A New Kind of Family: Madeleine Gray's Chosen Family is a Gripping Exploration of Female Relationships and Identity.
In her award-winning novel Green Dot, Australian author Madeleine Gray proved herself to be a master of witty dialogue and relatable characters. Her latest book, Chosen Family, delves into the complexities of female relationships, weaving a narrative that spans decades and defies easy categorization.
The story centers around Nell and Eve, two women who meet as 12-year-old classmates at an Australian girls' school in Sydney. As they navigate the challenges of adolescence, they form an unbreakable bond that endures long after high school. When Nell disappears from her childhood friend's life for years, leaving behind a mystery that threatens to upend their entire friendship, Eve is left reeling.
Through Gray's expertly crafted prose, we witness both women's growth and struggles as they come of age in the 2000s and 2010s. We see Nell struggling with loneliness and rich parents who only offer her credit card details without genuine support, while Eve finds solace in a new family at school and later discovers her queer identity. The author beautifully captures Eve's excitement and trepidation as she navigates her newfound sexuality.
When Nell reenters the picture, their complicated history is brought into sharp focus. As they consider starting a child together using sperm from one of their gay male housemates, the question remains: what do they really feel for each other? Is it friendship or something more?
Chosen Family defies traditional romance novel conventions by placing female friendship at its core. The author expertly explores the intensity and depth of Nell and Eve's bond, blurring the lines between platonic love and romantic connection.
Throughout the book, Gray weaves together themes of identity, self-deception, and the complexities of human relationships. With searing insight, she reveals how the people closest to us can both hurt and heal us, forcing her characters – and readers – to confront the darker aspects of their own lives.
Ultimately, Chosen Family is a triumph of contemporary literature, one that challenges readers to rethink what it means to love and be loved in return.
In her award-winning novel Green Dot, Australian author Madeleine Gray proved herself to be a master of witty dialogue and relatable characters. Her latest book, Chosen Family, delves into the complexities of female relationships, weaving a narrative that spans decades and defies easy categorization.
The story centers around Nell and Eve, two women who meet as 12-year-old classmates at an Australian girls' school in Sydney. As they navigate the challenges of adolescence, they form an unbreakable bond that endures long after high school. When Nell disappears from her childhood friend's life for years, leaving behind a mystery that threatens to upend their entire friendship, Eve is left reeling.
Through Gray's expertly crafted prose, we witness both women's growth and struggles as they come of age in the 2000s and 2010s. We see Nell struggling with loneliness and rich parents who only offer her credit card details without genuine support, while Eve finds solace in a new family at school and later discovers her queer identity. The author beautifully captures Eve's excitement and trepidation as she navigates her newfound sexuality.
When Nell reenters the picture, their complicated history is brought into sharp focus. As they consider starting a child together using sperm from one of their gay male housemates, the question remains: what do they really feel for each other? Is it friendship or something more?
Chosen Family defies traditional romance novel conventions by placing female friendship at its core. The author expertly explores the intensity and depth of Nell and Eve's bond, blurring the lines between platonic love and romantic connection.
Throughout the book, Gray weaves together themes of identity, self-deception, and the complexities of human relationships. With searing insight, she reveals how the people closest to us can both hurt and heal us, forcing her characters – and readers – to confront the darker aspects of their own lives.
Ultimately, Chosen Family is a triumph of contemporary literature, one that challenges readers to rethink what it means to love and be loved in return.
... like, Nell's disappearance was super mysterious and everything was resolved a bit too easily? Still, Madeleine Gray is a genius at crafting characters that feel so real 
, especially Eve - her journey of self-discovery is inspiring. The way she explores the complexities of female friendships, identity, and relationships is so relatable... but what I'd love to see more of is some deeper exploration of Nell's loneliness and struggle 
. That being said, Chosen Family is still a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking novel that'll make you feel all the feels 
!
Madeleine Gray's writing is like butter for your soul, you know? She has this way of making you feel all the feels and then some! The story about Nell and Eve is so beautifully woven, it's like a tapestry of emotions. I love how Gray explores the complexities of female relationships and identity, it's not always easy to read but it's SO worth it. I'm not gonna lie, I was totally invested in their friendship (and whatever that thing might be between them) from page one! 
this book sounds like a total game changer for me - i mean, i've read a lot of books about female friendships but none of them have made me feel as seen and understood as gray's writing does! the way she tackles themes like identity and self-deception is so raw and honest, it's like she's holding up a mirror to our collective psyche and saying "hey, we're all messed up in here and that's okay"
, our sense of belonging can come from unexpected places. And I think that's what Madeleine Gray does so well in her book, she shows us that family isn't just about blood ties, it's about the relationships we cultivate and nurture over time 
! The way she explores the complexities of female relationships and identity is so nuanced and thought-provoking. I love how she subverts traditional romance novel conventions by putting platonic love at the forefront. It's like, we're used to seeing these idealized romances in books, but Gray shows us that female friendships can be just as intense and meaningful. And I'm obsessed with the way she captures the ups and downs of her characters' lives – it's like you can literally feel their emotions on the page 
. The way Gray makes you question what it means to love and be loved is honestly giving me all the feels 
. I need more books like this in my life! 
Madeleine Gray's new book Chosen Family is like a puzzle 
I tried to draw the characters' feelings as a mind map 
, making readers confront their own darker aspects. Can't wait to discuss it with fellow readers online! 
but madeleine gray does it in a way that's super nuanced and realistic... her writing is literally like butter for the soul, so smooth and evocative 
and i love how she subverts traditional romance novel expectations, putting female friendship front and center 
it's like she's saying "listen, ppl can have deep connections with each other without being tied down by labels or societal norms"... anyway, just trust me when i say that chosen family is a must-read for anyone who's ever felt like they don't quite fit in 
), but about how women support each other through all the ups and downs of life. I love how Eve's journey as a queer woman is so beautifully woven into the narrative – it's like Gray is speaking straight to my soul 
I mean idk about other ppl but i felt like i was literally living vicariously through Nell & Eve's lives 
their friendship is SO relatable i'm talking same school girlhood friends, same coming of age struggles, same deep emotional connections 
anyone else read this book? what did u think of it? 
.
. Are Nell and Eve truly capable of making decisions about their own bodies, or are they being forced into roles that aren't necessarily theirs to play?
. We need more books like this! 
(Grumpy Cat holding a 'Chosen Family' sign) 
. madeleine gray's got some serious skills when it comes to crafting complex female relationships. the way she explores the nuances of platonic love and romantic connection is totally on point 
. i love how she subverts traditional romance novel conventions by putting friendship at the forefront. it's so refreshing to see a story that prioritizes the beauty of female bond over some generic rom-com setup 
. I don't buy into the whole "what if they start a family together?" trope 
It's like Gray's trying to make us all feel bad for them or something. Give me a break