With a history like ours, the meaning of the word family tended to tangle into something unrecognizable. DNA and bloodlines didn’t tie us together, and neither did our last names. Various shades of grey blurred the branches of our twisted family tree.I wasn’t her brother.They weren’t my parents.Not that it mattered… She was off limits.Portia was my friend.Then my foster sister.And she’d always be … friend.
Then my foster sister.
And she’d always be the love of my life.
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Phew, in a way I’m glad I’ve finished this book as I don’t know how much more my heart could take. On the other hand, I wish I could start it all over again!
This book was an emotional roller coaster, telling the story of foster siblings Jude & Portia, but foster siblings aren’t really siblings, even if that is how people view them and this is one of the takeaways from this book, along with so much more. The relationships, the emotions, the issues this book explores are phenomenal. From love, to drugs, to grief, to friendship, to family relationships, to self discovery, Family Ties had it all, in spades.
My words could never do this book justice, that is why I’m a reader, not a writer, but I am so glad that Stephie Walls is a writer, her words are beautiful, her story telling is addictive, her characters are realistic and the emotions invoked by her stories are deep and true.
I couldn’t recommend this book more highly.
4 Lemon Pie Stars
I absolutely love the way Stephie Walls can draw you into a book just by the blurb. This book is exactly what the blurb states…
I wasn’t her brother.
They weren’t my parents.
Not that it mattered…
She was off limits.
Portia was placed with her foster family after she lost her mother from drugs. She was adopted by the loving couple who raised her since that day.
Jude was a in and out foster child. With no other family, he was placed in the home when his mother’s illness spiked.
Years have gone by; Jude and Portia were the children that Hensley and Ernie could never have. Family vacations, school functions, family dinners…they raised Jude and Portia like they were their own children.
When feelings get to be too much for these two to hide, is it truly wrong that they want to be together? Even though everyone sees them as brother and sister?
It’s a battle of right and wrong in their minds. Right because it feels so good when they are together. Wrong because they’ve been raised as brother and sister.
It’s a tug of war, back and forth, should we or should we not. Reasons vs. Doubt. Which side will win? At what cost to the people who have raised you as their own.
#BookBistroBlogApproved
What is family? It means something different for everyone. For Jude Thomas and Portia Shaw it means unconditional love. It means that even though they live under the same roof and share foster parents, they are not brother and sister. They have an undeniable bond and a closeness anyone would envy. But society isn’t always as unconditional and open. As they navigate through their young life, all the highs and lows, happy, sad, raging, content, confused, accepting and loving emotions are all there to experience. Its a story of family and understanding, forgiveness and acceptance, growth and finding the best version of yourself. Family Ties is another great read from Stephie Walls. (
I have read many of Stephie Walls’ books, and I have to say, they’re often just what I’m looking for. Family Ties was the same way!
Jude and Portia meet at ages 8 and 9 respectively, when Jude is put into foster care. They form an instant bond as siblings who are dealing with difficult circumstances. The foster family that they live with- the Shaws- are wonderful people, so while for many that is a problem in and of itself, it isn’t for these two. Fast forward until they’re late teens- they start to form a different kind of bond.
I liked both Jude and Portia. They acted age-appropriately, although that drove me crazy at times. Parts of the story dragged on a bit, but overall, it was well-paced, and as usual, well-written.
Stephie Walls has another hit on her hands!!
Family ties takes the notion of a taboo relationship and turns it into a heartbreaking but beautiful story of love, acceptance and understanding. We seem to see things in either black or white, but this book definitely shows areas of grey. I applaud the characters in this story and see it as the proverbial caterpillar to butterfly love story.
Even though I know that some people won’t be able to differentiate the circumstances to accept the outcome in this story, I think this author has done an amazing job showing us all that it can be beautiful. Two foster children brought together over the loss of their mothers, seen as a family to the foster parents, but not to each other. There are extenuating circumstances in this story that has to be read to understand the path that has led to the end result of absolute love.
You will definitely fall in love the Jude, the ginger book loving outcast and Portia the sassy, spirited girl with all the answers. Their banter and relationship is one any family can hope for.
Although this is a somewhat taboo subject, it really is not taboo at all. It’s how we view Family Ties as a society, but scientifically it has no standing in this storyline. This is another great story for this author and one that will keep us pondering the question of family and what it means to each of us.
What a GREAT book!!! This book deals with some very difficult situations and it is done is such a compassionate, honest and realistic way. I loved this author’s use of colours to describe not just physical attributes, but voices and sounds. I had a hard time putting this book down to do the day to day adulting that I was supposed to be doing. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.