A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW | Reviewed by: Terri
Vanessa wants nothing more than to get married to her long- time boyfriend, Eric, and have kids. She's so sure that he's going to ask on her 29th birthday but the package she got was definitely not a ring. With her 30th birthday looming, Vanessa starts thinking sperm bank to at least start her dream. She's shocked when gets a phone call from a woman claiming that Eric's sperm fathered her son. Laura is a divorced mother of Ian. She's also a lawyer. She chooses to become a mother after her divorce as she was getting older and didn't see marriage anywhere in her future. With a lot of research, she's located her sperm donor, Eric. She hopes to convince him into donating again so she can give Ian a brother or sister. During Laura's search, she comes across another family who used Eric's sperm. Wendy and Darren have 5 year old twins who are driving Wendy nuts. Wendy hopes the donor can shed some light on the behavioral issues, like could it be a food allergy. She's sure once she gets the twins under control, her marriage will get better. These women have nothing in common except Eric. However, as the year progresses, that tie changes their lives; sometimes for the better and sometimes not. This book is about that year. The characters in this book are done so you know you have probably met someone like them at some point in your life. They could be your neighbor or the receptionist at your dentist. They have lives, dreams and desires. Each is willing to compromise to fulfill their goals. Yet, each goal is different. The methods Laura uses to find out who her donor is sound plausible. It makes you wonder how anonymous donors really are. The goals for each woman are reasonable and attainable, if Eric cooperates. However, each woman came across as selfish or self-centered. Laura says she wants a brother or sister for Ian because he wants one. A sibling isn't like a pet, it's a life-long commitment and yet she doesn't seem to reflect on what life changes she will have to make. Wendy sees out of control kids but what she portrays is an out of control mom who doesn't see what she is doing. The kids were acting like her. Vanessa wants to be a generous, understanding girlfriend but she also wants Eric's world to revolve around her. Eric is a bit more complex. He truly would like to be the man Vanessa wants him to be. He really does love her. Laura sees a man with lots of potential who gave up. Eric isn't sure what he wants to do with his life but right now he's enjoying being pretty carefree. Eric does have some interaction with Ian and it shows that he can care. He's not wanting or ready to be a father, nor does Laura want him to be, but he's ready to be something. The book is laid out in chapters with different chapters being about one of the women. It's also divided into certain time frames so several months may be missed. It's not hard to follow once you get all the women straight. I found this book to be okay. It's not great but it's not horrible either. The premise was sound and believable. Each of the characters came across as real. The situations were done with care. Yet, with all these positives, I didn't love it. I liked it. So, this is a good solid book that while enjoyable probably won't be one you read over and over.
Dec 12, 2011 | 9780425243039
5 - Rare Top Pick | 4.5 - Top Pick | 4 - I Liked It | 3.5 - Enjoyable | 3 - OK | 2.5 - It just didn't click
Book Blurb for What Came First
First comes love, then comes marriage, then . . . things can get a little complicated.
Vanessa wants just one thing for her twenty-ninth birthday: an engagement ring from her longtime boyfriend, Eric. But when the ring turns out to be a mix CD and Eric turns out to be a guy who doesn't want to get married or have children, Vanessa considers a new path to having a family.
When Wendy and her husband, Darren, couldn't have children the old- fashioned way, a sperm donor seemed like the perfect solution. She never imagined she'd have out-of-control twins who'd drive her to cookie binges and scrapbooking while Darren escaped into the virtual world of computer games.
Single and career-driven, Laura didn't need a man to have a baby - at least not one that she ever met. Thanks to an anonymous donor, she shares her life with her adored eight-year-old son, Ian. She'll do anything for Ian - even fill their backyard with a bunch of noisy chickens. But the one thing Ian really wants is something Laura's never been able to give him: a sibling.
Now, to grant Ian's wish, Laura starts a search that will not only change her life but Vanessa's and Wendy's as well...
|