What do you think?
Rate this book
Babyville
On the heels of her three runaway hits, Bookends, Mr. Maybe, and Jemima J, Jane Green delivers a sparkling, sexy tale about the complexities of modern motherly love.
Bestselling author Jane Green has won the hearts of thousands of readers with her fresh take on single life and the dating jungle. Now in Babyville, she applies her golden touch to the next phase of a girl’s life, in an irresistible new novel about two young women coping with the chimes of their biological clocks, and one independent glamour-girl who tries to tune hers out.
Meet Julia, a wildly successful television producer who appears to have the picture-perfect life. But beneath the surface, things are not as perfect as they seem. Stuck in a loveless relationship with her boyfriend, Mark, Julia thinks a baby is the answer . . . but she may want a baby more than she wants her boyfriend. Will a trip to New York City with a jet-setting friend—and all the glittering energy and eligible men the city brings—help her discover what she really needs?
Maeve, on the other hand, is allergic to commitment. A feisty, red-haired, high-power career girl, she cherishes her ability to do just as she pleases and breaks out in a rash every time she passes a stroller. But when her no-strings-attached nightlife leads to an unexpected pregnancy, her reaction may be just as unexpected.And then there’s Samantha—happily married and eager to be the perfect June Cleaveresque mother. But baby George brings only exhaustion, extra pounds, and marital strife to her once tidy life. Is having an affair with a friend’s incredibly sexy husband the answer?
By turns witty, rollicking, and tender, Babyville isn’t really a story about babies—it’s about three friends whose lives are suddenly turned upside-down by that life-changing event that hangs over the head of every girl: motherhood.
From the Hardcover edition.
Bestselling author Jane Green has won the hearts of thousands of readers with her fresh take on single life and the dating jungle. Now in Babyville, she applies her golden touch to the next phase of a girl’s life, in an irresistible new novel about two young women coping with the chimes of their biological clocks, and one independent glamour-girl who tries to tune hers out.
Meet Julia, a wildly successful television producer who appears to have the picture-perfect life. But beneath the surface, things are not as perfect as they seem. Stuck in a loveless relationship with her boyfriend, Mark, Julia thinks a baby is the answer . . . but she may want a baby more than she wants her boyfriend. Will a trip to New York City with a jet-setting friend—and all the glittering energy and eligible men the city brings—help her discover what she really needs?
Maeve, on the other hand, is allergic to commitment. A feisty, red-haired, high-power career girl, she cherishes her ability to do just as she pleases and breaks out in a rash every time she passes a stroller. But when her no-strings-attached nightlife leads to an unexpected pregnancy, her reaction may be just as unexpected.And then there’s Samantha—happily married and eager to be the perfect June Cleaveresque mother. But baby George brings only exhaustion, extra pounds, and marital strife to her once tidy life. Is having an affair with a friend’s incredibly sexy husband the answer?
By turns witty, rollicking, and tender, Babyville isn’t really a story about babies—it’s about three friends whose lives are suddenly turned upside-down by that life-changing event that hangs over the head of every girl: motherhood.
From the Hardcover edition.
Audiobook
First published September 6, 2001
242 people are currently reading
12296 people want to read
About the author
Jane Green
90 books8,665 followersJane Green's twenty first novel, Sister Stardust, is out April 5th 2022.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the 카지노싸이트 database with this name.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the 카지노싸이트 database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 669 reviews
September 29, 2022
Easy sunbed read like Jane Green knows how to pull together perfectly.
Five stars.
Five stars.
August 15, 2018
3.5 stars
My experience with Jane Green novels in the past has varied from really enjoyed to a meh type feeling. This book falls somewhere in the middle. Given the reviews for this one were all over the place, I went into this with low expectations. That probably helped and for the most part this was a decent read and I enjoyed the female characters. But to be honest I absolutely hated the last few pages and how one of the character's story line was wrapped up. Like I wanted to throw the book at the wall type hate because it played into an annoying book, tv, and movie trope that I can't stand. Overall though this was a good read but not really anything spectacular.
My experience with Jane Green novels in the past has varied from really enjoyed to a meh type feeling. This book falls somewhere in the middle. Given the reviews for this one were all over the place, I went into this with low expectations. That probably helped and for the most part this was a decent read and I enjoyed the female characters. But to be honest I absolutely hated the last few pages and how one of the character's story line was wrapped up. Like I wanted to throw the book at the wall type hate because it played into an annoying book, tv, and movie trope that I can't stand. Overall though this was a good read but not really anything spectacular.
June 4, 2008
Oh my. Having a hard time with this one-- I'm about 115 pages in and its pretty insipid; total SNORESVILLE and predictable... I might have to give up soon... I have no idea how someone could give this anything more than 2 stars... I keep thinking it might pick up or get interesting or better...
yeah, if I could give it 1.5 stars I would, but overall, yeasch. half star would go for the humiliation at the end of the book heard over the baby monitor-- wow, that was terrible. Other than that, ugh.
yeah, if I could give it 1.5 stars I would, but overall, yeasch. half star would go for the humiliation at the end of the book heard over the baby monitor-- wow, that was terrible. Other than that, ugh.
November 3, 2007
This is another that I already have forgotten what happened. It's a good "nothing else to read" book that won't disappoint with lower expectations.
The problem with Jane Green novels is that after reading one, you've kind of "read them all". HOWEVER, I still enjoy them. They are easy and go so fast. They make great vacation books.
The problem with Jane Green novels is that after reading one, you've kind of "read them all". HOWEVER, I still enjoy them. They are easy and go so fast. They make great vacation books.
April 5, 2011
I don't know how this book is possibly rated so highly on goodreads. The story itself seemed generally relatable and appealing (mid-30s woman feels the biological clock ticking, wants to have a baby with boyfriend she isn't interested in so much after 4 years, she's jealous of friends with babies). I was interested to read it because it would represent "mommy lit" as a subgenre of chick lit. However, the writing was SO awful that I could not finish the book. I gave it a chance and read the first 60 pages, but could not push myself to read it anymore. The author does not show, she tells. She uses passive voice. She writes like an 8th grader. The characters' careers are in line with most chick lit (media, business, law), but nothing interesting was done with their personalities. Once in a while there was a bit of witty dialogue, but dialogue itself was sparse and scattered through paragraphs of just telling the reader about the characters without showing. It is not a page turner, I did not feel attached to the characters, and I did not feel engaged with the story, most because of the writing and the lack of developing what could have been a fun topic.
Read
September 27, 2010I tried to force myself to finish this book after reading the "Julia" segment. Ultimately, I failed. I am an avid reader of all types of books, including chick lit. As the mother of two young children, I had looked forward to some light summer reading about women going through the same phase of life. However, these women are nothing like me or any of the many thirty-something women and mothers that I know. For example, how many women are DESPERATE to get pregnant, and then dash off to New York, forget their long term relationship and party like they're fresh out of college? How many thirty three year olds do you know that stay up until well past midnight partying every night, then get up at the crack of dawn to spend an hour at the gym (fully made up), and THEN go to work, which just so happens to be a high-power glamorous television job?? Please.[return][return]Finally, the writing in this book is so pedestrian. Grinning from "ear to ear" and waiting for "Prince Charming." Severe lack of creativity and style here. I sure wish I could get my $13 back for this one...
December 10, 2008
This was not my favorite Jane Green novel.
It was the story of three women - Julia, Maeve and Sam. All three women are struggling with their relationships and - more truthfully - their identity.
I get that we - as women - struggle with who we are and how to define ourselves apart from our "better half" and our ability to procreate. I really do get that. I guess I struggled with taking it seriously with this book - which is probably why I didn't like it too much. I had little empathy for any of the characters. I didn't feel the writing got me there.
It was the story of three women - Julia, Maeve and Sam. All three women are struggling with their relationships and - more truthfully - their identity.
I get that we - as women - struggle with who we are and how to define ourselves apart from our "better half" and our ability to procreate. I really do get that. I guess I struggled with taking it seriously with this book - which is probably why I didn't like it too much. I had little empathy for any of the characters. I didn't feel the writing got me there.
December 17, 2007
I loved Jemima J, and thought Mr. Maybe was so-so. I was prepared to go either way with this one, and I did enjoy it quite a bit. I thought the 3 perspectives in the novel were interesting, and I took a particular liking to Maeve. Green did a great job of weaving all the stories together. A fun, light read!
April 2, 2008
This book is about three women in their thirties, Julia, Maeve, and Sam.
Julia is a producer with a live in boyfriend who is "trapped" in a boring relationship. Like so many people I know in real life, she realizes deep down that she is not happy, but after investing 4 years in a relationship she is determined to make it work. She figures that the spark always goes out in a relationship. Julia, like so many people in real life, doesn't know how to make herself happy and when her boyfriend Mark does not make her happy, she decides that she needs a baby. Julia takes her obsession with trying to conceive way too far, bursting into tears at the sight of pregnant women and trying countless rituals to get pregnant. In the end, her resentment proves too much and she blames Mark for her inability to conceive. They have a terrible fight, she flees to New York and once she is outside of the relationship, she realizes that she was feeling stifled. Julia throws herself into single life and...CUT - the chapters on Julia end.
The story moves on to Maeve, a thirtysomething woman who replaces Julia in her producer job. Maeve is commitment phobic, as she was raised by a single mom who swung from relationship to relationship. Maeve is morally bankrupt and finds herself pregnant by Mark after a one night stand. Maeve seriously contemplates abortion but as she gets to know Mark she decides to keep the baby. This section ends with Maeve in labor.
The third section is about Sam, Julia's best friend. Sam is kind of the "glue" - through Sam we learn what happens to Julia and Maeve. Sam's section is about a woman who is probably suffering from postpartum depression but is also feeling a lot of emotions that many new mothers feel. She feels fat and unattractive, lonely and bored (but doesn't want to return to work) and the only good thing she feels that she has going on in her life is her baby. In a bid to cheer her up, her husband sets up a "date" with another couple. The husband in the other couple (Dan) is a complete sleaze and he flirts with Sam. Sam, totally vulnerable and frustrated with her husband already due to her depression, falls head over heels for Dan. She starts to lose weight, buy new clothes, and basically acts like a college girl. Her husband isn't sure what is going on, but he's thrilled that Sam isn't depressed anymore. Ultimately, Sam finds out that Dan is a sleaze and they live happily ever after.
The ending of this novel, needless to say, is feel good. All of the women end up happy. The story is a typical chick lit Hollywood movie kind of story. Jane Green is not a great writer - she writes in the present tense and her style is too repetitive for me. I seriously considered putting this book down forever during the Julia section (at least the first 100 pages). Julia is so insipid and whiny that I just couldn't bear it. Nonetheless, I know several women like Julia so it is realistic. Once I moved on to Maeve, the book improved markedly and I began to enjoy it more. By the end, I was sorry to have finished it.
Julia is a producer with a live in boyfriend who is "trapped" in a boring relationship. Like so many people I know in real life, she realizes deep down that she is not happy, but after investing 4 years in a relationship she is determined to make it work. She figures that the spark always goes out in a relationship. Julia, like so many people in real life, doesn't know how to make herself happy and when her boyfriend Mark does not make her happy, she decides that she needs a baby. Julia takes her obsession with trying to conceive way too far, bursting into tears at the sight of pregnant women and trying countless rituals to get pregnant. In the end, her resentment proves too much and she blames Mark for her inability to conceive. They have a terrible fight, she flees to New York and once she is outside of the relationship, she realizes that she was feeling stifled. Julia throws herself into single life and...CUT - the chapters on Julia end.
The story moves on to Maeve, a thirtysomething woman who replaces Julia in her producer job. Maeve is commitment phobic, as she was raised by a single mom who swung from relationship to relationship. Maeve is morally bankrupt and finds herself pregnant by Mark after a one night stand. Maeve seriously contemplates abortion but as she gets to know Mark she decides to keep the baby. This section ends with Maeve in labor.
The third section is about Sam, Julia's best friend. Sam is kind of the "glue" - through Sam we learn what happens to Julia and Maeve. Sam's section is about a woman who is probably suffering from postpartum depression but is also feeling a lot of emotions that many new mothers feel. She feels fat and unattractive, lonely and bored (but doesn't want to return to work) and the only good thing she feels that she has going on in her life is her baby. In a bid to cheer her up, her husband sets up a "date" with another couple. The husband in the other couple (Dan) is a complete sleaze and he flirts with Sam. Sam, totally vulnerable and frustrated with her husband already due to her depression, falls head over heels for Dan. She starts to lose weight, buy new clothes, and basically acts like a college girl. Her husband isn't sure what is going on, but he's thrilled that Sam isn't depressed anymore. Ultimately, Sam finds out that Dan is a sleaze and they live happily ever after.
The ending of this novel, needless to say, is feel good. All of the women end up happy. The story is a typical chick lit Hollywood movie kind of story. Jane Green is not a great writer - she writes in the present tense and her style is too repetitive for me. I seriously considered putting this book down forever during the Julia section (at least the first 100 pages). Julia is so insipid and whiny that I just couldn't bear it. Nonetheless, I know several women like Julia so it is realistic. Once I moved on to Maeve, the book improved markedly and I began to enjoy it more. By the end, I was sorry to have finished it.
May 21, 2016
I thought I had read this before but I couldn't remember anything about it, so maybe I didn't. One chick lit book is very much like another. This is the story of 3 women - Julia, Sam and Maeve(seriously, whose called Maeve nowdays?).
Jane tells the story in three sections, one at a time which doesn't always seem to work. I wish she had alternated viewpoints in chapters as we seemed to miss some important bits of the story.
I really wanted to see Julia's reaction to Mark getting Maeve pregnant but we never do. Once Jane is done with Julia's bit, she only come's back into it to talk on the phone. I was less kind on Julia than the other two, mainly because we only see the crazy side of her and when we finally get to when she's happy again, we move on.
I loved Maeve's story, even though I could see where it was going a mile off. She and mark made a much better couple than he and Julia ever did.
And although I felt sorry for Sam's husband, I felt so humiliated for her when Jill and Dan said that stuff about her on the baby monitor.
Ha any noticed that in most chick-lit books. That woman seem to have only two roles? Full time mother or glamours media career? What about all the people who fall in-between? The non mothers with crap jobs? Why does no one write about them?
Overall this was a standard chick-lit book, not Jane's best but still worth a read.
Jane tells the story in three sections, one at a time which doesn't always seem to work. I wish she had alternated viewpoints in chapters as we seemed to miss some important bits of the story.
I really wanted to see Julia's reaction to Mark getting Maeve pregnant but we never do. Once Jane is done with Julia's bit, she only come's back into it to talk on the phone. I was less kind on Julia than the other two, mainly because we only see the crazy side of her and when we finally get to when she's happy again, we move on.
I loved Maeve's story, even though I could see where it was going a mile off. She and mark made a much better couple than he and Julia ever did.
And although I felt sorry for Sam's husband, I felt so humiliated for her when Jill and Dan said that stuff about her on the baby monitor.
Ha any noticed that in most chick-lit books. That woman seem to have only two roles? Full time mother or glamours media career? What about all the people who fall in-between? The non mothers with crap jobs? Why does no one write about them?
Overall this was a standard chick-lit book, not Jane's best but still worth a read.
December 8, 2008
Quite possibly one of the worst books I ever read. It makes women look flightly and indecisive without really addressing serious issues the characters face in a way that is appropriate to their problems. Also, if you are even remotely thinking of having a baby, don't read this book! It makes having kids sound like a death sentence!
October 10, 2023
My thoughts
(Non spoiler)
I randomly found this book and while not a favorite, I liked it well enough. Each character was done well. I think my favorite POV was Maeve’s. Regarding how each character is connected to one another, I had been expecting something different. Like three bffs, but that wasn’t quite the case.
Overall it was pretty good, I do recommend if it sounds interesting to you, but make sure to check content warnings (Storygraph is great for that)
Spoiler Thoughts
Spoilers
You have been warned
As I stated, Maeve was probably my favorite POV. Julia was probably my least, but hers wasn’t terrible or anything, it’s just if I had to rank them she would be third. Also, Julia Julia. Having a baby to try and fulfill something you’re missing in your relationship, no no no. Please don’t do this. I’m glad she learned this and found what she needed to be happy again.
Maeve’s POV, I really liked her with Mark. Honestly thought they were going to just remain friends though and I thought that would have been endearing. But how it all ended up was sweet too. Another happy ending. The cliff hanger on her POV had me for a second, but as I expected she shows up in Sam’s.
And Sam. Sam, Sam, Sam. 😬 She had some relatable “quirks” about her… like the epic daydreams and the little sign games. Not going to lie, I did that as a teen lmao. However, I was concerned about her… she was being as the TikTokers would say “delulu”. Like majorly. At times I even had to roll my eyes that she was even going to cheat in the first place, even if her assumptions about Dan were rational (but they really weren’t . He simply sat next to her and she believed they were going to get married the next day. Girl. 😐🤦🏻♀️)
Of course, I should not judge her. It is explained why she was doing what she was doing, and in the end she did learn her lesson and before she could throw away her marriage.
What Dan said about her though? I felt for her. 🥺 He was an ass.
But her willing to cheat was a bit annoying. But she just wasn’t herself I guess, so.
Also to note, from the back of the book, I thought she was going to consider a true affair with Mark, and Julia would still be with him. So things were not as predictable as they seemed from the blurb so that was good.
I did tandem read with an audiobook, and the narrator was great. Love the accent! And fun fact, she played Harry’s mom in Harry Potter! (I think??? Unless it’s just the same name and got mixed up on Google 😅)
As I said, not a fave, but not bad for a random book I found + genre I don’t normally read with events that aren’t t relatable to me at this time.
(Non spoiler)
I randomly found this book and while not a favorite, I liked it well enough. Each character was done well. I think my favorite POV was Maeve’s. Regarding how each character is connected to one another, I had been expecting something different. Like three bffs, but that wasn’t quite the case.
Overall it was pretty good, I do recommend if it sounds interesting to you, but make sure to check content warnings (Storygraph is great for that)
Spoiler Thoughts
Spoilers
You have been warned
As I stated, Maeve was probably my favorite POV. Julia was probably my least, but hers wasn’t terrible or anything, it’s just if I had to rank them she would be third. Also, Julia Julia. Having a baby to try and fulfill something you’re missing in your relationship, no no no. Please don’t do this. I’m glad she learned this and found what she needed to be happy again.
Maeve’s POV, I really liked her with Mark. Honestly thought they were going to just remain friends though and I thought that would have been endearing. But how it all ended up was sweet too. Another happy ending. The cliff hanger on her POV had me for a second, but as I expected she shows up in Sam’s.
And Sam. Sam, Sam, Sam. 😬 She had some relatable “quirks” about her… like the epic daydreams and the little sign games. Not going to lie, I did that as a teen lmao. However, I was concerned about her… she was being as the TikTokers would say “delulu”. Like majorly. At times I even had to roll my eyes that she was even going to cheat in the first place, even if her assumptions about Dan were rational (but they really weren’t . He simply sat next to her and she believed they were going to get married the next day. Girl. 😐🤦🏻♀️)
Of course, I should not judge her. It is explained why she was doing what she was doing, and in the end she did learn her lesson and before she could throw away her marriage.
What Dan said about her though? I felt for her. 🥺 He was an ass.
But her willing to cheat was a bit annoying. But she just wasn’t herself I guess, so.
Also to note, from the back of the book, I thought she was going to consider a true affair with Mark, and Julia would still be with him. So things were not as predictable as they seemed from the blurb so that was good.
I did tandem read with an audiobook, and the narrator was great. Love the accent! And fun fact, she played Harry’s mom in Harry Potter! (I think??? Unless it’s just the same name and got mixed up on Google 😅)
As I said, not a fave, but not bad for a random book I found + genre I don’t normally read with events that aren’t t relatable to me at this time.
January 8, 2025
Shocked because I actually quite enjoyed this (2.5 stars). The book is split into 3 parts, each covering a different woman and her baby experience. Had to knock off 0.5 stars bc of huge cringe factor in the last third of the book, but part 2 was actually so fun and gets 3.5 stars from me. Thanks Maddie for the random buy x
November 29, 2012
Akhir-akhir ini gue selalu bermasalah sama novel terjemahan.
Nemu kalimat yang berasa ngga enak dikit, langsung turn off. Males lanjutin baca. Itu yang terjadi sama beberapa buku yang udah mulai gue baca dari berbulan-bulan lalu tapi sampe sekarang masih aja belom kelar. Itu karena gue tinggalin acara baca bukunya di tengah jalan. Lanjutin bacanya entar aja kapan-kapan hiahahaha.
Tapi novel ini salah satu yang selamat dari perasaan sudden turn off. Mungkin karena seperti The Man I Should Have Married, gue tetiba menggalau membaca untaian kalimat yang menggambarkan hubungan Mark dan Julia yang, serius, mirip banget sama gue sama mantan dulu.. *hiks*
Bukan bagian pengen punya babynya sih. Walopun emang bagian itu sempet kepikiran selintas.
"Yakin Far, mau membelah kehidupan sosial dan mendadak jadi ibu? Yakin mau punya bayi yang mukanya mirip sama dia? Macam sekali bikin langsung jadi, Far.. Nikah aja, gimana?"
"Eh tapi kayaknya dia ngga mau. Makanya siapa tahu dengan adanya bayi, dia jadi mau."
"Kalo misalnya setelah ada bayi, tetep ngga mau?"
"Well, I can live with that. Separuhnya kan juga keputusan gue.."
kemudian percakapan ini tidak selesai dan tidak sampai kepada satu keputusan karena gue terlanjur ngebayangin kalo gue bakalan dijambak dan diarak keliling kelurahan sama emak.
Plus, keinginan itu surut setelah ngeliat sendiri betapa ribetnya punya dan ngurus bayi.
Oh well.
Tapi gue paham rasanya memperjuangkan hubungan yang sebenarnya sudah hambar. Dimana masa depan itu sebenarnya hanya sebatas impian, tidak ada di dalam genggaman, bahkan tidak diusahakan.
Memikirkan jalan pintas yang gue pikir bisa merekatkan retakan-retakan besar mimpi yang sebenarnya tinggal menunggu runtuh saja.
Diam-diam berharap bahwa jalan pintas ini bisa membalikkan keadaan. Bisa membahagiakan.
Usaha yang sia-sia karena sebenarnya semua ini dijalankan tanpa berusaha memahami masalah masing-masing lebih jauh lagi. Malah cenderung menjunjung ego pribadi, tidak berusaha menempatkan masalah pada tempat yang seharusnya-dimana kekusutan tersebut seharusnya diurai pelan-pelan bukannya dipendam di bawah bantal dan dibiarkan menguar tanpa berusaha untuk diselesaikan.
Belum lagi bicara perasaan. Belum lagi bicara tentang betapa abstraknya makna dari, "aku berjuang untuk kamu, kita, masa depan dan mimpi kita!"
Tapi Julia menemukan akhir bahagianya. Segera setelah ia mengambil keputusan besar dalam hidupnya. Itu sih, maunya gue. Pindah ke kota lain-kalo perlu negara lain, memulai hidup baru lagi dari awal. Ih kayak seru. *packing*
Alasan lain kenapa gue suka banget sama buku ini adalah karena perbedaan sudut pandang pencerita untuk setiap tokoh yang berbeda.
Kesan yang gue dapet saat cerita bergulir dari kisah Julia yang menggunakan sudut pandang orang ke-tiga ke kisah Maeve yang bersudut pandang orang pertama, adalah betapa Maeve careless, self-centered, tapi pada akhirnya mesti menyerah pada badai hormon dan naluri keibuan yang kian hari kian menguat :D *duh jangan-jangan ini gue banget hiahahaha*
Gue hampir bisa membayangkan betapa Hollywoodnya cerita ini kalo difilmkan. Apalagi pada akhirnya Sam sama Maeve malah temenan. *wah spoiler*
Dan semua renungan setelah membaca buku ini ditutup oleh percakapan singkat sebelum tidur.
"I think I'm tired being lonely."
"Lo tau Far, daripada kayak gue. Better sendirian daripada being in a relationship sama orang yang salah. Gue lega, Far. Lega udah putus dari dia."
Mungkin memang itu jawabannya. Memang bukan yang itu orangnya. Entah yang mana. :D
Nemu kalimat yang berasa ngga enak dikit, langsung turn off. Males lanjutin baca. Itu yang terjadi sama beberapa buku yang udah mulai gue baca dari berbulan-bulan lalu tapi sampe sekarang masih aja belom kelar. Itu karena gue tinggalin acara baca bukunya di tengah jalan. Lanjutin bacanya entar aja kapan-kapan hiahahaha.
Tapi novel ini salah satu yang selamat dari perasaan sudden turn off. Mungkin karena seperti The Man I Should Have Married, gue tetiba menggalau membaca untaian kalimat yang menggambarkan hubungan Mark dan Julia yang, serius, mirip banget sama gue sama mantan dulu.. *hiks*
Bukan bagian pengen punya babynya sih. Walopun emang bagian itu sempet kepikiran selintas.
"Yakin Far, mau membelah kehidupan sosial dan mendadak jadi ibu? Yakin mau punya bayi yang mukanya mirip sama dia? Macam sekali bikin langsung jadi, Far.. Nikah aja, gimana?"
"Eh tapi kayaknya dia ngga mau. Makanya siapa tahu dengan adanya bayi, dia jadi mau."
"Kalo misalnya setelah ada bayi, tetep ngga mau?"
"Well, I can live with that. Separuhnya kan juga keputusan gue.."
kemudian percakapan ini tidak selesai dan tidak sampai kepada satu keputusan karena gue terlanjur ngebayangin kalo gue bakalan dijambak dan diarak keliling kelurahan sama emak.
Plus, keinginan itu surut setelah ngeliat sendiri betapa ribetnya punya dan ngurus bayi.
Oh well.
Tapi gue paham rasanya memperjuangkan hubungan yang sebenarnya sudah hambar. Dimana masa depan itu sebenarnya hanya sebatas impian, tidak ada di dalam genggaman, bahkan tidak diusahakan.
Memikirkan jalan pintas yang gue pikir bisa merekatkan retakan-retakan besar mimpi yang sebenarnya tinggal menunggu runtuh saja.
Diam-diam berharap bahwa jalan pintas ini bisa membalikkan keadaan. Bisa membahagiakan.
Usaha yang sia-sia karena sebenarnya semua ini dijalankan tanpa berusaha memahami masalah masing-masing lebih jauh lagi. Malah cenderung menjunjung ego pribadi, tidak berusaha menempatkan masalah pada tempat yang seharusnya-dimana kekusutan tersebut seharusnya diurai pelan-pelan bukannya dipendam di bawah bantal dan dibiarkan menguar tanpa berusaha untuk diselesaikan.
Belum lagi bicara perasaan. Belum lagi bicara tentang betapa abstraknya makna dari, "aku berjuang untuk kamu, kita, masa depan dan mimpi kita!"
Tapi Julia menemukan akhir bahagianya. Segera setelah ia mengambil keputusan besar dalam hidupnya. Itu sih, maunya gue. Pindah ke kota lain-kalo perlu negara lain, memulai hidup baru lagi dari awal. Ih kayak seru. *packing*
Alasan lain kenapa gue suka banget sama buku ini adalah karena perbedaan sudut pandang pencerita untuk setiap tokoh yang berbeda.
Kesan yang gue dapet saat cerita bergulir dari kisah Julia yang menggunakan sudut pandang orang ke-tiga ke kisah Maeve yang bersudut pandang orang pertama, adalah betapa Maeve careless, self-centered, tapi pada akhirnya mesti menyerah pada badai hormon dan naluri keibuan yang kian hari kian menguat :D *duh jangan-jangan ini gue banget hiahahaha*
Gue hampir bisa membayangkan betapa Hollywoodnya cerita ini kalo difilmkan. Apalagi pada akhirnya Sam sama Maeve malah temenan. *wah spoiler*
Dan semua renungan setelah membaca buku ini ditutup oleh percakapan singkat sebelum tidur.
"I think I'm tired being lonely."
"Lo tau Far, daripada kayak gue. Better sendirian daripada being in a relationship sama orang yang salah. Gue lega, Far. Lega udah putus dari dia."
Mungkin memang itu jawabannya. Memang bukan yang itu orangnya. Entah yang mana. :D
July 22, 2011
Definitely readable. The three different stories of maternal longing and angst are vaguely connected, but only in passing. Essentially, you meet and follow the desperate wanna-be, the desperate don't-want-to-be, and the desperate already-there. The author has an easy-going style that carries you along willingly. The most dramatic and fascinating character development is found in the form of Maeve, the most reluctant of the three women. Her transformation in thinking and then in life was initially hard to warm up to, but once I had, I grew to love her story the most.
On the down side, I had a lot of trouble sympathizing with the first character you are introduced to: Julia. She comes across as shallow and two-dimensional, but at least serves a purpose in unwittingly propelling events with other characters. I also felt like Samantha's part in the book was minimal and seemed to be meant to round out the varying stages of motherhood that the author seemed to be going for in representation.
Without giving anything away, I will say that ending is complete and satisfying.
On the down side, I had a lot of trouble sympathizing with the first character you are introduced to: Julia. She comes across as shallow and two-dimensional, but at least serves a purpose in unwittingly propelling events with other characters. I also felt like Samantha's part in the book was minimal and seemed to be meant to round out the varying stages of motherhood that the author seemed to be going for in representation.
Without giving anything away, I will say that ending is complete and satisfying.
December 19, 2022
The pain and struggle is real and all consuming sometimes just to get pregnant. Baby lust clouds up a girl's vision,makes her settle for a less than stellar relationship. When things don't go as planned for the three main character women, a lot of angst and drama and shake ups ensue. Along the way, there are some changes, new directions and better yet, happiness
October 29, 2022
BABYVILLE
Avem trei personaje feminine principale si prin urmare trei povesti. Doua dintre ele sunt prietene. A treia le poate fi prietena sau o pot urî si critica, fiind considerata din afara ca cea care i-a luat atat jobul cat si iubitul uneia dintre ele. Acum depinde cat sunt de deschise la minte.
La începutul cartii nu mi-a placut prea mult ( de fapt aproape deloc) din cauza Juliei pe care am perceput-o ca fiind superficiala, dar spre final am ajuns sa imi placa si ea.
Julia si Mark sunt de patru ani impreuna si Julia isi doreste cu disperare un copil, dar noua luni mai târziu ea tot nu rămâne insarcinata si e convinsa ca Mark e steril caci ea a fost candva insarcinata si a facut avort. Nu vrea nicidecum sa ia in considerare o consultatie ginecologica, ci apeleaza cu încredere la alte metode de concepere. De aici problemele lor de cuplu cresc si ajung in punctul in care hotarasc ca o pauza le-ar face bine amândurora. De fapt prietena ei Bella o invita la New York, asta dupa ce si de la munca i s-a spus ca trebuie sa ia o pauza sa se adune. La ultima cearta cu Mark, acesta pleacă de acasa si la un bar intaneste cativa fosti colegi de-ai Juliei printre care si Maeve, cea care a înlocuit-o si cu care va avea o aventura in noaptea aceea.
Cateva saptamani mai tarziu Maeve ii spune ca e insarcinata si nu vrea sa păstreze sarcina, dar el ii cere sa mai aștepte putin. Timpul trece si Maeve nu mai simte nevoia de a întrerupe sarcina, iar la prima ecografie isi da seama ca vrea acest copil. Ea si Mark devin cei mai buni prieteni cateva luni, iar dupa ce e nevoita sa paraseasca locuinta unde statea cu chirie se muta la Mark si intr-un final devin un cuplu.
Sam cea mai buna prietena a Juliei a nascut un baietel si dupa sase luni ea e tot mereu obosita si nici nu vrea sa accepte ajutor. Nu mai e atrasa de sotul ei Chris si se simte neatrăgătoare din cauza kilogramelor in plus si a faptului ca nu mai are grija de ea, asta pana cand il cunoste pe Dan cu care a flirtat foarte puțin, dar de care s-a indragostit ca o scolarita si isi face in cap planuri de viitor cu el si cum sa il paraseasca pe Chris. Va fi crunt si dureros dejamagita, dar in viata ei a apărut o noua prietena care e nimeni alta decat Maeve care ii va fi alături si acum isi da seama cat isi iubeste sotul. Nu stie cum sa o anunte pe Julia despre noua ei prietena, dar Julia s-a schimbat mult in bine de cand in viata ei a apărut fericirea.
⭐⭐
Avem trei personaje feminine principale si prin urmare trei povesti. Doua dintre ele sunt prietene. A treia le poate fi prietena sau o pot urî si critica, fiind considerata din afara ca cea care i-a luat atat jobul cat si iubitul uneia dintre ele. Acum depinde cat sunt de deschise la minte.
La începutul cartii nu mi-a placut prea mult ( de fapt aproape deloc) din cauza Juliei pe care am perceput-o ca fiind superficiala, dar spre final am ajuns sa imi placa si ea.
Julia si Mark sunt de patru ani impreuna si Julia isi doreste cu disperare un copil, dar noua luni mai târziu ea tot nu rămâne insarcinata si e convinsa ca Mark e steril caci ea a fost candva insarcinata si a facut avort. Nu vrea nicidecum sa ia in considerare o consultatie ginecologica, ci apeleaza cu încredere la alte metode de concepere. De aici problemele lor de cuplu cresc si ajung in punctul in care hotarasc ca o pauza le-ar face bine amândurora. De fapt prietena ei Bella o invita la New York, asta dupa ce si de la munca i s-a spus ca trebuie sa ia o pauza sa se adune. La ultima cearta cu Mark, acesta pleacă de acasa si la un bar intaneste cativa fosti colegi de-ai Juliei printre care si Maeve, cea care a înlocuit-o si cu care va avea o aventura in noaptea aceea.
Cateva saptamani mai tarziu Maeve ii spune ca e insarcinata si nu vrea sa păstreze sarcina, dar el ii cere sa mai aștepte putin. Timpul trece si Maeve nu mai simte nevoia de a întrerupe sarcina, iar la prima ecografie isi da seama ca vrea acest copil. Ea si Mark devin cei mai buni prieteni cateva luni, iar dupa ce e nevoita sa paraseasca locuinta unde statea cu chirie se muta la Mark si intr-un final devin un cuplu.
Sam cea mai buna prietena a Juliei a nascut un baietel si dupa sase luni ea e tot mereu obosita si nici nu vrea sa accepte ajutor. Nu mai e atrasa de sotul ei Chris si se simte neatrăgătoare din cauza kilogramelor in plus si a faptului ca nu mai are grija de ea, asta pana cand il cunoste pe Dan cu care a flirtat foarte puțin, dar de care s-a indragostit ca o scolarita si isi face in cap planuri de viitor cu el si cum sa il paraseasca pe Chris. Va fi crunt si dureros dejamagita, dar in viata ei a apărut o noua prietena care e nimeni alta decat Maeve care ii va fi alături si acum isi da seama cat isi iubeste sotul. Nu stie cum sa o anunte pe Julia despre noua ei prietena, dar Julia s-a schimbat mult in bine de cand in viata ei a apărut fericirea.
⭐⭐
May 26, 2018
I think you would have to be pretty strongly into babies in order to enjoy this book. I did like it but I found it slow in places and it didn’t always keep my interest. I also really wanted to shake some of the main characters in places.
This book has three main characters who know each other and it tells the stories of each. Julia, who is desperately trying to have a baby with a man she knows is not right for her. Maeve, who has gotten pregnant after a one night stand and doesn’t want to keep the baby but the man does. And Sam, who has had her first baby thinking she will be the perfect mother but didn’t realise the toll it would take on her marriage.
Julia really frustrated me throughout her story and I just wanted her to get a grip. What is the point of having a baby with someone you do not love?! I felt very sorry for her partner. Maeve’s story was sweet (although completely unrealistic) and she gets a nice happy ending. Sam’s story is more about post-natal depression and I found this the most interesting one to read.
This book has three main characters who know each other and it tells the stories of each. Julia, who is desperately trying to have a baby with a man she knows is not right for her. Maeve, who has gotten pregnant after a one night stand and doesn’t want to keep the baby but the man does. And Sam, who has had her first baby thinking she will be the perfect mother but didn’t realise the toll it would take on her marriage.
Julia really frustrated me throughout her story and I just wanted her to get a grip. What is the point of having a baby with someone you do not love?! I felt very sorry for her partner. Maeve’s story was sweet (although completely unrealistic) and she gets a nice happy ending. Sam’s story is more about post-natal depression and I found this the most interesting one to read.
January 8, 2020
A light read that reminds me a little of the style of Sophie Kinsella. I liked the way the book was presented in three sections, each focusing on one woman’s experience. I loved that each story overlapped as they all know each other, it really brought the story together nicely.
June 23, 2024
This book sounded interesting and started out okay, but I just couldn’t get into it. I was bored halfway through and skimmed the rest.
November 4, 2023
Is this the worst book I’ve ever read? No. Did it feel like I was reading a screenplay to a 90s romcom? Yes. It’s just silly fluff, but the characters don’t feel real enough for me to recommend it as a fun beach read.
July 20, 2021
Da mụn có nên sử dụng nước hoa hồng?
Để có được một làn da đẹp và mịn màng như ý thì các chị em cần phải quan tâm và chăm sóc đúng cách. Bởi nó sẽ làm cho họ tự tin hơn, hạnh phúc hơn và thành công hơn.
Tuy nhiên, có rất nhiều người đang có làn da bị mụn. Trên thực tế có rất nhiều cách khác nhau để chăm sóc cũng như bảo vệ da mụn. Nhưng cũng không phải ai cũng biết đúng cách và loại mỹ phẩm nào phù hợp, trong đó có nước hoa hồng.
Trong bài viết này, sẽ giải đáp một thắc mắc của các chị em đó là: Da mụn có nên sử dụng nước hoa hồng hay không? Bạn hãy cùng tham khảo và tìm hiểu nhé.
Có nên sử dụng nước hoa hồng cho da mụn?
Trước tiên, bạn hãy cùng tìm hiểu công dụng của nước hoa hồng trong làm đẹp nhé. Nước hoa hồng là một trong những loại mỹ phẩm chăm sóc da rất tốt và cần thiết. Sản phẩm này được các chuyên gia da liễu khuyên dùng dù loại da nào đi nữa.
Da mụn có nên sử dụng nước hoa hồng
Nước hoa hồng không những giúp làm sạch sâu làn da. Mà nó còn giúp se khít lỗ chân lông, cân bằng độ PH cho làn da của bạn. Bởi trong nước hoa hồng có chứa các thành phần dưỡng da, các loại Vitamin A, C. Nó sẽ làm làn da mềm mại hơn và trắng hồng một cách tự nhiên.
Hơn nữa, nước hoa hồng có chứa các phân tử giúp hấp thụ và làm giảm lượng dầu thừa trên da. Chính vì vậy, đối với b��n nào có làn da bị mụn thì hoàn toàn yên tâm sử dụng nhé.
Một trong những nguyên nhân gây ra mụn đó là lỗ chân lông to và quá nhiều dầu nhờn. Nước hoa hồng lại có tác dụng se khít lỗ chân lông. Chính vì vậy, bạn nên sử dụng nước hoa hồng trong quá trình chăm sóc và điều trị da mụn nhé.
Sử dụng nước hoa hồng như thế nào là đúng cách?
Giờ thì bạn đã có câu trả lời rồi chứ. Chắc chắn bạn hãy sử dụng nước hoa hồng trong quá trình chăm sóc da mụn bạn nhé. Để tăng hiệu quả của nước hoa hồng đến độ tối đa để giảm thiểu mụn, mang lại làn da mịn màng trở lại. Bạn nên sử dụng mỹ phẩm này đúng cách.
Đầu tiên, sau mỗi buổi tối, bạn nên tẩy trang bằng loại tẩy trang phù hợp cho da mụn để làm sạch da. Sau đó, bạn rửa mặt bằng sữa rửa mặt dành cho da mụn để loại bỏ hoàn toàn bụi bẩn, dầu nhờn thừa trên da.
Bạn cũng nên lưu ý rằng, bạn nên lựa chọn loại sữa rửa mặt có thành phần tự nhiên. Vì nó sẽ an toàn cho da, không gây kích ứng cho da mụn. Hơn nữa, nó sẽ chữa lành và giảm mụn một cách tự nhiên và hiệu quả.
Sau đó bạn mới sử dụng nước hoa hồng. Đối với làn da mụn, bạn nên sử dụng bông, đổ một lượng phù hợp nước hoa hồng vào bông. Sau đó thoa đều lên mặt một cách nhẹ nhàng nhất.
Tham khảo thêm về:
Da mụn có nên sử dụng nước hoa hồng
Ngoài ra để điều trị mụn hiệu quả, bạn có thể kết hợp nước hoa hồng cùng với một số nguyên liệu tự nhiên khác như nước cốt chanh, bột hạnh nhân, tinh dầu cây trà,...
Nước cốt chanh có chứa nhiều Vitamin C trong đó, sẽ có khả năng loại bỏ mụn đầu đen, các chất nhờn, tế bào chết. Hơn nữa còn giúp thu nhỏ lỗ chân lông giúp làm sạch mụn, da sáng mụn và làm giảm quá trình lão hóa sớm của làn da.
Bột hạnh nhân kết hợp với nước hoa hồng giúp nuôi dưỡng da. Đồng thời loại bỏ mụn nhanh chóng và an toàn.
Hỗn hợp nước hoa hồng với tinh dầu cây trà giúp da bạn chống viêm, chống vi khuẩn và chữa trị triệt để vấn đề mụn.
Trên đây đã giải đáp cho câu hỏi: Da mụn có nên sử dụng nước hoa hồng hay không? của nhiều chị em phụ nữ. Hy vọng bài viết sẽ hữu ích cho bạn.
November 3, 2011
Bercerita dari tiga sudut pandang perempuan dan kehidupannya. Julia, perempuan yang terobsesi punya bayi, tapi saat ia cuti kantor ia meyakini sebuah kebenaran yang selama ini tidak berani ia akui. Ia tidak yakin bahwa pasangannya, Mark, adalah orang yang tepat untuknya. Maeve, perempuan yang tidak berencana punya anak, malah punya anak dari Mark. Ia berencana untuk aborsi dan berkeras untuk tidak hidup bersama Mark. Sam, sahabat Julia yang kemudian juga jadi sahabat Maeve. Ibu rumah tangga yang kelimpungan mengurus anak yang masih kecil. Ia merasa salah memilih suami dan jatuh cinta pada laki-laki lain.
Jane Green bermain pada pemikiran perempuan-perempuan modern tentang bayi. Bayi dalam novel ini ditokohkan menjadi figure yang membuat perempuan-perempuan ini berfikir ulang mengenai hidupnya. Bayi kemudian menjadi topik sentral yang mendominasi pikiran tokoh-tokoh perempuan dan menjungkirbalikkan kehidupannya.
Dilihat dari kajian antar budaya, tentu saja pemikiran tokoh-tokoh perempuan moderen tentang bayi ini sangat berbeda dengan budaya yang tertanam di pemikiran perempuan-perempuan Indonesia, mayoritas. Contohnya Julia, ia tinggal bersama dengan Mark, ingin punya bayi darinya, tapi ia tidak ingin menikah dengannya karena belum yakin. Maeve yang mengandung anak Mark, ia tidak menganggap Mark adalah Ayahnya, tapi hanya laki-laki yang menghamilinya. Punya bayi tidak menjadi alasan untuk seorang perempuan mengejar laki-laki yang menghamilinya dan minta dinikahi. Bandingkan dengan beberapa produksi fiksi Indonesia yang menjadikan hal ini menjadi tema.
Lebih dalam, menarik juga dilihat dari studi gender ketika perempuan menjadi sangat obsesif terhadap tubuhnya. Meskipun ia mengandung anak, yang tentunya meilibatkan substansi tubuh laki-laki, tetap mereka menganggap semua yang ada di tubuhnya adalah miliknya. Segala keputusan mengenai tubuhnya absolut di tangannya. Termasuk untuk melakukan aborsi, perempuan tidak merasa perlu meminta persetujuan laki-laki. Dalam novel ini, terlihat juga bahwa laki-laki menyetujui paham ‘perempuan pemilik tubuhnya’ ini.
Namun, bagaimanapun si tokoh-tokoh perempuan ini direpresentasikan sebagai perempuan yang gagah, di akhirnya mereka berteduh di pelukan laki-laki. Jane Green mengembalikan cerita ke jalur fiksi romantis yaitu happily ever after.
Jane Green bermain pada pemikiran perempuan-perempuan modern tentang bayi. Bayi dalam novel ini ditokohkan menjadi figure yang membuat perempuan-perempuan ini berfikir ulang mengenai hidupnya. Bayi kemudian menjadi topik sentral yang mendominasi pikiran tokoh-tokoh perempuan dan menjungkirbalikkan kehidupannya.
Dilihat dari kajian antar budaya, tentu saja pemikiran tokoh-tokoh perempuan moderen tentang bayi ini sangat berbeda dengan budaya yang tertanam di pemikiran perempuan-perempuan Indonesia, mayoritas. Contohnya Julia, ia tinggal bersama dengan Mark, ingin punya bayi darinya, tapi ia tidak ingin menikah dengannya karena belum yakin. Maeve yang mengandung anak Mark, ia tidak menganggap Mark adalah Ayahnya, tapi hanya laki-laki yang menghamilinya. Punya bayi tidak menjadi alasan untuk seorang perempuan mengejar laki-laki yang menghamilinya dan minta dinikahi. Bandingkan dengan beberapa produksi fiksi Indonesia yang menjadikan hal ini menjadi tema.
Lebih dalam, menarik juga dilihat dari studi gender ketika perempuan menjadi sangat obsesif terhadap tubuhnya. Meskipun ia mengandung anak, yang tentunya meilibatkan substansi tubuh laki-laki, tetap mereka menganggap semua yang ada di tubuhnya adalah miliknya. Segala keputusan mengenai tubuhnya absolut di tangannya. Termasuk untuk melakukan aborsi, perempuan tidak merasa perlu meminta persetujuan laki-laki. Dalam novel ini, terlihat juga bahwa laki-laki menyetujui paham ‘perempuan pemilik tubuhnya’ ini.
Namun, bagaimanapun si tokoh-tokoh perempuan ini direpresentasikan sebagai perempuan yang gagah, di akhirnya mereka berteduh di pelukan laki-laki. Jane Green mengembalikan cerita ke jalur fiksi romantis yaitu happily ever after.
April 20, 2022
Honest, funny and uplifting - what's not to love about this book?! I struggled to put it down but was also genuinely sad to finish it and say goodbye to the characters.
April 30, 2009
Semua tentang bayi...
Ada Julia yang terobsesi utk punya bayi. Menganggap hadirnya seorang anak akan menjadi solusi atas hubungannya yang semakin hambar dengan Mark (mereka blm nikah, tp tinggal bersama). Situasi makin memburuk ketika Julia mengungkapkan kekecewaannya, seolah Mark lah yang tdk bisa punya anak (Julia sdh pernah hamil dan menggugurkan kandungannya). Julia akhirnya pergi ke New York bersama Bella, merasa lega krn tdk lagi bersama Mark, bahkan tdk lagi terobsesi untuk punya anak.
Lalu ada Maeve, yang menggantikan posisi Julia di kantor ketika Julia pergi ke New York. Maeve alergi pada komitmen. Punya bayi sama sekali tdk ada dalam agendanya. Bayi hanya akan merepotkan dan mengganggu karirnya. Manusia boleh berencana, Tuhan yang menentukan :D Seks semalamnya dengan Mark ternyata membuat Maeve hamil. Maeve ingin aborsi tp Mark, stlh tau bhw dia adalah ayah si bayi, meminta Maeve pikir2 dulu. Mark begitu bahagia akan menjadi ayah. Melihat perhatian Mark dan (terutama) melihat calon anaknya melalui USG, Maeve berubah pikiran.
Terakhir, ada Sam, sahabat Julia. Kehidupan pernikahannya sangat menyenangkan. Sampai George, buah cintanya, lahir. Sam menjadi orang yang berbeda. Dia tergila2 pada George, tp melupakan dirinya sendiri dan Chris suaminya. Sam berusaha keras jadi ibu terbaik. Semua dikerjakan sendiri. Dia letih tp tdk ingin dibantu. Dia mengalami stress pasca melahirkan tp tdk mau mengakui. Hari2nya diisi dengan kemarahan dan dilampiaskan pd suaminya. Bahkan lama kelamaan Sam merasa Chris bukanlah suami yang tepat buatnya. Dan ia mulai tergoda dengan pria lain, suami teman Chris, yang memang suka menggoda wanita.
Seperti umumnya kisah chicklit, cerita ini juga berakhir bahagia. Maeve menjadi teman Sam dan hidup berbahagia dengan Mark dan Poppy, putri mereka. Sam menyadari kekeliruan dan kebodohannya. Chris adalah laki2 terbaik buatnya. Julia menetap di New York, berpacaran dengan Jack, dan hamil.
Bagaimanapun, saya lebih menyukai karya Sophie Kinsella hehe...
Ada Julia yang terobsesi utk punya bayi. Menganggap hadirnya seorang anak akan menjadi solusi atas hubungannya yang semakin hambar dengan Mark (mereka blm nikah, tp tinggal bersama). Situasi makin memburuk ketika Julia mengungkapkan kekecewaannya, seolah Mark lah yang tdk bisa punya anak (Julia sdh pernah hamil dan menggugurkan kandungannya). Julia akhirnya pergi ke New York bersama Bella, merasa lega krn tdk lagi bersama Mark, bahkan tdk lagi terobsesi untuk punya anak.
Lalu ada Maeve, yang menggantikan posisi Julia di kantor ketika Julia pergi ke New York. Maeve alergi pada komitmen. Punya bayi sama sekali tdk ada dalam agendanya. Bayi hanya akan merepotkan dan mengganggu karirnya. Manusia boleh berencana, Tuhan yang menentukan :D Seks semalamnya dengan Mark ternyata membuat Maeve hamil. Maeve ingin aborsi tp Mark, stlh tau bhw dia adalah ayah si bayi, meminta Maeve pikir2 dulu. Mark begitu bahagia akan menjadi ayah. Melihat perhatian Mark dan (terutama) melihat calon anaknya melalui USG, Maeve berubah pikiran.
Terakhir, ada Sam, sahabat Julia. Kehidupan pernikahannya sangat menyenangkan. Sampai George, buah cintanya, lahir. Sam menjadi orang yang berbeda. Dia tergila2 pada George, tp melupakan dirinya sendiri dan Chris suaminya. Sam berusaha keras jadi ibu terbaik. Semua dikerjakan sendiri. Dia letih tp tdk ingin dibantu. Dia mengalami stress pasca melahirkan tp tdk mau mengakui. Hari2nya diisi dengan kemarahan dan dilampiaskan pd suaminya. Bahkan lama kelamaan Sam merasa Chris bukanlah suami yang tepat buatnya. Dan ia mulai tergoda dengan pria lain, suami teman Chris, yang memang suka menggoda wanita.
Seperti umumnya kisah chicklit, cerita ini juga berakhir bahagia. Maeve menjadi teman Sam dan hidup berbahagia dengan Mark dan Poppy, putri mereka. Sam menyadari kekeliruan dan kebodohannya. Chris adalah laki2 terbaik buatnya. Julia menetap di New York, berpacaran dengan Jack, dan hamil.
Bagaimanapun, saya lebih menyukai karya Sophie Kinsella hehe...
October 4, 2010
It has been a while since I delved into the British Chick-Lit scene....the title of this book caught my attention from the book share table at my gym and I'm so glad it did! While not a stellar piece of fiction, I really enjoyed this book. Being early on in my pregnancy when reading it (4 months) I was able to relate with most of the characters & loved their growth. Even when some of the characters were doing not-so-happy things, you could understand where they were coming from (blinders on to relationship issues, denial of postpartum depression, etc.) and forgive them. My favorite scene of the book is when it tells of Sam getting the "What To Expect When You're Expecting" book and the first thing she does is tear out the chapter of the "Best Case Diet"....I started to read the What to Eat when your Expecting book (a much longer version of that single chapter) because it was handed down to me, and it was such a "scare" tactic book that I haven't picked it up again in the past 3 months. It was scenes like this one that really made this book relatable (at least for me). A good fun book where everyone ends up happy at the end :)
July 25, 2012
Julia wants a baby desperately and is unable to conceive. She focuses so hard on becoming pregnant to the point that she drives her boyfriend away. Maeve almost breaks out in a rash at the thought of being a mother. However, a night of - oops - unprotected sex changes all of that for her. At first, she tries to convince herself that she couldn't possibly be pregnant and tries to ignore the whole thing. Then, she is determined to have an abortion yet keeps putting it off until it's too late. Samantha wants the perfect life of wife and mother. However, motherhood is not a bed of roses for her. (Is it ever?) While she loves her baby, reality rears its ugly head in the form of exhaustion and extra weight for her. The book switches back and forth among these three main characters. We see how they become intertwined in one another's lives. Jane Green has done an amazing job of knitting these characters together and writing a fabulous novel. It will make you laugh, cry and, most of all, think.
December 18, 2015
This was a re-read for me. When I was not really reading very much about 5-6 years ago, this was a book that I read and re-read multiple times. It's sort of weird to think about a 24 year old single woman who doesn't want kinds rereading a book called Babyville but alas.... that was my life.
I went on a bit of a chick lit binge at the end of November. I read two Sophie Kinsella books and then I decided I wanted to read one of my old favorites so I did.
Babyville is about 3 women in London. Julia is a woman who is desperate to have a baby to save her failing relationship. Maeve is a single hard ass who stumbles into a situation she never thought she'd be in. Sam is a married woman going through a tough time after her first baby is born.
It's just a fun book reading about these different women and how their lives intersect. If you're a fan of chick lit, I'd at least check this one out at the library.
I went on a bit of a chick lit binge at the end of November. I read two Sophie Kinsella books and then I decided I wanted to read one of my old favorites so I did.
Babyville is about 3 women in London. Julia is a woman who is desperate to have a baby to save her failing relationship. Maeve is a single hard ass who stumbles into a situation she never thought she'd be in. Sam is a married woman going through a tough time after her first baby is born.
It's just a fun book reading about these different women and how their lives intersect. If you're a fan of chick lit, I'd at least check this one out at the library.
February 14, 2008
i'm really glad this was a trashbook, totally free.
total, unabashed chicklit. however, this also managed to keep me interested past the first three pages which is usually all i can stand of the genre. a quick pace, imperfect characters and rotating narrators all help to temper the fluff-factor of the story and writing style.
still, i couldn't ultimately care. some of the resolutions refrained from being totally cookie-cutter perfect but i still wanted one of the women to become a real person-- past her baby needs and her husband and her socially outrageous, outrageously empowered girlfriends. they mostly ended up feeling like cardboard cutouts written to sell a book to a very specific readership. there are some good moments but they are pretty scarce and unless you find a copy on the street on trash night, it's really not worth your dollars.
total, unabashed chicklit. however, this also managed to keep me interested past the first three pages which is usually all i can stand of the genre. a quick pace, imperfect characters and rotating narrators all help to temper the fluff-factor of the story and writing style.
still, i couldn't ultimately care. some of the resolutions refrained from being totally cookie-cutter perfect but i still wanted one of the women to become a real person-- past her baby needs and her husband and her socially outrageous, outrageously empowered girlfriends. they mostly ended up feeling like cardboard cutouts written to sell a book to a very specific readership. there are some good moments but they are pretty scarce and unless you find a copy on the street on trash night, it's really not worth your dollars.
September 2, 2010
As the title would suggest, this book is all about babies. Trying to get pregnant, trying not to get pregnant, and adjusting to life after pregnancy with a newborn.
What could have been an interesting look at the topic was spoiled by three of the most unlikeable main characters I have ever encountered in a fictional book, as well as a completely, pat, happy ending undeserved by the characters. All three women were completely selfish and self absorbed, and it's next to immpossible to enjoy a book when you hate the characters in it. The only thing that made this book slightly entertaining was towards the end of the book one of the women got her comeuppance in a completely humiliating (though well deserved) way, and those 2 pages were highly enjoyable in an otherwise completely wretched book.
What could have been an interesting look at the topic was spoiled by three of the most unlikeable main characters I have ever encountered in a fictional book, as well as a completely, pat, happy ending undeserved by the characters. All three women were completely selfish and self absorbed, and it's next to immpossible to enjoy a book when you hate the characters in it. The only thing that made this book slightly entertaining was towards the end of the book one of the women got her comeuppance in a completely humiliating (though well deserved) way, and those 2 pages were highly enjoyable in an otherwise completely wretched book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 669 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.