The concept of family is fascinating when you think about it. Who we are, what we believe, and where we come from is defined in a lot of ways by chance.
Yet the concept of found family – inherently the family you choose – fights against that notion, this being a core thesis in Dani Alpert’s work The Girlfriend Mom.
Alpert’s memoir begins with an opening chapter that describes herself as a has-been cause she’s never been, setting the tone for the brand of humor that this work is filled with. We meet the love interest who is important only in so much as what he brings to Alpert’s life – the introduction of his two kids.
Alpert describes how she never wanted children, never had the desire nor inclination. Yet unlike other stories in which the stereotypical ‘bitter single woman’ meets a few kids and suddenly oozes cheesy maternal warmth and starts baking cookies, Alpert was never bitter and doesn’t change for the kids but rather, the kids themselves help bring out the very best of Alpert herself – just as any relationship, platonic or romantic, should.
What was fascinating to me is that while the kids would not have been brought into Alpert’s life had it not been for her romance with their father, throughout the entirety of the work, all I could think is that Alpert deserved better. Despite the wishy-washy nature of the boyfriend, it’s clear from the get go that the true love story isn’t between the adults but with Alpert and the two kids.
With the heart of Step-Mom and the witty, unapologetic humor of Bridesmaid, Alpert creates a compelling, moving narrative where my only complaint is that I wish I could read more.
I received this book for free by Books Forward in exchange for my honest review.
The Hopeful Wanderer 