Talk about an emotional read!

First thing I will say is that the title is very misleading, could be because the book was translated from French. The French version apparently has a more appropriate name. The kids are not her stepkids but her daughters kids. This is also not a romcom, which you may believe because of the title and cover. This is an heartwrenching and emotional book.

Morgan is single, running a childcare centre and living a life of isolation, just the way she likes it when her sister and brother-in-law dies tragically in a car accident and leave their two kids to her. In her mind she doesn't have the maternal instinct required and struggles with the reason behind her sister's decision.

This book started off slow for me and I took a while to get into it but once I did I could not stop reading. It is told from Morgan's perspective as well as her 10 year old nephew Elliot's who is struggling with the death of his parents.

This is a heavy read and even though the writing style is different from what I am used to, it is written beautifully. I definitely recommend this but with the appropriate trigger warnings since it covers death, child abandonment and sexual abuse.

This book made me to cry and laughed all on the same page. It will touch you in so many ways!

Thanks to Netgallley and Hodderbooks for a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gosh this story takes you through the whole gamut of emotions again and again! It is a story where Morgan suddenly finds herself responsible for bringing up Elliot and Lea, her nephew and niece, after their parents are killed in a car crash. She is only used to living with her dog, Snoopy, and whilst grieving for the loss of her beloved sister learning to look after her children is definitely a shock to her system.

They're all grieving, getting to know each other and their new norm. However, the lifestyle changes for all of them aren't necessarily helped by Morgan's Mum, the children's Grandma Cat, who always seems to have her claws out ready to attack Morgan, even when it is only via a phone call.  It is a story of fresh starts, secrets from the past, new opportunities and the growth to be a family. It is also about healing, learning to trust and love, striving to attain your dreams and has a delightful couple of matchmaking children, too!

It is an emotive read, highly entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable. It is told mainly from the points of view of Morgan and Elliot, including some heartbreaking letters Elliot writes to his Mum. Make sure you have the tissues ready when you read this, though I'm not sure whether you'll be crying happy or sad tears - or a mixture of the two!

My thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

I struggled with this book, I am sorry to say. I thought it would be a bit of a light comedic kind of book, but it wasn't.

Morgan runs a childcare centre. This is not something she particularly likes to do as she doesn't have a natural affinity with children, but running a dog rescue centre isn't possible so she does this. She has a dog she adores, a difficult relationship with her mother (her mother is awful!) and is close to her sister. When her sister and her husband are killed, she finds herself with her two children, Elliott and Lea. The whole book is told from the POV of Morgan and Elliott, and bit by bit, the reasons why Morgan is the way she is, are uncovered.

The two children in this story are adorable and Elliott's story is so poignant, I felt awful for him. The book loses something in translation though. It sounds very abrupt in a lot of parts, and was quite jarring. The way that some characters spoke to each other or about each other, is not something that seemed very authentic, and Lea had some very adult sounding turns-of-phrase. It just didn't work for me. I thought the story of the vet was kinda tacked on and I didn't really believe there were sparks there at all, sorry. The title is misleading. They are NOT her stepkids, they are her niece and nephew! Surely, someone could have given this book a better title?

So, for me, this story gets 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

As the manager of a children’s nursery in France, it means that Morgan has to work long hours and also likes everything to be tidy and organised.

But when tragedy strikes and her sister and brother in law are killed in an accident, her life is no longer her own, as she becomes guardian of her niece Lea and nephew Elliott.

An enjoyable story with characters you can relate to and sympathise with.

This book also had me laughing and crying. One which covered loss, love and forgiveness.

A really good read .When Morgan suddenly finds herself looking after her nephew and niece after a tragic accident her life suddenly takes a different path. Not being at all maternal and also having a secret from her past which she has never really spoken about, she really doesn't cope at all well and struggles to adjust . It's a lovely story full of emotions and also humour and I loved it

Following a tragic accident Morgan is forced to adopt her sister's children. Preferring dogs to kids her life is turned upside down. There are some very sad parts to this book but balanced with some funny moments. Will Morgan ever get the hang of parenting. The kids want to interfere in Morgan's future and even have a plan. Who will make their plans a reality?

Honestly i was sort of fooled? thinking this was going to be a light-hearted maybe a doze of romantic comedy story but it was mostly sad and very little fun. I was also a bit confused and bored, because sometimes i felt like some parts of the story was thrown in here and there and in my head made no sense, order wise. But the Elliot`s letters/chapters to his mother broke my heart, it was sad and painful , it also made my heart a little warm - the letters/chapters was the highlight of the book for me.

As a childcare centre director, Morgan has to deal with kids everyday but would rather run her own boarding kennels. Snoopy, Morgan's beagle - is indeed the only living being she has considered family these past few years.

When her sister and brother-in-law die in a terrible car crash, she hads no choice but to adopt their two children.

The title of this book is deceiving. The kids in this story are not her stepkids but her sister's children, so the title is a little misleading. Morgan doesn't have a maternal bone in her body and struggles to cope with Lea and Elliot. WE get most of the characters backstories and it's narrated from Morgan and Elliot's perspectives. This is a stoy about a family who's lives were torn apart. This book has been translated from French to English.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HodderStoughton and the author #AurelieTramier for my ARC #CanIGiveMyStepkidsBack in exchange for a honest review.

As a childcare center director, Morgan has to deal with kids every day but would much rather run her own boarding kennel. Snoopy—Morgan's beagle—is indeed the only living being she has considered family these past few years. When her sister and brother-in-law die in a terrible car crash, she has no choice but to adopt their two children.

The unexpected addition to her household is clearly unlikely to get her closer to her canine goals—and as if this wasn't enough, she seems to be getting it all wrong with her "step kids". Elliot finds her terribly childish, and on Lea's birthday, she forgets to bake a cake for school. Grandma Catherine is convinced she'd do a much better job...

This was completely different to what I was expecting but it was still a heartwarming read!

Despite her reservations, Morgan’s love for her sister supersedes everything. It was nice to read how she tries to improve and not just provide for her sister’s children but gradually begins to love them. I felt a lot sympathetic towards her while reading her personal struggles. Elliot’s letters to his mum were really heart wrenching as he poured out his secrets and all his emotions into them.

It was not an easy journey for any of them. But they deal with the ups and downs and finally do come together.

Thank You NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC!

I give this book 3 stars.

When I started reading it, I thought it would be light hearted, funny or just a little sad. It was very misleading. Morgan takes in her sister and brother in laws children when they pass away, but her mom wants them - so that sets up some fights and resentment. There is a troubled relationship between Morgan and her mom dating back to her late teen years that has yet to be repaired. Morgan works long hours in a nursey in France, then has little time for the kids, Elliot and Lea. Lea is adorable while Elliot is troubled and getting in trouble. They take him to a doctor who recommends he write to his mom, which seems to help. Morgan and her mom hash out the issues, and she's determined to stay away, but her dad has other plans. All things work out in the end.

The book is average with some boring spots but the story is good. It hits you in your heart, because this does happen in real life..

Cute story. A light hearted romance. Sometimes I laughed and sometimes I cried. A nice story to read in front of a fireplace on a cold, snowy February day during Covid. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

After suddenly losing her sister, Morgan is stunned to learn she has become the legal guardian of her niece Lea and nephew Elliot. Albeit slightly overwhelmed, Morgan is determined to honour her sister's last wishes. But between Elliot's rough start in a new school and her meddling narcissistic mother, she starts to doubt whether she's cut out for raising children. As Elliot, Lea, Morgan and her loveable pup Snoopy try to create a new family unit, troubling parts of Morgan's traumatic past threaten to upend this new arrangement before it's had a chance to develop.

The title of this one is a bit misleading because Elliot and Lea are not Morgan's stepkids in the traditional sense of the word. Once you get past that mental roadblock, it's a really lovely book. A quirky and emotive story about a family picking up the pieces of their broken hearts and learning to heal together.

When I requested this title to review, I expected a light hearted, humorous read. But it was so much more than that. It was sad, it dealt with difficult subjects and it was written with sensitivity and heart.

Morgan has a life that is safe and one that she is fully in control of. She doesn't have friends or a partner. When her beloved sister Emilie and husband are killed in a car accident, she finds herself the guardian to their two children, Elliot and Lea. She is horrified at first, and by her own admission, clueless. But over time, she learns what it is to love selflessly as these two young children show her the way. Elliot is a wonderful character, and we get to hear his deepest thoughts as he writes letters to his Mum.

There is a bumpy journey for them all, and Morgan has to deal with her traumatic past, but the ending is wonderfully heart-warming and hopeful.

The title and cover of this book are misleading, they imply you are about to read light hearted romcom and they really don't do the story any justice.
Can I Give My Stepkids Back? is a heart warming story of a family that has been torn apart not just by the tragic accident that leaves Morgan having to look after her nephew Elliot and niece Lea, but also by something that happened to her 17 years earlier. Morgan's chosen life with only her beloved dog as her companion is turned upside down, as she takes on Elliot & Lea who are coming to terms with their loss and new life. The story follows them as work out their new lives together, and it isn't easy for any of them.

I was given a copy of Can I Give My Stepkids Back by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

This book was a very emotional read and not at all what I was expecting after reading the synopsis for this book. It covered some very serious topic areas and it took a while to get involved in the story - I think this was because it was a lot darker and far more serious than I was expecting. This was an error on my part - I think I was expecting it to be of a lighter nature and for it to have more content on the mishaps for Morgan during her launch into being a parent. After about a third I was going to stop, but I’m glad i persevered as the story did flow better in the second half but you could certainly tell it was a translation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book.

A title probably lost in translation or just a title with no real connection.
The book is set in France where the author is from.
Two children are left orphaned and their aunt has been given guardianship. Maternal grandparents aren't pleased with the choice and hope that the children eventually they will have the children.
A story written about grief, adjustments, secrets, friendships and determination to do the right thing. I really enjoyed the book and the characters.

When I realised this book was translated I was nervous that it wouldn't read very well, however you would never have known.
I think it's a lovely story, cried at some of it but all ended exactly as I wanted!

Can I Give My Stepkids Back? By Aurelie Tramier takes us on a journey with Morgan and her orphaned niece and nephew as they adapt to living together in uneasy harmony. It works well to hear the story unfold through Morgan’s perspective and Elliot’s letters to his mum. This gives a depth of understanding to the struggles of this little fledging family. Morgan’s mum, Catherine, is a much loved and very loving gran to Elliot and Lea but it’s clear that there’s a dark history between mum and daughter which shows none of that love and care. She is a cold and harsh mother to Morgan and this is exacerbated by her husband behaving as an absent, if benign, parent. There are no major surprises in the book and, indeed, there could be many more threads explored but overall the book delivers a decent wee story with a satisfactory outcome. A pleasant day’s reading Three and a half stars (which I’ll round up to four)

As a childcare centre director, Morgan has to deal with kids every day but would much rather run her own boarding kennel. Snoopy – Morgan’s beagle – is indeed the only living being she has considered family these past few years. When her sister and brother-in-law die in a terrible car crash, she has no choice but to adopt their two children.

The unexpected addition to her household is clearly unlikely to get her closer to her canine goals – and as if this wasn’t enough, she seems to be getting it all wrong in her new role, ordering bedding her new son Elliot finds terribly childish, and forgetting to bake a cake for school on Lea’s birthday. Grandma Catherine is convinced she’d do a much better job…

When Snoopy sprains his leg, the kids are swept off their feet by the handsome single vet who’s nursing him back to health. They’re convinced he and Morgan would be a match made in heaven. Now they only need to convince Morgan…

So this is the official synopsis for Tramier’s novel. Now I want you to forget everything you just read. Because the truth is, the book is nothing like this.

I want to clarify that this is by no means a bad book; in fact, I thought it was quite good. I only had two problems with it, but they were pretty major ones, my first, and main one, being that the book is nothing like its synopsis makes it out to be. I was expecting to read a pretty lighthearted, even humorous book, a bit like Life as We Know it. And… I didn’t. Can I give my stepkids back is actually pretty dark, often heartbreaking, and for me, even difficult to read at times. Morgan has a dark secret that still haunts her (even though I guessed that one from chapter 1, so it wasn’t really a big surprise – I did like how the author handled it though), and she is actually in such a bad mental state when we first get to know her, I just can’t understand why anyone thought it would be a good idea to advertise this as a funny book. As for the romance, well there’s hardly any. We barely see the vet, and he doesn’t make a note-worthy appearance until three quarters of the way into the book – and by that time, I couldn’t care less for him. All I wanted to see was Morgan and the kids, and he, quite frankly, added very little to the story.

My other issue was Elliot’s perspective. I was delighted to see that half the chapters would be told from his perspective, as I believe that a child’s point of view can be so interesting to read and their voice certainly adds a sweetness, an authenticity, and a unique character to the story. Take The Room, for instance; narrating that story from Jack’s perspective not only makes it unique, but makes it all the more heartbreaking. Elliot’s chapters, however, were very hard to distinguish from Morgan’s. It just didn’t feel like the perspective of a ten-year old child. The words he used, the way he described things, it all just felt a bit forced and pretentious. I will, however, admit that I read the English translation of the book, so I have no idea if such problems exist in the original French, or if it’s simply a matter of translation. Whatever the case may be, it was certainly off-putting.

I think that if the book had been advertised properly and I knew what to expect when I picked it up my rating for it would be better. Under these circumstances, however, and considering that I was expecting a lighthearted romcom and got quite an intense drama instead, I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I could have. Again, it is by no means a bad book; just make sure you read some reviews of it first.

** An ARC was provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **

Despite running a childcare nursery children of her own were never on the cards but after an awful accident the two children are in need of a stepmum. Hapless to a fault, everything that could go wrong does but it is all a learning curve. What will be the best thing for the children, live with grandparents that would let them do what they want or a decent stepmum who may or may not come good in the end. I really enjoyed this and am giving it 5 stars.. Well written and I recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this eARC