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Can I Give My Stepkids Back?
As a childcare centre director, Morgan has to deal with kids every day but would much rather run her own boarding kennel. Snoopy - Morgan's beagle - is indeed the only living being she has considered family these past few years. When her sister and brother-in-law die in a terrible car crash, she has no choice but to adopt their two children.
The unexpected addition to her household is clearly unlikely to get her closer to her canine goals - and as if this wasn't enough, she seems to be getting it all wrong in her new role, ordering bedding her new son Elliot finds terribly childish, and forgetting to bake a cake for school on Lea's birthday. Grandma Catherine is convinced she'd do a much better job...
When Snoopy sprains his leg, the kids are swept off their feet by the handsome single vet who's nursing him back to health. They're convinced he and Morgan would be a match made in heaven. Now they only need to convince Morgan...
The unexpected addition to her household is clearly unlikely to get her closer to her canine goals - and as if this wasn't enough, she seems to be getting it all wrong in her new role, ordering bedding her new son Elliot finds terribly childish, and forgetting to bake a cake for school on Lea's birthday. Grandma Catherine is convinced she'd do a much better job...
When Snoopy sprains his leg, the kids are swept off their feet by the handsome single vet who's nursing him back to health. They're convinced he and Morgan would be a match made in heaven. Now they only need to convince Morgan...
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 20, 2020
3.5 stars
Translation into English from French.
First of all, the title is very misleading as you expect this to be something light hearted, maybe in the rom-com category. This is the story of Morgan Mercier, unmarried and insular, who at the age of thirty five finds herself the guardian of her nephew Elliot and niece Lea when her sister Amelie and her husband are killed. So definitely not a rom-com and definitely not step-kids either but I daresay ‘Can I give my nephew and niece back?’ doesn’t sound as interesting or quite right. The story is told by Morgan and Elliot in alternating points of view and the timeframe is 2016.
This is a ‘game of two halves’ which is an appropriate analogy as later in the book the football World Cup starts and of course, La Belle France win that year to the country’s joy! The first half of the novel is quite dull at times, for example, there are superfluous descriptions from Morgan about her job as a manager of a children’s nursery. Elliot’s sections are more interesting as he’s so hurt, he’s grieving, his Aunt Morgan is not used to children and so his sections are very sad. He writes letters to his mother and that is heartbreaking in its innocence and honesty. He is a lovely child as is Lea. Thankfully, the book does improve as you progress through the story especially as you grow in understanding of the big issues and burden that Morgan is carrying. You appreciate her struggles to cope with two children and why she has exerted so much control over her life. Morgan’s mother Catherine is a piece of work, unsympathetic and unkind and her actions at times beggars belief though her love of her grandchildren is never in doubt. However, at the end of the book there’s more sympathy for Catherine. The ending is nice but it’s maybe a little too convenient and tied up with a neat bow.
Overall, I ended up liking the book although it takes a long time to get going. It’s sad and emotional in places and sweet and heartwarming in others. Please change the title!!!
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the arc for an honest review.
Translation into English from French.
First of all, the title is very misleading as you expect this to be something light hearted, maybe in the rom-com category. This is the story of Morgan Mercier, unmarried and insular, who at the age of thirty five finds herself the guardian of her nephew Elliot and niece Lea when her sister Amelie and her husband are killed. So definitely not a rom-com and definitely not step-kids either but I daresay ‘Can I give my nephew and niece back?’ doesn’t sound as interesting or quite right. The story is told by Morgan and Elliot in alternating points of view and the timeframe is 2016.
This is a ‘game of two halves’ which is an appropriate analogy as later in the book the football World Cup starts and of course, La Belle France win that year to the country’s joy! The first half of the novel is quite dull at times, for example, there are superfluous descriptions from Morgan about her job as a manager of a children’s nursery. Elliot’s sections are more interesting as he’s so hurt, he’s grieving, his Aunt Morgan is not used to children and so his sections are very sad. He writes letters to his mother and that is heartbreaking in its innocence and honesty. He is a lovely child as is Lea. Thankfully, the book does improve as you progress through the story especially as you grow in understanding of the big issues and burden that Morgan is carrying. You appreciate her struggles to cope with two children and why she has exerted so much control over her life. Morgan’s mother Catherine is a piece of work, unsympathetic and unkind and her actions at times beggars belief though her love of her grandchildren is never in doubt. However, at the end of the book there’s more sympathy for Catherine. The ending is nice but it’s maybe a little too convenient and tied up with a neat bow.
Overall, I ended up liking the book although it takes a long time to get going. It’s sad and emotional in places and sweet and heartwarming in others. Please change the title!!!
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the arc for an honest review.
March 7, 2021
Morgan is the manager of a children’s nursery in France, she works long hours and has a very controlled life liking everything to be tidy and organised.
When her sister and brother in law are killed in an accident, her life is turned upside down when she becomes guardian of her niece Lea and nephew Elliott at her sisters request.
This story had me enthralled. The life like characters and how you can empathise with them. I loved seeing Morgan’s personality change as she takes the children into her home and her heart.
A story that made me laugh and cry. It covers loss, love and forgiveness in a beautifully written way that kept me gripped until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
When her sister and brother in law are killed in an accident, her life is turned upside down when she becomes guardian of her niece Lea and nephew Elliott at her sisters request.
This story had me enthralled. The life like characters and how you can empathise with them. I loved seeing Morgan’s personality change as she takes the children into her home and her heart.
A story that made me laugh and cry. It covers loss, love and forgiveness in a beautifully written way that kept me gripped until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
December 5, 2020
thanks to the publishers and net galley for this free copy in return for an open and honest review
This novel was an easy going read about an aunt who takes in her late sister's children in, its funny and sad in parts but felt however the ending was a bit too nicely tied up together.
This novel was an easy going read about an aunt who takes in her late sister's children in, its funny and sad in parts but felt however the ending was a bit too nicely tied up together.
January 20, 2021
When I received Can I give my step kids back by Aurelie Tramier, before I read the burb, I thought this would be a romantic comedy, but it was completely different to what I was expecting.
Morgan is manager at a children’s nursery. But she is anything, but the maternal type needed for her job. So, when after a tragic accident and her sister and her brother-in-law dies. Her sister gives her sole custody of their two children Elliot and Lea, to the disappointment of her mother that thinks that she will not be able to look after the two children. As Morgan is single with a busy job. How will she look after them?
Morgan takes the children in. But must learn how to look after the children from scratch which is hard as her mother is breathing down her neck and the children hasn’t got over their parents’ death. It is not plain sailing and by doing this brings back old demons that Morgan has kept hidden for years.
I found this at bit a hard to get into at first and found Morgan quite selfish to begin with but, as the story unfolds you find out why she is like and acting like she is. Besides that, I did enjoy this heartfelt story especially Elliot with his letters to his parents and yes there was a bit of romance in it too.
Morgan is manager at a children’s nursery. But she is anything, but the maternal type needed for her job. So, when after a tragic accident and her sister and her brother-in-law dies. Her sister gives her sole custody of their two children Elliot and Lea, to the disappointment of her mother that thinks that she will not be able to look after the two children. As Morgan is single with a busy job. How will she look after them?
Morgan takes the children in. But must learn how to look after the children from scratch which is hard as her mother is breathing down her neck and the children hasn’t got over their parents’ death. It is not plain sailing and by doing this brings back old demons that Morgan has kept hidden for years.
I found this at bit a hard to get into at first and found Morgan quite selfish to begin with but, as the story unfolds you find out why she is like and acting like she is. Besides that, I did enjoy this heartfelt story especially Elliot with his letters to his parents and yes there was a bit of romance in it too.
February 18, 2021
As a childcare center director, Morgan has to deal with kids every day but would much rather run her own boarding kennel. Snoopy—Morgan's beagle—is indeed the only living being she has considered family these past few years. When her sister and brother-in-law die in a terrible car crash, she has no choice but to adopt their two children.
The unexpected addition to her household is clearly unlikely to get her closer to her canine goals—and as if this wasn't enough, she seems to be getting it all wrong with her "step kids". Elliot finds her terribly childish, and on Lea's birthday, she forgets to bake a cake for school. Grandma Catherine is convinced she'd do a much better job...
This was completely different to what I was expecting but it was still a heartwarming read!
Despite her reservations, Morgan’s love for her sister supersedes everything. It was nice to read how she tries to improve and not just provide for her sister’s children but gradually begins to love them. I felt a lot sympathetic towards her while reading her personal struggles. Elliot’s letters to his mum were really heart wrenching as he poured out his secrets and all his emotions into them.
It was not an easy journey for any of them. But they deal with the ups and downs and finally do come together.
Thank You NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC!
The unexpected addition to her household is clearly unlikely to get her closer to her canine goals—and as if this wasn't enough, she seems to be getting it all wrong with her "step kids". Elliot finds her terribly childish, and on Lea's birthday, she forgets to bake a cake for school. Grandma Catherine is convinced she'd do a much better job...
This was completely different to what I was expecting but it was still a heartwarming read!
Despite her reservations, Morgan’s love for her sister supersedes everything. It was nice to read how she tries to improve and not just provide for her sister’s children but gradually begins to love them. I felt a lot sympathetic towards her while reading her personal struggles. Elliot’s letters to his mum were really heart wrenching as he poured out his secrets and all his emotions into them.
It was not an easy journey for any of them. But they deal with the ups and downs and finally do come together.
Thank You NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC!
February 18, 2021
As a chldcare centre director, Moran has to deal with kids everyday but would rather run her own boarding kennels. Snoopy, Morgan's beagle - is the only living being she has considered family these past few years.
When her sister and brother-in-law die in a terrible car crash, she has no choice but to adopt their two children.
The title of this book is a bit deceiving. The kids in this story are not stepkids byt her sister's children so the title is misleading. Morgan doesn't have a maternal bone in her body and struggkes to cope with Lea and Elliot. We get most of the characters backstories and it's narratted from Morgan and Elliot's perspevctives. This is a story about a family who's lives were torn apart. This book/has been translated from French into English.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HodderStoughton and the author #AurelieTramier for my ARC #CanIGiveMyStepkidsBack in exchange for an honest review.
When her sister and brother-in-law die in a terrible car crash, she has no choice but to adopt their two children.
The title of this book is a bit deceiving. The kids in this story are not stepkids byt her sister's children so the title is misleading. Morgan doesn't have a maternal bone in her body and struggkes to cope with Lea and Elliot. We get most of the characters backstories and it's narratted from Morgan and Elliot's perspevctives. This is a story about a family who's lives were torn apart. This book/has been translated from French into English.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HodderStoughton and the author #AurelieTramier for my ARC #CanIGiveMyStepkidsBack in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2021
From a rather emotional and rocky beginning this grows into such a beautiful and loving story that I couldn't get enough of.
Morgan especially changes over the course of the book and for the better as although I was intrigued by her, it took a while to really like her.
Where as Eliot whose 10 the chapters from his point of view are heart wrenching, realistic and just seem so tender.
He and sister Lea are suddenly thrust into the care of aunt Morgan after their parents die. Morgan has never really known what to do with kids and is grieving herself too.
Yet this is her dying sisters wish so has to somehow do her best. And slowly they all get used to each other. We also understand more of her past that has moulded her, and explains a lot.
I loved a lot of the secondary storylines too, some really great characters.
I found this was a fast read, that I didn't really want to put down, and was thinking about when not reading.
Thoroughly enjoyable book.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
Morgan especially changes over the course of the book and for the better as although I was intrigued by her, it took a while to really like her.
Where as Eliot whose 10 the chapters from his point of view are heart wrenching, realistic and just seem so tender.
He and sister Lea are suddenly thrust into the care of aunt Morgan after their parents die. Morgan has never really known what to do with kids and is grieving herself too.
Yet this is her dying sisters wish so has to somehow do her best. And slowly they all get used to each other. We also understand more of her past that has moulded her, and explains a lot.
I loved a lot of the secondary storylines too, some really great characters.
I found this was a fast read, that I didn't really want to put down, and was thinking about when not reading.
Thoroughly enjoyable book.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
February 23, 2021
Gosh this story takes you through the whole gamut of emotions again and again! It is a story where Morgan suddenly finds herself responsible for bringing up Elliot and Lea, her nephew and niece, after their parents are killed in a car crash. She is only used to living with her dog, Snoopy, and whilst grieving for the loss of her beloved sister learning to look after her children is definitely a shock to her system.
They're all grieving, getting to know each other and their new norm. However, the lifestyle changes for all of them aren't necessarily helped by Morgan's Mum, the children's Grandma Cat, who always seems to have her claws out ready to attack Morgan, even when it is only via a phone call. It is a story of fresh starts, secrets from the past, new opportunities and the growth to be a family. It is also about healing, learning to trust and love, striving to attain your dreams and has a delightful couple of matchmaking children, too!
It is an emotive read, highly entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable. It is told mainly from the points of view of Morgan and Elliot, including some heartbreaking letters Elliot writes to his Mum. Make sure you have the tissues ready when you read this, though I'm not sure whether you'll be crying happy or sad tears - or a mixture of the two!
My thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
They're all grieving, getting to know each other and their new norm. However, the lifestyle changes for all of them aren't necessarily helped by Morgan's Mum, the children's Grandma Cat, who always seems to have her claws out ready to attack Morgan, even when it is only via a phone call. It is a story of fresh starts, secrets from the past, new opportunities and the growth to be a family. It is also about healing, learning to trust and love, striving to attain your dreams and has a delightful couple of matchmaking children, too!
It is an emotive read, highly entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable. It is told mainly from the points of view of Morgan and Elliot, including some heartbreaking letters Elliot writes to his Mum. Make sure you have the tissues ready when you read this, though I'm not sure whether you'll be crying happy or sad tears - or a mixture of the two!
My thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
June 7, 2021
DNF at 22%.
Morgan is a single woman whose only love, apart from her little sister Emilie, is her dog Snoopy. When Emilie and her husband die in a tragic car crash Morgan is shocked to discover that Emilie asked her to look after her two children as her dying wish. Despite working at a children's nursery, Morgan isn't comfortable with children and really wanted to be a vet.
I think the big issue for me is that this is very clearly a translation of a book originally written in French. It felt stilted and after reading nearly a quarter of the book I wasn't engaged and nothing struck me as funny. Whether that is because French humour differs from British humour or because the translation didn't do justice to the original I can't tell.
Anyway, I gave it a shot but I didn't warm to Morgan or to the two children and the book felt clunky so I gave up at 22%.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Morgan is a single woman whose only love, apart from her little sister Emilie, is her dog Snoopy. When Emilie and her husband die in a tragic car crash Morgan is shocked to discover that Emilie asked her to look after her two children as her dying wish. Despite working at a children's nursery, Morgan isn't comfortable with children and really wanted to be a vet.
I think the big issue for me is that this is very clearly a translation of a book originally written in French. It felt stilted and after reading nearly a quarter of the book I wasn't engaged and nothing struck me as funny. Whether that is because French humour differs from British humour or because the translation didn't do justice to the original I can't tell.
Anyway, I gave it a shot but I didn't warm to Morgan or to the two children and the book felt clunky so I gave up at 22%.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
December 19, 2020
I've read some reviews of this book that describe it as hilarious.
I have to disagree.
In fact, when I started it, it took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I was fully in.
Morgan has led a disturbing life and is haunted by ghosts of the past. It has affected her as a person, and how she handles herself and interacts with others immensely.
She's happy in her little job as a nursery manager, living with her old dog, Snoopy. Then one day, a terrible tragedy means that she is left as the guardian of her nephew and niece.
Ths story is told through the point of view of both Morgan, and her nephew Elliott.
There is much to smile about at the end, but there is also so much pain and suffering, both from the children, and their aunt, and it is told in a very readable manner.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton
I have to disagree.
In fact, when I started it, it took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I was fully in.
Morgan has led a disturbing life and is haunted by ghosts of the past. It has affected her as a person, and how she handles herself and interacts with others immensely.
She's happy in her little job as a nursery manager, living with her old dog, Snoopy. Then one day, a terrible tragedy means that she is left as the guardian of her nephew and niece.
Ths story is told through the point of view of both Morgan, and her nephew Elliott.
There is much to smile about at the end, but there is also so much pain and suffering, both from the children, and their aunt, and it is told in a very readable manner.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton
November 22, 2020
Rating: 3.5 stars.
This book was so cute!
I loved the children especially, Lea was adorable and so sweet and it was so fun to read about their daily lives. Morgan was super relatable for me and definitely a great protagonist, and I enjoyed reading about her backstory and her struggles felt very real and authentic. I also really liked her little romantic storyline in the end.
The plot itself was pretty average. Some scenes were quite boring and I sometimes felt like some chapters were unnecessary long. I did like the split POV between Elliot and Morgan and the inclusion of the letters. I do think there could have been some more excitement though.
Overall this was a pretty cute book, and definitely a very light, fun and quick read.
This book was so cute!
I loved the children especially, Lea was adorable and so sweet and it was so fun to read about their daily lives. Morgan was super relatable for me and definitely a great protagonist, and I enjoyed reading about her backstory and her struggles felt very real and authentic. I also really liked her little romantic storyline in the end.
The plot itself was pretty average. Some scenes were quite boring and I sometimes felt like some chapters were unnecessary long. I did like the split POV between Elliot and Morgan and the inclusion of the letters. I do think there could have been some more excitement though.
Overall this was a pretty cute book, and definitely a very light, fun and quick read.
February 6, 2021
Admittedly, I was pulled in by the funny title ("Can I Give My Stepkids Back?") and the rom-com description of the book, which seemed to promise a lot of humorous mishaps with perhaps some nontraditional views on parenting. However, the tone of the book ended up being quite different, and the "stepkids" are in fact the main character's nephew and niece. It's a translation from a French novel, and the description I found from the French website did the book a lot more justice, focusing on difficult journeys and deep wounds from the past. I also liked the French title, which translates to "Paint the Rain in Color."
This book is about a woman named Morgan whose life seems pretty sad. She works in a nursery but doesn't seem to like kids or connect well with her co-workers. Her only real companion is her dog, Snoopy. One day, her life changes when her beloved younger sister and brother-in-law suddenly die in a car accident, leaving Morgan with the custody of her nephew Elliot and niece Lea. The arrangement is challenging for all of them, and Morgan's parents' meddling adds complications. The story is alternately narrated by Morgan and Elliot, which were two different and interesting perspectives.
The biggest challenge I had with this novel as a reader was that it reads like a translation, and none of the voices feel authentic because of this. It was very challenging for me to get invested in the characters and their situation at first, but after spending enough time reading their thoughts and emotions, I started to get invested in what was happening. I was especially able to empathize with Morgan's emotional journey, dealing with the sudden change in her life, the loss of her sister, her complicated relationship with her parents, and her unfulfilled dreams. Some of the side details and characters feel a little too convenient, but they don't play a big enough role to detract from the main story.
Overall, I found this to be a quick and decent read, though I still really want to read a humorous stepkid book!
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is about a woman named Morgan whose life seems pretty sad. She works in a nursery but doesn't seem to like kids or connect well with her co-workers. Her only real companion is her dog, Snoopy. One day, her life changes when her beloved younger sister and brother-in-law suddenly die in a car accident, leaving Morgan with the custody of her nephew Elliot and niece Lea. The arrangement is challenging for all of them, and Morgan's parents' meddling adds complications. The story is alternately narrated by Morgan and Elliot, which were two different and interesting perspectives.
The biggest challenge I had with this novel as a reader was that it reads like a translation, and none of the voices feel authentic because of this. It was very challenging for me to get invested in the characters and their situation at first, but after spending enough time reading their thoughts and emotions, I started to get invested in what was happening. I was especially able to empathize with Morgan's emotional journey, dealing with the sudden change in her life, the loss of her sister, her complicated relationship with her parents, and her unfulfilled dreams. Some of the side details and characters feel a little too convenient, but they don't play a big enough role to detract from the main story.
Overall, I found this to be a quick and decent read, though I still really want to read a humorous stepkid book!
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2021
Talk about an emotional read!
First thing I will say is that the title is very misleading, could be because the book was translated from French. The French version apparently has a more appropriate name. The kids are not her stepkids but her sister's kids. This is also not a light read, which you may believe because of the title and cover. This is an heartwrenching and emotional book.
Morgan is single, running a childcare centre and living a life of isolation, just the way she likes it when her sister and brother-in-law dies tragically in a car accident and leaves their two kids to her. In her mind she doesn't have the maternal instinct required and struggles with the reason behind her sister's decision.
This book started off slow for me and I took a while to get into it but once I did I could not stop reading. It is told from Morgan's perspective as well as her 10 year old nephew Elliot's who is struggling with the death of his parents.
This is a heavy read and even though the writing style is different from what I am used to, it is written beautifully. I definitely recommend this but with the appropriate trigger warnings since it covers death, child abandonment and sexual abuse.
This book made me to cry and laughed all on the same page. It will touch you in so many ways!
Thanks to Netgallley and Hodderbooks for a ARC in exchange for my honest review. Publication date for this book is February 25, 2021.
First thing I will say is that the title is very misleading, could be because the book was translated from French. The French version apparently has a more appropriate name. The kids are not her stepkids but her sister's kids. This is also not a light read, which you may believe because of the title and cover. This is an heartwrenching and emotional book.
Morgan is single, running a childcare centre and living a life of isolation, just the way she likes it when her sister and brother-in-law dies tragically in a car accident and leaves their two kids to her. In her mind she doesn't have the maternal instinct required and struggles with the reason behind her sister's decision.
This book started off slow for me and I took a while to get into it but once I did I could not stop reading. It is told from Morgan's perspective as well as her 10 year old nephew Elliot's who is struggling with the death of his parents.
This is a heavy read and even though the writing style is different from what I am used to, it is written beautifully. I definitely recommend this but with the appropriate trigger warnings since it covers death, child abandonment and sexual abuse.
This book made me to cry and laughed all on the same page. It will touch you in so many ways!
Thanks to Netgallley and Hodderbooks for a ARC in exchange for my honest review. Publication date for this book is February 25, 2021.
February 18, 2021
I got this eARC from Netgalley in exhange for a honest review
Honestly i was sort of fooled? thinking this was going to be a light-hearted maybe a doze of romantic comedy story but it was mostly sad and very little fun. I was also a bit confused and bored, because sometimes i felt like some parts of the story was thrown in here and there and in my head made no sense, order wise. But the Elliot`s letters/chapters to his mother broke my heart, it was sad and painful , it also made my heart a little warm - the letters/chapters was the highlight of the book for me.
Honestly i was sort of fooled? thinking this was going to be a light-hearted maybe a doze of romantic comedy story but it was mostly sad and very little fun. I was also a bit confused and bored, because sometimes i felt like some parts of the story was thrown in here and there and in my head made no sense, order wise. But the Elliot`s letters/chapters to his mother broke my heart, it was sad and painful , it also made my heart a little warm - the letters/chapters was the highlight of the book for me.
December 27, 2020
Actual rating 3.5 stars.
Can I Give My Stepkids Back is Morgan Mercier’s tale of life caring for her niece and nephew, Lea and Elliot in the immediate aftermath of her sister and brother in law’s sudden deaths. Set in France, Morgan, a nursery manager who would prefer to be in charge of dog kennels rather than a bunch of infants, is unprepared for such a dramatic change in her circumstances. Despite her less than motherly demeanour Morgan is willing to fulfill her sister’s wishes and take on custody of these two orphans, even though her own mother Cat is aghast at such a proposition. What follows is a storyline designed to capture all manner of emotions whilst acknowledging the positive effects that can ultimately arise from a tragic event.
In the telling of this tale the narrative switches between Morgan and her nephew Elliot so that you have two perspectives of their new family life as experienced through the heart and mind of a cynical, somewhat miserable woman and an innocent yet perceptive young boy. Morgan’s narrative is often concerned with her role as nursery manager, a role to which she seems unwholly suited and her lack of parenting skills. She ends up making her fair share of basic errors but you have to commend her for trying! Still, you’d be forgiven for thinking she cares more for her beloved beagle Snoopy than for these grief stricken, broken hearted children, reluctantly embracing a role that’s been foisted upon her. Morgan’s grumpy closed off persona is far from the lovable,welcoming auntie figure that Elliot and Lea are in dire need of to help them through their bereavement but flashbacks to her past will make sense of her aloof,unsmiling nature. Elliot together with sister Lea steals the limelight in the way only children can (although Snoopy has a fair shot at this!) His heart rending letters written to his mum and dad left me feeling if anyone can unite Morgan and her mother, calling a truce to their long standing arguments, then it’s this little boy. That his grief manifests itself in some troubling ways only reminds the reader that it’s imperative the Mercier family find a way to heal their broken hearts together. Thankfully it’s Elliot and Lea’s childhood innocence coupled with being thrown in at the deep end parenting wise that teaches Morgan a great deal about her strained relationship with her mother, Grandma Cat, as the children call her and her need to face up to her troubled past which is long overdue. Only then can she move forward and embrace ‘motherhood’ showering her niece and nephew with love they so richly deserve.
I preferred the latter half of this novel, gradually warming up to the themes the author is keen to convey and finding the humour in the developing relationships between aunt and niece and nephew. However for me something is definitely lost in translation when it comes to the style of writing, with a disjointed feel to the narrative so words don’t flow as fluently as I’d have liked. I think the essence of this novel, one that is sweet and charming and hopeful isn’t completely lost but unfortunately the cover and the title mislead the reader into thinking this will be a lighthearted piece of escapist fiction. Parts of this novel do fulfill that criteria but I wasn’t expecting the underlying dark tone that is responsible for Morgan’s behaviour and outlook on life. There’s much unhappiness and sadness that creeps into these pages overshadowing the more lighter moments so it isn’t the laugh out loud novel the synopsis would lead you to believe. Instead it’s a novel that has a great deal of emotional depth exploring themes such as accepting loss, confronting the truths of a difficult past, forgiveness and the trials and tribulations of adjusting to a new way of normal. Granted there ARE also some sweet funny moments thanks mainly to Elliott, Lea and Snoopy the beagle which do jump out at you lending a more lighthearted tone to proceedings. These more uplifting moments are also accompanied by a smattering of romance so in spite of my initial reservations I did actually end up quite liking this novel. There’s a quirkiness to it, especially in the depiction of some of the background characters which I’m not entirely sure is intended but added an unusual take on events outside of Morgan, Elliott and Lea’s home life. I’m happy to announce that the more pages I turned the more the main characters won a place in my affections although Elliott remains my favourite of all. Overall I’m glad I persevered with this novel and would be interested to read more by this author in the future. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
Can I Give My Stepkids Back is Morgan Mercier’s tale of life caring for her niece and nephew, Lea and Elliot in the immediate aftermath of her sister and brother in law’s sudden deaths. Set in France, Morgan, a nursery manager who would prefer to be in charge of dog kennels rather than a bunch of infants, is unprepared for such a dramatic change in her circumstances. Despite her less than motherly demeanour Morgan is willing to fulfill her sister’s wishes and take on custody of these two orphans, even though her own mother Cat is aghast at such a proposition. What follows is a storyline designed to capture all manner of emotions whilst acknowledging the positive effects that can ultimately arise from a tragic event.
In the telling of this tale the narrative switches between Morgan and her nephew Elliot so that you have two perspectives of their new family life as experienced through the heart and mind of a cynical, somewhat miserable woman and an innocent yet perceptive young boy. Morgan’s narrative is often concerned with her role as nursery manager, a role to which she seems unwholly suited and her lack of parenting skills. She ends up making her fair share of basic errors but you have to commend her for trying! Still, you’d be forgiven for thinking she cares more for her beloved beagle Snoopy than for these grief stricken, broken hearted children, reluctantly embracing a role that’s been foisted upon her. Morgan’s grumpy closed off persona is far from the lovable,welcoming auntie figure that Elliot and Lea are in dire need of to help them through their bereavement but flashbacks to her past will make sense of her aloof,unsmiling nature. Elliot together with sister Lea steals the limelight in the way only children can (although Snoopy has a fair shot at this!) His heart rending letters written to his mum and dad left me feeling if anyone can unite Morgan and her mother, calling a truce to their long standing arguments, then it’s this little boy. That his grief manifests itself in some troubling ways only reminds the reader that it’s imperative the Mercier family find a way to heal their broken hearts together. Thankfully it’s Elliot and Lea’s childhood innocence coupled with being thrown in at the deep end parenting wise that teaches Morgan a great deal about her strained relationship with her mother, Grandma Cat, as the children call her and her need to face up to her troubled past which is long overdue. Only then can she move forward and embrace ‘motherhood’ showering her niece and nephew with love they so richly deserve.
I preferred the latter half of this novel, gradually warming up to the themes the author is keen to convey and finding the humour in the developing relationships between aunt and niece and nephew. However for me something is definitely lost in translation when it comes to the style of writing, with a disjointed feel to the narrative so words don’t flow as fluently as I’d have liked. I think the essence of this novel, one that is sweet and charming and hopeful isn’t completely lost but unfortunately the cover and the title mislead the reader into thinking this will be a lighthearted piece of escapist fiction. Parts of this novel do fulfill that criteria but I wasn’t expecting the underlying dark tone that is responsible for Morgan’s behaviour and outlook on life. There’s much unhappiness and sadness that creeps into these pages overshadowing the more lighter moments so it isn’t the laugh out loud novel the synopsis would lead you to believe. Instead it’s a novel that has a great deal of emotional depth exploring themes such as accepting loss, confronting the truths of a difficult past, forgiveness and the trials and tribulations of adjusting to a new way of normal. Granted there ARE also some sweet funny moments thanks mainly to Elliott, Lea and Snoopy the beagle which do jump out at you lending a more lighthearted tone to proceedings. These more uplifting moments are also accompanied by a smattering of romance so in spite of my initial reservations I did actually end up quite liking this novel. There’s a quirkiness to it, especially in the depiction of some of the background characters which I’m not entirely sure is intended but added an unusual take on events outside of Morgan, Elliott and Lea’s home life. I’m happy to announce that the more pages I turned the more the main characters won a place in my affections although Elliott remains my favourite of all. Overall I’m glad I persevered with this novel and would be interested to read more by this author in the future. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
January 10, 2021
I'd like to begin by thanking NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was surprisingly captivating. Which may come as a shock to anyone who was following my updates AS I read this book. I really struggled with it. In part because it is severely mismarketed.
THIS IS NOT A ROMCOM. If you are going into this story expecting something similar to the movie 'Raising Helen' where an aunt's life is thrown for a loop when she is suddenly in charge of her late-sisters kids and there are sad but wacky hijinks as they learn how to adapt and she falls in love and its all wonderful ... you will be sorely disappointed. They also are NOT her Stepkids, but her Niece and Nephew. and considering the French Title appears to be "paint the rain in color" I am confused why they veered so far on the translated title... it is confusing and doesn't do a good job of explaining what the story is truly about.
This a Family Drama told in dueling perspectives of Morgan, and her nephew Elliott. The narrative voices are distinct and while I originally felt like Elliott's voice was too young for the intended audience, in that, his chapters felt more like reading Middle Grade which isn't BAD but the tone shift was a bit jarring. I however quickly got over that and his perspective quickly became my favorite.
Morgan is dealing with a lot of trauma from her past which is slowly revealed to us throughout the novel while she is actively trying to be a good parent to her niece and nephew. She struggles with accidental favoritism because she has a better understanding of how to relate and help Lea than she does Elliott and she is in a constant state of war with her mother.
and while we are on the subject. Morgan's mom is actually awful. She is absolutely suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder and I truly dispised how she carried herself throughout the ENTIRE book.
I do think there is something lost here in the translation and that is just par for the course at times, there were a few times the language wasn't quite as natural but overall it doesn't detract from the story.
I will say, I do hope the Kindle Version of this book is formatted properly upon release as the copy I received from NetGalley had pretty bad formatting and made the book difficult to follow at times, and made for a poorer reading experience.
Overall this story is really good, the characters motivations make sense and feel authentic. Just know going in it is a much darker and emotion filled story, and not a happy love story for MOST of the book.
This book was surprisingly captivating. Which may come as a shock to anyone who was following my updates AS I read this book. I really struggled with it. In part because it is severely mismarketed.
THIS IS NOT A ROMCOM. If you are going into this story expecting something similar to the movie 'Raising Helen' where an aunt's life is thrown for a loop when she is suddenly in charge of her late-sisters kids and there are sad but wacky hijinks as they learn how to adapt and she falls in love and its all wonderful ... you will be sorely disappointed. They also are NOT her Stepkids, but her Niece and Nephew. and considering the French Title appears to be "paint the rain in color" I am confused why they veered so far on the translated title... it is confusing and doesn't do a good job of explaining what the story is truly about.
This a Family Drama told in dueling perspectives of Morgan, and her nephew Elliott. The narrative voices are distinct and while I originally felt like Elliott's voice was too young for the intended audience, in that, his chapters felt more like reading Middle Grade which isn't BAD but the tone shift was a bit jarring. I however quickly got over that and his perspective quickly became my favorite.
Morgan is dealing with a lot of trauma from her past which is slowly revealed to us throughout the novel while she is actively trying to be a good parent to her niece and nephew. She struggles with accidental favoritism because she has a better understanding of how to relate and help Lea than she does Elliott and she is in a constant state of war with her mother.
and while we are on the subject. Morgan's mom is actually awful. She is absolutely suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder and I truly dispised how she carried herself throughout the ENTIRE book.
I do think there is something lost here in the translation and that is just par for the course at times, there were a few times the language wasn't quite as natural but overall it doesn't detract from the story.
I will say, I do hope the Kindle Version of this book is formatted properly upon release as the copy I received from NetGalley had pretty bad formatting and made the book difficult to follow at times, and made for a poorer reading experience.
Overall this story is really good, the characters motivations make sense and feel authentic. Just know going in it is a much darker and emotion filled story, and not a happy love story for MOST of the book.
March 18, 2021
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for inviting me to review this book.
The start of the story lands us right in the thick of the action. Elliot and Lea are waiting outside camp for their parents to pick them up, unfortunately they are met by Morgan, their aunty, who has the unfortunate job of telling them that their parents are dead. The story then evolves as we follow Morgan and the children as they adjust to a new reality.
There were many times that I felt for Morgan, she was thrown into this unknown world of looking after two children and held her hands up to say she didn’t have a clue what she was doing. On top of that she was trying to deal with her own grief from losing her sister and she had her mum constantly putting her down. Is it any wonder she’s depressed? As the story progresses we learn more about Morgan and her strained relationship with her mum. There were many times when I wanted to bash both their heads together and I’m pleased that Morgan’s dad stepped in to heal the rift.
My favourite part of the book was the chapters from Elliot. As a reader we get to see how a child copes with grief and their new surroundings which I thought was a refreshing take. Aurelie Tramier did a brilliant job of portraying a child’s POV, it felt genuine and gave the story that extra edge.
Vivienne and Valerie were two of my favourite secondary characters in the story. My heart broke for Valerie when she finally revealed why she was so late picking her child up and part of me was furious with Morgan. She should of sat down with Valerie and asked her what was going on instead of assuming she knew the problem. I actually didn’t like the other nursery workers, they seemed very catty and rubbed me up the wrong way. Vivienne was a great friend to Morgan and I loved all her ideas and the way she supported and defended Morgan to the other workers.
The only negative for me was the romance, I didn’t feel that it was needed and in my opinion it felt like a rushed add on. I didn’t like Lancelot and I didn’t feel the chemistry between him and Morgan. I was enjoying reading about the relationships between Morgan and her family.
This was a quick and easy read that explored the depth of grief and how it affected a family. We see the power of forgiveness and how life altering moments can push a family together.
The start of the story lands us right in the thick of the action. Elliot and Lea are waiting outside camp for their parents to pick them up, unfortunately they are met by Morgan, their aunty, who has the unfortunate job of telling them that their parents are dead. The story then evolves as we follow Morgan and the children as they adjust to a new reality.
There were many times that I felt for Morgan, she was thrown into this unknown world of looking after two children and held her hands up to say she didn’t have a clue what she was doing. On top of that she was trying to deal with her own grief from losing her sister and she had her mum constantly putting her down. Is it any wonder she’s depressed? As the story progresses we learn more about Morgan and her strained relationship with her mum. There were many times when I wanted to bash both their heads together and I’m pleased that Morgan’s dad stepped in to heal the rift.
My favourite part of the book was the chapters from Elliot. As a reader we get to see how a child copes with grief and their new surroundings which I thought was a refreshing take. Aurelie Tramier did a brilliant job of portraying a child’s POV, it felt genuine and gave the story that extra edge.
Vivienne and Valerie were two of my favourite secondary characters in the story. My heart broke for Valerie when she finally revealed why she was so late picking her child up and part of me was furious with Morgan. She should of sat down with Valerie and asked her what was going on instead of assuming she knew the problem. I actually didn’t like the other nursery workers, they seemed very catty and rubbed me up the wrong way. Vivienne was a great friend to Morgan and I loved all her ideas and the way she supported and defended Morgan to the other workers.
The only negative for me was the romance, I didn’t feel that it was needed and in my opinion it felt like a rushed add on. I didn’t like Lancelot and I didn’t feel the chemistry between him and Morgan. I was enjoying reading about the relationships between Morgan and her family.
This was a quick and easy read that explored the depth of grief and how it affected a family. We see the power of forgiveness and how life altering moments can push a family together.
April 5, 2021
Sometimes all you need is a journey along the flat. No twisty bends, tight corners or the arduous ups and downs of a hilly hike. It is especially pleasant strolling along a promenade with the sparking sea on one side of you. Sometimes easy, straightforward, unremarkable is just what the soul needs. However, sometimes travelling in a straight line for miles on end, as is motorway driving, whilst not very taxing, is mostly tedious. So overall, I prefer a few bumps, a cross country detour or the muddy inclines and gravelly descents of a rural walk.
Can I Give My Stepkids Back? is motorway all the way with possibly a few stops at uninspiring service stations. Whether something is lost in translation or not, this Paris/Marseille based romantic novel is bereft of romance, oddly titled and even the front cover gives the reader the wrong impression.
Morgan is left looking after her nephew and niece following the children's parents sudden deaths in a car accident. This should be an emotional read. It isn't. Morgan has a past. This should add depth to the novel. It doesn't. Family, friendship, dogs, therapists, schools and letters written by a son to his dead parents, should be the perfect ingredients for a read of this genre. Maybe the ingredients were past their sell by dates, gone stale or added in the wrong quantities, but sadly for me this was not a dish I would choose again.
I appreciate the opportunity Netgalley, the author and publisher have given me, and I genuinely wish the book success. Just this time around, it didn't work for me.
Can I Give My Stepkids Back? is motorway all the way with possibly a few stops at uninspiring service stations. Whether something is lost in translation or not, this Paris/Marseille based romantic novel is bereft of romance, oddly titled and even the front cover gives the reader the wrong impression.
Morgan is left looking after her nephew and niece following the children's parents sudden deaths in a car accident. This should be an emotional read. It isn't. Morgan has a past. This should add depth to the novel. It doesn't. Family, friendship, dogs, therapists, schools and letters written by a son to his dead parents, should be the perfect ingredients for a read of this genre. Maybe the ingredients were past their sell by dates, gone stale or added in the wrong quantities, but sadly for me this was not a dish I would choose again.
I appreciate the opportunity Netgalley, the author and publisher have given me, and I genuinely wish the book success. Just this time around, it didn't work for me.
November 24, 2020
The title of this book is slightly misleading. At first I was expecting the main charater having to deal with their partner's unruly children, but the book is actually about a woman who takes in her sister's children after the parents die in a car accident. I don't think you can really say stepkids in that scenario; I think it sounds a bit odd; but I am also not sure.
The book is told in two perspectives - Morgan, the newly-made parent and Elliott, her nephew. Elliott's parts are almost entirely letters he writes to his deceased mom in a notebook, telling her about what's happening while he and his sister are living with Morgan, while Morgan takes the part of the first-person narrator instead of simply writing about her life.
The story was adorable. I really liked Morgan and could relate to her so many ways - especially about opening up toward the kids. Morgan's mom was an extremly annoying character and I couldn't stand the way she was treating the only child remaining to her...
The romance part did not exactly happen the way I expected it, though I love that it didn't take up too much of the book and that the book was more focusing on Morgan's relatioship to the kids and her mother and doing her best to improve the first. The ending was perfectly sweet and exactly what I was hoping for while reading the book..
I had a great time and I highly recommend this book! It's such a sweet read.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley, which kindly provided me an ARC.
The book is told in two perspectives - Morgan, the newly-made parent and Elliott, her nephew. Elliott's parts are almost entirely letters he writes to his deceased mom in a notebook, telling her about what's happening while he and his sister are living with Morgan, while Morgan takes the part of the first-person narrator instead of simply writing about her life.
The story was adorable. I really liked Morgan and could relate to her so many ways - especially about opening up toward the kids. Morgan's mom was an extremly annoying character and I couldn't stand the way she was treating the only child remaining to her...
The romance part did not exactly happen the way I expected it, though I love that it didn't take up too much of the book and that the book was more focusing on Morgan's relatioship to the kids and her mother and doing her best to improve the first. The ending was perfectly sweet and exactly what I was hoping for while reading the book..
I had a great time and I highly recommend this book! It's such a sweet read.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley, which kindly provided me an ARC.
February 22, 2021
I struggled with this book, I am sorry to say. I thought it would be a bit of a light comedic kind of book, but it wasn't.
Morgan runs a childcare centre. This is not something she particularly likes to do as she doesn't have a natural affinity with children, but running a dog rescue centre isn't possible so she does this. She has a dog she adores, a difficult relationship with her mother (her mother is awful!) and is close to her sister. When her sister and her husband are killed, she finds herself with her two children, Elliott and Lea. The whole book is told from the POV of Morgan and Elliott, and bit by bit, the reasons why Morgan is the way she is, are uncovered.
The two children in this story are adorable and Elliott's story is so poignant, I felt awful for him. The book loses something in translation though. It sounds very abrupt in a lot of parts, and was quite jarring. The way that some characters spoke to each other or about each other, is not something that seemed very authentic, and Lea had some very adult sounding turns-of-phrase. It just didn't work for me. I thought the story of the vet was kinda tacked on and I didn't really believe there were sparks there at all, sorry. The title is misleading. They are NOT her stepkids, they are her niece and nephew! Surely, someone could have given this book a better title?
So, for me, this story gets 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton.
Morgan runs a childcare centre. This is not something she particularly likes to do as she doesn't have a natural affinity with children, but running a dog rescue centre isn't possible so she does this. She has a dog she adores, a difficult relationship with her mother (her mother is awful!) and is close to her sister. When her sister and her husband are killed, she finds herself with her two children, Elliott and Lea. The whole book is told from the POV of Morgan and Elliott, and bit by bit, the reasons why Morgan is the way she is, are uncovered.
The two children in this story are adorable and Elliott's story is so poignant, I felt awful for him. The book loses something in translation though. It sounds very abrupt in a lot of parts, and was quite jarring. The way that some characters spoke to each other or about each other, is not something that seemed very authentic, and Lea had some very adult sounding turns-of-phrase. It just didn't work for me. I thought the story of the vet was kinda tacked on and I didn't really believe there were sparks there at all, sorry. The title is misleading. They are NOT her stepkids, they are her niece and nephew! Surely, someone could have given this book a better title?
So, for me, this story gets 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton.
February 8, 2021
I was invited to read this book by the Publisher, via Netgalley. I accepted the invitation, without reading the description, but according to the blurb on the front cover, this was an amusing and funny book. Going by the title of this book, I expected the "stepkids' to be the children of a Woman's Husband or Spouse, going by the traditional definition. The 'Stepkids' in the book were actually the Niece and Nephew of Morgan, the protagonist. I think that the meaning of Stepkids was lost in translation. I was expecting this book to be a completely different story than what it was, based upon the blurb and the title. Once I had got into the story though I actually enjoyed reading it. I didn't find it very funny, like the blurb suggested, but it was definitely emotional. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions when I was reading it. It was very sad in places, and I think that some readers could find parts of the book upsetting. I think that the difficult subjects were dealt with well in most cases. There were some happier moments, but always with a twinge of sadness. I did like the characters. I thought that some of the book didn't translate very well. Overall I liked reading this book.
December 28, 2020
As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (plenty of reviews like that out there already!)
FIrst of all, let me say that the title of this book is a tad misleading...as the relationships in question are those of an aunt and her niece and nephew (rather than her step-children).
So if you are looking for a light and fluffy read, this isn't it!
I myself had expected this book to be a light and humorous read, but it was far deeper than that.
Whilst there are some comical moments, the novel touches on many of the darker aspects of life - fractured families, bereavement, divorce, child abuse, and adoption. That's not to say that it's a gloomy book - it's as much about how the characters overcome events as about the events themselves, and about how people can change if they have others relying on them.
There are some great characters - I particularly liked Jean-Michel, and ended up liking Morgan (who I found rather spiky to begin with). I liked the way the book ended up, on an optimistic note.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
FIrst of all, let me say that the title of this book is a tad misleading...as the relationships in question are those of an aunt and her niece and nephew (rather than her step-children).
So if you are looking for a light and fluffy read, this isn't it!
I myself had expected this book to be a light and humorous read, but it was far deeper than that.
Whilst there are some comical moments, the novel touches on many of the darker aspects of life - fractured families, bereavement, divorce, child abuse, and adoption. That's not to say that it's a gloomy book - it's as much about how the characters overcome events as about the events themselves, and about how people can change if they have others relying on them.
There are some great characters - I particularly liked Jean-Michel, and ended up liking Morgan (who I found rather spiky to begin with). I liked the way the book ended up, on an optimistic note.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
February 27, 2021
Morgan is given custody of her sister's children, Elliot and Lea, after an accident. She struggles looking after them and this story covers their developing relationship.
I did struggle getting into the book to start with, however persevered and was rewarded with a story that grabs at your heartstrings. The synopsis calls this a humorous romance, this is not strictly true as the romance is a very small part of the story and the humour is interspersed with really sad moments. The story actually is turns out to be a very moving, emotional story of two children recovering from the death of their parents and their aunt struggling from the loss of her sister, the strain of bringing the children up against a backdrop of her own loss years before. She also has a very poor relationship with her own mother, so is suffering with no support.
I can recommend this book for those who enjoy emotional dramas with traces of hope in them.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book and I enjoyed it so much that I also purchased it.
I did struggle getting into the book to start with, however persevered and was rewarded with a story that grabs at your heartstrings. The synopsis calls this a humorous romance, this is not strictly true as the romance is a very small part of the story and the humour is interspersed with really sad moments. The story actually is turns out to be a very moving, emotional story of two children recovering from the death of their parents and their aunt struggling from the loss of her sister, the strain of bringing the children up against a backdrop of her own loss years before. She also has a very poor relationship with her own mother, so is suffering with no support.
I can recommend this book for those who enjoy emotional dramas with traces of hope in them.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book and I enjoyed it so much that I also purchased it.
December 16, 2020
This was a bit of an unexpected treat. I was all set to read about a wicked stepmum, but what I got was a really heart-warming story.
Morgan is the manager of a children’s nursery in France. She has a very contained life, putting all her energies into her work with long hours and she finds solace in her very controlled home with everything soothing, comforting and in its place.
Her life is disrupted when her sister and brother in law are killed in an accident and her sister’s instructions are for her niece and nephew to live with their aunt, and not their devoted grandparents as they had expected.
I was absolutely charmed by this book. Ok you can say it is all a bit predictable at the end, but sometimes things just do work out, and the world can right itself. It is a really comfortable tale, with enough pathos and sadness to prevent it being saccharine.
If you are up for a book that makes you think and feel ahh – this one’s for you.
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
Morgan is the manager of a children’s nursery in France. She has a very contained life, putting all her energies into her work with long hours and she finds solace in her very controlled home with everything soothing, comforting and in its place.
Her life is disrupted when her sister and brother in law are killed in an accident and her sister’s instructions are for her niece and nephew to live with their aunt, and not their devoted grandparents as they had expected.
I was absolutely charmed by this book. Ok you can say it is all a bit predictable at the end, but sometimes things just do work out, and the world can right itself. It is a really comfortable tale, with enough pathos and sadness to prevent it being saccharine.
If you are up for a book that makes you think and feel ahh – this one’s for you.
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
March 9, 2021
CW; sexual assault, suicide attempt, car crash, parental death, child abandonment.
What a wholesome but heartbreaking read!
I loved the plot and I adored the characters and how they all grew together as the storyline progressed.
I loved watching the kids grow to love their aunt and how Morgan adapted her life to eventually care for the kids as though they were her own.
Learning Morgan’s harrowing tale that she has kept secret for 18 years and discovering just how much of a strain it has put on her life and her relationship with her mum was eye opening and the confrontation around it May be difficult for some to read.
This would have been a four star apart from one thing. It feels petty but it really annoyed me.
On various occasions throughout the book, they talk of feeding the dog chocolate...anyone with a dog knows this is TOXIC.
Something very small but it definitely knocked it down a bit for me as a massive dog lover, especially when the character loves the dog so much and wants to open a dog kennels.
What a wholesome but heartbreaking read!
I loved the plot and I adored the characters and how they all grew together as the storyline progressed.
I loved watching the kids grow to love their aunt and how Morgan adapted her life to eventually care for the kids as though they were her own.
Learning Morgan’s harrowing tale that she has kept secret for 18 years and discovering just how much of a strain it has put on her life and her relationship with her mum was eye opening and the confrontation around it May be difficult for some to read.
This would have been a four star apart from one thing. It feels petty but it really annoyed me.
On various occasions throughout the book, they talk of feeding the dog chocolate...anyone with a dog knows this is TOXIC.
Something very small but it definitely knocked it down a bit for me as a massive dog lover, especially when the character loves the dog so much and wants to open a dog kennels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2020
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review
Can I Give my Stepkids Back? By Aurelie Tramier was a interesting story, one that took me quite a few chapters to get into the story but once I was in, I was hooked. This book is translated from the original French book and so it did take me awhile to get use to the authors “voice”. At first I did not like Morgan but as I got more into the story I started to fall in love with her and all she had been through. Morgan has gotten custody of her nephew Elliot and her niece Lea but even though she's a childcare center director she has never been comfortable around children. Unfortunately, or fortunately for Morgan her sister dies in a car crash and she is left to take care of Elliot and Lea. As you can imagine this story pulls on your heart strings and makes you root for them to make it together. By the end of this book I was so happy that they found a new happy but I was sad that the book was ending.
Can I Give my Stepkids Back? By Aurelie Tramier was a interesting story, one that took me quite a few chapters to get into the story but once I was in, I was hooked. This book is translated from the original French book and so it did take me awhile to get use to the authors “voice”. At first I did not like Morgan but as I got more into the story I started to fall in love with her and all she had been through. Morgan has gotten custody of her nephew Elliot and her niece Lea but even though she's a childcare center director she has never been comfortable around children. Unfortunately, or fortunately for Morgan her sister dies in a car crash and she is left to take care of Elliot and Lea. As you can imagine this story pulls on your heart strings and makes you root for them to make it together. By the end of this book I was so happy that they found a new happy but I was sad that the book was ending.
February 17, 2021
I give this book 3 stars.
When I started reading it, I thought it would be light hearted, funny or just a little sad. It was very misleading. Morgan takes in her sister and brother in laws children when they pass away, but her mom wants them - so that sets up some fights and resentment. There is a troubled relationship between Morgan and her mom dating back to her late teen years that has yet to be repaired. Morgan works long hours in a nursey in France, then has little time for the kids, Elliot and Lea. Lea is adorable while Elliot is troubled and getting in trouble. They take him to a doctor who recommends he write to his mom, which seems to help. Morgan and her mom hash out the issues, and she's determined to stay away, but her dad has other plans. All things work out in the end.
The book is average with some boring spots but the story is good. It hits you in your heart, because this does happen in real life..
When I started reading it, I thought it would be light hearted, funny or just a little sad. It was very misleading. Morgan takes in her sister and brother in laws children when they pass away, but her mom wants them - so that sets up some fights and resentment. There is a troubled relationship between Morgan and her mom dating back to her late teen years that has yet to be repaired. Morgan works long hours in a nursey in France, then has little time for the kids, Elliot and Lea. Lea is adorable while Elliot is troubled and getting in trouble. They take him to a doctor who recommends he write to his mom, which seems to help. Morgan and her mom hash out the issues, and she's determined to stay away, but her dad has other plans. All things work out in the end.
The book is average with some boring spots but the story is good. It hits you in your heart, because this does happen in real life..
February 24, 2023
Not at all what I was expecting... The title itself is misleading (though you can figure this out from the blurb itself), but then it pretty much goes downhill from there as to what this book actually delivers. I went in expecting a funny, a tad over-the-top comedy with an overwrought person dealing with the shenanigans of little kids. And this book is NOT that! OMG, the grief and the internal suffering in the POVs - it is heart-breaking! Especially reading a 10-yr-old little boy having to grow up too fast to protect his little sister, and then writing letters to his mum in Heaven because she's gone... Had I know this was waiting for me, I would not have read this - warning, this book deals intensively with grief, so trigger alert there
Still, the story itself was good, if sad and rather depressing at times... If you're into that kind of read and not expecting a light-hearted comedy here, then it could definitely work as a very good book
Still, the story itself was good, if sad and rather depressing at times... If you're into that kind of read and not expecting a light-hearted comedy here, then it could definitely work as a very good book
November 28, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley, Aurelie Tramier and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC of Can I Give My Stepkids Back?
This is my personal review .
Morgan takes custody of her sisters children when the parents are killed in an auto accident. This would make her their Aunt and not step mother which made the story go a different way than if she was parenting step children from a marriage.
This was a story that has happened in many people lives and to read this with myself not having this type of experience really made me stop and think about how I would handle this situation.
The words flow smoothly and it was interesting that it was also told by Elliott, her nephew, thru letters he writes to his Mom to tell her what is happening even though she will never read them it helps him deal with the changes in their lives. This story was filled with a lot of emotions.
This is my personal review .
Morgan takes custody of her sisters children when the parents are killed in an auto accident. This would make her their Aunt and not step mother which made the story go a different way than if she was parenting step children from a marriage.
This was a story that has happened in many people lives and to read this with myself not having this type of experience really made me stop and think about how I would handle this situation.
The words flow smoothly and it was interesting that it was also told by Elliott, her nephew, thru letters he writes to his Mom to tell her what is happening even though she will never read them it helps him deal with the changes in their lives. This story was filled with a lot of emotions.
February 16, 2021
When I requested this title to review, I expected a light hearted, humorous read. But it was so much more than that. It was sad, it dealt with difficult subjects and it was written with sensitivity and heart.
Morgan has a life that is safe and one that she is fully in control of. She doesn't have friends or a partner. When her beloved sister Emilie and husband are killed in a car accident, she finds herself the guardian to their two children, Elliot and Lea. She is horrified at first, and by her own admission, clueless. But over time, she learns what it is to love selflessly as these two young children show her the way. Elliot is a wonderful character, and we get to hear his deepest thoughts as he writes letters to his Mum.
There is a bumpy journey for them all, and Morgan has to deal with her traumatic past, but the ending is wonderfully heart-warming and hopeful.
Morgan has a life that is safe and one that she is fully in control of. She doesn't have friends or a partner. When her beloved sister Emilie and husband are killed in a car accident, she finds herself the guardian to their two children, Elliot and Lea. She is horrified at first, and by her own admission, clueless. But over time, she learns what it is to love selflessly as these two young children show her the way. Elliot is a wonderful character, and we get to hear his deepest thoughts as he writes letters to his Mum.
There is a bumpy journey for them all, and Morgan has to deal with her traumatic past, but the ending is wonderfully heart-warming and hopeful.
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