A House for Happy Mothers    by Amulya Malladi Order:  USA  Can Lake Union, 2016 (2016) Softcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Barbara Lingens Two married couples, one in India and one in the United States - the U.S. couple wants a baby but cannot have one, and the Indian couple needs to augment their income. The House for Happy Mothers is where they come together. Pirya and Madhu live in Silicon Valley, and their friends have mixed reactions to their decision to use a surrogate mother. In India, Asha and Patrap already have two children, one of whom is gifted, bored and acting out in school, and they do not have enough money to send him to a more appropriate one. Asha's sister-in-law has been a surrogate mother, and she tells her about the House. We see how the couples meet and interact with each other. And how hard it is for all. We also learn about Indian marriage customs, and how mixed marriages can make things difficult for those used to old-fashioned ways. These are large, extended families, and we meet many interesting people and learn about their hopes and dreams. This story has several important themes: surrogacy and what it means to both the giving and receiving mother; trust within and outside immediate family; and the role of money and power in our lives. It is briefly told, a little too brief for me. The last two paragraphs, meant to summarize, really showed that there was much more to be explored. Nevertheless, the story is well worth your time. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews