Switched at Birth

This post is a day later than it should be, and probably shorter than usual, both for the same reason. I broke one of my fingers yesterday, so I wasn’t at the computer, and therefore not blogging, and having broken one of my fingers is making it extremely infuriating to type. Not that it’s impossible or anything, just that I usually touch type, and I can’t really use my left pinky or ring fingers, which is making everything slower and more irritating.

So I realised that in the last two months I’ve read three books which dealt with potentially switched at birth children. All three were very different, but all very enjoyable. I think part of the reason why I like Switched at Birth stories is because of the idea of two very different families being tied together by circumstances which force them to interact. Very exciting.

The first switched story I read was Mine, which I reviewed as well. This is one which focused very much on the time around the birth of the babies, and the immediate aftermath of that, and was very much a psychological thriller.

The other two books, however, The Second Child and The Wrong Child, were quite similar, which is why I’m talking about them both today.

The Second Child – Caroline Bond

Why do you love your child? Is it because they’re a straight A student, a talented footballer? Or is it simply because they’re yours?

Sarah and Phil love both their children, James and Lauren. The couple have the same hopes and aspirations as any parent. But their expectations are shattered when they discover that their perfect baby daughter has been born with a flaw; a tiny, but life-changing glitch that is destined to shape her future, and theirs, irrevocably.

Over time the family adapt and even thrive. Then one day a blood test casts doubt on the very basis of their family. Lauren is not Phil’s child. Suddenly, their precious family is on the brink of destruction. But the truth they face is far more complex and challenging than simple infidelity. It tests their capacity to love, each other and their children, and it raises the question of what makes – and what breaks – a family.

The Wrong Child – Patricia Kay

What would you do if you discovered your adored child wasn’t your child at all? That a mistake had been made in the hospital, and someone else took your child home, and you took theirs? This is the heartbreaking dilemma facing Abbie Bernard and Logan O’Connell — an impossible situation with no acceptable answer. Or is there? Both Abbie and Logan are desperate to protect their children and to keep their families intact. Can they find a way to keep both of their daughters? THE WRONG CHILD is a compelling, emotional and romantic story of the bonds that are stronger than blood and the choices that can only be made with the heart. Ripped from the headlines, it gained Ms. Kay thousands of new fans around the world, and was honored by The Romance Writers of America with a nomination for a RITA, its most prestigious award.

PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR PATRICIA KAY:

“A stunning book from a master storyteller. Patricia Kay writes from the heart about matters that touch us all.” — Susan Wiggs, NY Times bestselling author

“A beautifully written compelling story you won’t be able to put down.”
— Georgia Bockoven, USA Today bestselling author

“If you love LaVyrle Spencer, you’ll love Patricia Kay.” — Deborah Smith

“Wonderful . . . (a) sparkling romance.” — Eileen Goudge

“Kay’s writing is solid, and her narrative swiftly reaches a satisfying finish.” — Publisher’s Weekly

“Patricia Kay writes from the heart about people we come to love.” — Christina Dodd, NY Times bestselling author

“Heartrending and touching . . . Ms. Kay never fails to deliver this kind of story.” — Amanda Kilgore, Huntress Reviews

“This marvelous story is full to bursting with winning characters, special moments, and most of all, hope, faith, and the rejuvenating power of love.” — Romantic Times Magazine

“An intriguing story of love at first sight.” — Houston Tempo Magazine

“There are deep questions about relationships and serious character growth evident in this story, which is also warm, sensuous, and excellent entertainment.” — Rendezvous magazine

“A warm, tender, beautifully written love story with an emotional punch that only Patricia Kay can deliver.” — Amanda Stevens, USA Today bestselling author

PATRICIA KAY is a USA Today bestselling author of more than 50 novels of romance and women’s fiction. An acclaimed teacher who taught writing classes at the University of Houston, she now teaches exclusively online. Born in Ohio, she and her husband have lived in Houston, Texas since 1969. To find out more about her, her books, and her writing classes, visit her website at www.patriciakay.com

While both books dealt with similar themes, of love and family and what makes a family, as well as discussing what nature vs nurture provides, there’s a lot to be said for the genres that these books slot into. The Wrong Child is a romance, primarily, and as such it skims much more lightly over the issues which The Second Child looks at in more depth. Both are intersting books, and I gave them both the same star rating on GoodReads, but that’s only because GR only has five stars. Without a doubt, I enjoyed The Second Child much more.

Now, I did read it before I read The Wrong Child, so it’s possible that I was just getting switched at birth burnout, but I don’t think that’s particularly likely, because I know what genre burnout feels like, and this wasn’t that. I just think The Wrong Child barely scraped into the bottom of three stars, whereas The Second Child was at the very top of the class, almost tipping over into four stars.

Both were very enjoyable books, though, and I think I would recommend them both. If you’re looking for a romance, then The Wrong Child is the one for you. Although I saw it on a BookBub list of biggest tearjerking books, and I didn’t think it was emotionally affecting at all. Perhaps I’m stone-hearted.

If you’re looking for a more nuanced discussion of what family is, and how much of that is genetic, The Second Child is the one for you.

On the other hand, if you want a murky, ambiguous story full of confusion about whether or not a child has been switched, Mine is your go-to choice.

The Wrong Child:
Three Stars
***

The Second Child:
Three Stars
***