City Threads - Shop now
$0.99 with 94 percent savings
Print List Price: $17.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Simon & Schuster Digital Sales LLC. Price set by seller.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Julie Ryan McGue
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood Kindle Edition

by Julie Ryan McGue (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 43 ratings
Best Price in 30 Days
Best Price in 30 Days means that the current price is lower than, or equal to, the lowest price this item sold for on Amazon.com in the past 30 days.
Growing up as an adoptee and identical twin, Julie McGue will take you on her journey for identity and individuality, searching for answers through tragedy and adversity.

“A heartfelt exploration of connection, community, and the unbreakable bond between sisters . . . Her journey beautifully reminds us of the strength we find within ourselves as we seek to uncover where we truly belong.”— Simone Knego, author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You

In this coming-of-age memoir, set in Chicago’s western suburbs between the 1960s and ’80s, adopted twins Julie and Jenny provide their parents with an instant family. Their sisterly bond holds tight as the two strive for identity, individuality, and belonging. But as Julie’s parents continue adding children to the family, some painful and tragic experiences test family values, parental relationships, and sibling bonds.

Faced with these hurdles, Julie questions everything—who she is, how she fits in, her adoption circumstances, her faith, and her idea of family. But the life her parents have constructed is not one she wants for herself—and as she matures, she recognizes how the experiences that formed her have provided her a road map for the person and mother she wants to be.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    She Writes Press
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    February 4, 2025
  5. File size
    1.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

From the Publisher

From the award-winning author of Twice the daughter comes the memoir's much anticipated prequel
An inspiring read for anyone seeking to understand the power of family, the search for self, and th

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Through the lens of her personal history, McGue explores human nature, family, and connection . . .”—Kirkus Reviews

"Twice the Family is a memoir about faith, family, and doing right by others."—Foreword Reviews

“Explores the resilient bond between twins, the realities of adoption, and the peaks and heartbreaking valleys of an American family.”—Andrew Tallackson, Editor, The Beacher Weekly Newspaper

“Gripping, raw, and profound.”—Jennifer Dyan Ghoston, author of The Truth So Far

“A thoughtful, brave, and compassionate story . . . McGue rings resilience.”—Diane Wheaton, author of Finding Loretta

“A testament to how life hands us opportunities to heal even in the presence of gut-wrenching grief.”—Kim Fairley, author of Swimming for My Life and Shooting Out the Lights

“An inspiring read for anyone seeking to understand the power of family, the search for self, and the resilience of the human spirit.”—Diane O’Canto, media professional, podcast host, empowerment champion

“Intimate coming-of-age memoir about fragility and preciousness of life.”—Rikki West, author of Rootlines and The Empty Bowl

“The pursuit of adopted identity and belonging continues. Five Stars!”—Mary Ellen Gambutti, author of I Must Have Wandered

“A poignant view of a childhood mixed with love, laughter, sadness, life as an adoptee, and a peek into a life lived with an identical twin sister.”—Emma Stevens, author of The Gathering Place and A Fire Is Coming

"A beautifully poignant memoir, Twice the Family is a heartfelt journey of love, loss, and self-discovery, reminding us that true belonging is found in the love we embrace."—NewInBooks.com

About the Author

Julie Ryan McGue is an American writer, a domestic adoptee, and an identical twin. Her first memoir, Twice a Daughter released in May 2021, won multiple awards. She writes a weekly blog and monthly column (The Beacher Newspapers), in which she explores the topics of finding out who you are, where you belong and making sense of it. Julie splits her time between northwest Indiana and Sarasota, Florida. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D35S4B2K
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ She Writes Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 4, 2025
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1647427870
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 43 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Julie Ryan McGue

Julie Ryan McGue

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Julie Ryan McGue is an award-winning American writer. Her most recent novel, Belonging Matters, a collection that explores the pursuit of identity and the boundaries of family and kinship, is a Silver Winner in the Non Fiction Book Awards, an Honorable Mention in the Books Shelf Nonfiction Writing Contest, a Literary Titan Book Award Winner, a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and a Firebird Book Award Winner. Julie was born in Chicago, Illinois. She and her identical twin sister were adopted together. Julie's debut memoir, Twice a Daughter, is about the search for birth relatives. She writes about finding out who you are, where you belong, and making sense of it. Her weekly blogs focus on identity, family, and life's quirky moments. If she's not at her computer writing, she's out exploring with her camera, or on the tennis court. She is the mother of four adult children, a grandmother, and splits her time between NW Indiana and Sarasota.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
43 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the memoir engaging and well-written. They appreciate the emotional depth of the book, with one customer noting how it captures the nuances of belonging and another highlighting the unwavering bond between the sisters.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

5 customers mention "Emotional depth"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, with one review noting its timeless themes and another highlighting the unwavering bond between sisters Julie and Jenny.

"...What struck me most was the compassion woven into every chapter—for the adoptive parents who built a life of love, for the siblings who navigated..." Read more

"...The 60s–80s setting added nostalgic charm, but the emotional themes are timeless...." Read more

"...It’s not just a memoir—it’s a meditation on identity, love, and growing up." Read more

"...It was easy to emotionally follow Julie through her experiences which were filled with love, sorrow, lots of wins, along with significant losses." Read more

5 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story engaging and consider it a treasure.

"I found myself completely wrapped up in Julie’s story...." Read more

"Interesting book" Read more

"...I felt I was with Julie the entire time I was reading. Every page was more interesting and made me think so much about how she became who she is..." Read more

"Interesting and engaging story. I enjoyed reading, well-written." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"...Julie McGue pulled me into a world both intimate and expansive, written with a grace that mirrors the warmth of the adoptive home Julie and her twin..." Read more

"...Just. Fabulous. Her writing was perfection, actually put us there with her in every adventure." Read more

"Interesting and engaging story. I enjoyed reading, well-written." Read more

A Beautiful Story
5 out of 5 stars
A Beautiful Story
This book is a treasure. Written by award-winning author Julie McGue, it is an inspiring story of faith, loss, self-discovery, and belonging. It is a testament to how life hands us opportunities to heal, even in the presence of gut-wrenching grief.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Matt Dawson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written and deeply personal
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I’m always drawn to memoirs about identity and family, and this one did not disappoint. Julie captures the nuances of growing up adopted in a way that is deeply moving without ever being overly sentimental. I admired her courage to confront her doubts and disappointments while still honoring the love she had for her family. This book made me reflect on my own childhood and the people who shaped me. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after the last page.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Elmarie Arnold
    5.0 out of 5 stars More Than a Memoir—A Testament to the Ties That Bind
    Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    From the first page, Twice the Family by Julie McGue pulled me into a world both intimate and expansive, written with a grace that mirrors the warmth of the adoptive home Julie and her twin sister, Jenny, grew up in. The memoir exudes quiet strength, unfolding gently yet powerfully, capturing the nuances of belonging, identity, and the deep, often unspoken currents of adoption.

    What struck me most was the compassion woven into every chapter—for the adoptive parents who built a life of love, for the siblings who navigated their own roles within the family dynamic, and for the unspoken presence at the heart of it all: the twins’ birth mother, absent yet ever-present in the gaps between the lines. As an adoptee myself, though from South Africa and outside of the Roman Catholic faith that shaped Julie’s upbringing, I found myself utterly absorbed in the traditions, values, and expectations that framed her world.

    The memoir is propelled by unexpected twists and turns, yet through it all, one truth remains unshakable—the extraordinary, unwavering bond between Julie and Jenny. I couldn’t help but wonder, with a quiet shudder, what if? What if they had been separated? What if this story had not been Twice the Family, but Half the Family? That haunting thought alone speaks to the depth of this journey—one of love, loss, and the unbreakable thread that ties us to where we come from, and more importantly, to each other.

    This is more than a memoir. It is a testament. And it will stay with me for a long, long time.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Susan McCracken
    4.0 out of 5 stars I liked the book
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting book
    Helpful
     Report
  • Luella D. Emerson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A window into a complicated childhood
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What struck me most was the delicate balance Julie maintained between gratitude and frustration. She loved her family, yet she wasn’t afraid to confront the flaws in how they handled adoption and emotional connection. Her voice is strong and clear, especially when describing the tight bond with her twin sister. Anyone who’s ever questioned where they belong will relate. This book is a triumph of voice, reflection, and healing.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Solange Roe
    5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional and reflective read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I found myself completely wrapped up in Julie’s story. Her struggle to find her place within a large, evolving family is so relatable, even if you’re not adopted. There were moments I laughed and others I teared up. The 60s–80s setting added nostalgic charm, but the emotional themes are timeless. I loved how Julie came full circle in finding herself through both the joy and pain.
    Helpful
     Report
  • longboat yoga
    5.0 out of 5 stars Julie is unstoppable
    Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Julie is unstoppable-learning from life's obstacles; to follow her heart and soul to attain personal and professional goals. I relived so many adventures in my own life through Julie's story. Julie beautifully and vividly shared her relationships ( family, especially twin Jenny, sorority sisters, work, and later love with husband). It was easy to emotionally follow Julie through her experiences which were filled with love, sorrow, lots of wins, along with significant losses.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kimberly
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2025
    Very touching story. At times, was an emotional read watching the girls struggle.

    Julie and Jenny Ryan were identical twins, born in 1959, by a single mother who named them different names. But their birth mother relinquished them to the state of Illinois and a Catholic Charity set out to adopt them with another Catholic family in need of children. They grew up loved, and their parents kept adding children to their family. Whether by birth or adoption, sometimes making the girls question if they belonged or not.

    This book shows the events in the twins' lives and how they finally found their own identity, not the ones their parents expected they have.

    A beautiful story.

    *I received a complimentary copy of this ARC via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Roberta Straff
    5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing life😎
    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What an amazing book, story life. I felt I was with Julie the entire time I was reading. Every page was more interesting and made me think so much about how she became who she is today. Just. Fabulous. Her writing was perfection, actually put us there with her in every adventure.
    Helpful
     Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report