Brown is interested in the dynamics of the nascent modern family she’s created and the bonds the mothers have formed that are starting to fray ... Brown herself is an adoptive mother and it’s clear from the story she’s written that she thinks deeply about the issue. There’s real empathy written into each character and the novel serves as a hearty endorsement for open adoption, when the biological and adoptive parents both play roles in a child’s life. The book won’t appeal to everyone, but readers who appreciate fiction that shows them how others choose to live, will enjoy the heart at the core of
As Brown writes in her author's note, adoption is a multilayered subject, and this one slice leaves out many of the larger forces affecting adoptive families. But her characters wrestle convincingly and compassionately with the challenges of their particular experience. Thoughtful, compelling and ultimately hopeful, Any Other Family asks hard and necessary questions about adoption, privilege and what truly makes a family.
We feel our way into the complexities and nuances of the characters' seemingly impossible choices. Empathy functions differently when examples are iterative, and one of the greatest rewards of reading Brown's novel is the ability to engage with a multiplicity of perspectives ... There's joy to be found in the struggle, and Any Other Family offers a thoughtful space to experience this truth.
Rewarding ... Brown has a sure hand in portraying the adoptive women; their smart, lively dialogue sparks as the characters try to define the boundaries of a family. Overall, Brown entertains with her colorful cast and engaging conceit.
The novel moves thoughtfully, precisely, and sometimes humorously through the psyches of the parents, pushing the readers into the quick-paced, perfectly detailed story while never forgetting the looming questions of family and belonging ... A prismatic story of family, adoption, and how the people we choose to keep close shape who we are.
