about the characters and the story even when I wasn't reading -- that's always a sign of a good book for me. Loved this. Love her writing. So grateful to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read/review.
November 14, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for my ARC in enchanted for my honest review. This book will be published February 24, 2025.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I found the plot to be really dull. I was bored. The best part was the book club that met for 13 years but NEVER read the book. 😀
Sadly cannot recommend.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I found the plot to be really dull. I was bored. The best part was the book club that met for 13 years but NEVER read the book. 😀
Sadly cannot recommend.
October 9, 2025
I loved the writing of this book. Which isn’t a thing I usually say.
I like plot, movement, characters, growth - and usually if I’m actively aware of the writing, I’m annoyed by it. This book was kind of slow in plot, with quiet and kind characters and not a lot of growth or movement… but it was a page-turner anyway because of how the author kept the words moving. Each scene had just a couple of vivid moments, a snippet of dialogue, and then jumped ahead. I knew what was going to happen but I was eager to get there anyway.
It was quiet and sweet, a 40-something plot and themes similar to (and better than) Sandwich, similar to (not as good as) We All Want Impossible Things.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. 3.5-4 ⭐️ — Recommend.
I like plot, movement, characters, growth - and usually if I’m actively aware of the writing, I’m annoyed by it. This book was kind of slow in plot, with quiet and kind characters and not a lot of growth or movement… but it was a page-turner anyway because of how the author kept the words moving. Each scene had just a couple of vivid moments, a snippet of dialogue, and then jumped ahead. I knew what was going to happen but I was eager to get there anyway.
It was quiet and sweet, a 40-something plot and themes similar to (and better than) Sandwich, similar to (not as good as) We All Want Impossible Things.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. 3.5-4 ⭐️ — Recommend.
September 15, 2025
Anna Quindlen has always had a gift for writing about ordinary lives in a way that feels luminous, and More Than Enough is no exception. This is a novel that quietly gathers power as it explores the tangle of family, friendship, and identity.
Polly Goodman is such a deeply relatable character—an English teacher who balances the joys of her classroom, the frustrations of IVF struggles, and the comfort of her book club friends with an honesty that never feels forced. The book club itself is one of my favorite aspects of the novel: their banter and intimacy capture how sustaining long-term friendships can be. When a joking gift of an ancestry kit stirs up unsettling questions about Polly’s family history, Quindlen handles it not with melodrama but with nuance, reminding us that the past has a way of shaping our present in ways we don’t expect.
What makes the book especially moving is how it balances heaviness with light. Quindlen’s humor flickers through even in moments of grief or self-doubt, and her prose carries that clear, conversational tone she’s so well known for. The themes—what makes a family, how friendships evolve, how we redefine ourselves through change—are timeless, but here they feel both personal and fresh.
I enjoyed how many threads Quindlen successfully weaves together: Polly puzzling over how she might be related to her “niece,” navigating the medical ups and downs of IVF, watching her father’s heartbreaking decline into dementia, coping with the stresses of her teaching job, and wrestling with her lifelong conflicts with her mother. It’s a lot, but that is pretty much how life unfolds. Messy, layered, and never neatly contained. Quindlen captures it with warmth, wit, and an eye for important small moments.
The book shines in its portrayal of friendships, especially Polly’s book club, which feels wonderfully lived-in—like people you know, not just characters on a page. A few sections get weighed down by introspection, but overall the novel is deeply engaging, thoughtful, and beautifully written.
For readers who love stories about identity, family, and the sustaining power of friendship, this one is more than enough.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on February 24, 2026.
Polly Goodman is such a deeply relatable character—an English teacher who balances the joys of her classroom, the frustrations of IVF struggles, and the comfort of her book club friends with an honesty that never feels forced. The book club itself is one of my favorite aspects of the novel: their banter and intimacy capture how sustaining long-term friendships can be. When a joking gift of an ancestry kit stirs up unsettling questions about Polly’s family history, Quindlen handles it not with melodrama but with nuance, reminding us that the past has a way of shaping our present in ways we don’t expect.
What makes the book especially moving is how it balances heaviness with light. Quindlen’s humor flickers through even in moments of grief or self-doubt, and her prose carries that clear, conversational tone she’s so well known for. The themes—what makes a family, how friendships evolve, how we redefine ourselves through change—are timeless, but here they feel both personal and fresh.
I enjoyed how many threads Quindlen successfully weaves together: Polly puzzling over how she might be related to her “niece,” navigating the medical ups and downs of IVF, watching her father’s heartbreaking decline into dementia, coping with the stresses of her teaching job, and wrestling with her lifelong conflicts with her mother. It’s a lot, but that is pretty much how life unfolds. Messy, layered, and never neatly contained. Quindlen captures it with warmth, wit, and an eye for important small moments.
The book shines in its portrayal of friendships, especially Polly’s book club, which feels wonderfully lived-in—like people you know, not just characters on a page. A few sections get weighed down by introspection, but overall the novel is deeply engaging, thoughtful, and beautifully written.
For readers who love stories about identity, family, and the sustaining power of friendship, this one is more than enough.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on February 24, 2026.
November 15, 2025
As a woman who just finished her forties, this story was relatable to me on many levels. I’ve read Anna Quindlen’s books in the past and this one felt as cozy as the alpaca sweaters described throughout. I especially loved the relationships with her book club - she captured New York City friendships perfectly and I felt like I was walking around the reservoir in Central Park with them.
The book was as long as it needed to be. The ending was satisfying and I find myself thinking about the story even a few weeks after reading it. I look forward to recommending this to my own book club.
I received a copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book was as long as it needed to be. The ending was satisfying and I find myself thinking about the story even a few weeks after reading it. I look forward to recommending this to my own book club.
I received a copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2025
I feel like I’m late to the party celebrating how wonderful Quindlen’s writing is.
There’s a moment in this novel where Polly describes how sometimes you just know a person will become your lifelong friend, and that’s sort of how I felt with this book from the first chapters.
I loved the characters and the story. Is it too good to be true sometimes? Maybe - but it still had plenty of heartbreak.
The fertility journey is a very particular sort of pain and Quindlen describes it perfectly. I remember going to my local library a couple of years ago and asking the librarian for a recommendation - a book about fertility with a happy ending. She could not offer anything specific. Yet, here it is. (A Favor by Adele Griffin is another one)
Polly also deals with her father’s dementia and tries to navigate a far from perfect relationship with her mother - both storylines are explored wonderfully.
There are a lot of things one can relate to here - female friendships and sweet guilt of having a closer relationship with one of the friends in the group; mothers and daughters; coming of age; what love looks like and what a good family looks like for different people.
Do yourself a favor and read this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, for sharing an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. The book is out on February 24, 2026.
There’s a moment in this novel where Polly describes how sometimes you just know a person will become your lifelong friend, and that’s sort of how I felt with this book from the first chapters.
I loved the characters and the story. Is it too good to be true sometimes? Maybe - but it still had plenty of heartbreak.
The fertility journey is a very particular sort of pain and Quindlen describes it perfectly. I remember going to my local library a couple of years ago and asking the librarian for a recommendation - a book about fertility with a happy ending. She could not offer anything specific. Yet, here it is. (A Favor by Adele Griffin is another one)
Polly also deals with her father’s dementia and tries to navigate a far from perfect relationship with her mother - both storylines are explored wonderfully.
There are a lot of things one can relate to here - female friendships and sweet guilt of having a closer relationship with one of the friends in the group; mothers and daughters; coming of age; what love looks like and what a good family looks like for different people.
Do yourself a favor and read this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, for sharing an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. The book is out on February 24, 2026.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2025
Title: More Than Enough
Author: Anna Quindlen
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Given a DNA test as a joke by her book club turns into a journey of seeking answers, understanding loss, keeping secrets, and discovering the true story of your life. More Than Enough tells Polly’s story of the connection from the DNA test (which causes more questions than answers) while she tries to come to terms with not being able to get pregnant, a friend’s illness, her father’s long term care for dementia, and her strained relationship with her mother.
Takeaways:
1. Supporting characters of Mark, Sarah, and Garrison for the win.
2. Polly’s plate must be huge because she is balancing a lot on it. The reality of it is, she’s in her early 40s so readers of the same age can relate to everything she is dealing with: role reversal in caring for her father, bridging the gap from childbearing years to perimenopause, looking death in the eye when it decides to plan a visit with someone you know, and seeking to understand the life you’ve been given.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on February 24, 2026.
#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #randomhouse #morethanenough @annaqwrites
Author: Anna Quindlen
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Given a DNA test as a joke by her book club turns into a journey of seeking answers, understanding loss, keeping secrets, and discovering the true story of your life. More Than Enough tells Polly’s story of the connection from the DNA test (which causes more questions than answers) while she tries to come to terms with not being able to get pregnant, a friend’s illness, her father’s long term care for dementia, and her strained relationship with her mother.
Takeaways:
1. Supporting characters of Mark, Sarah, and Garrison for the win.
2. Polly’s plate must be huge because she is balancing a lot on it. The reality of it is, she’s in her early 40s so readers of the same age can relate to everything she is dealing with: role reversal in caring for her father, bridging the gap from childbearing years to perimenopause, looking death in the eye when it decides to plan a visit with someone you know, and seeking to understand the life you’ve been given.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on February 24, 2026.
#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #randomhouse #morethanenough @annaqwrites
October 3, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
In More Than Enough, 42 year-old Polly, a high school English teacher at an all girls school is convinced to do a DNA test by her book club friends. When she does A young high school girl makes contact and Polly must figure out how she's related. This is just one of quite a few subplots in this quiet character driven novel.
There were some parts of this novel I really enjoyed. The relationship between Polly and her husband Mark was loving and mature,
and the friendship of the ladies in the book club who always buy the book but are committed to never reading the book was lots of fun. Relationships between Polly and her brother.
and her mother and her students were also well written and interesting.
Where I had trouble was the choppiness of the narrative.For me, the story did not seem to flow smoothly from subplot to subplot, but instead we seem to lose plots for long sections of the book. There also seemed to be so much time spent on their fertility issue, instead of the relationships which were the stength of the novel. Thank you to net galley and Random house for the e.Galley of this book.
In More Than Enough, 42 year-old Polly, a high school English teacher at an all girls school is convinced to do a DNA test by her book club friends. When she does A young high school girl makes contact and Polly must figure out how she's related. This is just one of quite a few subplots in this quiet character driven novel.
There were some parts of this novel I really enjoyed. The relationship between Polly and her husband Mark was loving and mature,
and the friendship of the ladies in the book club who always buy the book but are committed to never reading the book was lots of fun. Relationships between Polly and her brother.
and her mother and her students were also well written and interesting.
Where I had trouble was the choppiness of the narrative.For me, the story did not seem to flow smoothly from subplot to subplot, but instead we seem to lose plots for long sections of the book. There also seemed to be so much time spent on their fertility issue, instead of the relationships which were the stength of the novel. Thank you to net galley and Random house for the e.Galley of this book.
September 11, 2025
“More Than Enough” by Anna Quindlen is a book about family dynamics, friendship and loss. The premise and concept intrigued me immediately. A woman receives an ancestry kit from her bookclub girlfriends as a birthday gift and the test comes back positive with shockingly results. As she investigates, we learn that her father has Alzheimer’s, her connection to her mother is very strained, and one of her book club girlfriends has life threatening breast cancer.
Her journey to find the truth around the DNA match is authentic but getting to the reveal was a bit slow and somewhat repetitive. However, the authors perspective on aging and loss was thoughtful, honest and filled with wise and sympathetic reflections on navigating life and difficult family relationships.
This is a great book for book clubs as there are so many real life topics to discuss!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Her journey to find the truth around the DNA match is authentic but getting to the reveal was a bit slow and somewhat repetitive. However, the authors perspective on aging and loss was thoughtful, honest and filled with wise and sympathetic reflections on navigating life and difficult family relationships.
This is a great book for book clubs as there are so many real life topics to discuss!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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