Family Law

A Novel

By: Gin Phillips

Narrated by: Joshilyn Jackson, Grace Experience

When an ambitious female lawyer becomes the victim of harassment, she must decide what's more important: her family's safety or the rights she's fighting for?

Set in Alabama in the early '80s, Family Law follows a young lawyer, Lucia, who is making a name for herself at a time when a woman in a courtroom is still a rarity. She's received plenty of threats for her work extricating women and children from troubled relationships, but her own happy marriage has always felt far removed from her work. When her mother's pending divorce brings teenaged Rachel into Lucia's orbit, Rachel finds herself captivated not only with Lucia, but with the change Lucia represents. Rachel is out-spoken and curious, and she chafes at the rules her mother lays down as the bounds of acceptable feminine behavior. In Lucia, Rachel sees the potential for a new path into womanhood. But their unconventional friendship takes them both to a crossroads. When a moment of violence--a threat made good--puts Rachel in danger, Lucia has to decide how much her work means to her and what she's willing to sacrifice to keep moving forward.

Written in alternating voices from Lucia and Rachel's perspectives, Family Law is a fresh take on what the push for women's rights looks like to the ordinary women and girls who long for a world redefined. Addressing mother daughter relationships and what roles we can play in the lives of women who aren't our family, the novel examines how we shape each other and how we make a difference. The funny, strong, and yet tender-hearted female leads of Family Law illuminate a new kind of timeless Southern fiction--atmospheric, rich, and with quietly surprising twists and nuances all its own.

Critic reviews

"Told in alternating points of view, this character-driven story explores women’s battle for equality and the rewards to be gained when women help lift each other up." —Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"An incisive, warmhearted exploration of women’s roles in shaping society, the future, and each other." —Kirkus Reviews

"An engrossing, entertaining novel about Southern women seeking justice for themselves and other women at any cost." —Bitch Magazine

Meh

I will listen to anything narrated by Joshilyn Jackson, which is the sole reason I downloaded this book. The reading was, as usual, superb. The story was engaging enough, until the end. It's like the book ends mid-sentence. I felt like there was no resolution to all the storylines. Such a disappointment.

Loved the story and the narration was perfect!!

I bought this because I love Joshilyn Jackson’s narration. If you like her books, you will definitely want to listen this, it’s hard to believe this isn’t also her writing as it is very similar. Very credit worthy!!

unexpected

I thought that this book would be about one thing, it wasn't. It was a surprise and enjoyable. it ended with hoping for a sequel. Can it really get better than that?