What do you think?
Hyphenated Relations
Sam Daly is leading a life of quiet isolation following the death of her husband, Mike. She is content to merely put in her eight hours at work each day before heading home to lose herself in a book, only to restart that cycle the following morning. But Sam's self-imposed cocoon is threatened after her eccentric father-in-law Harold stumbles back into her world to announce that he is getting remarried to the mysterious Marcie Porter, who is burdened by her own complex family history.
The last thing Sam wants is to get involved with Harold's new endeavor. But after getting wind that Marcie's four children intend to sabotage the wedding, Sam is reluctantly drawn into a new family drama and all that comes with it, whether it be the development of unexpected alliances or butting heads with ruthless enemies. While navigating these landmines, Sam finds herself struggling to come to terms with the painful past she had been holding away at arm's length for so long.
Through these trials and tribulations, Sam is also forced to confront the one question that she had sought to avoid since her husband's passing-whether she is done with the notion of "family" after all.
The last thing Sam wants is to get involved with Harold's new endeavor. But after getting wind that Marcie's four children intend to sabotage the wedding, Sam is reluctantly drawn into a new family drama and all that comes with it, whether it be the development of unexpected alliances or butting heads with ruthless enemies. While navigating these landmines, Sam finds herself struggling to come to terms with the painful past she had been holding away at arm's length for so long.
Through these trials and tribulations, Sam is also forced to confront the one question that she had sought to avoid since her husband's passing-whether she is done with the notion of "family" after all.
- GenresFamily
270 pages, Paperback
Published May 4, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 13, 2023
I loved this novel. It touched my heart and it's a story that I won't soon forget. It made me smile and it made me cry several times because the author gave his readers such a realistic look at well written people that have significant decisions to make that will affect the rest of their lives.
Several years earlier, Sam's husband and mother in law were killed in a car accident. Sam's way of coping with her grief was to become isolated from the world around her. She did her hours at work and then came home to her house and read books. She didn't want to spend social time with her work friends and didn't want to make new friends or even have a relationship with her father in law. Her isolated life begins to crumble when her father in law, Harold, shows up at her house to tell her that he plans to get married again and since Sam is his only family, Harold wants her to become part of the extended family including Marcie's 4 children. Sam refuses and works to get back at her isolated life until one of Marcie's children connects with her to tell her that the children are opposed to the wedding. She decides that she'll do what she can to help with the upcoming wedding, even to the point of trying to convince the four children that the marriage should happen. She suddenly find that she's part of a family - something that she has avoided since the death of her husband. Through her encounters with Marcie's children, Sam is forced to confront the one question that she had sought to avoid since her husband's passing-whether she is done with the notion of "family" after all.
It's putting it mildly to say that Marcie's children are dysfunctional. First off, they all have different fathers and even though they grew up together, they are all very different. The three boys let Sadie, the only girl in the family, take the lead on everything in the family. When she starts planning on ways to stop the wedding, they all agree with her - but are they really agreeing or are the afraid of their sister? By the way, Sadie is one of the meanest and most manipulative character that I've read in a long time. Will Sam getting involved in the family issues help make the wedding happen or will she decide to continue her isolated life and let Harold and Marcie work it out for themselves?
Not to get too personal but I have (and probably still am) in Sam's shoes, grieving a loved one and not sure how to get beyond the lives of the characters in the books that I read. The author did a fantastic job of writing Sam and the ways she was handling her grief. My other favorite character was Marcie, who was a bit of a hippy and always saw the good in everyone. She loved her children and even though they were not always nice to her, she always forgave them. This is a fantastic well written book about family -- sometimes the family you create out of the people you love can be more meaningful than those that are related to you by blood.
Several years earlier, Sam's husband and mother in law were killed in a car accident. Sam's way of coping with her grief was to become isolated from the world around her. She did her hours at work and then came home to her house and read books. She didn't want to spend social time with her work friends and didn't want to make new friends or even have a relationship with her father in law. Her isolated life begins to crumble when her father in law, Harold, shows up at her house to tell her that he plans to get married again and since Sam is his only family, Harold wants her to become part of the extended family including Marcie's 4 children. Sam refuses and works to get back at her isolated life until one of Marcie's children connects with her to tell her that the children are opposed to the wedding. She decides that she'll do what she can to help with the upcoming wedding, even to the point of trying to convince the four children that the marriage should happen. She suddenly find that she's part of a family - something that she has avoided since the death of her husband. Through her encounters with Marcie's children, Sam is forced to confront the one question that she had sought to avoid since her husband's passing-whether she is done with the notion of "family" after all.
It's putting it mildly to say that Marcie's children are dysfunctional. First off, they all have different fathers and even though they grew up together, they are all very different. The three boys let Sadie, the only girl in the family, take the lead on everything in the family. When she starts planning on ways to stop the wedding, they all agree with her - but are they really agreeing or are the afraid of their sister? By the way, Sadie is one of the meanest and most manipulative character that I've read in a long time. Will Sam getting involved in the family issues help make the wedding happen or will she decide to continue her isolated life and let Harold and Marcie work it out for themselves?
Not to get too personal but I have (and probably still am) in Sam's shoes, grieving a loved one and not sure how to get beyond the lives of the characters in the books that I read. The author did a fantastic job of writing Sam and the ways she was handling her grief. My other favorite character was Marcie, who was a bit of a hippy and always saw the good in everyone. She loved her children and even though they were not always nice to her, she always forgave them. This is a fantastic well written book about family -- sometimes the family you create out of the people you love can be more meaningful than those that are related to you by blood.
May 5, 2023
Sam is slowly but surely coming out of her funk after losing her husband of two years and her mother-in-law in a car accident. She created a reclusive life where she goes to work comes home mind her business but one day when arriving back home she walks in to see her father-in-law Harold sitting on her sofa pawing through her underwear although just like Sam, Harold also lost his spouse on that day but it seems he is moving on he came over to tell her he met a woman named Marcy and they were getting married. Sam hadn’t seen Harold since the funerals and didn’t understand why he would come there to invite her to a barbecue announcing his upcoming wedding and although she decided not to go when one of Marcy‘s children show up at a bar where Sam is attending a coworker‘s retirement party she knows this isn’t a coincidental meeting but a shores Jeremy she has no intention of going to the barbecue due to an off handed comment Jeremy makes about her being Harrells only family it sticks in her mind and will be what causes her to go to the barbecue after all. Marcy‘s children or adamant they don’t want their mother marrying Harold because they were all scared of losing their inheritance Morrissey‘s one and only daughter Sadie is not going to let that happen she is manipulative and seemingly makes decisions without the drawback of having a conscience but little does Sadie know Sam may of a conscience and and she has definitely met her match but it will be a battle of wills. There is so much more to the story because Sadie is a manipulative “B” and tries to manipulate and Work her gaslighting on Sam but there’s so much more to the story there’s millions of dollars at stake a destination wedding in Iceland and a few OMG moments that will make your eyes go wide and your jaw drop to the floor that was such a great book I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it is a definite solid five star read and one I would definitely give more stars to if I could. I received this book from NetGalley in Black Rose writing but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
May 6, 2023
Original review of Hyphenated Relations
Thank you to author Daniel Maunz for providing me with a copy of Hyphenated Relations in exchange for this honest review.
I have author Daniel Maunz to thank for getting this blog off to a great start. His first novel, Questions of Perspective, was the first physical copy book I accepted for review. I loved it and it confirmed for me that indie and self-published books can be phenomenal hidden gems. Had that first book been bad I may not have accepted any more!
Now his second novel, Hyphenated Relations, confirms this for me once again. He has written a marvelous piece of character driven fiction that is sure to entertain any reader. I read 100 pages the first day I sat down with it, it's captivating.
The basic premise of the story is that Sam and Harold lost their respective partners 2 years prior when they were hit by a drunk driver. Sam lost her husband, the son of Harold's wife who was in the same car that Mother's day.
Sam and Harold did not keep in touch during this extended period of grieving so Sam is surprised when Harold shows up to her place out of the blue. He says he has fallen in love and intends on remarrying. He wants Sam to be involved in their lives, she is hesitant.
Marcie, the new woman in question has previously buried 4 husbands. She's not a black widow she just has terrible misfortune. However, out of these marriages she was blessed with 4 children. Well, blessed is a strong word. She loves them but they're a little awful.
The eldest, Jeremy, is an underachiever with everything except for being "in charge" of the siblings. He also has an inappropriate crush on the adopted sibling Sadie. She is not a blood relative but Marcie thinks of her as her own. Sadie is extremely manipulative and uses the people in her life as props. Then we have Miguel, the gay son who is the kindest but also the weakest willed and Colin, the mooching recluse.
The siblings meet up to brainstorm how to stop this wedding from happening. The reader isn't fully enlightened to their reasoning until a ways into the novel but we know it's not going to be valid, only selfish.
As Sam gets more involved with the family she finds herself opposing the siblings. How will she save the marriage and repair her relationship with Harold? It's 4 against 1 in this family drama of epic proportions.
I felt a great kinship with protagonist Sam. She too is a book reviewer in her spare time so clearly we have that in common. But I have also been through a lot of what she goes through in Hyphenated Relations. Not to get too personal but years ago I lost someone very close to me and had to suffer with their siblings showing their absolute worst sides. Unfortunately, deaths can trigger people to behave in disgusting and greedy ways. Just remember, it's okay to cut people out of your life and don't let money and possessions control your actions.
The other silly point of the novel for which I felt a synergy is a little dog named Samus. I too have a new puppy named after a character in a video game and am trying to train her. Weird little coincidence but I feel like this book was written just for me. Don't think that taints my opinion though! I believe Hyphenated Relations would stand up even without these coincidences!
The characters are strongly developed and individual. Each character has a distinct personality and a reason to be in the story. There are some you will like and some you definitely will not, there's a realistic balance and everyone has nuance. Maunz has a clear understanding of human interactions and how people behave in various situations.
There are powerful depictions of grief and other strong emotions. Everyone handles these things differently and there's no "right" way to grieve. Although, there may be a couple of wrong ones.
The ending of the book is solid. I'm always looking for a well written ending, and well, an ending. Too many books are a surprise part 1 of a larger series. Hyphenated Relations doesn't play that game. It has a meaningful ending that suits the plot and the characters and will leave readers satisfied.
I strongly encourage you to read both of Maunz's novels and support indie authors everywhere!
5/5 families 👨👩👧👧👨👩👧👧👨👩👧👧👨👩👧👧👨👩👧👧
Thank you to author Daniel Maunz for providing me with a copy of Hyphenated Relations in exchange for this honest review.
I have author Daniel Maunz to thank for getting this blog off to a great start. His first novel, Questions of Perspective, was the first physical copy book I accepted for review. I loved it and it confirmed for me that indie and self-published books can be phenomenal hidden gems. Had that first book been bad I may not have accepted any more!
Now his second novel, Hyphenated Relations, confirms this for me once again. He has written a marvelous piece of character driven fiction that is sure to entertain any reader. I read 100 pages the first day I sat down with it, it's captivating.
The basic premise of the story is that Sam and Harold lost their respective partners 2 years prior when they were hit by a drunk driver. Sam lost her husband, the son of Harold's wife who was in the same car that Mother's day.
Sam and Harold did not keep in touch during this extended period of grieving so Sam is surprised when Harold shows up to her place out of the blue. He says he has fallen in love and intends on remarrying. He wants Sam to be involved in their lives, she is hesitant.
Marcie, the new woman in question has previously buried 4 husbands. She's not a black widow she just has terrible misfortune. However, out of these marriages she was blessed with 4 children. Well, blessed is a strong word. She loves them but they're a little awful.
The eldest, Jeremy, is an underachiever with everything except for being "in charge" of the siblings. He also has an inappropriate crush on the adopted sibling Sadie. She is not a blood relative but Marcie thinks of her as her own. Sadie is extremely manipulative and uses the people in her life as props. Then we have Miguel, the gay son who is the kindest but also the weakest willed and Colin, the mooching recluse.
The siblings meet up to brainstorm how to stop this wedding from happening. The reader isn't fully enlightened to their reasoning until a ways into the novel but we know it's not going to be valid, only selfish.
As Sam gets more involved with the family she finds herself opposing the siblings. How will she save the marriage and repair her relationship with Harold? It's 4 against 1 in this family drama of epic proportions.
I felt a great kinship with protagonist Sam. She too is a book reviewer in her spare time so clearly we have that in common. But I have also been through a lot of what she goes through in Hyphenated Relations. Not to get too personal but years ago I lost someone very close to me and had to suffer with their siblings showing their absolute worst sides. Unfortunately, deaths can trigger people to behave in disgusting and greedy ways. Just remember, it's okay to cut people out of your life and don't let money and possessions control your actions.
The other silly point of the novel for which I felt a synergy is a little dog named Samus. I too have a new puppy named after a character in a video game and am trying to train her. Weird little coincidence but I feel like this book was written just for me. Don't think that taints my opinion though! I believe Hyphenated Relations would stand up even without these coincidences!
The characters are strongly developed and individual. Each character has a distinct personality and a reason to be in the story. There are some you will like and some you definitely will not, there's a realistic balance and everyone has nuance. Maunz has a clear understanding of human interactions and how people behave in various situations.
There are powerful depictions of grief and other strong emotions. Everyone handles these things differently and there's no "right" way to grieve. Although, there may be a couple of wrong ones.
The ending of the book is solid. I'm always looking for a well written ending, and well, an ending. Too many books are a surprise part 1 of a larger series. Hyphenated Relations doesn't play that game. It has a meaningful ending that suits the plot and the characters and will leave readers satisfied.
I strongly encourage you to read both of Maunz's novels and support indie authors everywhere!
5/5 families 👨👩👧👧👨👩👧👧👨👩👧👧👨👩👧👧👨👩👧👧
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May 13, 2023✨ 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑✨
Thank you #partners @tlcbooktours @danielmaunz for my gifted copy and for including me on this tour. 💞
𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
𝗕𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘇
𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝟱/𝟰/𝟮𝟯
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Sam Daly is leading a life of quiet isolation following the death of her husband, Mike. She is content to merely put in her eight hours at work each day before heading home to lose herself in a book, only to restart that cycle the following morning. But Sam's self-imposed cocoon is threatened after her eccentric father-in-law Harold stumbles back into her world to announce that he is getting remarried to the mysterious Marcie Porter, who is burdened by her own complex family history.
The last thing Sam wants is to get involved with Harold's new endeavor. But after getting wind that Marcie's four children intend to sabotage the wedding, Sam is reluctantly drawn into a new family drama and all that comes with it, whether it be the development of unexpected alliances or butting heads with ruthless enemies. While navigating these landmines, Sam finds herself struggling to come to terms with the painful past she had been holding away at arm's length for so long.
Through these trials and tribulations, Sam is also forced to confront the one question that she had sought to avoid since her husband's passing - whether she is done with the notion of "family" after all.
💭 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Maunz really knows how to pull the reader in, as the book opens with our protagonist, a Bookstagrammer named Sam, finding her father-in-law holding up a pair of her panties! 😧 But don't let the opening scene fool you... because while there is humor sprinkled throughout the novel, at it's core Hyphenated Relations is a touching story of found family and healing. It's a story about people, and how much we need them, even when they're messy and imperfect. Even when we think we're better off alone.
This is told in third person, from multiple perspectives. This is Maunz's sophomore novel. His debut, Questions of Perspective, published in 2020.
Thank you #partners @tlcbooktours @danielmaunz for my gifted copy and for including me on this tour. 💞
𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
𝗕𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘇
𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝟱/𝟰/𝟮𝟯
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Sam Daly is leading a life of quiet isolation following the death of her husband, Mike. She is content to merely put in her eight hours at work each day before heading home to lose herself in a book, only to restart that cycle the following morning. But Sam's self-imposed cocoon is threatened after her eccentric father-in-law Harold stumbles back into her world to announce that he is getting remarried to the mysterious Marcie Porter, who is burdened by her own complex family history.
The last thing Sam wants is to get involved with Harold's new endeavor. But after getting wind that Marcie's four children intend to sabotage the wedding, Sam is reluctantly drawn into a new family drama and all that comes with it, whether it be the development of unexpected alliances or butting heads with ruthless enemies. While navigating these landmines, Sam finds herself struggling to come to terms with the painful past she had been holding away at arm's length for so long.
Through these trials and tribulations, Sam is also forced to confront the one question that she had sought to avoid since her husband's passing - whether she is done with the notion of "family" after all.
💭 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Maunz really knows how to pull the reader in, as the book opens with our protagonist, a Bookstagrammer named Sam, finding her father-in-law holding up a pair of her panties! 😧 But don't let the opening scene fool you... because while there is humor sprinkled throughout the novel, at it's core Hyphenated Relations is a touching story of found family and healing. It's a story about people, and how much we need them, even when they're messy and imperfect. Even when we think we're better off alone.
This is told in third person, from multiple perspectives. This is Maunz's sophomore novel. His debut, Questions of Perspective, published in 2020.
May 1, 2023
Wowzers! What a book! I didn't just like it, I LOVED IT! I laughed (a lot), I cried (a little) and I enjoyed every single second aboard this hugely entertaining emotional rollercoaster of a novel. Just like Daniel Maunz's outstanding debut novel, Questions of Perspective, Hyphenated Relations is a book that will stay with me long after turning the final page.
This is a character driven novel with family at its huge heart. The characters are an eclectic bunch and I loved all of them, even the sneaky, conniving ones. Sam is the main character and she is suffering from the most painful of emotions: grief. It seems as if a large part of Sam died when she lost her husband, although she escapes through her love of books (which made me love her even more).
Sam has distanced herself from her former father-in-law so it's quite a shock to her system when he comes back into her life in the funniest way. Humour is evident throughout the book, even though some serious subjects are touched upon and it very much reflects the ups and downs of real life.
I don't think I fully appreciated the wonderful front cover until I was partway through the book and saw the initials on the leaves of the tree. It makes me emotional just looking at it to write my review as it makes me grateful to think of the people who have touched my life in my own family tree.
This is one of those books that make you want to read it again as soon as you finish it. I'm already missing all of the characters and I want to re-experience their stories again; I'm sure I'll even laugh in the same places and maybe even find some humour I missed when I was rapidly devouring this wonderful book as if I had been starved of words for weeks.
Entertaining, emotional and humorous, Hyphenated Relations is an unforgettable novel that has reminded me that life may be short but it is precious. Don't let this wonderful book fly under your radar - Daniel Maunz is a true literary star and one of the best things about book blogging is being introduced to such amazing authors that I may not have otherwise discovered.
Very highly recommended - DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK (yes, I'm shouting from the rooftop, it's THAT good)!
Many thanks to Daniel Maunz for sending an ARC across the Atlantic; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
This is a character driven novel with family at its huge heart. The characters are an eclectic bunch and I loved all of them, even the sneaky, conniving ones. Sam is the main character and she is suffering from the most painful of emotions: grief. It seems as if a large part of Sam died when she lost her husband, although she escapes through her love of books (which made me love her even more).
Sam has distanced herself from her former father-in-law so it's quite a shock to her system when he comes back into her life in the funniest way. Humour is evident throughout the book, even though some serious subjects are touched upon and it very much reflects the ups and downs of real life.
I don't think I fully appreciated the wonderful front cover until I was partway through the book and saw the initials on the leaves of the tree. It makes me emotional just looking at it to write my review as it makes me grateful to think of the people who have touched my life in my own family tree.
This is one of those books that make you want to read it again as soon as you finish it. I'm already missing all of the characters and I want to re-experience their stories again; I'm sure I'll even laugh in the same places and maybe even find some humour I missed when I was rapidly devouring this wonderful book as if I had been starved of words for weeks.
Entertaining, emotional and humorous, Hyphenated Relations is an unforgettable novel that has reminded me that life may be short but it is precious. Don't let this wonderful book fly under your radar - Daniel Maunz is a true literary star and one of the best things about book blogging is being introduced to such amazing authors that I may not have otherwise discovered.
Very highly recommended - DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK (yes, I'm shouting from the rooftop, it's THAT good)!
Many thanks to Daniel Maunz for sending an ARC across the Atlantic; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 16, 2023
Sam lives a reclusive life after after losing her husband of two years and her mother-in-law in a car accident, she goes to work and then comes right home. One day she walks in to see her father-in-law Harold in a bit of an embarrassing situation, but he goes on to explain he has met a woman named Marcie and they are getting married and he invites her to a bbq. She’s a bit confused on why he would invite her to a bbq to announce his upcoming wedding, she declines. But after getting wind that Marcie's four children intend to sabotage the wedding, because they were all scared of losing their inheritance. Sam gets more involved with the family, and she finds herself opposing the children. She. begins to wonder how will she save the marriage and repair her relationship with Harold? It's 4 against 1 in this family drama, and we watch the whole scenario unfold. There are powerful depictions of grief and I found myself getting emotional at times while reading, the author did a fantastic job of writing Sam and I immediately connected with her. The book leaves you with this , family doesn’t always share blood but that doesn’t make there any less family.
May 13, 2023
Daniel's debut, Questions of Perspective, was one of my favourite reads of 2020, so I couldn't help but pester him regularly for updates on his latest, Hyphenated Relations. I was overjoyed when he sent me a physical copy all the way from New York to Western Australia and started reading that next week.
While it took me nearly four months to finish the book (the result of a terrible work/life balance and being an overcommitted bookclub joiner), I thoroughly enjoyed spending the extra time with some of the most realistic characters I've ever come across in a book. Sam, for starters, is a bookstagrammer who reads to escape her thoughts (relatable) and Marcie is this lively, energetic soul who you can't help but admire for her spirited personality and positive outlook on life. Then we have Sam's ex-father-in-law Harold who brings the light-hearted humour. Plus Marcie's four children, headed up by Sadie, the dominant sibling determined to prevent Harold and Marcie from tying the knot. Some you like, some you hate, and some you probably won't ever understand (looking at you, Jeremy). They each had distinctive traits and were strongly developed despite having more secondary roles in the story. Some showed their ugly sides where death and money were involved, which felt relevant to how some people react selfishly in certain situations.
I loved how the story explored grief in its different stages, with humourous twists that helped lighten the tone. Contrasting with humour were moments of raw emotion and wise words (mostly from Marcie) that I'll be holding onto, such as this line from Marcie's journal:
How can we consider anyone truly "gone" when they continue to touch the world through those of us who knew and loved them?
The ending was everything I needed and completed the story perfectly. Sam's reflection on her loss was gut-wrenching but it was good to see her future full of hope. It's been a while since I enjoyed an ending this much - it bumped my rating up as I loved seeing Sam's character come full circle and achieve that closure she so very much needed.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.2
Writing style/readability - 4.1
Characters - 4.3
Diverse themes - 4.3
Ending - 4.7
Overall - 4.3
While it took me nearly four months to finish the book (the result of a terrible work/life balance and being an overcommitted bookclub joiner), I thoroughly enjoyed spending the extra time with some of the most realistic characters I've ever come across in a book. Sam, for starters, is a bookstagrammer who reads to escape her thoughts (relatable) and Marcie is this lively, energetic soul who you can't help but admire for her spirited personality and positive outlook on life. Then we have Sam's ex-father-in-law Harold who brings the light-hearted humour. Plus Marcie's four children, headed up by Sadie, the dominant sibling determined to prevent Harold and Marcie from tying the knot. Some you like, some you hate, and some you probably won't ever understand (looking at you, Jeremy). They each had distinctive traits and were strongly developed despite having more secondary roles in the story. Some showed their ugly sides where death and money were involved, which felt relevant to how some people react selfishly in certain situations.
I loved how the story explored grief in its different stages, with humourous twists that helped lighten the tone. Contrasting with humour were moments of raw emotion and wise words (mostly from Marcie) that I'll be holding onto, such as this line from Marcie's journal:
How can we consider anyone truly "gone" when they continue to touch the world through those of us who knew and loved them?
The ending was everything I needed and completed the story perfectly. Sam's reflection on her loss was gut-wrenching but it was good to see her future full of hope. It's been a while since I enjoyed an ending this much - it bumped my rating up as I loved seeing Sam's character come full circle and achieve that closure she so very much needed.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.2
Writing style/readability - 4.1
Characters - 4.3
Diverse themes - 4.3
Ending - 4.7
Overall - 4.3
May 16, 2023
Title: Hyphenated Relations
Author: Daniel Maunz
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pub Date: 5/4/23
TLC Book Tours
Attention all you family drama fans! Have I got a story for you! Hyphenated Relations by Daniel Maunz is one to add to your TBR. With laugh out loud moments and highly relatable characters, there is something for everyone is this novel.
Hilarious. Heart Wrenching. Frustrating. Lovable. Hopeful.
Let me just say, never has there ever been a better first line in a book:
“Sam Daly arrived home from work to find her father-in-law, Harold, sitting in her living room studying her underwear.”
I about died laughing! I knew right then and there I was in for some zany characters and boy was I right.
Let me give you the family tree for this story:
🌳 There is the main character Sam, who is a bit of a recluse. Who can blame her after losing her husband in a car accident 2 years ago. Sam is very relatable as a book nerd!
🌳 Next is Harold who comes barging back into Sam’s life. He also lost his wife in that same car accident. He’s back to announce he’s getting remarried and bring Sam back into the fold. He thinks she’s had enough time moping and she’s family. Sam doesn’t quite see it the same way seeing her wedding vows say “til death do we part”.
🌳 Then we have Harold’s fiancé Marcie. Marcie is eccentric and sweet to Harold’s practical with a side of zany. I just love older couples in books! Marcie has four children who are determined to sabotage the wedding.
Try as she might to stay out of it, this just doesn’t sit well with Sam and she finds herself involved. She’s been holding people at arms length for awhile now. Is this what she needs to find peace and healing? Deep down is she a helper?
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Though full of hope, the ending felt a little rushed to me to keep this from a perfect five stars. The book is only 250 pages…I would’ve loved more! I really enjoyed this story and hope you’ll pick it up!
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Author: Daniel Maunz
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pub Date: 5/4/23
TLC Book Tours
Attention all you family drama fans! Have I got a story for you! Hyphenated Relations by Daniel Maunz is one to add to your TBR. With laugh out loud moments and highly relatable characters, there is something for everyone is this novel.
Hilarious. Heart Wrenching. Frustrating. Lovable. Hopeful.
Let me just say, never has there ever been a better first line in a book:
“Sam Daly arrived home from work to find her father-in-law, Harold, sitting in her living room studying her underwear.”
I about died laughing! I knew right then and there I was in for some zany characters and boy was I right.
Let me give you the family tree for this story:
🌳 There is the main character Sam, who is a bit of a recluse. Who can blame her after losing her husband in a car accident 2 years ago. Sam is very relatable as a book nerd!
🌳 Next is Harold who comes barging back into Sam’s life. He also lost his wife in that same car accident. He’s back to announce he’s getting remarried and bring Sam back into the fold. He thinks she’s had enough time moping and she’s family. Sam doesn’t quite see it the same way seeing her wedding vows say “til death do we part”.
🌳 Then we have Harold’s fiancé Marcie. Marcie is eccentric and sweet to Harold’s practical with a side of zany. I just love older couples in books! Marcie has four children who are determined to sabotage the wedding.
Try as she might to stay out of it, this just doesn’t sit well with Sam and she finds herself involved. She’s been holding people at arms length for awhile now. Is this what she needs to find peace and healing? Deep down is she a helper?
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Though full of hope, the ending felt a little rushed to me to keep this from a perfect five stars. The book is only 250 pages…I would’ve loved more! I really enjoyed this story and hope you’ll pick it up!
Find me on IG https://www.instagram.com/bigskybooks
Find me on my blog https://www.bigskybooks.co
October 16, 2023
Daniel Maunz, the Author of “Hyphenated Relations” has written a thought-provoking and intriguing novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Family and Inspiration, and Inspirational and Spiritual Fiction. The timeline for this story takes place in the present, and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. In this well written, and complicated novel, the author vividly describes the dramatic characters as complex, complicated, quirky, dysfunctional and flawed. Some are manipulative, greedy, selfish, and ruthless. There are twists and turns, betrayals, manipulations, and gaslighting.
Sam Daly, is a young widow, retreating into her life by going to work, and reading books. Surprisingly, her ex-father in law appears back in her life, and requests her presence at an engagement party for his new fiancé. Harold, the ex-father in law lost his wife the same day that Sam had lost her husband. Sam is ambivalent about getting involved in his life. Harold’s new fiancee, Marcie, has four children from previous marriages, that are not happy that their wealthy mother will be getting married again. It is only when Sam becomes aware that Marcie’s children are manipulative and plan to put a stop to the wedding, that she feels she should be there for Harold.
Sam is a fair and honest person, and when she meets Marcie, she finds that Marcie is a good person and an inspiration in many ways. She is a balance to Harold’s eccentricities, and personality. Sam has to find the strength and growth to be an advocate for Harold and Marcie, if they are to have a chance at happiness. Perhaps this will be an opportunity for Sam to realize that she doesn’t have to be alone, and she will find that she does have a family.
I appreciate how Daniel Maunz describes the importance of family, friendships, communication, honesty, love and hope. I highly recommend this emotional novel.
Sam Daly, is a young widow, retreating into her life by going to work, and reading books. Surprisingly, her ex-father in law appears back in her life, and requests her presence at an engagement party for his new fiancé. Harold, the ex-father in law lost his wife the same day that Sam had lost her husband. Sam is ambivalent about getting involved in his life. Harold’s new fiancee, Marcie, has four children from previous marriages, that are not happy that their wealthy mother will be getting married again. It is only when Sam becomes aware that Marcie’s children are manipulative and plan to put a stop to the wedding, that she feels she should be there for Harold.
Sam is a fair and honest person, and when she meets Marcie, she finds that Marcie is a good person and an inspiration in many ways. She is a balance to Harold’s eccentricities, and personality. Sam has to find the strength and growth to be an advocate for Harold and Marcie, if they are to have a chance at happiness. Perhaps this will be an opportunity for Sam to realize that she doesn’t have to be alone, and she will find that she does have a family.
I appreciate how Daniel Maunz describes the importance of family, friendships, communication, honesty, love and hope. I highly recommend this emotional novel.
December 18, 2023
Thank you @danielmaunz @blackstonepublishing and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the #gifted book.
Hyphenated Relations is a story that will give you all the feels and can be read in an evening. Sam is basically a hermit since her husband and mother in law died in a car accident two years ago. She finds solace in reading and sharing her reviews on Bookstagram.
One day her father in law Harold invites her to a BBQ to meet his girlfriend Marcie and her four adult children. Marcie was married four times previously and the children are step siblings . They want to announce they are getting married. When one of Marcie's children stalk her at work and tries to talk her into not going to the BBQ, Sam decides she needs to be on Harold's side and see why the children oppose the marriage.
Three of the adult children are spoiled brats and are self absorbed. The only "normal" one is Miguel who only opposes the marriage because he is afraid of losing his siblings. This is a family full of dysfunction. Sam gets drawn into their family drama and there are several twists in the story. Sam starts looking at her past and Marcie's friendship helps her come to realizations. Family is not only blood relations but also the people you choose.
Hyphenated Relations is a story that will give you all the feels and can be read in an evening. Sam is basically a hermit since her husband and mother in law died in a car accident two years ago. She finds solace in reading and sharing her reviews on Bookstagram.
One day her father in law Harold invites her to a BBQ to meet his girlfriend Marcie and her four adult children. Marcie was married four times previously and the children are step siblings . They want to announce they are getting married. When one of Marcie's children stalk her at work and tries to talk her into not going to the BBQ, Sam decides she needs to be on Harold's side and see why the children oppose the marriage.
Three of the adult children are spoiled brats and are self absorbed. The only "normal" one is Miguel who only opposes the marriage because he is afraid of losing his siblings. This is a family full of dysfunction. Sam gets drawn into their family drama and there are several twists in the story. Sam starts looking at her past and Marcie's friendship helps her come to realizations. Family is not only blood relations but also the people you choose.
November 17, 2023
I loved this book! It was a one sitting read that snuck up on me and kept me turning page after page.
This story has a lot of characters, all different, some likable and some not.
We have Sam who lost her husband and mother in law in a car accident. She’s grieving and stays to herself, no friends or relationships until one day her father in law Harold shows up to tell her he is remarrying and wants her to become part of this new family he is marrying into with Marcie, who has four children who oppose this union.
That’s where the drama and conflicts takes off on this treasure of a book.
This story has a lot of characters, all different, some likable and some not.
We have Sam who lost her husband and mother in law in a car accident. She’s grieving and stays to herself, no friends or relationships until one day her father in law Harold shows up to tell her he is remarrying and wants her to become part of this new family he is marrying into with Marcie, who has four children who oppose this union.
That’s where the drama and conflicts takes off on this treasure of a book.
October 19, 2023
Review: A widow for two years, Sam is going through the motions but not really enjoying life. When her father in law makes a sudden appearance in her life and announces he is getting married, Sam wonders what this has to do with her. At his persistence, she finds that she misses being a part of a family and wonders if this might be her chance to find that again.
Sam is such a relatable and likeable character. She even has her own bookstagram account! Which was a fun twist I really enjoyed. She is grieving and constantly pushes away her feeling so she doesn't have to deal with the pain. I loved Harold, who was so sweet and forgiving of Sam. Marcie was probably my favorite character. She is kind and generous, open to possibilities and so intuitive ❤️. I enjoyed reading about the drama involving Marcie's children, and Sam's mental strength as she decides to fight for love and family. Overall, this was a great book about family relations and second chances.
Sam is such a relatable and likeable character. She even has her own bookstagram account! Which was a fun twist I really enjoyed. She is grieving and constantly pushes away her feeling so she doesn't have to deal with the pain. I loved Harold, who was so sweet and forgiving of Sam. Marcie was probably my favorite character. She is kind and generous, open to possibilities and so intuitive ❤️. I enjoyed reading about the drama involving Marcie's children, and Sam's mental strength as she decides to fight for love and family. Overall, this was a great book about family relations and second chances.
March 21, 2023
I love this book! It has a realistic story, that wants you to just keep reading. I couldn't put it down until I had read the entire book. In my opinion Daniel Maunz is really coming into his own, he will become one of the best selling authors. Can't wait until his next book
February 7, 2023
I loved this book. Was a fast read. Well written. Couldn't put it down. Laughed and cried. Highly recommend!
April 8, 2023
Readers will no doubt recognize members of their own families in this story as it carries many truths.
Read full review in the 2023 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2023 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
January 11, 2023
What a delightful story!
Sam's father-in-law stops by to let her know that he is getting remarried. Sam meets the bride’s adult children and finds that they are against the marriage. After spending time with Marcie (the bride), Sam discovers a wonderful person who wants to please her family, but they are unfortunately getting in the way.
The characters are described so clearly by their actions. The storyline is engaging and Sam’s growth throughout the story felt very realistic. I wanted to yell at a couple of the characters,especially Colin. I found myself laughing out loud at parts as well as wiping away some tears. This story truly is a family dramedy with a satisfying, perfect ending.
And if you're a Bookstagrammer, Sam is one, too! That's so neat to see in a book.
Thank you to Daniel Maunz for a review copy. I can't wait to read more!
Sam's father-in-law stops by to let her know that he is getting remarried. Sam meets the bride’s adult children and finds that they are against the marriage. After spending time with Marcie (the bride), Sam discovers a wonderful person who wants to please her family, but they are unfortunately getting in the way.
The characters are described so clearly by their actions. The storyline is engaging and Sam’s growth throughout the story felt very realistic. I wanted to yell at a couple of the characters,especially Colin. I found myself laughing out loud at parts as well as wiping away some tears. This story truly is a family dramedy with a satisfying, perfect ending.
And if you're a Bookstagrammer, Sam is one, too! That's so neat to see in a book.
Thank you to Daniel Maunz for a review copy. I can't wait to read more!
May 19, 2023
“Sam was very careful in how she photographed books-she liked to let the story decide where and how the book should ultimately be shot.” I feel seen 👀
“I think there is a time in everyone’s life where you’re responsible for your own happiness, and you can’t blame what others are doing for your mental state.”
Sam Daly is leading a life of quiet isolation following the death of her husband, Mike. But her self-imposed cocoon is threatened after her eccentric father-in-law Harold stumbles back into her world to announce that he is getting remarried to the mysterious Marcie Porter, who is burdened by her own complex family history.
The last thing Sam wants is to get involved. But after getting wind that Marcie’s four children intend to sabotage the wedding, Sam is reluctantly drawn into a new family drama and all that comes with it. While navigating these landmines, Sam finds herself struggling to come to terms with the painful past she had been holding away at arm’s length for so long.
Imagine my surprise when I started reading and realized that Sam is a Bookstagrammer! Ahhh this is my first book ever I think with a bookstagrammer as a character. How fun!
Also, Marcie is one of the best and most honorable characters I have read recently. Loved her!
I sat down to read this not knowing what to expect…and I finished it in one sitting. At times this book had me so mad I wanted to throw it across the room 😂. But the characters are great, whether you love them (some yes) or hate them (some YES!). This is a powerful story about loving after loss, healing after heartache, and what makes a family.
Thank you to @danielmaunz @tlcbooktours and @blackrosewriting for the #gifted copy.
“I think there is a time in everyone’s life where you’re responsible for your own happiness, and you can’t blame what others are doing for your mental state.”
Sam Daly is leading a life of quiet isolation following the death of her husband, Mike. But her self-imposed cocoon is threatened after her eccentric father-in-law Harold stumbles back into her world to announce that he is getting remarried to the mysterious Marcie Porter, who is burdened by her own complex family history.
The last thing Sam wants is to get involved. But after getting wind that Marcie’s four children intend to sabotage the wedding, Sam is reluctantly drawn into a new family drama and all that comes with it. While navigating these landmines, Sam finds herself struggling to come to terms with the painful past she had been holding away at arm’s length for so long.
Imagine my surprise when I started reading and realized that Sam is a Bookstagrammer! Ahhh this is my first book ever I think with a bookstagrammer as a character. How fun!
Also, Marcie is one of the best and most honorable characters I have read recently. Loved her!
I sat down to read this not knowing what to expect…and I finished it in one sitting. At times this book had me so mad I wanted to throw it across the room 😂. But the characters are great, whether you love them (some yes) or hate them (some YES!). This is a powerful story about loving after loss, healing after heartache, and what makes a family.
Thank you to @danielmaunz @tlcbooktours and @blackrosewriting for the #gifted copy.
April 23, 2023
I have been a fan of Maunz' since Questions of Perspective. While that novel might be a little too metaphysical for some (but I still loved it), Hyphenated Relations will be more relatable to more readers.
The novel finds Sam still mourning the loss of her husband, tragically lost on Mother's Day in a crash that killed his mother as well. Sam runs to her books for solace and locks out most everyone else. She's on a kind of cruise control with her job, doing her work but not engaged with any of the staff.
Her father-in-law is reintroduced into her life. She finds that he has "broken in" to her home and seems to be burglarizing her underwear. (Maunz' humor is sprinkled throughout the novel.) This reconnection throws Sam into a new family, that of her FiL's impending wife's clan.
Talk about dysfunctional. Maunz presents the lovable Marcie and her hippy dippy ways. She's a hugger and finds beauty and goodness in all things, even her horrible children. They're all contemptible, especially Sadie and Colin who seem to never realize the gem they have in a mother.
Needless to say, Sam comes back to society in trying to help her FiL and these manipulative siblings. She finds her voice and strength again.
I can't leave this review without talking more about Maunz' subtle use of humor. There's always a bit to smile at whenever Marcie is on the page, but I loved his description of Jeremy, the clueless son: "Jeremy was largely raised on sitcoms from the 1990s and thought nothing of just popping in without any sort of warning" (49). (Memories of Will & Grace and Friends came back to me.)
I highly recommend!
The novel finds Sam still mourning the loss of her husband, tragically lost on Mother's Day in a crash that killed his mother as well. Sam runs to her books for solace and locks out most everyone else. She's on a kind of cruise control with her job, doing her work but not engaged with any of the staff.
Her father-in-law is reintroduced into her life. She finds that he has "broken in" to her home and seems to be burglarizing her underwear. (Maunz' humor is sprinkled throughout the novel.) This reconnection throws Sam into a new family, that of her FiL's impending wife's clan.
Talk about dysfunctional. Maunz presents the lovable Marcie and her hippy dippy ways. She's a hugger and finds beauty and goodness in all things, even her horrible children. They're all contemptible, especially Sadie and Colin who seem to never realize the gem they have in a mother.
Needless to say, Sam comes back to society in trying to help her FiL and these manipulative siblings. She finds her voice and strength again.
I can't leave this review without talking more about Maunz' subtle use of humor. There's always a bit to smile at whenever Marcie is on the page, but I loved his description of Jeremy, the clueless son: "Jeremy was largely raised on sitcoms from the 1990s and thought nothing of just popping in without any sort of warning" (49). (Memories of Will & Grace and Friends came back to me.)
I highly recommend!
February 25, 2023
Thank you to LibraryThing and the author.
The title of this book is very clever, and when you read it, you'll figure it out.
I always enjoy books about family but this one was not your typical family, per se. It's about in-laws, and half siblings. After 2 years of losing her husband, Mike, her father-in-law Harold shows up in her house unannounced and Sam wasn't even home! It turns out he had a key after all these years and decided to use it. The first few pages are really funny with her father-in-law and I give Sam credit for not fainting! Harold wants Sam to get to know his fiancee Marcie and invites her to come to his engagement party which is why he showed up. She gets involved in their lives unexpectedly that's for sure.
The half-siblings have very different personalities and they really don't get along. I'm not sure if I liked them or not – okay maybe one of them – Miguel.
It was only when I got to page 200 (almost the end of the book) that I started getting annoyed and it started getting awkward. To me, Sam got too involved in the family business with the wedding in Iceland. She was invited and decided not to go and then decided to go at the last minute which is when all this happened. I know she wanted what was best for Harold and Marcie but still...and she wasn't that close to Harold for 2 years but I guess she felt guilty that she wasn't there for him when his wife and son died since she was grieving herself.
Oh, by the way, get those tissues ready.
The title of this book is very clever, and when you read it, you'll figure it out.
I always enjoy books about family but this one was not your typical family, per se. It's about in-laws, and half siblings. After 2 years of losing her husband, Mike, her father-in-law Harold shows up in her house unannounced and Sam wasn't even home! It turns out he had a key after all these years and decided to use it. The first few pages are really funny with her father-in-law and I give Sam credit for not fainting! Harold wants Sam to get to know his fiancee Marcie and invites her to come to his engagement party which is why he showed up. She gets involved in their lives unexpectedly that's for sure.
The half-siblings have very different personalities and they really don't get along. I'm not sure if I liked them or not – okay maybe one of them – Miguel.
It was only when I got to page 200 (almost the end of the book) that I started getting annoyed and it started getting awkward. To me, Sam got too involved in the family business with the wedding in Iceland. She was invited and decided not to go and then decided to go at the last minute which is when all this happened. I know she wanted what was best for Harold and Marcie but still...and she wasn't that close to Harold for 2 years but I guess she felt guilty that she wasn't there for him when his wife and son died since she was grieving herself.
Oh, by the way, get those tissues ready.
May 4, 2023
Sam has been a widow since her husband of four years was killed, along with his mother, while he taking her out for a Mother's Day dinner two years ago. Sam isolated herself from any social activies, preferring books to people. She was shocked by the sudden reappearance of her former father-in-law Harold, who invites her to an engagement party announcing his marriage to Marcie Porter and to meet her four adult children from four different marriages. Harold feels like Sam is the only family he has, but Sam feels that their relationship died with her husband. Sam turns down the invitation, but changes her mind when she finds herself being stalked by one of the children who is trying to keep Sam out of the picture. When she realizes that Marcie's children are trying to sabotage the wedding, Sam decides to do what she can to help Marcie and Harold realize their dream and to help herself by rejoining life.
This is a wonderful book. Daniel Maunz's first book, Questions of Perspective, was a love story between a man, his wife and his cat. This book shows the importance of family love, and the different forms that it takes. Every character, from grumpy but loveable Harold, nicer than nice Marcie, loser Jeremy, people pleaser Miguel, spoiled recluse Colin, Sadie the bitch and even Sam are people you can relate to and most will probably remind you of someone you know. It has clever dialogue and is funny, sad, shocking and reflective. I recommend that everyone buy this book, because you will want to reread it.
This is a wonderful book. Daniel Maunz's first book, Questions of Perspective, was a love story between a man, his wife and his cat. This book shows the importance of family love, and the different forms that it takes. Every character, from grumpy but loveable Harold, nicer than nice Marcie, loser Jeremy, people pleaser Miguel, spoiled recluse Colin, Sadie the bitch and even Sam are people you can relate to and most will probably remind you of someone you know. It has clever dialogue and is funny, sad, shocking and reflective. I recommend that everyone buy this book, because you will want to reread it.
August 2, 2023
Overall Rating = 4.5
Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing & Delivery = 4.5
Editorial = 5
Sam Daly is leading an isolated life after the death of her husband two years ago. The unexpected arrival of her father-in-law with news of his upcoming remarriage confuses Sam. She had assumed her relationship with him had ended upon the death of her husband and his wife in a tragic accident. When Sam is introduced to his bride-to-be, Marcie, and her four children, she is pulled into a family drama that involves the offsprings’ intent to sabotage the wedding.
Daniel Maunz knows exactly how to tug on a reader’s heartstrings with this novel. His tactics include humor, complex characters, deep emotions, a surprising ending, and of course, a dog. Although I was initially put off by the unlikability of Marcie’s children, I had to admit that their individual personalities cover a spectrum of characteristics found in many real-life families. Told from multiple points of view, the reader is able to get into the mindset of each character and will be sure to relate to them in some way. Well-plotted, with vivid descriptions and compelling dialogue, this is an engaging read.
Sublime Line: “Hyphenated Relations is a moving novel that explores complex family dynamics with humor and skillful plotting.”
Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing & Delivery = 4.5
Editorial = 5
Sam Daly is leading an isolated life after the death of her husband two years ago. The unexpected arrival of her father-in-law with news of his upcoming remarriage confuses Sam. She had assumed her relationship with him had ended upon the death of her husband and his wife in a tragic accident. When Sam is introduced to his bride-to-be, Marcie, and her four children, she is pulled into a family drama that involves the offsprings’ intent to sabotage the wedding.
Daniel Maunz knows exactly how to tug on a reader’s heartstrings with this novel. His tactics include humor, complex characters, deep emotions, a surprising ending, and of course, a dog. Although I was initially put off by the unlikability of Marcie’s children, I had to admit that their individual personalities cover a spectrum of characteristics found in many real-life families. Told from multiple points of view, the reader is able to get into the mindset of each character and will be sure to relate to them in some way. Well-plotted, with vivid descriptions and compelling dialogue, this is an engaging read.
Sublime Line: “Hyphenated Relations is a moving novel that explores complex family dynamics with humor and skillful plotting.”
March 2, 2023
4.5/5 Stars
Themes of family, new beginnings, trust, new friendships, grief, betrayal from family members are contained in this one.
Very well written as always. I found this novel to be delightful. Getting to know all the characters.
Marcie has been the guardian of 4 children (3 are her own, 1 is adopted) each husband she has had has passed away due to a circumstance or another. Meets Widow Harold, he is the one so let’s get married. Until her children try to stop the weddings. Be aware these are adult children in their 30’s (late 20’s at earliest?).
Why not let your own mother be happy?
Harold had lost both his wife and son on the same day a few years ago. His son was married to Sam. Harold reaches out to Sam and she reluctantly agrees to come to the engagement party.
Marcie’s children are very odd in each of their own ways. They are quite immature given their age. And presuming their mum would die an old spinster, not allowing her to get married.
I think I loved her character the most. Sam does not mention much about her own parents so I really enjoyed seeing their relationships grow. Marcie is just so upbeat and positive and Sam has a bit of a hard shell on her.
I love how realistic the characters are. Especially during Sam’s journey throughout.
A family coming together type of read. Apart from some annoying siblings. The only small thing I would change would be breaking up the chapters a little bit as they are a bit longer than other books I have read.
Overall, this novel focuses on the importance of family and coming together especially to those in need, does not have to be blood related relative. Just being there for each other.
Review: https://clife.blog/2023/03/08/book-re...
Themes of family, new beginnings, trust, new friendships, grief, betrayal from family members are contained in this one.
Very well written as always. I found this novel to be delightful. Getting to know all the characters.
Marcie has been the guardian of 4 children (3 are her own, 1 is adopted) each husband she has had has passed away due to a circumstance or another. Meets Widow Harold, he is the one so let’s get married. Until her children try to stop the weddings. Be aware these are adult children in their 30’s (late 20’s at earliest?).
Why not let your own mother be happy?
Harold had lost both his wife and son on the same day a few years ago. His son was married to Sam. Harold reaches out to Sam and she reluctantly agrees to come to the engagement party.
Marcie’s children are very odd in each of their own ways. They are quite immature given their age. And presuming their mum would die an old spinster, not allowing her to get married.
I think I loved her character the most. Sam does not mention much about her own parents so I really enjoyed seeing their relationships grow. Marcie is just so upbeat and positive and Sam has a bit of a hard shell on her.
I love how realistic the characters are. Especially during Sam’s journey throughout.
A family coming together type of read. Apart from some annoying siblings. The only small thing I would change would be breaking up the chapters a little bit as they are a bit longer than other books I have read.
Overall, this novel focuses on the importance of family and coming together especially to those in need, does not have to be blood related relative. Just being there for each other.
Review: https://clife.blog/2023/03/08/book-re...
November 16, 2023
The story grabs you by the throat and never lets up. Sam’s husband and mother-in-law are killed by a drunk driver. She grieves by isolating herself. When her father-in-law shows up to announce his upcoming wedding, all hell breaks loose. The bride, Marcie, has been married four times, has buried four grooms, and has four children with four different dads. Hopefully, five is a luckier number for her.
The story ramps up as we meet this unique cast of characters, each with their own distinctive thoughts and actions. Marcie’s sons are doormats and her daughter is a manipulative bitch. Marcie tends to see the good in others and forgives her children repeatedly - even when they try to sabotage her wedding. She’s loaded and the kids don’t want to lose their inheritance. Nice. It’s said that money brings out the worst in people… Sit back and watch as Sam unleashes a battle of wills on these brats.
Not only is the writing brilliant but the story is believable. Be prepared to wrestle with your emotions and the jaw-dropping twists that ensue. Thoroughly entertaining with poignant lessons in love, grief, and family are the people you choose, not necessarily bonded by blood. I’d definitely read more by this author.
The story ramps up as we meet this unique cast of characters, each with their own distinctive thoughts and actions. Marcie’s sons are doormats and her daughter is a manipulative bitch. Marcie tends to see the good in others and forgives her children repeatedly - even when they try to sabotage her wedding. She’s loaded and the kids don’t want to lose their inheritance. Nice. It’s said that money brings out the worst in people… Sit back and watch as Sam unleashes a battle of wills on these brats.
Not only is the writing brilliant but the story is believable. Be prepared to wrestle with your emotions and the jaw-dropping twists that ensue. Thoroughly entertaining with poignant lessons in love, grief, and family are the people you choose, not necessarily bonded by blood. I’d definitely read more by this author.
January 26, 2026
This novel is a beautifully observed character study about emerging from grief and the messy, unexpected ways we find family. The protagonist, Sam Daly, has built a carefully controlled life of quiet isolation after her husband's death, finding solace in the predictable cycle of work and books. Her self-protective cocoon is abruptly punctured when her eccentric father-in-law, Harold, announces his remarriage to the enigmatic Marcie Porter.
Sam's initial reluctance is deeply relatable—the last thing she wants is new drama. However, the plot thickens charmingly when she learns that Marcie's four children plan to sabotage the wedding. Against her better judgment, Sam is pulled into the fray, navigating a minefield of unexpected alliances and ruthless enemies. This external chaos brilliantly forces her to internally confront the painful past she has kept at arm's length.
The heart of the novel lies in Sam's journey to answer the central, haunting question she's avoided: Is she done with the notion of "family" after her loss? Through the chaos of wedding planning and blending families, she is compelled to redefine what family means—not just by blood or marriage, but by choice, loyalty, and the willingness to engage with life again.
Sam's initial reluctance is deeply relatable—the last thing she wants is new drama. However, the plot thickens charmingly when she learns that Marcie's four children plan to sabotage the wedding. Against her better judgment, Sam is pulled into the fray, navigating a minefield of unexpected alliances and ruthless enemies. This external chaos brilliantly forces her to internally confront the painful past she has kept at arm's length.
The heart of the novel lies in Sam's journey to answer the central, haunting question she's avoided: Is she done with the notion of "family" after her loss? Through the chaos of wedding planning and blending families, she is compelled to redefine what family means—not just by blood or marriage, but by choice, loyalty, and the willingness to engage with life again.
November 20, 2023
I read this character driven book in one sitting. This read explores family dynamics in the most entertaining way.
Sam is a young widow. She is trudging through each day with her one enjoyment being her bookstagram account. Her former father-in-law, Harold, shows up to tell her he is getting married. Sam hasn’t seen him since the funerals when they buried her husband and his wife.
Harold is marrying Marcie a 4 time widow with 4 grown children. These children don’t want to see their mom remarry. Sam who was indifferent to the nuptials makes it her mission to figure out why these adult kids are so against the marriage.
I love the intricacies of each characters’ portrayal as well as how each sibling fits into the complex inter family relationship.
I enjoyed reading all the bonding moments between Marcie and Sam which were both sweet and funny.
The fact that Sam is a bookstagrammer and that the author spends time to explain that part of the story makes this a perfect read for me.
Once I started reading the book, I realized how perfect the cover is for this one.
From top to bottom, beginning to end this was a fantastic read.
Sam is a young widow. She is trudging through each day with her one enjoyment being her bookstagram account. Her former father-in-law, Harold, shows up to tell her he is getting married. Sam hasn’t seen him since the funerals when they buried her husband and his wife.
Harold is marrying Marcie a 4 time widow with 4 grown children. These children don’t want to see their mom remarry. Sam who was indifferent to the nuptials makes it her mission to figure out why these adult kids are so against the marriage.
I love the intricacies of each characters’ portrayal as well as how each sibling fits into the complex inter family relationship.
I enjoyed reading all the bonding moments between Marcie and Sam which were both sweet and funny.
The fact that Sam is a bookstagrammer and that the author spends time to explain that part of the story makes this a perfect read for me.
Once I started reading the book, I realized how perfect the cover is for this one.
From top to bottom, beginning to end this was a fantastic read.
November 30, 2023
I loved this book! There was such a mix of family drama and second chance love that I was engaged the entire time. Blending families is never easy and I felt the author did a great job at highlighting the positives and negatives that occur when different personalities come together.
Sam has suffered a terrible loss in her life that has left her alone. Everyday she puts one step in front of the other and does what she needs to just to get by. When her ex father-in-law shows up unannounced Sam wants nothing to do with him or the new life he’s created for himself. Harold has been dragged to the depths of sadness and somehow found his way out. He is remarrying a beautiful woman and gaining adult stepchildren and all he wants is for Adam to be a part of it.
Reluctantly Sam decides to humour Harold and attend his party but she quickly sees issues with Marcie’s kids and feels an obligation to step in. Along the way Sam will discover her importance not only in Harold’s life but also in Marcie’s. Most important she will learn that there is love after loss and embrace the opportunity for a fresh start.
Sam has suffered a terrible loss in her life that has left her alone. Everyday she puts one step in front of the other and does what she needs to just to get by. When her ex father-in-law shows up unannounced Sam wants nothing to do with him or the new life he’s created for himself. Harold has been dragged to the depths of sadness and somehow found his way out. He is remarrying a beautiful woman and gaining adult stepchildren and all he wants is for Adam to be a part of it.
Reluctantly Sam decides to humour Harold and attend his party but she quickly sees issues with Marcie’s kids and feels an obligation to step in. Along the way Sam will discover her importance not only in Harold’s life but also in Marcie’s. Most important she will learn that there is love after loss and embrace the opportunity for a fresh start.
January 15, 2026
Hyphenated Relations by Daniel Maunz is a quietly engaging novel about grief, family, and the unexpected ways people are pulled back into life after loss. Following Sam Daly’s self-imposed retreat from the world after her husband’s death, the story traces how one inconvenient, eccentric, and oddly hopeful disruption forces her to reopen doors she thought she had firmly closed.
What makes this book resonate is its emotional honesty. The family tensions aren’t exaggerated into melodrama; they feel recognizably human, awkward, funny, painful, and tender in turns. Harold’s impulsive remarriage and Marcie’s complicated family introduce conflict, but they also become the catalyst for Sam’s reckoning with grief, connection, and whether family is something we choose, endure, or grow back into.
For readers drawn to character-driven fiction about relationships, loss, and second chances, Hyphenated Relations offers a warm, reflective story about how even reluctant connections can become the very thing that helps us heal.
What makes this book resonate is its emotional honesty. The family tensions aren’t exaggerated into melodrama; they feel recognizably human, awkward, funny, painful, and tender in turns. Harold’s impulsive remarriage and Marcie’s complicated family introduce conflict, but they also become the catalyst for Sam’s reckoning with grief, connection, and whether family is something we choose, endure, or grow back into.
For readers drawn to character-driven fiction about relationships, loss, and second chances, Hyphenated Relations offers a warm, reflective story about how even reluctant connections can become the very thing that helps us heal.
June 5, 2023
I really enjoyed Daniel's debut novel Questions of Perspective and I was thrilled when he asked me to review this novel. The writing style immediately pulled me in again and I was intrigued by the interesting family dynamics. I can't say that I particularly liked the 4 half brothers and sister, but I think that was part of what made Sam's growth so beautiful to see. She suffered loss and had to deal with this dysfunctional group of people and still managed to be the one to experience life lessons and learn from them. I found myself thinking about my own losses and what I learned from them and that's what I think Daniel does best. He encourages self-reflection and personal growth through storytelling, and that's my favorite way to learn.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2023
‘Hyphenated Relations’ is a contemporary fiction story about Sam Daly and how she mourns the loss of her husband, Mike after his car crash. Her reluctant involvement with Harold, Mike’s father creates a dynamic tale and makes this story enjoyable to read. Sam’s personality is hard to figure out at first. She is a deep thinker and her character is very relatable to those who understand her demeanour and behavior. I found is very appealing as it kept me intrigued.
The literature is written well and with this understanding, the steady flow ensured the reader continued the adventure till the end.
Sam’s personal growth through the story was admirable. She learns and progresses as she navigates through the troubles that come at her.
I recommend this book to those who like fictional stories with drama.
The literature is written well and with this understanding, the steady flow ensured the reader continued the adventure till the end.
Sam’s personal growth through the story was admirable. She learns and progresses as she navigates through the troubles that come at her.
I recommend this book to those who like fictional stories with drama.
June 26, 2023
What a delightful read! This story played out in my head like a movie I would absolutely watch. The first thing that impressed me about this author is that he could write a (peripheral) character that I disliked so much without him being an actual villian; he just sucks. The back and forth of the various motivations kept me guessing clear until the end what would happen. The author also hits us with such fun phrases such as "He had left the realm of drunk and was firmly ensconced in hangover town", and "...and as a general rule of thumb, that if the last time you showered was on another continent, you're probably due". I can't wait to read more from this author!
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