The How & the Why

I want to say upfront, first and foremost, that I know that this book was not written for me. As someone who was not adopted, I do not know the kind of feelings that come from being involved and discovering something like that.

That being said. I think the story was really great, but I just wanted a little more. I felt like the beats were off in the story, and things didn’t wind together well. It could have used a little restructuring. But other than that, I was happy to have read it.

I’d give this book more stars here if I could. This book is one of my favorites ever and the ending is perfection. I loved the characters, the dual POV, the emotions that this book brought out in me.

I read it all today, I could barely put it down! I had to neglect my family for this and I didn’t get any laundry done, but it was worth it!

Well written but it’s fiction. Would rather of had a real story.

Is there a correlation between my tears and loving a book? Maybe. But not necessarily. I’ve definitely still cried for books I’ve hated, so. There’s that.

However. I didn’t hate this book at all. I figured this would be emotional as it was about adoption, family, and also likened to FAR FROM THE TREE by Robin Benway another story that I’m pretty sure I remember made me cry a lot.

This one is told in two timelines of a sort; via present day Cassandra and the letters being written by her birth mother, eighteen years before, while she was pregnant and waiting to give up her baby for adoption.

There was such a richness to this story, both in the various situations where people were adopted, and also the reasons that lead to them, but also just family in general both those of your blood and those you choose.

I honestly have so little to say about this book despite loving it so much. I think mostly because I’m still a little stunned by the ending. I was loving this book, solid four, but the final chapter? I mean.. sure, maybe it’s a little bit incredulous, a little bit unlikely, maybe even fantastical, but that.. oh my god, I’m just.. yeah, hello, this gets a bump for that. But honestly, ending aside, this book is so great.

THE HOW & THE WHY packs a lot of punch but I think it also does it in a smart way. There’s romance but it’s not the focus. There’s strong enduring friendships that aren’t without realistic jealousies and natural speedbumps. And I love the focus on the bright, miraculous, even luminous moments in life, even amongst all the sadness or tragedy that we still experience. Sometimes things do work out. Sometimes we overcome our pasts. Sometimes we say the wrong things but are forgiven. Something we make a fool of ourselves but get something good out of it in the end.

Sometimes that’s just the how and the why of life.

Sorry for the cheese.

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