It's a family novel because it focuses on the family units and their individual members. The characters' lives are intertwined with their family relations. Anna's family situation drives much of the plot. Her unhappy marriage to Karenin and her affair with Vronsky are not just about love but also about how these relationships affect her family, her son in particular. The novel also shows how families are influenced by the society they live in. Family, in this novel, is a microcosm of the larger society with all its rules, values, and prejudices.
Well, Anna Karenina is a family novel in that it portrays different family structures and how they function. For instance, Levin's family is presented as more traditional and in tune with the rural values. The novel explores how family members interact, love, and sometimes clash. Anna's actions have a huge impact on her family as she steps out of the traditional family boundaries set by society. It's all about family in the context of a large social framework where family reputation and the well - being of its members are at stake.