Baby Proof: A Novel
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

Giffin has made a name for herself with unconventional, extremely popular chick-lit novels that place her heroines in difficult situations; both Something Borrowed (2004) and Something Blue (2005) were surprising and defied the norm. Her third offering places 35-year-old Claudia in an untenable position. When Claudia married Ben, both agreed that they didn't want children. Suddenly, Ben has changed his mind, and he starts pressuring Claudia to reconsider as well. Claudia is resolute--she has never wanted children and is certain she never will. When both she and Ben stick to their guns, it drives a wedge into their relationship, until a big argument over the issue drives Claudia from their apartment. Suddenly, it seems their marriage is over, and Claudia sorrowfully consents to a divorce even though she still loves Ben. Months later, Claudia is still having regrets, and even when she starts dating a handsome, slick publicist, she can't forget Ben. She begins to reevaluate what is most important to her. By avoiding easy answers, Giffin once again proves she's one of the best chick-lit writers in this thoughtful, layered, and wholly original story of a woman facing a major choice in her life. --Kristine Huntley Copyright 2006 Booklist

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. 300,000 announced first printing. (June 13) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

In her third novel (after Something Borrowed and Something Blue), Giffin introduces the character of Claudia Parr, a 35-year-old New York City book editor who has never wanted children. Claudia gets along famously with her husband, Ben, until he changes his own stance on children and decides he wants one after all. At first, she chalks it up to a phase, but soon it becomes clear that the love of her life is choosing fatherhood over her. Devastated, Claudia files for divorce and moves back in with her best friend. To make matters worse, the women closest to Claudia-her two sisters and her best friend-either already have children or are trying to get pregnant. Claudia makes the most of her situation and starts dating an attractive coworker, steadfastly believing she was right to stand by her values. Until, that is, she realizes that being with Ben is what matters the most. A fast-paced and interesting look at the various ways women view motherhood and pregnancy, this is sure to be popular with Giffin's many fans. Recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/06.]-Karen Core, Detroit P.L. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Editor stares down 35 and societal pressure to reproduce in Giffin's underachieving third (Something Blue, 2005, etc.). It's love at first date when motherhood-averse Claudia meets architect Ben, who seconds her dislike of (1) eating at TGI Fridays; (2) leaving Manhattan; and (3) having kids. They marry and revel in childfree-freedom, resisting the benign cajolery of his nurturing family. After all, they have her relatives to serve as advertisements for childlessness: Claudia's narcissistic mother and feckless father; fecund Maura with the philandering husband; and fertility-challenged Daphne. But when the couple's best friends procreate, and Claudia's egg-aging watershed of age 35 looms, Ben has second thoughts about fatherhood. This leads to many pages of attempted relationship renegotiation, until finally Claudia divorces Ben and flees back to her former roommate, investment banker Jess. Claudia puzzles over Ben's about-face, Jess has a pregnancy scare with her married lover Trey, and Claudia beds Richard, her boss at Elgin Press. Fleeting Ben sightings and Googling reveal that he's found a new running partner with great hair, an ER physician named Tucker. The turning point occurs when Richard and Claudia jet off to Italy and he gives her a semi-precious right-hand ring, an objective correlative for "they're just not that into each other." Claudia realizes that she just might do anything to get Ben back, even something maternity-related. When her distracted babysitting lands niece Zoe in the ER for stitches, Tucker appears flaunting a wholly precious left-hand ring. The other baby shoe drops in an unpredictable-enough way, with a deft allusion to "Gift of the Magi," but the novel ducks every challenge it poses for itself. (And some it doesn't, like finding a simile for "attractive" besides "hot.") The characters, puppets of the plot's contrivances, dance around the central question: Is there something wrong with a woman who chooses to forego motherhood? Fewer punches pulled might have made this a knockout. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Giffin has made a name for herself with unconventional, extremely popular chick-lit novels that place her heroines in difficult situations; both Something Borrowed (2004) and Something Blue (2005) were surprising and defied the norm. Her third offering places 35-year-old Claudia in an untenable position. When Claudia married Ben, both agreed that they didn't want children. Suddenly, Ben has changed his mind, and he starts pressuring Claudia to reconsider as well. Claudia is resolute--she has never wanted children and is certain she never will. When both she and Ben stick to their guns, it drives a wedge into their relationship, until a big argument over the issue drives Claudia from their apartment. Suddenly, it seems their marriage is over, and Claudia sorrowfully consents to a divorce even though she still loves Ben. Months later, Claudia is still having regrets, and even when she starts dating a handsome, slick publicist, she can't forget Ben. She begins to reevaluate what is most important to her. By avoiding easy answers, Giffin once again proves she's one of the best chick-lit writers in this thoughtful, layered, and wholly original story of a woman facing a major choice in her life. ((Reviewed April 1, 2006)) Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews.

First comes love, then comes marriage, but Ben and Claudia always agreed they didn't want that baby carriage. What happens when Ben changes his mind? From the best-selling author of Something Borrowed. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

In her third novel (after Something Borrowed and Something Blue ), Giffin introduces the character of Claudia Parr, a 35-year-old New York City book editor who has never wanted children. Claudia gets along famously with her husband, Ben, until he changes his own stance on children and decides he wants one after all. At first, she chalks it up to a phase, but soon it becomes clear that the love of her life is choosing fatherhood over her. Devastated, Claudia files for divorce and moves back in with her best friend. To make matters worse, the women closest to Claudia--her two sisters and her best friend--either already have children or are trying to get pregnant. Claudia makes the most of her situation and starts dating an attractive coworker, steadfastly believing she was right to stand by her values. Until, that is, she realizes that being with Ben is what matters the most. A fast-paced and interesting look at the various ways women view motherhood and pregnancy, this is sure to be popular with Giffin's many fans. Recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/06.]--Karen Core, Detroit P.L.

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. 300,000 announced first printing . (June 13)