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A Theory of Relativity
A terrible accident has left little Keefer orphaned but not unwanted. Devastated by his beloved sister's tragic death, twenty-four-year-old bachelor Gordon McKenna assumes that he will be entrusted with raising his niece, whom he has grown extremely close to over the few precious months of Keefer's life. But the child's paternal grandparents have different ideas—and a fierce legal battle ensues that will test the capacity and limitations of family love again and again . . . and no one will emerge from it unscathed or unchanged. Jacquelyn Mitchard, whose powerful, emotionally rich novels have won resounding critical acclaim and a wide, enthusiastic audience worldwide, brings us a soaring, heartbreaking, and unforgettable tale of love and the bonds that unite us all.
398 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
142 people are currently reading
6066 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Mitchard
82 books1,244 followersJacquelyn Mitchard’s first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, was named by USA Today as one of the ten most influential books of the past 25 years – second only to the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (but second by a long shot, it must be said.)
The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Most of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane, The Good Son, and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.
Mitchard also has written four novels for young adults.
The first, Now You See Her, from HarperTeen, is the story of a pampered, driven young actress who fakes her own abduction.
All We Know of Heaven told the story of lifetime best friends Bridget and Maureen, who are just sixteen when a fatal crash on an icy road and a poignant case of mistaken identity divide their small Minnesota town forever.
The Midnight Twins was the first in a trilogy of teen mysteries about identical twin sisters born on New Year’s Eve – one a minute before and a minute after midnight – Meredith and Mallory Brynn learn on the night they turn thirteen that their psychic abilities will force them to intervene in dire events, although one twin can see only the future and one can see only the past. The Midnight Twins is in development as a TV series by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Mitchard's newest novel for adult, A Very Inconvenient Scandal, out in November 2023 from Mira/HarperCollins, is the story of an acclaimed young underwater photographer whose famed marine biologist father shatters their family by marrying her best friend., a woman 35 years his junior.
At the local coffee shop, Mitchard is best-known as the mother of Rob, Dan, Marty, Francie, Mia, Will and Atticus , as the grandma of Hank and Diana and the wife of handsome Chris Brent.
Her favorite color is periwinkle blue; her favorite holiday is Halloween; her favorite flower is freesia; her favorite word is "smite," and her second favorite is "Massachusetts"; her lucky number is 119 (anyone who can guess where that comes from wins free first editions of her novels for life). She lives in her favorite place on earth, Cape Cod, summering in a villa on the Amalfi Coast. (Guess which part of that sentence is fiction.)
Her essays have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune Magazine and Reader's Digest, and are widely anthologized and used in school curricula. She has taught in MFA programs in Vermont, Ohio, and Massachusetts, and is part of the faculty at the Summer Writers Institute at Yale University. She is a member of the Tall Poppies Writers and has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Ragdale Foundation.
Her pet peeves are known authors and editors who cannot and will not learn the difference between “lie” and “lay” and family signs pluralized with apostrophes.
She would love to appear on just ONE episode of any incarnation of ‘Law and Order,’ as has everyone else in America. She still is willing to play the role of a murder victim – except one found by earth-moving equipment in a landfill – though she would do that in a pinch.
Mitchard would like to have a swimming pool, because, although she lives near the ocean, she is afraid of the dark water and hates sand. She would love to have a clawfoot tub, or any tub.
She believes that stories are the ways that human beings make sense of life and that our stories will save us.
The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Most of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane, The Good Son, and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.
Mitchard also has written four novels for young adults.
The first, Now You See Her, from HarperTeen, is the story of a pampered, driven young actress who fakes her own abduction.
All We Know of Heaven told the story of lifetime best friends Bridget and Maureen, who are just sixteen when a fatal crash on an icy road and a poignant case of mistaken identity divide their small Minnesota town forever.
The Midnight Twins was the first in a trilogy of teen mysteries about identical twin sisters born on New Year’s Eve – one a minute before and a minute after midnight – Meredith and Mallory Brynn learn on the night they turn thirteen that their psychic abilities will force them to intervene in dire events, although one twin can see only the future and one can see only the past. The Midnight Twins is in development as a TV series by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Mitchard's newest novel for adult, A Very Inconvenient Scandal, out in November 2023 from Mira/HarperCollins, is the story of an acclaimed young underwater photographer whose famed marine biologist father shatters their family by marrying her best friend., a woman 35 years his junior.
At the local coffee shop, Mitchard is best-known as the mother of Rob, Dan, Marty, Francie, Mia, Will and Atticus , as the grandma of Hank and Diana and the wife of handsome Chris Brent.
Her favorite color is periwinkle blue; her favorite holiday is Halloween; her favorite flower is freesia; her favorite word is "smite," and her second favorite is "Massachusetts"; her lucky number is 119 (anyone who can guess where that comes from wins free first editions of her novels for life). She lives in her favorite place on earth, Cape Cod, summering in a villa on the Amalfi Coast. (Guess which part of that sentence is fiction.)
Her essays have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune Magazine and Reader's Digest, and are widely anthologized and used in school curricula. She has taught in MFA programs in Vermont, Ohio, and Massachusetts, and is part of the faculty at the Summer Writers Institute at Yale University. She is a member of the Tall Poppies Writers and has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Ragdale Foundation.
Her pet peeves are known authors and editors who cannot and will not learn the difference between “lie” and “lay” and family signs pluralized with apostrophes.
She would love to appear on just ONE episode of any incarnation of ‘Law and Order,’ as has everyone else in America. She still is willing to play the role of a murder victim – except one found by earth-moving equipment in a landfill – though she would do that in a pinch.
Mitchard would like to have a swimming pool, because, although she lives near the ocean, she is afraid of the dark water and hates sand. She would love to have a clawfoot tub, or any tub.
She believes that stories are the ways that human beings make sense of life and that our stories will save us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
June 22, 2011
I honestly don't know how to rate this book - I wanted to like it, it was well-written, the storyline and subject matter kept me interested, but I had so many problems with things! I had a really hard time connecting with the characters - I didn't like any of them enough to find sympathy for them, even considering the storyline. I really didn't like Delia or her family at all, but also I didn't feel like Gordon really wanted Keefer for any of the right reasons until the very end. I had to simply shake my head and think "Really?!" when Gordon thought it was a good idea to buy Keefer a dog bed and set it up in the closet. I had mixed feelings about the ending - I thought it was way too predictable and "clean," but I did like how the ending was done. There were just so many things I had issues with, and yet I mostly enjoyed the book. So a somewhat reluctant 3 stars for me.
July 6, 2009
I wanted to like this one and was extremely disappointed that it didn't draw me in like I thought it would. Between the cover and the "blurb" on the inside of the jacket I thought for sure this was going to be a book I couldn't put down. I actually considered more than once putting it down and not picking it back up again. I found it confusing to read at times, and there several things about the plot that I didn't understand. The subject of the story was thought provoking and interesting.
June 4, 2013
Everyone in this book was a terrible person, except for the toddler.
September 24, 2019
Full review to follow.
I enjoyed this book in the end it was powerful well delivered read on a fraught subject of adoption, but it goes deeper than that.
It was hard to get into, but in retrospect, I’d surmise that this was mostly due to the in depth and deliberate way in which Mitchard sets up her characters, with whom I felt suitably connected by the books end. It was well worth staying the course and Mitchard’s prose is rich and considered. Once you get into it. I’ll happily try another of her books. 3,5 ⭐️
I enjoyed this book in the end it was powerful well delivered read on a fraught subject of adoption, but it goes deeper than that.
It was hard to get into, but in retrospect, I’d surmise that this was mostly due to the in depth and deliberate way in which Mitchard sets up her characters, with whom I felt suitably connected by the books end. It was well worth staying the course and Mitchard’s prose is rich and considered. Once you get into it. I’ll happily try another of her books. 3,5 ⭐️
June 14, 2012
i did not care for this novel. the writing style was challenging but i pushed myself to finish it. unfortuneately the flow of the story didnt get any better, too many flashback, flashforward, to present. And the ending. I mean I thought Gordon was horrible to women throughout the book, but i chalked it up to him being immature and not really knowing what he wanted. but to marry the girl who was like a stepsister to the neice he was adopting. its sick. and disturbing. on top of that it read like he used his neice's inheritance to pay for his education? what? wasn't that what he said he wouldnt do? what exactly happened to this character that i routed for throughout the entire book. Also having the epilogue written in the tense of a ten year old definately didnt help. i was incredibly disappointed by this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2012
Once begun, it is unusual for me not to finish a book. This one will not get finished.
100 pages in I have not developed a liking, hating or empathy for a single character.
The writing style is choppy and hard to follow.
The only clue I have as to where the story is headed is the synopsis on the back cover.
In short, there's just not enough to keep me turning the pages.
100 pages in I have not developed a liking, hating or empathy for a single character.
The writing style is choppy and hard to follow.
The only clue I have as to where the story is headed is the synopsis on the back cover.
In short, there's just not enough to keep me turning the pages.
June 20, 2016
Was this book written by a committee? I'm sure it must have been. It was such a mish-mash! Some parts flowed and made sense. Other parts were turgid, boring paragraph after boring paragraph of strange content that made you wonder if the author had any idea if this was truly the direction she wanted to take the story, and us as readers.
Fascinating theme - adoptive children and their rights, or otherwise, in families and how different, or not, those rights are to blood relatives. This could have been a truly fascinating GREAT read. Sadly, due to sporadic and poor writing, it was just okay.
It was difficult to feel any real sympathy for one of the main characters, Gordon, and his quest to adopt his (adoptive) sister's daughter. The author gave us so little to go on, in terms of his relationship with little Keefer and how much he loved her (apart from sentences like that - "I would die without her", but these were *telling* not *showing* us). I think we were supposed to be rooting for Gordon, and feeling that the in-laws were the villains of the piece. But the writing was just so patchy and poor, I wasn't sure Gordon deserved such support. There was also a decidedly off chapter where Gordon describes his feelings for his sister, Georgia, that leaves a bad feeling in your stomach and sour taste in your mouth.
There are so many promises in this book -- promises of intrigue and twists and turns to keep you on your toes, of a suspenseful courtroom drama, of an engrossing tale of villains and victims (the latter of which prevail in a climactic heart-stopping ending). And yet it just doesn't deliver.
I almost stopped reading in the first half, but stuck it out (mainly because I'm a bit of a completionist, not because the book made me continue reading). The plotting and characterisation could have been massively improved, but mainly it was the writing that was just plain poor.
Fascinating theme - adoptive children and their rights, or otherwise, in families and how different, or not, those rights are to blood relatives. This could have been a truly fascinating GREAT read. Sadly, due to sporadic and poor writing, it was just okay.
It was difficult to feel any real sympathy for one of the main characters, Gordon, and his quest to adopt his (adoptive) sister's daughter. The author gave us so little to go on, in terms of his relationship with little Keefer and how much he loved her (apart from sentences like that - "I would die without her", but these were *telling* not *showing* us). I think we were supposed to be rooting for Gordon, and feeling that the in-laws were the villains of the piece. But the writing was just so patchy and poor, I wasn't sure Gordon deserved such support. There was also a decidedly off chapter where Gordon describes his feelings for his sister, Georgia, that leaves a bad feeling in your stomach and sour taste in your mouth.
There are so many promises in this book -- promises of intrigue and twists and turns to keep you on your toes, of a suspenseful courtroom drama, of an engrossing tale of villains and victims (the latter of which prevail in a climactic heart-stopping ending). And yet it just doesn't deliver.
I almost stopped reading in the first half, but stuck it out (mainly because I'm a bit of a completionist, not because the book made me continue reading). The plotting and characterisation could have been massively improved, but mainly it was the writing that was just plain poor.
January 3, 2013
I was in and out of the bookstore in less than 5 minutes and this was what I bought:
This was the first book that I bought and read after we moved into our new house. And it is also what "revived" my talent of finishing a book in 24 hours or less. I actually ended reading in about 48 hours but at least it's an improvement, redeeming me from all my unfinished starts.
S went into the BookShop to pick up a magazine and I followed suit. I wasn't really planning to buy anything but when I picked up this book and read the synopsis, I just couldn't let it go. This is the book that made me realize that for a book to be sold in posh bookstores, it doesn't guarantee to be a really good read. Like everything else these days, publishing and selling books is also commercialism-driven. It's a sad truth, with the possibility that lots of great authors go unnoticed because of the lack of "marketing" for them and their talent. Who would have thought I'll find a nice book in a secondhand shop? Oh well....
A Theory of Relativity tells the story about a little girl who loses both of her parents at such as very young age. She becomes the center of a custody battle between her remaining relatives. Growing up in an extended family, I was really touched by the story. There are a lot of twists to the plot too, making it a more exciting read.
One important realization that the novel gave me: Families are not bound by the blood that courses through their veins, but by the LOVE that flows from the heart and is shared by each and every one in the loop. =)
This was the first book that I bought and read after we moved into our new house. And it is also what "revived" my talent of finishing a book in 24 hours or less. I actually ended reading in about 48 hours but at least it's an improvement, redeeming me from all my unfinished starts.
S went into the BookShop to pick up a magazine and I followed suit. I wasn't really planning to buy anything but when I picked up this book and read the synopsis, I just couldn't let it go. This is the book that made me realize that for a book to be sold in posh bookstores, it doesn't guarantee to be a really good read. Like everything else these days, publishing and selling books is also commercialism-driven. It's a sad truth, with the possibility that lots of great authors go unnoticed because of the lack of "marketing" for them and their talent. Who would have thought I'll find a nice book in a secondhand shop? Oh well....
A Theory of Relativity tells the story about a little girl who loses both of her parents at such as very young age. She becomes the center of a custody battle between her remaining relatives. Growing up in an extended family, I was really touched by the story. There are a lot of twists to the plot too, making it a more exciting read.
One important realization that the novel gave me: Families are not bound by the blood that courses through their veins, but by the LOVE that flows from the heart and is shared by each and every one in the loop. =)
July 14, 2009
Jacquelyn Mitchard is one of the best at writing depth of emotions to the point that you feel the emotions along with the characters. It was true in The Deep End of the Ocean and it is true in A Theory of Relativity. This is nother emotional roller coaster of a book by Jacquelyn Mitchard. This one involves the issue of the custody battle and adoptoin of a 1-year-old chold of a couple who were killed instantly in a car crash. The battle between the surviiving families is a no holds barred dispute court battle involving issues such as adoption vs. biological children & families, the definition of blood relative, who is better suited to adopt a child,etc.
That said, this book desperately needed more time of serious editing. There is way too much in the book that gets bogged down in extraneous monologue and some of it is just so unnecessary to the story. I found myself mentally screaming "Come on already. Cut to the chase here!" So be prepared for these long momologues and musings. The end of the book gets a bit bizarre to say the least. A rather "odd" epilogue, which just left me shaking my head.
That said, I'd recommend the book on the basis of the actual plot reagarding the adoption and all the family dynamics involved. Very thought provoking! It reminded me of My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult in many ways. A bood that makes you think and that can provoke discussion.
That said, this book desperately needed more time of serious editing. There is way too much in the book that gets bogged down in extraneous monologue and some of it is just so unnecessary to the story. I found myself mentally screaming "Come on already. Cut to the chase here!" So be prepared for these long momologues and musings. The end of the book gets a bit bizarre to say the least. A rather "odd" epilogue, which just left me shaking my head.
That said, I'd recommend the book on the basis of the actual plot reagarding the adoption and all the family dynamics involved. Very thought provoking! It reminded me of My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult in many ways. A bood that makes you think and that can provoke discussion.
March 29, 2014
The book gripped me in the beginning. Keefer is a cute one year old girl whose mother is dying of cancer. Then out of nowhere, both her mother and father are killed in a car accident. We are mostly given the perspective of the mother's side of the family, who knew she would die eventually but thought the girl's father would raise her. So now there is an unexpected custody situation to deal with, but they all assume Keefer's uncle will take her. But then Keefer's father's side of the family comes in and they want custody.
There are some complications to the case, including the will of the parents and the fact that Keefer's mother and uncle were adopted, so technically, she is not related by blood to her grandparents or uncle. The court case becomes a nationwide issue.
It was once the custody arrangements were made that the book lost not for me. There was another twist in the plot that I found to be a bit unrelated to everything else and it changes everything else. They also have a letter from Keefer years later so we can see what she's like. It didn't fit with the test of the book so I left the book feeling a bit ... Disappointed.
There are some complications to the case, including the will of the parents and the fact that Keefer's mother and uncle were adopted, so technically, she is not related by blood to her grandparents or uncle. The court case becomes a nationwide issue.
It was once the custody arrangements were made that the book lost not for me. There was another twist in the plot that I found to be a bit unrelated to everything else and it changes everything else. They also have a letter from Keefer years later so we can see what she's like. It didn't fit with the test of the book so I left the book feeling a bit ... Disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2012
So much wasted potential! I hope this picks up but right now everyone seems very immature, secretive and no one is talking the issues out. I suppose this is all supposed to increase the tension but its not. It's making the story seem silly.
I finished this today and it did not get better. This could have been very good: a toddler, dead parents, family fighting to adopt toddler, discussion about whether adopted is as "relative" as one's "real" child.
But, the entire story just skirted around these topics and settled on looks, manners, whineyness and general surfaceness of all of life. Add to that the convenient plot changes/twists and you have a very mediocre story. At best.
Reading some other reviews I see that this may not be the author's best work. I'll never know. I won't be reading another of her books.
I finished this today and it did not get better. This could have been very good: a toddler, dead parents, family fighting to adopt toddler, discussion about whether adopted is as "relative" as one's "real" child.
But, the entire story just skirted around these topics and settled on looks, manners, whineyness and general surfaceness of all of life. Add to that the convenient plot changes/twists and you have a very mediocre story. At best.
Reading some other reviews I see that this may not be the author's best work. I'll never know. I won't be reading another of her books.
January 29, 2018
I really wanted to love this book, but for me, it was just "meh". It felt like a watery, wannabe imitation of a Jodi Picoult book, except that it didn't come close. It was disjointed and rushed and at times confusing. And I really could have done without the graphic details of Lindsey's pubic hair. In all, it was okay. I have a few other books from this author to read, so hopefully they are better.
October 5, 2021
2 1/2 stars. When I read a book called Breakdown that I really didn’t like I remember liking one by Jacquelyn Mithchard called The Breakdown Lane that I liked so I decided to read some of hers I hadn’t read.
This was a very complicated story about families, tragedy, a long fight over the adoption of a child that didn’t focus much on the child at all. I found most of the characters unlikeable. I do love her writing, I just didn’t get the feels from this book
This was a very complicated story about families, tragedy, a long fight over the adoption of a child that didn’t focus much on the child at all. I found most of the characters unlikeable. I do love her writing, I just didn’t get the feels from this book
May 12, 2025
Mijn eerste bezwaar tegen dit boek is dat er veel te veel personages in voorkomen. En dat ik soms de indruk had dat de editeur niet helemaal goed zijn werk had gedaan. Af en toe had ik het idee dat er een andere naam werd gebruikt voor een personage dan eerder in het boek. Niettemin is het onderwerp van het boek wel interessant. Het gaat voornamelijk over een uitgebreide familie die te maken krijgen met de dood van een jong echtpaar door een tragisch ongeluk. Het zijn Ray jr. en Georgia. Ze laten een jonge dochter, zo rond de 1 jaar, Keefer. De ouders van de beide jonge mensen en hun peetouders belanden in een strijd om wie de zorg voor Keefer op zich mag nemen. De ouders van Ray willen dat net zo graag als de ouders van Georgia. Maar dan ie er nog het feit dat Georgia net zoals haar broer Gordon geadopteerd zijn. Gordon heeft als broer ook recht op Keefer. Maar dan doet het feit zich voor dat de wet een verschil maakt tussen bloedverwant en geadopteerde familieleden. Er ontstaat een hevige strijd compleet met een legertje aan advocaten, rechters en allerlei experts op het gebied van kinderopvoeding en dergelijke. Als Keefer eerst een jaar bij de ouders van Ray woont en ze helemaal vervreemd is van de ouders van Georgina en er tot in de pers is gevochten besluit Gordon om aan de zaak een einde te maken op een heel andere manier dan anderen hadden bedacht.
Het was voor mij misschien wel een 7 geworden als het niet af en toe zo rommelig was geweest en er veel minder personages waren geweest.
Het was voor mij misschien wel een 7 geworden als het niet af en toe zo rommelig was geweest en er veel minder personages waren geweest.
October 9, 2022
I wanted not to like this book; the premise felt too emotionally manipulative, a custody battle over an orphaned infant. But I read it quickly, couldn't put it down, as it got deeper and deeper into a complicated story of who really loved this little girl and why they wanted her. Perhaps what I most appreciated was Mitchard's delving into tiny side stories about what each main character felt and experienced and why, lots of backstory and character development. Gradually the reader comes to understand the depth of each person involved, and to realize that it's not a simple solution. Mitchard's language was elegant, and her understanding of motivation superb. I've read others of her books, and not liked them nearly as much.
September 13, 2019
I wasn’t sure when I started this book if I wanted to continue but I did... turned into a good story even though I skimmed over some pages about 3/4 of the way through when I though it got bogged down about adoption laws ( I think ..cause I didn’t read it!!) although was interesting about the change of ruling about adoption and blood relations
Bit confused about my review... me too!!!
Bit confused about my review... me too!!!
October 17, 2025
Every time I thought I knew where Mitchard was going with this narrative, she surprised me. It's a compelling family story, and the characters are by and large sympathetic and well developed. Being from Madison, WI, I was a little put off by the not-quite-on-point local references, but that's realistic fiction for you. The legal ins and outs made for kind of a slog. The cause of the precipitating accident is left unresolved. And some extenuating circumstances test the limits of plausibility. Still, it was a great story, which captivated me from beginning to end.
October 26, 2022
An eye- opening look at the problems one may have to face when adopted and not being classed as a blood relative and good insight into how parents always look for similarities in their children to themselves and yet the adopted child misses out on that.
January 28, 2016
This is a sort of review (letter) I wrote years ago on Bookcrossing about this book.
on Sunday, September 05, 2004
8 out of 10
Hi How are you? I started this book this morning and am already half through the book.
205/399
After reading a lot of true crime i really needed something else and this was the perfect book .
You are right it is a great book I did expect that because I loved her other book The deep End of the Ocean. As with that book I am now wondering what will be in the future for the people in this book because how can this book ever have a happy ending. I had the same thoughts when i read The deep End but in the end it was not so important.
I will probably finish it tomorrow so I will update this journal then.
Update september 7 2004
Well I did finish it very quickly and It was a great book.
on Sunday, September 05, 2004
8 out of 10
Hi How are you? I started this book this morning and am already half through the book.
205/399
After reading a lot of true crime i really needed something else and this was the perfect book .
You are right it is a great book I did expect that because I loved her other book The deep End of the Ocean. As with that book I am now wondering what will be in the future for the people in this book because how can this book ever have a happy ending. I had the same thoughts when i read The deep End but in the end it was not so important.
I will probably finish it tomorrow so I will update this journal then.
Update september 7 2004
Well I did finish it very quickly and It was a great book.
May 26, 2010
I have read several of Mitchard's books, so I was looking forward to this one. (found on the $1.00 rack at Half-Price Books!) Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much and actually found myself skimming large passages.
It's an intriguing story -- Georgia and Gordon are adopted siblings. When Georgia is killed along with her husband in a car accident, Gordon wants to adopt his 18-month old niece. He is challenged by the husband's family on the grounds that he has no "blood" relation to the child. Several scenes are very moving and heartwrenching, but overall, I found myself pretty bored. I liked the characters and the premise was certainly interesting, but overall it just didn't grab me.
It's an intriguing story -- Georgia and Gordon are adopted siblings. When Georgia is killed along with her husband in a car accident, Gordon wants to adopt his 18-month old niece. He is challenged by the husband's family on the grounds that he has no "blood" relation to the child. Several scenes are very moving and heartwrenching, but overall, I found myself pretty bored. I liked the characters and the premise was certainly interesting, but overall it just didn't grab me.
April 5, 2009
I really enjoy her writing, because her characters are really well drawn. She does have a way of wrapping things up very neatly and a bit oddly in the last 2 books of hers that I've read, but I'll keep reading. A very good exploration of some of the loopholes in the law...in this case, adoption law, but really there are quite a few out there. I'd enjoy a conversation with a number of these characters, although I'm not crazy about the way Gordy treated women, Keefer excepted.
May 23, 2010
This book constantly made me think about what family is, what justice is, how we should treat each other. At points I really could not decide what should happen, but when the result was known, it was exactly right. I had read an early Mitchard, but this seemed much better developed, more believable and unique characters. There were a few parts I skipped because it was too sexually graphic for me (a sideplot), but it is a book I am still thinking over.
January 17, 2013
I really wanted to like this book a lot more, it sounded interesting when I read the blurb. However, I found the writing style a challenge and I very nearly gave up reading it altogether. And this is not something I do very often! The story matter was interesting enough, it was just a struggle to read.
June 19, 2016
As a child welfare professional and an adoption specialist, this book touched a nerve for me. I found the Nyes and Delia and Craig to be despicable people, though I didn't much care for Lorraine either. Gordon was the clear choice in this case from the very beginning, and I struggled to understand why it took so long for the author to get to that end.
August 12, 2012
É sobre pessoas, sobre sentimentos, e é sobretudo acerca de todas as contradições de que o ser humano é feito; nunca li nenhum livro desta autora sem me sentir tocada pela sua sensibilidade, há sempre algo para cada um de nós!
October 7, 2012
SO good. Beautifully written and a heart tugging look at a custody battle and the love of adopted children.
June 7, 2013
Excellent read very emotionally driven I felt like one of the family watching the whole situation unfold
January 6, 2014
I could not get into this book, nor I could connect with any of the characters.
February 16, 2017
Mediocre chick-lit; gratuitous sex.
July 11, 2019
Such a good premise, but unfortunately it was poorly executed.
Every character was blah, one-dimensional, and unlikeable. Gordie the classic bachelor, fights for custody of his niece against a stereotypical southern religious cousin, after the death of his cute and perfect sister and her athlete husband. Both sets of grandparents are angry and petty. They all float through the book without any growth or change. Many other minor characters are mentioned (old friends, distant relatives) but none contribute anything to the plot.
The actual storyline was dull and predictable, and the writing style was awful. It felt like a series of meaningless conversations and random scenes that had nothing to do with anything - and the actual important parts were glossed over. There was actual drama going on behind the scenes at the legislature, at the courthouse, and at Delia's house, but instead of those interesting parts, we read about Gordie's phone conversations with friends, his mother drugging him, the judge watching a movie with her husband, drawn-out descriptions of past irrelevant events. I wondered if the author was too lazy to do research, because the courtroom scenes were quite unrealistic. There are actual laws about child custody!
And some things made absolutely no sense: the McKennas spent $40K on their legal team, but nobody could come up with $100 for a bed for Keefer? Gordie was so proud to show the DOG BED IN THE CLOSET to the child services lady.
And the ending... Predictable. The epilogue narration by 10-year-old Keefer was irritating, and the marriage of Gordie and Alex was just gross. Keefer's uncle is also her dad -- and her sister is also her mom! Yay!
Every character was blah, one-dimensional, and unlikeable. Gordie the classic bachelor, fights for custody of his niece against a stereotypical southern religious cousin, after the death of his cute and perfect sister and her athlete husband. Both sets of grandparents are angry and petty. They all float through the book without any growth or change. Many other minor characters are mentioned (old friends, distant relatives) but none contribute anything to the plot.
The actual storyline was dull and predictable, and the writing style was awful. It felt like a series of meaningless conversations and random scenes that had nothing to do with anything - and the actual important parts were glossed over. There was actual drama going on behind the scenes at the legislature, at the courthouse, and at Delia's house, but instead of those interesting parts, we read about Gordie's phone conversations with friends, his mother drugging him, the judge watching a movie with her husband, drawn-out descriptions of past irrelevant events. I wondered if the author was too lazy to do research, because the courtroom scenes were quite unrealistic. There are actual laws about child custody!
And some things made absolutely no sense: the McKennas spent $40K on their legal team, but nobody could come up with $100 for a bed for Keefer? Gordie was so proud to show the DOG BED IN THE CLOSET to the child services lady.
And the ending... Predictable. The epilogue narration by 10-year-old Keefer was irritating, and the marriage of Gordie and Alex was just gross. Keefer's uncle is also her dad -- and her sister is also her mom! Yay!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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