Our Beautiful Chaos: An Adoption Memoir
£5.70
“For anyone going through or considering the adoption process, it is a must read. As an adopter, it makes you feel validated. Thank you Rachael for sharing your journey.” Louise, Adopter
Our Beautiful Chaos is an inspiring, confronting and an evocative read. Combining clear experience and knowledge, we follow the heartwarming true account of one couple who found they were achieving all of their life goals except the one thing they wanted most; a family.
Navigating infertility and ultimately the adoption process, Rachael writes about bringing their children home with a well balanced sensitivity and striking honesty. Heart-wrenching and emotional, there are moments of hope and relief in which you feel the struggles and triumphs alongside this family.
Told with a raw authenticity, both thought-provoking and moving, you find yourself engaged as their lives transforms physically, emotionally and mentally. As well as an insight into the UK adoption process, the powerful voice captures the depth of love for their children and the beautiful family dynamic they have created.
“Not just for adopters, this is a must read for anyone finding they are struggling to adjust to the parenting load.” Liz, Foster Carer
“This is the book I wish we had before we started out. It fills in so many gaps in training that social workers either don’t have the time to tell you or worry will scare you off. I loved this book; your honesty about the process, our own hidden expectations, other’s expectations, the frustrations had me laughing, crying and having rants with my partner.” Jem, adoptive parent.
“I love that you were so honest about the pressures of being a Mum … it gave the good and bad of adoption and also so informative. I am going into this process with open eyes” Helen, prospective adopter.
“I went through several tissues during this book. Thank you Rachael, I can’t wait to share this with my friends and family who just don’t get it.” Nicola, adoptive parent.
“I couldn’t stop reading it, it was honest, not pretentious and gave the good and bad of adoption but also so informative. I would definitely recommend.” Jen, prospective adopter.
“Beautifully written, open and honest account of the highs and lows of building a family through adoption. The statistics and facts add to the background, however the detail and personal memories shared build the story.” Jo, adoptive parent.
“Honest and thought provoking and so vividly written I could feel every emotion as if I were in your shoes. I will be recommending to all of my future adopters.” Olivia, adoption social worker.
“As a fellow adopter, it validated experiences we’ve had and we were able to resonate with it all – infertility through to family of five. A truly wonderful memoir, it felt like we were alongside you for the ride.” Charlotte, adoptive parent.
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Additional information
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| File size | 874 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 251 pages |
| Page numbers source ISBN | B0CN3SS1LW |
by Reader
This is one of the best adoption memoirs I have read (and as an adoption social worker, I have read plenty over the years!). Rachael perfectly captures the crazy ride of adopting young siblings during covid, and then the rollercoaster of being approached about a sibling quite swiftly afterwards. All prospective adopters hoping to adopt siblings need to read this book, and those who want to start with one child but secretly hope there will be “a phone call” about another baby in due course (there are plenty of you, we know!). If you think that adopting will be all happy family days feeding the ducks and doing cutting and sticking whilst a lovely casserole is bubbling away in your spotless oven, think again – Rachael’s account is brutally honest and perfectly captures the utter carnage that parachuting 2 children into the structured lives of two childless grown ups inflicts! Rachael also shares her personal story of post adoption depression (yep, it happens, and often too), feeling not good enough, and the reality of parenting three children who all have a history of trauma. It’s a perfect illustration of how much thought preparation and reflection needs to go into each and every day by adoptive parents. I have put this memoir firmly on my “must read” list for prospective adopters and hope to see more of Rachael’s work in the future.
by Julie Owen
I loved this book from the first page until the last. I totally recognise some of the feelings and chaos. 3 children have finally found their happy ending thanks to 2 amazing parent’s. Hopefully this won’t be the last book as Rachael truly has a way of writing where you really feel all the emotions and feel the frustration of a struggling overwhelmed system that sometimes let children and families down.
by Jemma
If you are thinking of adopting or already in the midst of paperwork and interviews buy this book!!! Rachel covers so many of the highs and lows of becoming an adoptive parent and will be an excellent addition to your reading list for the social workers. I loved it. She writes with so much empathy and humour. Extremely relatable.