February has finally arrived, and love is in the air. This seemed an appropriate novel to review for this month, as love is at the center of the whole story. While this may not be the "hard hitting" fiction that will find its way onto the best seller lists, or even the best books of the year lists, it is a lovely book that explores the make of up the modern family.
Jill is in graduate school when she discovers she is pregnant. She decides to have the baby, and her much younger boyfriend decides that he is not ready to be a father and abandons them. Jill moves in with her best friends, and the 3 embark on a grand experiment in tri-parenting the new baby named Atlas. The book follows the women as they try to find the balance in parenting, studying, and working (themes anyone can relate to). Soon the girl's parents, grandparents, and happily coupled gay friends are also helping. It truly does take a village. Atlas's father later enters the picture again, and there is a falling out between the friends that is painful for all of them.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in some light reading, with emotional depth. It will leave you thinking about the many different facets of love.
Library Journal web-only (July 30, 2010)
Janey, Jill, and Katie meet in grad school in Seattle and, despite their different personalities, become fast friends. Jill is harsh and straight to the point; Janey, sweet and dependable; and Katie, a devout Mormon on the lookout for her perfect husband. Jill starts dating a great guy, until she gets pregnant and Daniel can't handle her decision to have the baby. Janey has a solution to Jill's dilemma: all three women will move in together and jointly raise the child, named Atlas. This works beautifully for a while as the friends bond with adorable Atlas. But of course, things take a wrong turn. Jill starts abusing her friends' dedication, and when Daniel steps back into the picture, quite an emotional mess ensues. How far can female friendship be pushed? What are the limitations to parenting, and when is a baby yours? Told from Janey's point of view, the narrative is sprinkled with literary techniques that color each chapter beautifully. Verdict Frankel's debut is a wonderful literary treat that offers a fresh twist on the modern family, one that relies on the bonds of women.-Beth Gibbs, Davidson, NC Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.
