Content in the knowledge that no matter what happened with your parents, or your girlfriend, that your siblings will still be there, like a bookend that keeps you upright when you feel like toppling over
I thought the synopsis of Far From the Tree was interesting, but wasn’t expecting anything. I loved the writing and the characters and it felt so real.
Book Review: Far From the Tree by Robin Benway
Rating:
Title & Author: Far From the Tree by Robin Benway
Genre: Contemporary, Drama
Release Date: October 3 2017
Series: Standalone
Publisher: HarperCollins
Synopsis
Being the middle child has its ups and downs.
But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—
Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.
And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.
I give Far From the Tree by Robin Benway five out of five hearts. I actually think this is my favourite book of 2018. The story felt real and the characters were so real.
At the start of the novel all three kids are on their own, they have their own families and don’t know of each others existence. Only once one of them has the same thing happening to someone they love, they go to find the others and their mother.
This novel is so full of the feelings, I barely have to ever cry or genuinely feel happy for the main characters and I did all the time while reading this novel. I loved it!
Grace likes being the only child in her family and goes through the biggest thing that could ever happen to a teenager in high school, a baby. And after giving the baby up to a good family she had picked for the little girl, she wants to look for her own family. She is cute, but also realistic and trying to do the best thing for herself but on to of everything for her baby.
Maya is lesbian, but it is not really important for the story. Her relationship and everything that happens with it is more important and whether she is straight or gay doesn’t matter for it. Which felt great. I don’t mind romance in novels as long as it doesn’t matter.
Joaquin is the one kid that had lived with their mother before the family got torn apart. I feel the most sad during the parts from his pov. He is so hurt by the adoption system in America. He is hurt the worst by their mother. The characters are so real and Robin really makes them work for her.
The story felt like it could have happened in real life and kept me on the edge of my seat. Overall I loved the story and I am happy to find such a great book so early in the year. I am going to look for more to read by Robin Benway.
Let me know what you thought of this book!
If you have any requests for which book I should talk about next, please let me know in the comments down below.
For now, let books enrich your life!