When I first picked this book up, I was a bit wary that the baby would be used as a plot device or centerpiece – thankfully I was wrong! This book is GREAT. The narrative is sharp, the dialogue realistic & hilarious; I found myself both laughing out loud AND legitimately almost tearing up out of sadness more than once. I loved how you’re just immediately thrust into the lives of Vanessa and Adrian— their lives are far from perfect, but they (especially Vanessa) strive to make the best of it, always. Vanessa & Adrian are both such good people who have the unfortunate burden of carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. It was refreshing to see both of them, and their families, acknowledge and take accountability for their actions & decisions, even if that didn’t always mean a perfect or clear-cut solution.

I also loved the overarching theme of what it means to be someone’s partner, to be part of a family. What do we expect from the people we love? What are our obligations to one another, and what do we feel we are owed in return, if anything? How far are we willing to go for love in all of its uncertainty? More importantly, how do we go about recognizing unhealthy coping mechanisms & set boundaries for ourselves when it comes to the people we love most? I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a romcom read that is both cute & gracefully touches on some heavier topics!