Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

The Abingdon Book Group met on April 16, to read Baby Proof by Emily Giffin. Giffin was born in Baltimore, but moved several times. As an adult she lived in Manhattan, where she worked for a legal company. She then lived and worked in London before moving with her husband to Atlanta, Georgia.

This novel tells the story of Claudia and Ben. Before their marriage, Claudia and Ben have agreed that neither wants children. Claudia feels betrayed when Ben changes his mind and begins to pressure her to have a baby. Their conflict seems insurmountable and the couple separate and divorce. Then follows a period of heartache as Claudia begins to feel she may have lost her soul mate. Other characters with their own family problems add substance to the story. Jess, the friend, with her messy love life and desire for a baby; Maura, the sister, whose husband is unfaithful but a good father; Daphne, the other sister, who cannot get pregnant with her husband. These add greater depth to a chick lit type book.

Here's what Publisher's Weekly has to say about Baby Proof.

From Publishers Weekly Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman:

The bestselling author of Something Borrowed and Something Blue now tells the story of what happens after the "I do"s. As a successful editor at a Manhattan publishing house, Claudia Parr counts herself fortunate to meet and marry Ben, a man who claims to be a nonbreeding career-firster like she is. The couple's early married years go smoothly, but then Ben's biological clock starts to tick. A baby's a deal breaker for Claudia, so she moves out and bunks with her college roommate Jess (a 35-year-old blonde goddess stuck in a series of dead-end relationships) while the wheels of divorce crank into action. Even after the divorce is finalized and Claudia embarks on a steamy love affair with her colleague Richard, she begins to doubt her decision when she suspects Ben has found a smart, young and beautiful woman willing to bear his children. Standard fare as far as chick lit goes, but there are strong subplots involving Claudia's sisters (one is coping with infertility, the other with a cheating spouse) and the childless-by-choice plot line produces above-average tension.

The book group thought this was an easy read. Some liked it very much, others less so. If anything we thought it had a flat ending that did not resolve the issues raised by Claudia and Ben about whether they should have children or not. The book did provoke much discussion, especially regarding the pressures put on couples to have children (these may be pressures from both family and friends). We also discussed the question of being childless by choice and how such couples are regarded by their peers as well as family.

As you read this book, here are some questions you might consider:

Do women have to want children?

Can you love children but still not want your own?

Can men and women be satisfied in a childless marriage?

Is there such a thing as a soul-mate?

Did this book challenge any of your ideas of love, marriage and parenthood?

Did you find the book satisfying?

Did the trials of Claudia's sisters add to the story?

Did you like Claudia?

As a point of interest Giffin has twin sons.

Her two previous bestsellers were Something Borrowed, and Something Blue. We have heard that these are both entertaining reads and you may like to check them out.