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A review by mikkareads
The Foster Family by Nicole Trope
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
What a wonderful summer: Elizabeth and Howard Ealy are spending quality time with their five-year-old foster son, Joe. But when the little boy goes missing from their seaside retreat, the picture-perfect facade crumbles… Maybe the police should've listened when their elderly neighbor Gordon called to report concerns?
Well. Let's get my biggest concern about the book out of the way first, shall we?
The official book synopsis already makes it pretty clear that this is an abusive family situation. It does not go into specifics, so neither will I. But this foster family is clearly broken, and the foster Mom *knew* that it was broken before she even decided to take in an innocent child for selfish reasons. Even if she didn't fully grasp the potential harm, she still chose to ignore the red flags to fulfill her fantasy of a happy little family. It's not so bad, it will get better. It's not so bad, it will get better. It's not so bad…
But she's been telling herself that it will get better for a long time. Only now there's a child who's too young to navigate these treacherous waters.
Her lack of agency is not unrealistic, given the circumstances. But I still felt that the author neglected to address that the safety and well-being of the child was compromised by both of his parents.
Now I've gotten that off my chest:
Yes, the plot is engaging and suspenseful, featuring clever twists that heighten the urgency. The writing evokes a plethora of emotions that propel the narrative forward, and I felt myself respond to the emotionally charged narrative. Still… At times, it oversteers and careens into the saccharine, which cheapens the impact.
My lingering concern is that the weighty and genuine issues the book addresses sometimes feel reduced to mere plot points, but there's no denying that the story thoroughly captivated my attention.
However, a story like this needs a sensitive touch to find a believable ending that does not cater to the overly sentimental or overly dramatic. In my eyes, «The Foster Family» missed the mark. It's a quick read with effective writing, but not a great read.
Well. Let's get my biggest concern about the book out of the way first, shall we?
The official book synopsis already makes it pretty clear that this is an abusive family situation. It does not go into specifics, so neither will I. But this foster family is clearly broken, and the foster Mom *knew* that it was broken before she even decided to take in an innocent child for selfish reasons. Even if she didn't fully grasp the potential harm, she still chose to ignore the red flags to fulfill her fantasy of a happy little family. It's not so bad, it will get better. It's not so bad, it will get better. It's not so bad…
But she's been telling herself that it will get better for a long time. Only now there's a child who's too young to navigate these treacherous waters.
Her lack of agency is not unrealistic, given the circumstances. But I still felt that the author neglected to address that the safety and well-being of the child was compromised by both of his parents.
Now I've gotten that off my chest:
Yes, the plot is engaging and suspenseful, featuring clever twists that heighten the urgency. The writing evokes a plethora of emotions that propel the narrative forward, and I felt myself respond to the emotionally charged narrative. Still… At times, it oversteers and careens into the saccharine, which cheapens the impact.
My lingering concern is that the weighty and genuine issues the book addresses sometimes feel reduced to mere plot points, but there's no denying that the story thoroughly captivated my attention.
However, a story like this needs a sensitive touch to find a believable ending that does not cater to the overly sentimental or overly dramatic. In my eyes, «The Foster Family» missed the mark. It's a quick read with effective writing, but not a great read.