Title: Chosen
Author: Chandra Hoffman
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Book: Paperback, 320 pages
Buy: Amazon.com
Synopsis:
It all begins with a fantasy . . .
The caseworker in her “paperwork-signing” suit alongside beaming parents cradling their adopted newborn: this is the blissful picture that keeps Chloe Pinter, director of Portland’s Chosen Child domestic adoption program, happy as she juggles the demands of her boss and the incessant needs of adoptive and biological parents.
But the dream job that offers Chloe refuge from her turbulent personal life soon becomes a nightmare involving three very different couples: the college sweethearts who, after suffering fertility problems, are now expecting their own baby; the wealthy husband and desperate wife for whom adoption is a last chance; and the couple who has nothing—except the baby everyone wants. But when a child goes missing, perceptions of family and future are challenged, posing the questions: What happens when you get what you thought you wanted? How far would you go if it wasn't what you wanted after all?
Review:
I don't personally know anyone who has been adopted or gone through the adoption process, so I have no idea how it could be. This book opened my eyes to the whole aspect, both good and bad, as the main character Chloe believes her dream job to be that of one giving children to families who can't have their own. She works for a small adoption agency and not only deals with the adoptive families but the birth mothers as well, which is where the drama starts. The biological parents of one of the children is making Chloe uncomfortable; from the baby items that shouldn't be in their apartment to the father coming onto Chloe the wrong way, things go terribly wrong when the parents change their minds and want to keep the baby.
Obviously adoption is a tough and sensitive thing; there are the biological parents that want what is best for the baby or themselves and the adoptive parents that are hoping that baby will be theirs come birth time. I will never say for sure that I personally won't undergo this process in the future (who knows what the future brings), but this book made the process hopeful and heartbreaking at the same time. The author uses her experience as a director of an adoption program to create this fictional novel on the joy of children and the struggles each family makes to create their future. I enjoyed being given an insight to something I am not familiar with and seeing just why adoption can be so hard. The only things I had trouble with were how unrealistic the parents seemed to be and the way in which everyone's story was broken up by chapter, which gave a non-linear story line that was sometimes hard to follow. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to create this review. The opinions expressed are of my own. Thank you to Trish at TLC Book Tours.
I've only known one person who is adopted but I can see how this book could be really interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy 3rd child is adopted - thanks for the review, I think it'll be worth reading! have a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friend!
ReplyDeleteI dont know anyone who has dealt with adoption either but this book sounds like a good introduction to it even if the families are a little unrealistic.
ReplyDeleteI have a few friends who went through the adoption process and it was CRAZY! I definitely want to read this book to see if any of it reminds me of their experiences.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour.
This is something my husband and I have been toying with for the future. I'd be glad to give this a read. Thanks for the recommendation :)
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