What Is The Plot Summary Of 'He Gets That From Me'?

I’ve heard a lot about Jacqueline Friedland’s novel ‘He Gets That From Me’ and its twist on modern families. Trying to avoid spoilers for this emotional story while figuring out if it’s for me.
2025-11-12 22:04:30
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7 Answers

Best Answer
GemmaSnow
GemmaSnow
Bookworm Cashier
'He Gets That From Me' is about a married gay couple whose family life is shaken when their son's anonymous egg donor reappears, creating a complicated custody and identity conflict. For a story with a similar core of unexpected family ties, 'I'll Take Him' also deals with the consequences of a major relationship secret. It follows a man who ends up pretending to be his friend's fiancé for a family gathering, a lie that spirals into a much deeper connection as he bonds with his 'in-laws'. The humor and awkward tension come from the protagonist getting way too invested in the fictional life he's created.
2026-08-04 06:11:43
18
Cecelia
Cecelia
Longtime Reader Mechanic
I just finished reading 'He Gets That From Me' a little while ago, and it left such a strong impression on me. The story revolves around a blended family formed through surrogacy, Focusing on the emotional and legal complexities that arise when the biological father, Donovan, seeks custody of the child he fathered for a same-sex couple, Chip and Zac. The novel does a fantastic job of exploring themes of parenthood, identity, and what truly makes a family. It’s one of those books that makes you think long after you’ve turned the last page.

What really struck me was how the author, Jacqueline Friedland, handled the moral gray areas. Donovan initially agreed to be a sperm donor but later changes his mind, leading to a custody battle that forces everyone to question their definitions of love and responsibility. The emotional tension is palpable, especially through the perspectives of the surrogate mother, Maggie, and the couple who raised the child. The way Friedland weaves their voices together creates this raw, layered narrative that feels incredibly real. I found myself torn between sympathizing with Donovan’s sudden paternal instincts and rooting for Chip and Zac, who’ve been the child’s loving parents all along. It’s messy, heartbreaking, and so damn human—definitely a book that lingers.
2025-11-13 23:34:02
9
VioletRay
VioletRay
Honest Reviewer Firefighter
I'd be curious to see an adaptation. It's a very internal book, so it would need a director and actors who can convey volumes through subtle expressions. A film or limited series could use visual language—framing, lighting, composition—to show the distance growing between characters in the same room. Think of the dinner table scenes, where the space between them feels like a canyon. The plot is cinematic in its emotional beats, even if it's light on traditional action. The right team could turn it into a devastating and beautiful character study on screen. The dialogue is already so sharp; it would translate well.
2026-07-31 06:46:31
8
PeytonKit
PeytonKit
Library Roamer Translator
I recommended this to my sister, and her main complaint was the pacing. She said 'nothing happens' for long stretches. I get that perspective if you're expecting a thriller. But if you view the 'plot' as the internal emotional journey of the characters, then everything is happening. A single sentence from the dad about feeling like a 'guest in his own life' carries more narrative weight than a dozen chase scenes. The plot is the erosion and subsequent rebuilding of identity. Chapter by chapter, you watch the dad's confident, paternal identity crumble, and you see the tentative, painful steps he takes to build a new one—not as a biological father, but as a father by choice, by action, by love. That's a huge, monumental plot; it's just not told with explosions.
2026-07-31 14:41:32
3
HankDixon
HankDixon
Novel Fan Driver
Is it a sad book? Yes, but not hopeless. The plot walks a tightrope between despair and redemption. There are moments of profound sadness—Mike sitting alone in his son's empty bedroom, Diane driving aimlessly just to avoid going home. But there are also piercing moments of light: a shared, weary laugh over a burnt dinner, an old home video that reminds them of their joy, however constructed it was. The plot doesn't dismiss the pain; it sits with it. But it also allows for the possibility that joy and pain can coexist, that a relationship can be both deeply wounded and still worth fighting for. The overall feeling by the end isn't happiness, but a hard-earned peace.
2026-08-01 22:33:04
9
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