The Other Family: A slow-burn sapphic romance

The story of betrayal is not a new one. But the idea of the two women that share the betrayal coming together in a loving relationship - that is ... unexpected. Danika and Kim both loved Chris - they just had no idea they were both doing it at the same time. In fact, until Chris died, they were unaware of each others existence. Chris kept two separate lives, two separate families, both with a young daughter. When Erica and Kim become aware of each other, they're not sure what to do. But when their daughters meet and instantly become friends despite not knowing they are in fact sisters, the decision is made to try to establish some kind of relationship for the sake of the girls. The emotional journeys of all involved, from the grief of losing Chris, then the knowledge of betrayal, the girls immediate connection, the tentative friendship between Kim and Danika, and building upon that to ultimately a loving relationship is beautiful and relatable. Cheyenne builds wonderfully complex and very human, realistic characters. You feel it all, the love, the loss, the anger, the joy, and everything in between. All in all, this story is a Very Compelling Read that I highly recommend.

Such an original premise and a sweet emotional ride. All of the characters are well-developed and show realistic emotions and growth throughout the story. I was happy that I found out that the author includes a link to a free short story at the end of the book before I actuallt finished it. I highly recommend reading the free short story linked at the end of the book before you read the epilogue (as that keeps the timeline consistent and may have made me tear up before I read the epilogue).

Danika Evershed opens her door to a stranger, and her world falls apart. For the past year, she has been struggling to accept the sudden death of her husband Chris. Her responsibilities to her eight year old daughter Camille keep her grounded, just barely, but grief and insomnia have taken a heavy toll. Then a woman close to her own age appears, claiming that Chris had been her partner for the past nine years, including fathering a daughter a few months older than Cami. Danika doesn’t want to believe Kim Varga’s story. She can scarcely imagine that her beloved husband would have orchestrated such a massive betrayal. The evidence is overwhelming, though. For nine years Chris led a double life, spending two weeks each month with each woman and child. How can the two widows possibly adjust to such an impossible scenario? Each would like to pretend the other does not exist, but that’s not really an option, especially as Cami and Bella bond and it becomes abundantly clear that they truly are sisters. Cautiously Kim and Danika move from co-existence to friendship and then beyond, as they begin to recognize their mutual attraction. The premise for The Other Family is perhaps far-fetched, but once the reader accepts the literal duplicity of Chris Evershed, the rest of the book feels inevitable. As usual, Cheyenne Blue portrays the gradual development of Danika’s and Kim’s relationship with delicacy and insight. The sub-title, “A slow burn Sapphic romance”, is extremely apt. I…