Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan

Blurb

"Who says you can’t choose your family?
When Flora falls in love with Jack, suddenly she’s not only handling a very cranky teenager, but she’s also living in the shadow of Jack’s perfect, immortalised wife, Becca. Every summer, Becca and Jack would holiday with Becca’s oldest friends and Jack wants to continue the tradition, so now Flora must face a summer trying to live up to Becca’s memory, with not only Jack’s daughter looking on, but with Becca’s best friends judging her every move…

The more Flora tries to impress everyone, the more things go horribly wrong…but as the summer unfolds, Flora begins pushing her own boundaries, and finding herself in a way that she never thought she needed to.

And she soon learns that families come in all shapes and sizes."

Paperback, UK, 400 pages
Published April 2nd 2020 by HQ
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

I've been reading and loving Sarah Morgan's books for a while now, and while this is no exception I felt this book had some darker undertones than many of her other books. The prologue felt a little bit like the start of a thriller and the feeling of mystery surrounding Becca and her secrets had me intrigued from the start. It also handles the wide ways we deal with loss and grief, which Sarah Morgan depicts with grace and sensitivity.

Even with it's mysterious edges this book still radiates the author's usual warmth. I identified with Flora and her tendency to people please and fear of rejection. Her growth throughout the book was really heartwarming as was the way relationships developed with the other characters, including Izzy and Molly and the family friends was lovely.

This is a wonderfully uplifting book, valuing the importance of honesty and being yourself. I've given it 4 out of 5.

The Author

USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.