by olivia watson @libs_lib
Although we cannot predict what 2021 will bring, we can expect a transition. For many families, this transition will mean navigating life as a blended family and the challenges, and gifts, that come along with joining children, traditions, and parenting styles in a new home.
You are reading: Books about blended families
We’ve selected ten of our favorite books on blended families to help everyone from step-parents to step-siblings to ex-spouses navigate their new dynamic and find a happy medium in their new setup.
for adults:
Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages and Becoming a Smart Stepfamily by Gary Chapman and Ron L. treats non-fiction
This 2020 guide from renowned marriage counselor and inventor of the love language concept, dr. Gary Chapman, and Licensed Family Therapist Ron L. deal, is an amazing resource for parents and step-parents. Both experts offer strategies on how to set boundaries, build trust, and apply love languages in a new context to “match well and love well.” A must read for parents looking for a practical roadmap!
fictional commonwealth by ann patchett
In his seventh and final novel, Patchett dives into family complexity as an affair between two characters ends both of their marriages and leads them to combine families. The story gets even more complicated when a famous author turns his intimate family experience into a best-selling book. a powerful look at how family members approach this transition differently, especially when the narrative is in someone else’s hands.
Shit Happily Blended: The Inconvenient Truth of Blended Familiesby Rebecca Eckler’s Memoir
Eckler’s amusing and candid memoir reveals his experience bringing his partner’s two sons and daughter together in a home, before adding another son to the mix! Eckler is honest about the challenges her family faces in her journey to find harmony and happiness, and in doing so, she gives her readers permission to do the same.
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the co-parenting handbook: raising well-adjusted and resilient children from toddlers to young adults through divorce or separation by karen bonnell and kristin little non-fiction
Karen Bonnell and Kristin Little, both experienced co-parenting coaches, are the perfect team to guide recently divorced or separated couples through their co-parenting process. Both women provide useful strategies to help parents collaborate effectively and prioritize their children’s needs, rather than their own conflicts. a reassuring and nonjudgmental resource for all families experiencing this change.
adults by caroline hulse fiction
Claire and Matt are no longer married, but they decide to celebrate Christmas as a family for the sake of their daughter. a divorced couple, their new partners and a daughter caught in the middle of it all: what could possibly go wrong? a captivating story about family and the loving, flawed people at its center that begins with a frantic emergency call.
for children:
floyd cooper’s ring bearer age: 3-7 years
One of the best ways to help children through difficult family changes is to show them that they are not alone. In Cooper’s endearing picture book, Jackson wonders what it will be like to have a new father or share his stuff with a new sister. this book serves as an essential reminder to children that it’s normal to have questions and feel nervous about remarrying.
step one, step two, step three and four by maria ashworth age: 4-8 years
the young protagonist of ashworth’s book insists that her mother should not remarry because she does not want step-siblings. This book understands the anger and pain children often experience when parents remarry and validates those feelings. a powerful book for children about coming to terms with a new family and finding joy in change.
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not if i can help it by carolyn mackler age: 8-12 years
willa is an eleven-year-old girl with sensory processing disorder, which means she has an aversion to things that trigger her senses, like slimy food or itchy socks. A unique voice for young readers, Willa navigates her parents’ separation, her own disability, and the unlikely possibility of becoming her best friend’s sister. a thoughtful read for everyone, but especially for young people.
mixed by sharon m. Clothier’s age: 8-12 years old
In Draper’s poignant novel, eleven-year-old Isabella is caught in the middle of her parents’ conflict as she moves between their houses each week. In the midst of her fights, Isabella grapples with deep questions of racial identity, as her father is black and her mother is white. a nuanced coming-of-age story that tackles divorce, race, racism and belonging with authenticity – perfect for any kid feeling caught in the middle.
we are all made of moleculesby susin nielsen age: 12-17 years
Nielsen’s novel offers a window into the lives of two teenagers who suddenly become brothers when their parents move in together. Although they are similar in age, they couldn’t be more different. Stewart is socially awkward but academically strong, while Ashley is a popular but struggling student. For kids and step-siblings dealing with new relationships and the inevitable conflict that comes with them, this book is both genuine and uplifting.
olivia watson is an avid reader and creator of lib’s library, a bookstagram account that emphasizes intersectionality and challenges dominant narratives.
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