Nuclear Family is centred on a family in North London. Tom is a widower with twin daughters. When Lena thinks it will be fun to buy them all DNA testing kits for Christmas, he is bounced into telling them that they were conceived via a sperm donor.

Alison says she doesn’t care. Her wife is going through fertility treatment and Alison doesn’t think her lack of a biological connection to their child will make any difference. Lena, however, tells her husband she wants to put their plan to start a family on hold while she searches for her biological father. For her, not knowing who he is undermines her sense of who she is. These differing approaches in turn undermines the previously close relationship of the twins.

The story follows each of the three family members as they come to terms with what has happened. It has an aspirational/escapist feel at times – many of the scenes are built around cool arty and social events and lovely holidays. It’s packed with zeitgeisty cultural references, pointed humour, and some moments of real sadness.

Nuclear Family makes us think about what it means to be a parent, what makes us someone’s child. It explores the way our ideas of family are constantly being remade. All wrapped up in an entertaining and deceptively light story.
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I received a copy of Nuclear Family from the publisher via NetGalley.

Nuclear Family by Kate Davies.
Publication date: Feb 15th.

This is a book that has so many strands related to one subject that it shouldn't work and yet it really fully does. This book hooked me with a line in the first page and I really enjoyed this authors tone and style throughout the book.

The book is about a small family that implodes after a Christmas gift of a DNA testing kit. Lena and Alison are twins, they lost their mother in recent years and now their family consists of them, their spouses and their father, Tom. Lena thinks the DNA kit will be a fun way to find out about their ancestors but instead it results in Tom admitting he is not their biological father and that he and their mother Sheila used donor sperm to conceive the twins. Tom never intended for this secret to emerge and is distraught and terrified that his daugher's will now reject him and he is desperate to win back their trust.
Lena and Alison take the news very differently. Alison and her wife are currently trying to have a baby using a donor and she believes DNA doesn't matter whereas Lena becomes obsessed with finding out about her biological father which impacts on relationships with her sister, father and husband.

This book is centered around identify, donor conception and the idea of what it means to be a family and its wry, heartwarming , witty , informative and entertaining, like I said it doesn't sound like a book that should be a funny and warm as it is .Its all woven together brilliantly, with believable, likeable and interesting characters at its heart. There is an authors note at the end of this book ( I hope its at the beginning in the published copy) and explains how the author has personal experience of the topics she writes about. I should have realised this when reading because she writes with great consideration and knowledge and the tone is pitch perfect throughout.

So much happens in this book and its well paced throughout. I loved this family , so vividly captured by the author, they came alive in the pages in all their messy glory. The book made me smile when reading and was deeply moving in other parts. A real surprise gem of a read. Recommend
4 stars.

* Content note for every and all aspects of fertility.

Nuclear Family
by Kate Davies

I was very drawn to this story with it's premise of exploring donor conception. While it's not necessarily new science anymore, the ethics considerations have evolved over the past few decades, and now we have the first generation who's conception was dependent on IUI and IVF coming to terms with what that means for their identity. With the ready availability of DNA testing kits, more and more people are discovering facts about their conception that their parents kept from them through fear and insecurity, awkwardness or misguided protection. I find this fascinating and hoped the author would explore the nuances and not be too surface level.

I didn't need to worry. She chose to tell this story from all the points of view I could imagine, the grown children who discover they are donor conceived, their non biological parent who feared the outcome of their knowing, their individual partners, their newly discovered half siblings, those that donate for various reasons, those that want to know, those that don't, those that agree with assisted fertility, those that don't.

Somehow she has presented all these POVs in a humorous story that has a distinct flavour of Bridget Jones' Diary. It's packed with cultural references, literary references and if you love a strong sense of place, and London setting, you are in for a treat.

Well done to Kate Davies for this sensitive, poignant, light hearted treatment of a subject that is bound to touch everyone eventually. I can see this on the big screen.

Publication Date: 15th February 2024
Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins for the eGalley

I was a huge fan of “In At The Deep End” and waited patiently for book two. And, oh, it was so worth the wait!!! We get a book which is mature in themes and written in such an engaging way that I struggled to put it away, despite the deadlines.
It all starts with a DNA test bought as a present. Twins Lena and Alison, their spouses and their dad, Tom, spend Christmas together when the bombshell goes off – he is not their biological father, the girls were conceived using a sperm donor. For Alison and her wife Suria, who are just trying to get pregnant in a similar way, there is no problem – Tom is Alison’s dad, the same way as Alison will be mum to their child. But Lena is raging, Lena is unravelling, Lena is no longer sure who she is. She goes on a journey to discover her biological father, despite other’s misgivings and hurt. What follows is hilarious in places but moving, even heart wrenching, a story of searching for family, dealing with love, loss, and guilt.
I chuckled, laughed, and cried. There is so much happening in this book – Alison’s and Suria’s journey to motherhood is probably one of the most beautiful and affecting parts of the book, especially when juxtaposed with Lena’s righteous crusade of finding a man who she shares genes with. The main theme of the book, what makes a family, is observed by the author from many angles, starting with sisters' conflict of nature versus nurture, continued with the investigation of infertility and lesbian pregnancy, to ethics of sperm donation. And yet, such complex matters are discussed with compassion, fairness, and wit. There’s just enough humour here to balance some heavy stuff going on, and in places I was cackling with laughter between having my eyes properly moistened.
The characters are so well rounded! A slightly neurotic father, who has to deal with a falling out in his small family brought by his desire to keep the secret from his daughters. Two sisters with different temperaments and attitudes towards life. A delightful neighbour, Jessie, Alison’s annoying mother in law! People are alive and breathing on the pages of this book and sometimes you just want to hug them and tell them all will be fine.
I could go on forever, but I loved this book so much. Please read it and enjoy the gem that is “Nuclear Family” by Kate Davies.

This is a really thought provoking read, as well as a great story.

DNA testing has become a big thing nowadays, but when a Christmas gift is given, Lena suddenly finds out she and her sister came into the world via a sperm donor. This is the story of the family's reaction to the news, and her discovery of a half-brother.

At times funny, sad, heart-warming, this niggles away at your thoughts and makes you realise that DNA testing is not necessarily just a bit of fun.

It’s interesting to read others reviews as I too really struggled to get going with this book. I think it took me a little while to warm to Lena and Alison and just generally to settle in with the writing style. I was really glad I persevered though as I ended up enjoying the story and storming through the pages because I was so keen to find out what happened. I thought the premise of the story was good and it really did make me wonder how many families truly do experience shockwaves after a seemingly harmless Christmas gift is opened!

Wow this book really did a number on me!!
In the first 40% of this book, l'm not going to lie I found it really tedious. The writing style just wasn't quite clicking and the story felt a bit dry and lacking a good pace.
However, once I got to the 60% mark this book did a full 180 on me! I'm so glad I stuck with it because this book was so so worth it. A true tale of complex, fully fleshed out characters and real life stories. At first I didn't really get what this book was trying to do, but by the end there was full tears because I truly felt so connected to the message of this book and its underlying tones about love, family and grief.
If you are a literary fiction lover who likes well rounded characters who are at times unlikable, and a mundane yet still inspiring storyline this is definitely for you! If you love Sally Rooney then pick this up!!

This is a surprisingly really funny read. Lena surprises her twin sister and father with DNA testing kits for Christmas - so you can see where this goes, but the story is complete with humour and love. A brilliant look at the true meaning of family. I think this will be a hit.

This was SUCH a good book. I really enjoyed Alison and Lena’s story and their various approaches to learning they were donor conceived. I found Lena’s character super frustrating, but that just added to the fun! Would really recommend, this was so well written and fun. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

This was such an interesting read, touching on many current issues with such gentleness that they don't feel too "in your face". From being donor-conceived and changing legalities and rights around procedures, through same-sex parenting to exploration of what happens when Westermarck effect is not in play, "Nuclear Family" packs quite a literal punch.

The narrative choice of including perspectives of three characters with quite distinctive voices gives more depth to the story and makes character's struggles and choices believable.

A really interesting story about family and conception. It’ll make you think and rethink. Ideal for book clubs.

A Christmas present that went horribly wrong. An innocent ancestry kit for your Dad only to find out he’s not your biological father, that your mother used donor sperm and it’s been kept a secret for 34 years. In that moment Lena Delauncey’s live is upturned, she finds herself unanchored and desperate for answers. Her twin sister Alison takes a different view. Alison’s wife is under going artificial insemination to give them a family, she doesn’t think family is about biology. Then there’s their dad, Tom, who’s terrified his daughters aren’t going to be his daughters any longer, his identity is bound in being their father, biology or not. Throw in fertility treatment, a famous half brother and a new love, the Delauncey family are having quite a year.

This book is fascinating. I don’t come from a nuclear family and I think that really affected my reading because I do think family is more than blood. However finding out your biology in your thirties, what effect would that have?

Even though the story is split between three POVs but I felt like Lena took up the most space. I found Lena really frustrating. Even when I could sympathise with her, I found her difficult. She is having a sort of breakdown and the relationship she develops with her half brother is wonderfully uncomfortable.

I felt the most for Alison, who is always the peacemaker. Her sister’s new found obsession with donated sperm is making her own journey to a family infinitely more complex. Increasingly the sisters can’t communicate as they go on their separate journeys with this news.

I felt like Tom’s point of view, while pleasant, didn’t really add to the story.

The only thing I struggled with in this story was that I didn’t feel the multiple point of views made for cohesive narrative. I understand that the three characters are diverging but I found this really affected the reading experience. Particularly in the early chapters.

This book really challenged my perception of family and conception and I’m grateful for that perspective. A really interesting read which leaves much to be discussed

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for my ARC

I loved Kate Davies first book so had high hopes for this one and it's beat them. A brilliant read, had me laughing and near crying and I learnt so much throughout. Would highly recommend.

I loved the authors previous book ‘ in at the deep end’ so when I got a chance to read this from Netgalley I was very pleased and also had high hopes. I read this straight away after being given it ( something I need to get in the habit of).
What I like most about this author is that she brings themes such as sperm donors, transgender, men having babies to name a few, into the mainstream in a well written story about family. Funny and sad, I really enjoyed it.

A great story taking you on different emotional rollercoasters as you follow the different viewpoint of the 3 main characters. This book is well written and so scarily possible!

Lena buys DNA testing kits for her tein sister Alison and her dad Tom, so they can find out about their ancestors, however, this opens a massive can of worms with Tom having to confess he isnt Lena and Alison's biological father and that a sperm donor was used. The story is told from the perspectives of Tom, Lena and Alison. Tom is worried that his girls will reject him. Alison is not interested in her genealogy but Lena becomes obsessed.

The story tackles many issues around families and conception. The book has some warm fuzzy moments as well as being humorous.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nuclear Family is a very different story to In At The Deep End, the debut by Kate Davies.
Where there was a bit of a steamy shock factor in the first, this was something family-based but just as interesting.
A Christmas present in the form of a DNA test from Lena, one of a twin, to her father causes the beginning of a ripple effect of occurrences, as Tom is forced to admit he is not the genetic father to her and her sister, Alison. They were conceived using donor sperm.
Both girls are in very different situations as it is. Lena is married, as is Alison, but Alison and her wife are trying for a baby using donor sperm. The news sends them in very different directions. Alison is not interested in her genealogy, but Lena can't help herself. After taking the DNA test herself, she discovers a half-sibling and then becomes obsessed with finding him.
I really enjoyed the story told from all three perspectives: Tom, Lena and Alison.
There were many questions that came to the surface regarding the ethics of egg and sperm donation and how both the donor and the children that result from it might feel.
A great read that had a good ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.

I loved Kate Davies' first novel, In At The Deep End, and when this popped up on Netgalley I smashed the pre-order button. I was not disappointed with Nuclear Family, a novel that explores fertility treatment, the meaning of family, aging, queer identity, and parenting - to name but a few, lol.

When Lena decides to surprise her father Tom and her twin sister Alison with DNA testing kits, she imagines it will be a fun way for them to discover their ancestry and even their Neanderthal roots. The gift has unintended and catastrophiuc consequences for the family though, and Lena and Alison learn that Tom, their beloved dad, is not their biological father. Tom and his late wife Sheila used a sperm donor to conceive their children back in the 1980s.

This causes a rift in an otherwise close family; Lena, a lawyer, is devastated by the news, as well as the betryal. She sets out on a course to find her bio dad. Meanwhile, Alison, believes that DNA doesn't define a family - which makes sense, given that Alison and her wife are starting a family with the help of a sperm donor.

This is a really clever novel, and tackles a lot of issues - mostly successfully. Told in close third-person of Tom, Lena and Alison, Davies does a great job of showing the impact of the DNA bombshell on this little family - Lena, obsessed with what this ~means for her, could be irritating at times, but she's written with sensitivity and often given more grace than she deserves by the narrative. Her plot veers close to going off the rails when she discovers a celebrity in her family tree, but Davies keeps her on track... just.

Meanwhile, Alison, a butch lesbian who thinks she'd use they/them pronouns "if she were ten years younger" is less concerned, and Davies uses her storyline mostly to explore the complexity and difficulty of fertility treatment for queer couples. Suria and Alison were by far my favourite part of this story, their plot compelling and emotional. They were also the most well-drawn, and funniest, characters in the novel.

Tom, the twins' loving and eccentric father, provided a completely different perspective to the novel - including him was a bold step on the author's behalf, and it mostly works, though I suspect certain elements of his plot pushed Nuclear Family a little too far into "issues novel" territory. Nevertheless, Tom was a sweet and funny character, and I enjoyed him trying depserately to make things up to his daughters. We rarely see good dads in fiction, so this was a refreshing change!

Nuclear Family is funny and clever, with a lot of say about parenthood and the changing nature of the 21st century family. A thought-provoking but still hugely enjoyable read.

This book had moments of loss, sadness and coming together, showing what makes or breaks families when secrets (even ones not to hurts us) are discovered.

I requested this book as I thought it sounded something I'd like, I got Nora Roberts from the synopsis. I was delighted to be approved for the ARC so thank you to NetGalley and the publishers.

This my honest and unbiased review.

After approval I noticed the writer had written another called "in at the deep end" are a bit of googling I realised I had listened to the book as an abridged version on BBC Sounds and if I am honest wasn't overly keen on it. The fact I had to google it to be reminded I had read it showed it very much didn't hold my interest. That being said I still wanted to give this book a go and a fair review.

Told in 3rd person POV we hear from twins Lena and Alison and their father Tom in the aftermath of the girls finding out Tom isn't their biological father over Christmas dinner thanks to a DNA testing kit. The ripple effect this has on all three is life changing in so many ways. The pace of the novel is fairly quick as all of the action take place over the course of a year, however the plot lines don't fell rushed and flow well. The ending was good with everything tied up for the family, but we are left to wonder what will happen next. I found the last few pages very heart warming and really summed up the full premise of the book.

First off this isn't a Nora Roberts type of book and that doesn't make it bad at all but it wasn't what I thought it would be. It was far better.


I found this book much more interesting than the writers last novel, it has less shock value and is a lot less vulgar.Her writing has matured into something very engaging and well written both in terms of plot, style and structure.

It brings up some unique themes and points to consider. I really liked how she examined what family actually is,how it means something different to us all the reactions of the sisters to the news illustrates this perfectly . I found the journey the sisters go on in terms of trying conceive insightful and touching. It was very much a sub plot but filtered in neatly with the main plot and added deeper look at over all underlaying themes in within the book

The writer explores grief and loss in its many forms, of which she does beautifully. She subtly intertwines themes of race, sexuality without it being too in your face, which for me carries a much powerful message than it being rammed down your throat.

Character wise I loved Tom, he was a bit two dimensional but he sounded the perfect old gent and a great father. His reaction about being the girls father really touched me. The twins were very different in terms of life styles and people both had inner conflict about how they felt with regards to the situation both of which were different this added a real depth and a sense of realism to them as characters and to the plot.

This novel is a delightful blend of humor and heartfelt emotion, with insightful looks into subjects that are not always easy to discuss. It offers an entertaining read but gives the reader some enlightenment into donor conception which was a unique plot written in a way you would not expect . It is full of charm and wit with a little heart break thrown in.

This is a smart novel you will reflect on your views while reading and beyond, it is a water cooler moment type of novel perfect for book groups. Would also make a great tv series.

Before reading this I had listened to a podcast about these DNA tests people are given as gifts and the fall out the can cause this book was great way to explore that further and confirm to myself that I won't be buying any test kits myself. The book made reflect on what family means and for me my family are the people who are there and raised me the people I love deeply.

Ps there is no need for DNA testing for me am unfortunately the image of my father and a mini me of my mother personality...However this book does makes you wonder

Another footnote the cover of the book is a great representation of the full novel it's very well matched well done to who designed that jacket

Loved this! Made me laugh and cry all the way through. It was an interesting look at children of donors, something I'd never thought of and how it affected their families and lives in different ways. Trigger Warning for baby loss, that did sneak up on me. But overall a brilliant heartfelt and heartwarming story.