Zoe Baxter has spent ten years trying to get pregnant, and after multiple miscarriages and infertility issues, it looks like her dream is about to come true – she is seven months pregnant. But a terrible turn of events leads to a nightmare – one that takes away the baby she has already fallen for; and breaks apart her marriage to Max. In the aftermath, she throws herself into her career as a music therapist – using music clinically to soothe burn victims in a hospital; to help Alzheimer’s patients connect with the present; to provide solace for hospice patients. When Vanessa – a guidance counselor — asks her to work with a suicidal teen, their relationship moves from business to friendship and then, to Zoe’s surprise, blossoms into love. When Zoe allows herself to start thinking of having a family, again, she remembers that there are still frozen embryos that were never used by herself and Max.

Meanwhile, Max has found peace at the bottom of a bottle – until he is redeemed by an evangelical church, whose charismatic pastor – Clive Lincoln – has vowed to fight the “homosexual agenda” that has threatened traditional family values in America. But this mission becomes personal for Max, when Zoe and her same-sex partner say they want permission to raise his unborn child.

For the longest time possible Zoe has wanted to be a mother. Which is why when after numerous attempts and medical help has failed she’s at a complete loss, and so is her husband Max. After the third, most devastating time leaves her at rock bottom with only one more opportunity she’s even more surprised to hear that her husband throughout all of it wants a divorce. It’s only after grieving the loss of everything she held dear that Zoe finds love again, in the form of a woman this time, Vanessa. Max, having also reached a low point, finally makes a significant change and joins his brother’s church. When he discovers that his ex-wife, Zoe, and her new wife, Vanessa, would like to raise is unborn child he’s faced with a dilemma he never thought he’d encounter. What begins as a private matter between a few persons quickly turns into a media circus, one that could change the course of life for everyone involved.

This is most definitely the most difficult review for a book I’ve ever had to write. Most of you who’ve read my reviews in the past know (or I hope you know) that I try to be very fair, but honest in my write ups about a book. Well, as you can tell from the synopsis of the book, this isn’t a light subject. Picoult definitely has a knack for picking topics that are controversial and trying to bring them to light through her storytelling. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think she’s an excellent storyteller and her novels have done quite well. Not only that, but she frequently weaves stories that are entirely compelling based on the characters alone. Sing You Home was no different in that case, but what was unappealing to me was the way in which the subject matter was approached.

So, first of all, what did I enjoy? Because there was obviously something about the story I loved in order to read through the 480 page novel in a matter of two days. I loved the characters, even Max. The way in which she wrote about each, from Zoe’s experiences with infertility to Vanessa’s struggles growing up, made you fall so completely into the story that I couldn’t help thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading it. Being someone who has suffered from infertility problems myself (in fact, I have the very problem Zoe has in the book), it was beautiful to see how she illustrated Zoe’s feelings for her unborn children and her desires to have children period. She did an excellent job. Also, the relationship between Zoe and Vanessa was incredibly well done. I realize that everyone reading the story may have different views on same-sex relationships, but the way in which Picoult wrote Zoe and Vanessa’s relationship was extremely tasteful. The entire progression of each of the characters journey’s was extremely enjoyable on a whole.

Now, for the things I wasn’t entirely comfortable with…I’m not going to get into political or religious differences, because that’s just not who I am. I’m not an arguer. I have my own personal beliefs on the topic of same-sex relationships, but that’s not what I feel this review should be about. It’s about the book and whether it was written well in my opinion. For me, I felt like it was all a bit much. I felt like this a bit with House Rules as well, like there was so much going on and it had to get all crammed in and then suddenly…there’s the end! One big shocking discovery and it’s all over, happy ending for whoever Picoult thought it could happen for.

What was difficult about Sing You Home was that you had two completely different stories going on, one from Max’s point of view and one from Zoe’s. One was now a converted Evangelical Christian and the other was now in a same-sex relationship for the first time. No matter how much I tried to distance myself from feeling like Picoult had an agenda in writing this book, I kept being told differently with constant images of ultra-conservative “crazy-brain-washed” Christians to completely well adjusted same-sex couples who would never hurt a fly. I couldn’t help but feel like the story was more about her proving a point than just telling a story, especially throughout the middle of the book. Having said this, I should add, I don’t disagree with the outcome of the “pre-born children”, but the route the story went was more swayed than I would have liked possibly because there was just too much to tell.

On a whole I feel like Jodi Picoult is an excellent writer, I be completely ludicrous to suggest otherwise. Her books are thought provoking and more often than not strike at the heart of many of today’s most difficult topics. Sing You Home is no exception. Same-sex marriage is a topic of constant discussion around the globe, as is the right of same-sex couples to adopt and/or have children of their own. Through Zoe and Max, Picoult brings this difficult topic to light with their story of infertility, love lost and then found, and finally the struggle to do what is right for those you love. A beautiful story about characters that make you think, but perhaps not the best backdrop. Sing You Home will no doubt be loved by Picoult fans everywhere, but I for one was left a bit wanting.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Atria, for providing an eGalley for review!

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