#Book Review and #Giveaway: Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts CLOSED
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 Posted by Dina
Despite her name, Keats Sedlak is the sanest person in her large, nutty family of brilliant eccentrics. Her parents, both brainy academics, are barely capable of looking after themselves, let alone anyone else, and her two uber-intelligent siblings live on their own planets.
At least she can count on one person in her life, her devoted boyfriend Tom. Down-to-earth and loving, he's the one thing that's kept Keats grounded for the last decade. But when Keats's mother makes a surprise announcement, the entire family is sent into a tailspin. For the first time, Keats can't pick up the pieces by herself. Now she must reevaluate everything she's ever assumed about herself and her family - and make the biggest decision of her life.
My Review
Many people discover at some point - teenage years, anyone? - that we can choose our friends but not our relatives. If learning to accept that is a sign of maturity, then 25-year old Keats Sedlak has a long way to go at the beginning of this book. Of course, she has it harder than most. In addition to being named after an English romantic poet - his LAST name, on top of that - she comes from a family of socially maladjusted genius. Keats is beautiful, smart and kind but in her family, she feels inferior and out of place. Her personal act of rebellion against the brains and expectations of that family is working a job that's far beneath her abilities and living with a boyfriend she met when she was 15.
Keats has always been the problem-solver in her family. She feels she is being served more than her usual share of challenges when her mother files for divorce, her father becomes sick, and her brother refuses to leave the house their mother has decided to sell. Keats is trying to find a way to help everyone survive the crisis but she quickly realizes she must add herself to the list.
Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts is a charming novel that I could not put down. Keats is a likable character who is not perfect but she is certainly a fast learner. Her journey to adulthood and to accepting her family is long and uneven, in equal parts emotionally charged and funny. The book is a tribute to family and friendship as much as a coming-of-age story of choices and consequences, and I loved every word.
Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts
is new this week from 5 Spot, a division of Hachette Book Group. Author Claire LaZebnik's previous books include The Smart One and the Pretty One
, Knitting Under the Influence
and If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now
- all three now on my to-read list.The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts!
To enter, please comment below if you've read anything by Claire LaZebnik, or tell us if you ever felt different from everyone else in your family.
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner, #103 Anonymous!
Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book with no obligation for a positive review. No compensation - monetary or in kind - has been obtained for this post. Cover art and book description courtesy of the publisher or PR firm.
August 31, 2011 2:26 PM
I haven't read anything by Claire LaZebnik, but this sounds like a fun read!
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August 31, 2011 2:27 PM
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August 31, 2011 2:27 PM
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August 31, 2011 2:27 PM
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August 31, 2011 2:28 PM
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August 31, 2011 6:32 PM
I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com
August 31, 2011 6:32 PM
I have never read anything by this author but I would like. I have always felt different from my family. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
August 31, 2011 6:35 PM
I read The Smart One and the Pretty One and really liked it. Great sister story.
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August 31, 2011 6:35 PM
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August 31, 2011 6:35 PM
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August 31, 2011 6:36 PM
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August 31, 2011 6:36 PM
I voted at the Picket Fence today!
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August 31, 2011 6:37 PM
I haven't read any of her books but they sound good. I've never really felt different.
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August 31, 2011 6:38 PM
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August 31, 2011 6:39 PM
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August 31, 2011 6:40 PM
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August 31, 2011 7:35 PM
I have never read any of Claire's books but I love. Her catchy titles.
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August 31, 2011 7:37 PM
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August 31, 2011 7:39 PM
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August 31, 2011 7:41 PM
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August 31, 2011 8:41 PM
Actually she is a new author to me I dont recall hearing that name before. My one brother always used to say he was adopted (but he wasnt)because he had red hair and no one else in the family did.
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August 31, 2011 8:45 PM
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September 1, 2011 8:52 AM
I voted at the Picket Fence today!
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September 1, 2011 9:54 AM
I have never read anything by Claire. It's time to start.
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September 1, 2011 11:06 AM
voted for you at picket fence
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September 1, 2011 2:57 PM
I have never read anything by Claire LaZebnik, but I am always looking for new authors so I just might have to grab a book by her.
September 1, 2011 2:58 PM
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September 1, 2011 2:58 PM
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September 1, 2011 3:02 PM
I'm not sure if I've read this author or not. Can't remember everybody!!
And no, I don't feel different from everyone else in my family.
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September 1, 2011 3:02 PM
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September 1, 2011 3:02 PM
like U on FB under shana cummings williams
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September 1, 2011 9:17 PM
THIS BOOK LOOKS AWESOME! Can't wait to read it. Thank you so much for a this great giveaway.
I have not read anything by Claire LaZebnik.
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September 1, 2011 10:40 PM
I've not read anything by Claire before, but sounds great!
I'm following you on twitter! anovelreview1
Laura Kay
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September 2, 2011 9:24 AM
I have not read anything from this author but it looks good. I also do not usually feel out of place from my family, so that is good!
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September 2, 2011 9:24 AM
I follo you on GFC.
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September 2, 2011 9:24 AM
I like you on Facebook as charity l.
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September 2, 2011 9:25 AM
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September 2, 2011 9:25 AM
I voted for you on picket fence 9/2.
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September 2, 2011 11:06 AM
Voted at the Picket Fence today!
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September 2, 2011 5:42 PM
I haven't read any of Claire's other books, but I definitely will now!
September 2, 2011 7:28 PM
i haven't so i'd love to read this!
September 3, 2011 12:44 PM
I've read Claire's books....love them! I follow her on FB so I've been anxiously awaiting this book and my library isn't listing it yet!! I need a Claire fix!
September 3, 2011 7:52 PM
I have not read any of her books. sarah.greeners (at) gmail (dot) com
September 3, 2011 7:52 PM
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September 3, 2011 7:53 PM
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September 3, 2011 8:18 PM
Yes, I am definitely different from the rest of my family!
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September 3, 2011 8:18 PM
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September 3, 2011 8:18 PM
voted for you at picket fence
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September 3, 2011 8:18 PM
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September 4, 2011 12:12 PM
I have not read anything by Claire LaZebnik.
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September 4, 2011 12:12 PM
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September 4, 2011 12:13 PM
9/04 You have just voted for Just Another New Blog!
September 4, 2011 12:14 PM
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September 4, 2011 12:15 PM
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September 4, 2011 5:39 PM
I have not read anything by her.
September 4, 2011 5:39 PM
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September 4, 2011 5:39 PM
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September 4, 2011 5:55 PM
I voted for you.
September 4, 2011 8:09 PM
voted for you at picket fence
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September 4, 2011 8:51 PM
Sorry never heard of Claire LaZebnik before this post! Yes I've felt like the black sheep of the family most of my life since I'm alot different then my sisters and chose a different path in life.
September 5, 2011 11:41 AM
voted for you at picket fence
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September 5, 2011 11:47 PM
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September 6, 2011 12:02 AM
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September 6, 2011 12:03 AM
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September 6, 2011 12:06 AM
I just asked to be friends with you on FB. I am "Amy Lazarus Bromberg"
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September 6, 2011 12:08 AM
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September 6, 2011 8:49 PM
voted for you at picket fence
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September 7, 2011 9:29 AM
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September 8, 2011 10:44 AM
voted for you at picket fence
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September 8, 2011 6:56 PM
I've read all of Claire's past works and consider her one of my fav authors Can't wait to read her new book!
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September 8, 2011 9:51 PM
I voted for you on picket fence 9/8.
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September 9, 2011 12:14 PM
I voted for you at the Picket Fence today!
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September 9, 2011 7:45 PM
I've never read a book by Claire LaZebnik before, so I'd love to win this book!
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September 9, 2011 7:47 PM
TWEET
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September 10, 2011 8:04 AM
I voted for you today.
September 10, 2011 10:54 AM
Voted at the Picket Fence today!
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September 11, 2011 12:47 AM
I have not read any of her books.
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September 11, 2011 12:49 AM
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September 11, 2011 12:50 AM
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I friended you on FB as Anne Loyd.
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September 11, 2011 11:12 AM
I haven't read any of her books yet, but it looks like a good book that you're giving away!
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September 11, 2011 11:14 AM
I follow on twitter and tweeted:
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September 11, 2011 11:14 AM
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I voted for you on picket fence.
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I requested you as a friend on facebook. Ani G W.
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September 11, 2011 3:58 PM
I voted at Picket Fence blogs today!
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September 12, 2011 7:34 AM
Voted over at the Picket Fence today!
Thanks!
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September 12, 2011 9:30 AM
I voted for you on picket fence 9/12.
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September 13, 2011 4:01 PM
I voted for you on picket fence 9/13.
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September 14, 2011 8:28 AM
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September 14, 2011 8:30 AM
9/14 You have just voted for Just Another New Blog!
September 14, 2011 8:32 PM
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September 15, 2011 1:49 AM
I have not read any of Claire's other books.
jeryl.marcus@gmail.com
September 15, 2011 4:57 AM
I haven't read anything by Claire LaZebnik, but the book seems like a fun read :)
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
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September 15, 2011 4:58 AM
following you on twitter @left_the_stars
I tweeted your giveaway
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September 15, 2011 4:58 AM
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September 15, 2011 4:58 AM
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September 15, 2011 1:19 PM
I voted for you on picket fence 9/15.
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September 15, 2011 6:24 PM
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September 15, 2011 9:04 PM
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