Book Nook: Other People's Children

 What makes a family? What defines love? These are just a few of the thought-provoking questions at the heart of RJ “Jeff” Hoffmann’s debut novel OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN. Three mothers facing impossible choices learn what makes a family, and discover just how far they’ll go to protect the ones they love. There has been a trend recently in fiction about "Bad" Mothers, Parenthood, Responsibility, which has been explored in The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan, With Teeth by Kristen Arnett, Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen, as well as I Love You, But I've Chosen Darkness by Claire Vaye Watkins. It's a theme so important, that people keep wanting to read about it and Jeff Hoffman has written an thoughtful story about what it takes and means to be a good mother. He deftly navigates the landscape of parenthood, adoption, infertility, and family in his debut novel.

Gail and Jon Durbin moved to the Chicago suburbs to set up house as soon as Gail got pregnant. But then she miscarried - once, twice, three times. Determined to expand their family, the Durbins turn to adoption. When several adoptions fall through, Gail’s desire for a child overwhelms her.

Carli is a pregnant teenager from a blue-collar town nearby, with dreams of going to college and getting out of her mother’s home. When she makes the gut-wrenching decision to give her baby up for adoption, she chooses the Durbins. But Carli’s mother, Marla, has other plans for her grandbaby.

In Other People’s Children, three mothers make excruciating choices to protect their families and their dreams - choices that put them at decided odds against one another. You will root for each one of them and wonder just how far you’d go in the same situation. This riveting debut is a thoughtful exploration of love and family, and a heart-pounding tale you’ll find impossible to put down.