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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, Forbidden Love by Sophia Greenwood takes raw and essential look at the misunderstood phenomenon of Genetic Sexual Attraction, challenging our understanding of identity, trauma, and the complex emotional fallout of adult reunions in the adoption community.
When a child is adopted, the search for birth parents is often driven by a desire for closure, identity, and an understanding of the past. However, for some, the journey of reconnection leads to unexpected and profound psychological challenges. A new memoir by Sophia Greenwood, co-written with Helen Croydon, offers a courageous and unflinching look at one of the most misunderstood phenomena in the adoption community: Genetic Sexual Attraction (GSA).


The Unexpected Path to Reunion
For many, reuniting with birth parents is viewed as the final chapter in the adoption narrative—a way to fill a missing void. When the author, writing under a pseudonym, began her search for her biological roots, her intentions were centered on uncovering her history and the circumstances of her early life. She sought answers about her origins, hoping to understand why she was placed for adoption in the 1960s.
However, the reality of this reunion proved far more complex than she anticipated. Instead of simply finding a biological link, she experienced an overwhelming emotional shift. The connection she formed with her birth father transcended typical parental reunion, evolving into intense romantic feelings shared by both parties.
Unpacking Genetic Sexual Attraction (GSA)
While the public may react to such stories with shock or judgment, GSA is a documented psychological experience within the adoption and reunion community. It is a phenomenon where individuals who are reunited as adults experience a powerful, often magnetic, sense of connection that they interpret as romantic or sexual.
Despite its existence, GSA remains largely absent from mainstream discourse. When it does surface, it is frequently met with misunderstanding. This memoir aims to dismantle those misconceptions by framing the experience not as a scandal, but as a complex psychological response to the trauma of early separation and the intense desire for belonging.
Love, Loss, and the Trauma of Separation
Set across the UK and Australia, the book serves as more than just a personal account; it is a deep dive into the broader impacts of forced adoptions. The narrative explores how the severance of the initial mother-infant bond can create long-term psychological consequences that manifest decades later.
By detailing the internal struggle between deep-seated feelings of guilt and the intense, unconditional love experienced during the reunion, the author highlights the profound complexities that can arise when long-separated biological family members finally meet.
Why This Story Matters
The memoir acts as a necessary contribution to the discourse on adoption. It challenges the simplified notion that adoption is merely the exchange of one family structure for another. Instead, it invites readers to consider:
- The Lifelong Impact of Separation: How the broken mother-baby bond shapes an individual’s adult capacity for attachment.
- The Complexity of Reconnection: The reality that meeting birth parents can trigger unanticipated emotional, psychological, and relational hurdles.
- The Need for Better Support: The importance of integrating these experiences into formal post-adoption literature and support services to better assist those navigating the often turbulent process of reunion.
By sharing such a vulnerable and honest account, the author highlights the urgent need for greater awareness, empathy, and resources for those navigating the aftermath of adoption. It is a powerful reminder that the story of adoption does not end when a child grows up, but continues in the ongoing, often difficult, quest for connection and self-discovery.
Find more now:
Insta: sophiagreenwood_author
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3QYqYf7
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4w0uSDh
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