Baby Proof

by Emily Giffin

From the author of the smash hits Something Borrowed and Something Blue comes a novel that explores the question: is there ever a deal-breaker when it comes to true love?

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes . . . a baby carriage? Isn't that what all women want?

Not so for Claudia Parr. And just as she gives up on finding a man who feels the same way, she meets warm, wonderful Ben. Things seem too good to be true when they fall in love and agree to buck tradition with a satisfying, child-free marriage. Then the unexpected occurs: one of them has a change of heart. One of them wants children after all.

This is the witty, heartfelt story about what happens to the perfect couple when they suddenly want different things. It's about feeling that your life is set and then realizing that nothing is as you thought it was—and that there is no possible compromise. It's about deciding what is most important in life, and taking chances to get it. But most of all, it's about the things we will do—and won't do—for love.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Adult Fiction, Beach Reads

340 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

EMILY GIFFIN is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You're With, Heart of the Matter, Where We Belong, The One & Only, First Comes Love, All We Ever Wanted, The Lies That Bind, and the recently released Meant to Be, she currently lives in Atlanta with her family.

Website: www.emilygiffin.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EmilyGiffinFans

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilygiffin

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/emilygiffina...

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved Giffin's first two books, Something Borrowed and Something Blue, so I had high hopes for this book. Instead I was left with a resentful disappointment.

Firstly, why is it that novels set in NYC have to be gushing odes to the city? This book name drops worse than a D-lister trying to get into a hot Hollywood club. Restaurants, street names, the Brooklyn Bridge - there's even a paragraph devoted to the skyline post-9/11. WE GET IT. THE BOOK IS SET IN NEW YORK.

The plot is ludicrous, formulaic, and trite. Woman decides she never wants children, meets man with same view, marries said man, said man changes his mind. After a brief argument, she packs up, moves out, and files for divorce. Literally overnight.

Claudia, the protagonist, is annoying, to say the least. Self-centered, whiny, and narcissistic. Her two sisters are cardboard stereotypes - Daphne married her high school sweetheart, teaches grade school, and is desperate yet unable to conceive. Maura married the good-looking slick talker and lives in a mansion, drives a luxury SUV, has catered birthday parties for her children, and turns a blind eye to her philandering scumbag of a husband.

Don't even get me started on the mother. I wanted to shoot her in the face.

In sum, if you like Giffin's earlier stuff, skip this one.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book.

I had picked this up as the third novel by Ms. Giffin, having already read her first two ( Something Borrowed, Something Blue). All the characters in her books seem to be somewhat interrelated, and the back cover looked interesting, especially since I, like the heroine, am a thirty-something woman exceedingly tired of being asked when I will have children. Like Katherine Hepburn, I suspect I am just far too selfish to make a decent mother, and I think it should reflect WELL on me that I know this and don't have kids, not POORLY on me that I am actualized enough to realise this before they were born.

I was very happy with the beginning of the book. Boy and Girl Meet, Boy and Girl Don't Want Kids, Boy and Girl Get Married, Have Lovely No Kid Life. I was thrilled to finally have a literary heroine. But then, for me, the book took a disappointing turn.

*Spoiler Alert*

I realise in real life that many times people make the decision that the love of their life is more important, or that some women do decide later that they want children. But for those of us who purchased the book thrilled that a woman was finally taking a stand and saying "I don't want kids and I refuse to make excuses or be embarrassed by it", it was a great disappointment at the end of the book that she took her husband back and seemed to be waffling on the baby issue. There are some things I don't think one SHOULD compromise on, and for once I would really like to have seen the heroine take the hardline stance, whether she got the husband back or not.

Since one of the fundamental reasons I purchased the book was defeated through an overly cautious plot choice by the author, I need to knock stars off (you can't do half stars, this would be 3.5). However, the writing is up to Giffin's normal standards, and it's a fast, easy, engaging read.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. It's very rare that I get this pissed off by a book, especially such random chick lit. This review contains spoilers, so don't read anymore if you ever plan to read this book.



Ok, here goes:
The story was about a NYC couple, Ben & Claudia, that are madly in love. They both agreed before marriage that they never want kids, but after a close friend had a baby, Ben changes his mind. It's out of the question for Claudia, and since neither will compromise, they promptly divorce. (and this was the fastest divorce I ever heard of, fictional and all!) No counseling, no conversations, nothing - just divorce.
Claudia then starts dating this hot guy from work and after he takes her to Lake Como and gives her this wonderful cocktail ring, she decides that she doesn't want to be with him. (WTH?!!! The only way I wouldn't want to be with him after this would be if I met George Clooney at Lake Como!) Nope, she decides that she wants Ben back and will do anything, even have a baby, to get him back. This is where I really got pissed off at the author - I'm all for twists in a book, but really?! You portray this strong, successful woman that wouldn't back down on her stand and now she leaves a good relationship and will sacrifice everything she believes in for her ex? Why didn't they explore counseling instead of just getting a divorce? Why couldn't she have watched her sister's kids and had a change of heart? Or make her fall in love with the new man, to only find out he has a child, then what would she do? I'm no author, but I definitely could have thought of a better twist or plotline. I felt conned. But not as conned as this future fictional baby would - "mommy never wanted you, she just wanted daddy."
The other plotlines in the story were also ridiculous. Her best friend always dates bad guys and right now she's with a married man. To keep him, she tricks him into a pregnancy. Now this friend is also friends with Claudia's sisters - one that's desperate to have a baby, the other has been cheated on multiple times by her husband. Why would these 2 sisters even be friends with her, it's like she's rubbing it in their faces?! She ends up miscarrying and then dumped by the married guy, but no worries, as she ends up in a serious relationship about 2 minutes later.
The sister that wants babies asks Claudia for eggs and the plot goes like this: let me think about it, maybe, no because I'm saving all my eggs for when I get Ben back! But that's ok too, because she meets a very pregnant teenager at the shoe store around Thanksgiving and adopts her baby right in time for Christmas! And both birth parents are tall, so the baby won't be short like his adopted dad!
Ben refuses to cooperate with Claudia when she doesn't want kids, but takes her back no matter if they have kids or not. Ummm, so you divorced over this but now it's all okay? Good grief, I hope they never have babies because they might change their mind and not want it, give it away, and then ask for it back again.
Claudia also bad mouthed the cheating brother-in-law, but when her sister temporarily forgives him, all is okay with him, he's not that bad.
The author had some witty lines and would probably be okay if this was a short story. I think she wanted to please all the readers and not try to stir up controversy, but she managed to annoy me to no end.
Jodi Piccoult could take a very controversal issue and still give a satisfying ending without pissing off a lot of people, I wish this author can learn something from her. I picked this up at a yard sale (thank God I didn't pay a lot for this or I'd be really annoyed!) along with her other books - they're all going directly into my yard sale pile, I'm not wasting my time again.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Giffin has the literary capacity to create the most aggravating, unlikable characters in all of chick-lit that I positively can't stand and yet somehow by the end of the novel I am empathising with and rooting for every single one. She gets me every time and quite frankly I'm sick of your shit, Giffin!

I'm going to come right out and say it: people who say they don't want children astound me. It's fine! I respect it! It just really surprises me. So I struggled to grasp the concept of this book for a long time: a 35 year-old woman abandons her incredibly happy marriage because she simply refuses to have the child her husband desperately wants. She didn't want to discuss adoption either. It just seemed really extreme to me. The couple in this book are financially sound, in their thirties, with stable careers, a good home, and in a happy, loving marriage... in a way Claudia's decision almost seemed immature.

Anyway, I got on board. She got a divorce, she ploughed ahead as a baby-hating, workaholic singleton, and I was with her the whole way, until suddenly it became very clear to me how the book was going to end - she was going to give in and have a baby after all. And then I was pissed. Okay? I was really irritated. I'd had to put up with all her whiny shit and her outrageous decision to divorce her wonderful husband, and now she was going back on everything. After all that I'd been through!

In the end I remembered this was chick-lit. And that it was a bloody good ride. And I hate Emily for making me love this kind a crap. But I love it, I do.

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

-Adult
-Chick-Lit, Fiction, Romance
-A married woman had agreed with her husband that they would be a marriage with no children. But oh, guess what, now HE wants kids so bad that it’s either that or nothing, so she decides to divorce him. However, she then begins to question herself, as if she could do that type of sacrifice because she misses him. That, and some different types of motherhood perspectives.
-It’s quite easy to read and so far, my favorite book from this author which already means a lot. It’s not super wow, but the drama was quite good.
-I saw that not many people were fan of the protagonist but I kinda was. She defends her ideals and doesn’t let anyone make her feel guilty or like the bad guy over anything. Why would she have to feel bad for simply not wanting kids? Lmao. I do recognize that she has a few flaws tho… she ain’t perfect either.
-The rest of the characters are good too ;) they add drama… doesn’t mean they’re the best tho
-There’s romance but like… there’s no interaction within it through the book? It depends on how you see it
-Stand-Alone
-Nobody respected the main character’s decisions but ok
-Warning on a somehow type of love triangle….? Hell, I didn’t even know what it was
-“You can't quantify love, and if you try, you can end up focusing on misleading factors. Stuff that really has more to do with personality-the fact that some people are simply more expressive or emotional or needy in a relationship. But beyond such smokescreens, the answer is there. Love is seldom-almost never-an even proposition.” ✨
-Plot: 4/5
-Characters: 3/5

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There are no absolutes in relationships. You can't take anything for granted. You can count on absolutely nothing but the unexpected. You only get in trouble when you start thinking that you're some kind of exception to the rule.”
― Emily Giffin, Baby Proof



I chose this because the premise seemed interesting. I too chose not to have children as did many of my friends. So I wanted to read this and I had already read the "Something Borrowed" series.

While not quite up to that level, I did enjoy this book about choices and the ramifications of the ones we make. I thought the book was quite realistic.

As a woman myself, I cannot even say how many times that same question has been asked.."don't you want kids" and it has been asked to many of my friends who are childless too. It does get annoying and I could relate to the heroine.

I also was reading this while in the waiting room at a doctor's office. The receptionist saw what I was reading, (I'd just started) and said to me, "you are going to love this book"! We then talked about the book a bit. She was a major fan. That was pretty cool.

SPOILERS:

I did not have any issues with the ending at all. The book went pretty much like I'd have predicted and it moved at a brisk fresh pace. Baby Proof was a pretty good read anmd an interesting one at that. Highly recommended.

[Carrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book annoyed me. I couldn't figure out why at first, and then I realized it - I don't agree with the author's message. The protagonist spends the whole book trying to get over her ex-husband who left her because she didn't want children. In the end, they reconcile because while she still doesn't want children, she'd consider having them to be with her soulmate.

I think that is a selfish notion - yes, it seems unselfish to procreate because you love your husband so much and that is what he wants. And to me that works for everything ("I'll convert for you", "I'll live in Des Moines for you") EXCEPT children. Because a child should be wanted and loved by both parents for the family unit to work.

Enough ranting - go read Something Borrowed instead.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet another Emily Giffin novel, and I think it was okay for the most part. The thing I HATE about Giffin as a writer is she makes a really interesting, difficult scenario that makes you sympathize with her characters, and then she can't think of how to solve the moral dilemma, so near the end of her books she pulls something COMPLETELY horrible, whether it's a cliché plot development or a seriously erroneous logical argument for making her characters change motives (an anti-feminist/anti-individualist argument in this case). The fact that one of her (good) characters references Romeo and Juliet as an example of true love is truly sickening, and yet this is the turning-point argument that makes one of her main characters change their mind on a crucial issue. Ugh. Other than that, which for a while seriously made me want to just stop reading since I could see where the story was about to go, the rest of the book is decent for its genre.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the WORST books I have ever read. Please do not torture yourself.

[Cherie · Rating 1 out of 5]

D This book reminded me of why I don't like chick lit -- unrealistic expensive Manhattan lifestyles obsession with finding love partner. Anyway, this seemed more promising -- a woman finds a man who also doesn't want kids (yay! Perfect for me--like T!) and then he changes his mind, and the whole drama. An ending to gag over.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you picked this up because you loved Something Borrowed/Something Blue, don’t bother. This may as well have been written by a completely different author...and a far less talented one. This was paint by the numbers, with dated/occasionally borderline offensive ideas and main characters who don’t seem to care as much as they claim they do. The main conflict isn’t really resolved- and it felt like a cowardly choice to keep every possible reader somewhat happy. The only vaguely compelling character was one of the sisters, and of course, she’s made fun of and made to seem lesser than because that’s how these books work. There is no complicated story here to work out where everyone is at fault a little. I don’t want the HEA for the people the book wants it for- in fact I don’t think it is an HEA. I can’t even get started on all the reasons why- but the author’s seeming sympathy to the “but if you love a man enough, you’ll have kids for him!!” argument- regardless of how the end turned out- was pretty much a see-red dealbreaker for me.

So yeah....Reverse course to her first two and call it a day.

[Tamara Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually, I tend to shy away from books in the chick lit genre. When I saw "Baby Proof" on the shelf, I was instantly drawn to this book for some reason. After reading the book jacket, I knew this was definitely going to be an interesting read to say the least.
Claudia and Ben are the perfect couple...at least to everyone around them anyway. Claudia is a successful book editor and Ben is a successful architect who are both enjoying their married childfree life. Although they both agreed in the dating stage that neither wants to have children, the issue come back up when the find out that their mutual friends are going to have a baby. Claudia sticks to her guns about not wanting children but Ben is now not so sure and decides he may want kids after all. Claudia forces Ben to make a choice in the matter; either be happy and childfree with her or be single and have a child with someone else. Once they realize that neither one is willing to compromise, they get a divorce.
During their separation and divorce, Claudia does a lot a soul searching to figure out why she doesn't want kids. She likes kids (loves her niece and nephews) yet she doesn't view herself as the motherly type. I completely share the same opinion as Claudia when it comes to kids. I like kids but can I see myself as mother? Not so much.Fortunately, she has a great support system to help her figure out her feelings on both side of the issue which include her friend Jess as well as her sisters Daphne and Maura.
Also during Claudia and Ben's time apart, she begins to question whether or not he really was her soulmate. After all, if he was her soulmate, wouldn't her want the same things she wants in life? Should she be willing to compromise what she wants for the man she loves? Are children the ultimate deal breaker in marriage?These are just some of the questions that are tackled in this book.
While I was planning on just skimming through this book, I could not put it down. It was very well written and the characters were extremely thought out. The dialogue was realistic as well as the situations that occurred within the book. I really enjoyed this book and am happy with the way the book ended. Having read this book, I think I might give Chick Lit or at least other books written by Emily Giffin, another try.

[Aleah · Rating 1 out of 5]

As I've read and enjoyed each of Emily Giffin's other books, I fully expected to enjoy this book. It was definitely not the case. Most of Giffin's characters are smart, educated, professional women; they are also strong - in that they don't necessarily fall full-force into a stereotypical "I'll compromise my goals and ideals in order to keep a man." In fact, even though her protagonist in "Heart of the Matter" decides to take her cheating husband back, Giffin still manages to paint the wronged wife as one who is preserving her marriage on her terms, with none of the Elizabeth Edwards-style "stand by her man" bull.

Unfortunately Claudia is no such woman. She starts off well, in that she makes no apologies for not wanting children, has very good reasons for doing so, and leaves her husband when he decides that he just can't live without procreating. However, midway through the novel Claudia abruptly can't stand her new boyfriend (even though he was amazing until he gives her a perfectly lovely birthday gift - makes sense, right?), starts reflecting on her ex husband (who comes across as a short, whiny little man who pouts when he doesn't get his way; the christening scene literally made me wrinkle my nose in disgust at him), and after realizing that one of her novelists (a man, no less) is "telling me to have a baby to get Ben back" - admits that it's "just about the worst advice I've ever heard" (maybe because it flies in the face of what any self-respecting woman in this century would do) - decides to throw what she wants aside and consider having a baby just to get her ex back.

I seriously felt like I just walked in on a husband smacking his wife around, with her insisting "But this is proof that he loves me! He wouldn't do it if he didn't care!"

I won't be finishing the book (a glance at the end told me she was back with Ben and breathily contemplating motherhood). I also won't be purchasing another novel of Emily Giffin's.

[Danielle (Danniegurl) · Rating 2 out of 5]

RTC check out latest update for end of book feelings. I think I'm going to eviscerate this book.



Warning, I'm probably going to tear this book up. I dunno. It's not that I didn't like it, exactly. It's that I didn't like Claudia and as a main character she was very unlikable. So I might rant. A lot.

Let me get out my notes that I wrote right after I finished this book.



Alright here we go. I'm sorry but I have to say it. This author can't write. At least not in a way I appreciate. The way the book is written is very matter-of-fact and very it's already happened. We aren't living it with the h. I hate when authors do this and I prefer to live the emotions with the narrator when they are happening. And especially when they are in first person POV? Come on, we don't need a retelling.

Here is an example of telling:
He was super hot.
Showing:
He has a wide square jaw, a hint of stubble on his face, and a smoldering smirk that really caught my eye.

The way this author worded things, it just wasn't enough to capture the moment, I didn't feel emotionally invested or connected to Claudia. I kept expecting the book to change gears. I honestly thought that Claudia was giving us a recap of how she got to a specific point in the book, but unfortunately that's not what happened. I expected Claudia to give that recap and then us to start living with her. Not learning almost second hand about her thoughts.

The whole book is basically a monologue of her life. Very few interactions with dialogue. I long for dialogue and while there is some, most of the events get glossed over toward the end of the event. We get a glimpse and move forward.

Aside from my overall annoyance at the writing style of the book, I also did not like Claudia. I don't feel like she has any redeeming qualities. She's book smart, and she's in publishing, but she isn't the nicest person in her head at all. I mean I know most of us have weird thoughts (no? just me? lol) but I felt like Claudia almost thought she was better than a lot of people. Claudia has so many notions on things it's nuts. Little things where she assumes things without being a 35 year old adult and talking and communicating with people. She takes things at face value and then infers it into her mind something completely different that might or might not have actually happened.

Claudia is married to Ben. All throughout her life Claudia has not wanted any children. It became a contentious point with her previous boyfriends, even starting as far back as High School. For real though, why would you talk babies in high school? Anyways she thought she and Ben were ok and a united front on that issue. They were living the dream, and Claudia was happy. Then Ben's friend had a baby and he started to press the issue. So much so that Claudia decides to go spend the night with her friend, but Ben doesn't call. And neither does she. Her family start saying do you really not want to have kids? Her family is constantly on her back for not wanting to have kids, and it kind of drove me nuts. Just leave her the fuck alone! She does not need to have a child if she doesn't want to. Ben and Claudia divorce.

Claudia starts dating a dude from work and they go on an awesome trip to some place she and Ben were supposed to go for their 5th anniversary. Richard, gives her a ring and instead of thinking it's nice and the coolest thing that someone could get her. She feels lost, and apparently somehow still in love with Ben. WHAT?



Yep. A friend of hers casually says something profound that makes Claudia think she will have Ben's baby if that's what it takes.



Seriously. No, I'm not kidding. Nope. Still not kidding. This entire book revolves around Claudia NOT WANTING KIDS and she's going to go back to Ben? What an utter waste of time. Seriously. I thought she was either A. going to get pregnant by boyfriend or B. Get married to a boyfriend and find out with the right person she'd have a kid. Something like that. I never expected Ben and Claudia to get back together.

Oh and the greatest thing is that there is a Reading Group Guide. And I'm going to answer all the questions. :D So here we go for that.

Do you think there is a stigma against women who do not become mothers? If so, how much more damning is it for a woman who chooses not to have children rather than one who is simply unable? Do you think women who don't want children are judged more harshly than men who don't?

Boy that is a giant question. I do not think there is a stigma against women who do not want to become mothers. At least not by what I have seen in my personal life around me. I think that there was at one point a stigma, but I don't think it is big of a deal now, today as it once was. Um? Damning? To whom? It's her choice to not have children that includes any type of child. A person who is unable to have their own biological child still has options and choices available to them. I do think women who don't want children are judged more harshly than men who don't because we are female. It goes against the societal norms of women wanting to be a mother, and wanting to have a baby as the next stage of their life. If women don't have children then they aren't female enough. Or something like that.

Do you view Claudia as a selfish person? How much do you think she is defined by her decision not to have children? Was your first impression of her a favorable one?Did you draw conclusions about her character after the first sentence of the novel?

Do I view Claudia as a selfish person for not wanting to have kids? No. I don't. Do I view Claudia as a selfish person overall, not really actually. She was open and honest up front about her intentions with regards to children from the beginning. I do think in this book that Claudia was defined by her decision not to have children because the people she surrounded herself with were not like minded individuals. I was kind of bummed that Claudia didn't have one friend who wasn't baby crazy. She should have had a fellow no babies for me in common female friend. And she didn't. Claudia and the story could have benefited from that. My first impression of Claudia were great up until she started making assumptions of people and being judgmental. I had no problems with her not wanting children and wanted just to see where this story was going. Did I draw conclusions about her character after the first sentence? About her not wanting children? No, I didn't.

Do you think that most people would see a partner who doesn't want children as a deal-breaker? Is this an issue that one can compromise on? Is there such a thing as a deal-breaker when it comes to true love, or does true love conquer all?

OMG. Really? Yes I do see most people who have a partner who doesn't want children as a deal breaker. Children are important to some people and not to others. I think that if Claudia had wanted children just a little bit that yes compromise could have happened. However, because she didn't actually want a child, never had a burning need to have a child, said nope nope and nope to kids is not going to change her mind. I think you can only compromise on it if it was an interest for you to begin with, because Claudia said no all her life I'd say there'd be zero compromise and I think it's selfish of Ben to expect after all these years that Claudia give him a baby. No true love will not conquer all. I'm a realist, and if one partner harasses and forces the other to have a baby then you will create resentment and strain in the relationship. There are all kinds of deal breakers that people can't get past.

Anyways I'm done answering these questions there's like 6 more. But I feel like having these questions try to make this book into more than it is. I feel like the author was trying too hard to get a lesson across, but then it fell flat once she put Claudia and Ben back together. They never resolved the issue they divorced about aka having children. How can I accept them back together and her sudden willingness to have a child with Ben for Ben. Like this doesn't sound good in terms of bonding with a child. Yes force someone who doesn't want kids of her own to have her own kids in order to keep the man she loves. Great lesson. And the story was inane. I just didn't like how she told the story.

I'll give it a 2 because I finished the stupid thing. I don't even need to mention really anyone else because they really don't matter in the grand scheme of things.

[Rachel Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

They get divorced over different opinions on having a baby by page 50, they don’t get back together until page 319, and we don’t even know if they want to have a baby or not in the end..... that’s the whole book, you don’t even have to read it now

[Liisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's quite a brave topic to tackle - women who don't want children. In this day and age, I think it's almost the last taboo. But it is the topic that author Emily Giffin addresses in "Baby Proof".

Knowing that the story would focus on this issue, I worried it would end up being black and white with a watered down and easily digestible ending but Emily Giffin kept to her usual high standard as I read my way through a messy, emotional, complicated and realistic story.

Despite such a sensitive and emotive topic, there were plenty of lighter moments and like her other books, "Baby Proof" feels like chick-lit-with-bite. It's simply more than humourous fluff. Enjoyable and recommended.

[Amy]

The plot is completely unbelievable - are we supposed to believe the so called perfect couple gets divorced after what seems to be about 2 weeks of arguing about having a baby? Then is it possible that most of the people around the wife are having child issues (kids keeping someone in a bad marriage, not being able to conceive, conceiving with a married boyfriend) at the same time? It's insulting to the readers intelligence... and that is what makes it the perfect beach read. If that is what you're looking for, pick it up. If not, run for the hills.

[Literally Booked Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3🌟🌟🌟
I liked this book, but it was too slow for me.…it was a sloth slow burn. I really loved the two books before this one. But, I was just like come on Claudia just get with it and get it together. My inner head kept saying, “HE IS SPONGE WORTHY” Seinfeld moment there😆 It just dragged in my opinion and very predictable.
I loved that Ethan had a small role in this novel and mentions an update on him & Darcy🤗 No Rachel nor Dex though…kind of bummed🤷🏻‍♀️ Overall this was an easy read with a touching story about love, lost, and finding love again.

[Olivia "So many books--so little time."" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful heartwarming story.

[A.gasior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giffin's writing style and subject matter was what enticed me to listen to this book on CD. I listened to "Something Borrowed" on a weekend car trip and it was so good it felt like a guilty pleasure. Self-indulging in female mellow drama seems to be my thing. This book did not disappoint, it exceeded my expectations. The subject matter hit a bit closer to home than Giffin's 1'st book. Now that I'm closing out my 20's and have a husband and a house, I'm constantly surrounded by baby talk. It was nice to peek into someone else's view of the matter, someone as reluctant as myself and my hubby to take the plunge. It's always good to know you're not alone in questioning the main stream expectations that society imposes.

In any case, I was glad when Giffin's heroine found herself analyzing not just her own situation, of not seeing eye-to-eye with her husband on the baby issue, but the romantic relationships of her friends' and sisters'. The woman in Claudia's life seem to have various renditions of the type of relationship a woman in her late 20's early 30's would have. These relationships serve as a contrasting backdrop to Claudia's own relationship, setting her expectations and perceptions. Like they say, everything is relative. She pities the sister with the hot-flame husband-turn-cheater, she pities the barren sister who desperately is trying to get pregnant with her husband, she pities the beautiful long-time roommate/friend who chose career over marriage but is now haphazardly missing her pills in a feeble attempt to trap another woman's husband. It almost seems like Giffin/Claudia sees these relationships and uses them to console herself about her own guy situation.

All in all, I think Giffin has a knack for writing in a believable inner-narrative style and creating vivid and colorful characters that serve to punctuate the dramatic story with witty banter and comic relief. If I had to make a comparison, I'd say that her books read like episodes of "Sex and the City" but with more grace, substance, and yet with just as much style. Oh and lets not forget a good happy ending :).

[Love Fool · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the author of the smash hits Something Borrowed and Something Blue comes a novel that explores the question: is there ever a deal-breaker when it comes to true love?

Women who don't want children? Are they monsters? That's how society makes us feel if you don't want babies. I was like that for awhile... slightly still am (I rather have dogs than babies) so maybe that's why I enjoyed this book, because I was able to relate to the main character. However, I gave it four stars because Claudia annoyed me in some parts.

[Shivi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oookay so this book just wasn't it for me. I've enjoyed Giffin's other books but this one was just so boring !

I rushed through the last couple chapters just so I could be done. The storyline just drones on and on and on with everyone having some baby related issue (obviously) & not really much growth.

I felt like I was reading someone's day to day life and that's just not want I want from a book. At no point was I excited, sad or angry. I felt no emotions reading this book unfortunately.

I'm sure many loved it but it's a nope from me 😕

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book because I had heard about it from my baby boards. I did not read Giffin's other 2 books. I was pregnant at the time and wanted a funny and light read. I didn't like it much. I thought it was extremely shallow and I found it strange that the characters go from having a great marriage to divorce. It makes it sound like divorce is a quick,easy answer when you don't get your way. I thought the ending was too sugary sweet and fake.

[vicky. · Rating 4 out of 5]

the end was kinda abrupt BUT this has to be one of the first book that I've read were the main character doesn't want a child and we are shown how that decision affects not only her life, but her husband's and their family.
I loved it. I don't want children either and I could totally relate to Claudia.
(which is funny, because everyone is saying she is spoiled selfish and whiny and yet I thought she was like my missing sister lol)

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro está escrito para mí. Es como si alguien dijera voy a escribir la vida de Brenda en unos 15 años en el futuro...

Podia reconocerme en muchas de las facetas de la protagonista, daba miedo.

ME ENCANTA que se haya tocado un tema que casi nadie toca. Que es el simple hecho de no querer tener hijos, NUNCA.

Con esta sociedad machista, si una mujer no tiene un hijo no tiene nada.
La gente piensa que es antinatural. Porque "claro" una mujer para que esta hecha no? Incluso he escuchado a gente muy cercana a mí, referirse a estas personas como "no, ella no tiene a nadie" "no, esta solita pobrecita" porque claro si pasan de los 25 ya no son solteras, son solteronas o "solas"(estas mismas personas se van a referir a mi asi, estoy segura).
A VER, esto me enerva, porque yo pienso que soy incapaz de tener pareja (por diversos motivos) y ademas ME SIENTO RE BIEN CON MI PROPIA COMPAÑIA. NO NECESITO A NADIE.
Por mi parte prefiero no tener nunca un novio que ser dependiente de alguien. Hay personas que NO PUEDEN estar solas! Perdonenme, pero yo valoro mucho mi independencia y mis tiempos. Pero bueno, me estoy yendo por las ramas...

Yo, como Claudia, no quiero tener hijos. Esto lo digo a mis 20 años y puede ser que cambie de opinión, tal como lo hizo Ben. Si leyeran el libro entenderían por que no quiero. Todas sus justificaciones son mas que validas. He incluso yo hubiera actuado bastante parecido. Pero lo que me partió al medio, fue Ben. La confesión o descargo de Ben en esa cena de despedida, la gran verdad que dijo Ethan. Es un libro que no tiene una mirada. Tiene muchas. Muchas perspectivas y todas aportan algo. Lo cual hizo que me sacudiera por dentro, porque que es el amor? hasta donde llega el amor? se pueden hacer sacrificios en nombre del amor? o eso es una excusa y significa no estar lo suficientemente enamorados? sencillamente todo se reduce a incompatibilidad y se deben tomar caminos separados? se puede sobreponer una a dejar a la persona que mas se quiere por que no se quiere lo mismo?

Todos los personajes son bastante realistas. Todos tienen sus propios problemas y sus propias culpas, porque nadie es un ángel en esta vida...

Quien este libre de pecado que lance la primera piedra.

La protagonista no juzgaba a sus familiares y amigos, incluso sabiendo que esas personas estaban haciendo algo que no se debería hacer. Lo cual me parecía fascinante.

Un libro que a mi me deja pensando y mucho...

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 1 out of 5]

I coould have sworn i've read this book years ago, but i clearly never reviewed it.

This is definitely not my normal go to type of read. It's much slower than what i prefer. This is a book geared towards those that prefer chick lit with no major spice, haha.

This book had a little bit of unrealistic expectations. Not every woman needs to have kids. People are allowed to change their minds,, but pressuring a woman to have a baby just because it's what you want isn't okay.

I wasn't a fan of this book by any means... and I'm not sure Ill read any others by this author.

[Ciara · Rating 2 out of 5]

claudia meets ben on some kind of blind date situation. they hit it off. they hit it off even more when they discuss the fact that neither one of them wants children. they begin dating in earnest, which turns into love, which turns into an engagement, which turns into running off & eloping. which turns into several years of blissfully happy marriage. until...

claudia & ben's closest couple friends, annie & ray, announce over dinner that they are expecting a baby. annie & ray have never really talked about wanting or not wanting a baby, but it's a surprise & a bit of a disappointment to claudia that they've decided to have one. not so for ben. he couldn't be more thrilled, & he starts hinting around to claudia that he may have changed his mind, that he wants a baby after all as well.

& this is kind of where the book loses me. ben is all, "please let's have a baby! i swear i'll get up for every middle of the night feeding! you'll be the only woman in history who won't lose sleep once she has a baby!" (he seriously says this. that's a quote.) ben can't wrap his mind around the fact that there are reasons beyond "missed sleep" why claudia may not want to have a baby. & also, how exactly is he going to prevent the baby from waking her up? being pregnant is not comfortable. the healing period after giving birth is not comfortable. lost sleep is involved in both. i guess claudia won't be breastfeeding, & perhaps she will sleep with earplugs so she won't even hear the baby fussing in the night. & also, she won't care about the baby, apparently, & lose sleep worrying about the baby's health & happiness. christ, i've lost sleep over my CAT'S health & happiness. no way could my partner bearing responsibility for midnight feedings make me not lose sleep over my CHILD.

claudia really, really, really does not want a baby. all of her attempts to communicate this to ben or show him all the awesome stuff they'll lose if they have a baby fall on deaf, baby scabies-addled ears. claudia realizes that she & ben want fundamentally different things. she hires a divorce lawyer.

some other reviewers made a stink over how super-fast the divorce was. it appeared that the divorce actually took several months; this portion of the book just isn't written well enough to convey the passing of time. i have found that this is the problem with a lot of emily giffin's books. her characters indulge in SO MUCH FREAKING NAVEL-GAZING that there are hardly any pages left over for actual story. there's just a lot of ruminating & angst, bookended by sentences like, "four months later, my divorce was finalized."

the bigger problem beyond the speed of the divorce was the fact claudia explicitly states at one point that they are filing a no-fault divorce. which does not exist in new york state. fact checking fail!

moving on. ben keeps the apartment & claudia moves in with her best friend, jess. jess is dating a married man with a couple of children. she feverishly anticipates him leaving his wife for her. she even contemplates getting pregnant on purpose in order to trap him/become a mother. claudia also has two sisters. maura married a rich, charismatic player while they were both pretty young, & had three kids. her husband regularly cheats on her while she turns a blind eye & pretends not to know. daphne, the other sister, has a pretty stable relationship with her husband, but they are unable to conceive, despite how much they wish to become parents. they start under-going a battery of fertility tests right around the time claudia divorces ben.

so you see where this is going, right? woman leaves love of life because he wants a baby & she doesn't, only to be surrounded by baby banter from all other important quarters of her life, forcing her to muse endlessly about whether or not she made the right decision.

one day claudia decides to stop by the old apartment & see ben. she worries that she only decided to do a divorce instead of a baby because she has such an awful relationship with her own mother, & maybe is afraid of being a mother herself. (incidentally, the mother is a character, & although she was clearly obnoxious, i really didn't think she was anywhere bad enough to scar one of her children into divorce rather than motherhood. this is the problem with hinging a narrative linchpin plot point on psychological trauma inflicted by another character: that's a lot of balls to keep in the air, & i don't think it worked here.) she wants to run this theory by ben. but he's out jogging...with another woman. claudia is crushed. she thinks ben has moved on, even though ben insists that the woman is not his girlfriend--right in front of her, so you'd think she'd pipe up if he was lying.

claudia starts dating an older man at her work. she admits the reason behind her divorce. he is unconcerned & fairly supportive. when claudia is invited to the baptism of annie & ray's baby, she invites her new boyfriend, knowing that ben will be there. she expects ben to bring the woman he was jogging with, but he doesn't. ben is a transparently jealous asshole about claudia's new man.

i don't even have the energy to recap this anymore, because it's seriously like one of those bad sitcoms where people could work out their problems if they just stopped for two seconds & had a motherfucking conversation. claudia's new boyfriend gives her a fancy cocktail ring. annie passes this info along to ben in the form of, 'claudia's new boyfriend gave her a ring." so of course ben thinks claudia is engaged. not that he (or annie) asked for clarification or anything. claudia runs into ben's jogging partner at the ER & sees that she is wearing big engagement ring. she assumes that she is engaged to ben. despite the fact that ben has denied dating her. of course it turns out that he's not engaged to her; she's engaged to someone else & they are just running buddies.

& then claudia has an epiphany & decides ben is her one true love & that she will do anything to get him back--even have a baby. i don't know if this is supposed to be some kind of lovey-dovey breakthrough moment, but...um, it sucks. people do a lot of things they might not really want to do so they can be with the person they love. i moved to kansas to be with my boyfriend--not a state that has ever topped my list of places i have any interest living in. but having a baby is a different ball of wax. when you bring another person into the world, i think you should do it for that person. a baby is not an accessory or another thing to mark off your life checklist. a baby is a person.

it is unresolved at the end of the book as to whether or not ben & claudia will have a baby. he wants her back enough to forego his baby dreams if he must. & all the other plots wrap up tidily: the sister with the philandering husband confronts him & he is extremely contrite. the sister that couldn't conceive meets a pregnant teenager at the mall & adopts her baby. the best friend with the married boyfriend meets & falls in love with a nice available man. la la la.

truly crummy.

[Gwendolyn Broadmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baby Proof, by Emily Giffin, is smart and sassy with lots of movement. Key protagonist, Claudia Parr, is a successful respected editor at an established publishing house. Already in her thirties, she finally finds her soul-mate, Ben. They are madly in love. Before they wed, both happily concur to remain childless. They want the freedom to build their busy careers in downtown Manhattan, to nurture unfettered relationships with close friends . . . the liberty to choose last-minute holidays, and/or special theatre dates. Absolutely, they adore their nieces and nephews; however, Ben and Claudia equally enjoy returning them safely to their parents. Together they have bucked societal consensus and usual accepted tradition, but what happens, a few years in, when one spouse suddenly wants a child? Does true love have any teeth, or does it simply vanish when one partner challenges previous choices? Still and all, how can you find an equitable compromise when one wants a child and the other does not? So many mind-bending questions, all wrapped up in a fast-moving intriguing package. Emily Giffin has an engaging gift for important story-telling. I recommend your visit with "Baby Proof." Gwendolyn Broadmore, author of Life Came to a Standstill.

[Ameena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because someone once told me that Emily Giffin’s books are formulaic, fluffy, and devoid of any real plot, I’ve avoided them. But I was looking for a light pick-me-up last week, found Baby Proof at the library, and after being captivated from the very first page, I finished this book in 2 days flat.

I don’t recall who told me to avoid Emily Giffin’s books, but whoever you are, you have bad taste in books!

Anyway, this is the story of 35-year-old Claudia – a successful editor, a loyal sister, and a loving wife. Claudia’s life seems perfect until her husband Ben suddenly decides he wants to have a child, despite their previous decision to remain childless by choice. After her unexpected divorce, Claudia buries herself in her work, and turns to her family and friends for support as she tries to pick up the pieces.

Although she never stops loving Ben, she eventually moves forward and begins dating her dashing colleague Richard. And it is Richard, along with Claudia’s sisters, her best friend, and a smattering of other well-developed supporting characters, who allow Claudia to see what sacrifices she is willing to make to have the life that she really wants.

Thanks to Giffin’s engaging writing and thought-provoking characters, Baby Proof isn’t your typical chick-lit beach read. The author cleverly manages to include several strong supporting story lines, each with their own baby-related/marital issues, and these parallel stories allow the reader the benefit of seeing the challenges of parenthood and marriage from a number of opposing viewpoints.

As someone who always thought she was too selfish to have children, I can understand Claudia’s thought process perfectly. But as a mother who is now so lucky to have the unconditional love of a kid with a heart of gold, I can understand Ben’s need to have a child of his own. In short, Giffin’s remarkable insight allows the reader to relate to each character, and often on more than one level.

Bottom Line: Baby Proof is moving, honest, and thoughtful. An easy read, I finished this book quickly and have now moved on to read the rest of Emily Giffin’s books.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Now, the book had a very promising beginning. The main character, Claudia, happily married to Ben, is no fan of children, has never been and isn't planning on changing that. Ben seemed to agree until one not so beautiful day he decides he wants children after all. So, what to do when a couple cannot agree on a such major, life-changing issue?

An ept author could build a fascinating story from here. A story of struggling, suffering, thinking, talking.. Unfortunately, Emily Giffin doesn't even try. The events that follow Ben's revelation are so implausible that they make you want to grub the author and shout into her ears: "Hello? Is this real life we are talking about here?" And so, the "happily married, madly in love" Claudia and Ben don't even try couples counselling or talking or even thinking a bit. No, they immediately divorce - just like this, on the spot (sort of makes you wonder what kind of "true love" they had if getting a divorce is their first and immediate decision upon first serious disagreement). But hey, that's where things only become more "interesting"! Because after some time - guess what? - Claudia suddently decides that Ben is her soulmate after all and she's ok with having a baby "just to keep him". Now, how do you like that? One lucky baby it's going to be, its reason for birth being "you know honey, I just really wanted to keep your daddy, I hope you don't mind that I don't care about you that much".

I really hate it when the author is trying to sell me cheap stupid morals of this kind. Like "love is worth sacrificing everything for it". Really? Would you jump out of the window if your lover told you to? Or "every woman wants to be married and having children". What kind of naive and stereotypical generalizing is that?

As soon as I could see where this book was heading, I knew it would be the last one by Giffin that I ever read. Don't take me wrong. I love romance, and tear-jerking scenes, and I don't mind reading about marriages and having children and stuff. I just hate it when the author is trying to persuade us that this is the only way for every woman.