This book just wasn't for me. I got through the first half or so and couldn't finish. I found Saltman to be very whiney and self-important.

This book appealed to me deeply as a mother who practices attachment parenting with my two children, so I was already on board with the work this author explores in her attempt to build an attachment to her own new baby. I wasn't expecting this book to be such an emotional journey. The author speaks passionately about herself and her research, making this anything but a dry review of research. There were a few parts that dragged a little, which could have been smoothed out by more editing, but I would still highly recommend this book to any new mother or anyone who is curious about their own difficulties forming attachments to others as adults.

Here is my disclaimer: I am not trained in psychology in any way. My review would possibly have been different if I was. I am just a layman, a daughter and mother who is interested in psychology from the viewpoint of a science teacher. Perhaps I was misled by the description of this book. I was expecting factual information interwoven with anecdotes and applications of the theories. Unfortunately, in an attempt to appeal to both scholarly pursuit and layman interest, the book became almost impossible to follow. I did NOT find it lyrical. Saltzman is so enamored with Mary Ainsworth and her research that she has to remind us, every few pages, with a reference to something Mary said or did or documented. Perhaps her own self-doubts about her attachment issues made her susceptible to the hero-worship she projects on the book, but it keeps the book from coherence to the casual reader. It is too repetitive and disjointed, and I finally gave up and skimmed the last few chapters. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but if you are interested in attachment theory you may find it illuminating.

A moving read a book that parents should bread.A book mothers will identify and learn from.A story that will keep you turning the pages .#netgalley#strange situation,

This is a beautiful book for mothers. I think every parent can glean something from this book not just mothers though. It is a wonderful read and I would reccomend it.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Strange Situation was a fascinating and intensely personal read for me because of own family history. As a mother now myself, I have grappled with the feelings of loneliness and isolation I had as a child with how I can best parent my own children.

It is something I constantly work on both personally and in therapy and finding a book that really speaks to this issue made me feel less alone and also hopeful because of these studies. Understanding our history and how they affect our relationships moving forward is so important and I got so much out of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for granting my wish for this ARC. All opinions are my own.