Babyville

When it comes to chick-lit, there is a formula I love. You know, the one with three girls – where one finds love, one breaks up, and what happens to the third one is up in the air? That’s the one. It all started when I stealthily read Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann back in seventh grade. And since then, every time I see this formula on the bookshelves, I have to pick it up – no matter how repetitive it gets.

The last such formula books I remember reading and loving were Three Wishes and The Husband’s Secret, which were quite a while ago. So, when I saw Babyville in my library, I dropped whatever serious literary read I was clutching and picked it up instead.

Book Synopsis

Meet Julia, a wildly successful television producer who appears to have a 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 an 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 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 incredible. 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?

~ Synopsis from GoodReads

My Review

Sigh! This book was such a disappointment! I struggled with it till the end.

With books like this, it’s essential to have at least one of the girls be likable. This was not the case here. Julia was a flake and not even a nice flake. I powered through, hoping the next girl would be better, but no. Maeve was even more awful, and don’t get me started on Sam.

Also, all the men in the book are stock figures, so there’s no romance to root for. All the make-ups and break-ups didn’t have me feeling anything.

I struggled for over a week to finish this book (typically, this would be overnight or, at the most, a 2-day read). The dialogues were dull; the writing was bland. Babyville is not a pageturner.

Overall, a total failure.

I have heard good things about Jane Green, so I was surprised this book turned out to be so bad. I looked through more reviews of her books, and it seems like a mixed bag overall. I don’t think I will be picking up more from her again. Unless you have some recommendations in the comments?