The Ones We Choose

De: Julie Clark

Narrado por: Saskia Maarleveld

Lisa Genova meets 23andMe in this exploration of the genetic and emotional ties that bind, as debut author Julie Clark delivers a compelling story about a young boy desperate to find his place in this world, a mother coming to terms with her own past, and the healing power of forgiveness.

The powerful forces of science and family collide when geneticist Paige Robson finds her world in upheaval: Her eight-year-old son Miles is struggling to fit in at his new school and begins asking questions about his biological father that Paige can’t answer - until fate thrusts the anonymous donor she used into their lives.

Paige’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel as the truth of Miles’ paternity threatens to destroy everything she has grown to cherish. As Paige slowly opens herself up - by befriending an eccentric mother, confronting her own deeply buried vulnerabilities, and trying to make sense of her absent father’s unexpected return - she realizes breakthroughs aren’t only for the lab. But when tragedy strikes, Paige must face the consequences of sharing a secret only she knows.

With grace and humor, Julie Clark shows that while the science is fascinating, solving these intimate mysteries of who we are and where we come from unleashes emotions more complex than the strands of DNA that shape us.

©2018 Julie Clark (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Entertaining but slow in some areas

I did enjoy the book, there were a couple of surprises, but it can read slow in some parts.

Best part was science intermingled

The story was pleasant but very simple. The “big secret” didn’t seem like such a big deal and the situation it caused that became a main focus of the story seemed contrived. I was hoping that it would all take a different direction. The best part of this book to me was the way science was intermingled with the story, but even that fell short. Somehow though I found it to be a pleasant listen because the supporting characters were lovely and I did want to find out the resolution. While I can’t say that I would recommend this book to everybody, I don’t regret having listened to it. The narrator was mostly fine, but the way she does male voices sometimes bothered me.

Slow beginning...

The beginning was a little slow, but then it got quite a lot better.

Good mix of fiction and science

The story was just a tad sappy, but I loved the way genetic science was woven into the story. I learned some things that really made me think about how ancestors affect our lives. Yes, I would recommend this book. And the narrator is excellent.

Fascinating!

Very interesting story, a good mix of scientific information intermixed with the story. I could not stop listening once I started!!

Interesting story line

I enjoyed the story line and found the explanations of DNA very interesting. I like how the author tired the science in with the story. I did find the main character to be annoying however and also thought the narrator struggled creating the different characters voices.

Interesting plot

Hard to get into the story at first for me. But once I did, I enjoyed the story.

I never write reviews

This is an amazing book. The insight into genetics, a world so complex, is made easy to understand. It is far from dry science and is woven into a beautiful story.

Excellent!

Easy listening, engaging, Informative, and well constructed, this book is smart and brings up important issues worth considering. I really enjoyed it and will look for more from this author. (I have already loved the narrator from past listens.)

pretty good

this book is worth it! it's a light listen with a story line I have never heard anywhere else. :)