asipofcozy's reviews
206 reviews

Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--And What You Really Need to Know by Emily Oster

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informative medium-paced

3.75

As with any non-fiction book where there is a bunch of science/facts thrown in and I just don't know how to put into a logical review, we are going to break it down into two list - what I liked, and what I didn't like.

What I liked:
  • I loved that Oster takes the most controversial topics around pregnancy (eating sushi, smoking, listeria risks, caffeine intake, etc) and breaks it down statistically to give the actual facts on the risks and leaves it up to you if you want to take that risk.
  • There is no bias, Oster isn't saying to take any of her recommendations as gospel. She is giving us the tools to make our own decisions and giving us the facts.
  • Im a numbers person and I like stats to help me make well informed decisions besides just the medical reasoning - so I definitely ate up the data.



What I did not like:
  • It's not a book to pick up if you are looking for a break down of what you will go through physically and mentally with pregnancy. Which I already knew going in 
  • There are some very obvious answers to the questions she addresses - i.e. smoking, drugs, etc. - and it seemed kind of pointless to have those added into the book when even she gives them a big NO just as doctors do.
  • She relies on her own statistics and research on medical studies to create her conclusion and doesn't get the input from medical professionals. While I think she did a great job at showing the research, I think having some medical voice backing her stats and findings may appease those that can't just rely on the numbers. It also would have added credence to her trying to explain very scientific/medical situations.
  • Sometime's I feel like the topics she chose were to make her feel better on the choices she was making rather than to help other's. At times it felt like she was justifying her decision's she made during pregnancy.
Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Honestly surprised with how much I enjoyed this! I love main characters that are not always 100% good, I especially love it when the love interest isn't very good either. Two very morally gray characters coming together, each with their own agenda. Loved it!
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That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

That was definitely a fun and interesting ride! I loved the adventurous, cozy-fantasy style aspect that we were given with many comedic intervals along the way. It's a book I would recommend if you are in a reading slump and need something easy to pick-up or something after a serious read/series. However, not really a big fan of the middle-grade like writing with very cringe sex scenes. 
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What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

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informative medium-paced

3.5

Definitely has been helpful to answer a lot of questions and concerns I have had thus far in pregnancy. It actually covered a lot of questions that many other pregnancy books don't touch on which was nice!

What I liked:
  • Contained a lot of great information and a lot of questions that many pregnant women ask.
  • Contains a break down of month-by-month and week-by-week of what you can expect and what's going on with baby.

What I didn't like:
  • It pushes breastfeeding and doesn't give any alternatives. All pregnancy books tend to say "breast is best" but many still go over formula and bottle feeding, this one does not. It encourages and pushes breastfeeding as the only option and doesn't discuss alternatives.
  • It's a dry read, this is definitely not a cutesy pregnancy book and you need the brain power at times to get through it.
  • It tends to follow the very strict guidelines on debunked pregnancy myths (coffee, sleeping on back, eating sushi, etc.) which contradicts a lot of what doctors say now of days and studies show.
  • Fear based approach to examples given - definitely don't think putting fear in first time mom's is the way to go. Especially around birth examples.
  • If you are looking at a  naturopathic pregnancy route, definitely wouldn't recommend reading this. Read for what the body is going through and the baby growth but not the recommendations.
Bumpin': The Modern Guide to Pregnancy: Navigating the Wild, Weird, and Wonderful Journey From Conception Through Birth and Beyond by Leslie Schrock

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informative

3.75

As with any non-fiction book where there is a bunch of science/facts thrown in and I just don't know how to put into a logical review, we are going to break it down into two list - what I liked, and what I didn't like.

What I liked:
  • I wish I had picked this book up when I first found out I was pregnant, it answered a lot of questions I had that I turned to google for. 
  • The information that is provided is reviewed by an OB-GYN, nurses, doula's, etc and a lot of the information is referenced and cited. 
  • I like that it gives practical, straightforward advice on planning and preparing for getting pregnant, while pregnant, and after birth.
  • If you are into history and how certain birth/parenting practices came to be, the author provides some background history of different medical procedures, birthing, clothing, formula vs. breastfeeding. I found it quite interesting.


What I did not like:
  • It would have been nice for more behind-the-scenes, monthly insight into what's going on with your body and your baby.
  • It gives the generic advice your doctor would give, or what Dr.Google would give at times. Which means there is only really one side and not many other sides of research is brought in. 
  • If you are planning for a hospital birth then definitely is the book to pick up. If you are leaning towards home births or birth centers, the author really doesn't focus on these. She discusses them but her primary focus in this book is hospital and hospital focused.
  • A lot of the medical information, insurance information, maternity/paternity leave policies are around the American Health System and American processes. So unfortunately a lot of the information can be unrelatable in that instance. 

Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood--And Trusting Yourself and Your Body by Erica Chidi Cohen

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informative medium-paced

3.5

I really don't know how to express my thoughts on books like this, so we are going to break it down into two list - what I liked, and what I didn't like.

What I liked:
  • I liked the holistic approach to pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. It really helped me get into a more positive mindset on pregnancy and the current experiences and anxieties I am having.
  • The view that all birth is natural no matter what path you take. So many comments, TikTok videos, posts are degrading women for the choice they make when it comes to how they birth their child (usually medicated vs. unmedicated). Carrying and growing a baby for 9+ months is as natural as you're going to get, why bring other's down for the birth!
  • Helped with mentally preparing for birth!
  • The product lists/resources at the back of the book could definitely be helpful but were still generic and the author seemed geared towards certain brands over others.

What I did not like:
  • The lack of science/research/evidence behind what the author is saying. One prime example is the author recommends using certain essential oils but when you look up the research on essential oils (orally and topically) there is a lot of research that is still unsure how safe oils actually are. A specific one was Clary Sage essential oil. She talks about ways to use it, but research states that there might be a link to premature labor/miscarriages when using it. So before you take the homeopathy advice/home remedies DO YOUR RESEARCH!
  • While the author does make the statement and continues to state all birth paths are natural, you can definitely see in her writing that the unmedicated, home birth route is the superior option to being In a hospital or getting medical (epidural) assistance. So she tends to contradict herself.
  • This 90% of the book read as a self-help book vs. a pregnancy book. A lot of recipes and exercises on fixing the past you.
  • If you are here for a month by month, week-by-week play of what's going on with your body and body definitely not here.
  • This book seems to be geared for upper-class individuals as the author makes a lot suggestions around getting massages, hiring private doulas and home nurses and night nurses, going to birth centers over hospitals or even home births. Which realistically most parents cannot afford half of these items. 
  • It can be very very hippy at times.


The Simplest Pregnancy Book in the World: The Illustrated, Grab-And-Do Guide for a Healthy, Happy Pregnancy and Childbirth by S. M. Gross

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informative medium-paced

4.0

Has great infographic information and just a basic understanding of pregnancy and what to expect when you first become pregnant. For me personally I felt disconnected from the text because from the way it was written it was like "one size fits all" kind of book and that is not the case. It goes over the most common symptoms most people have with some information on exercise and food to be slightly outdated. Also many parts of the book never really fit my experience and so I didn't feel like it was as helpful as it could have been. 

If you are having a normal run of the mill pregnancy with morning sickness, normal 1st trimester symptoms, and want to know a little of the science then definitely it's a great book to start with. Also the checklists were helpful at times!
Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I just absolutely love this series so much, never want it to end!
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Night of the Dragon by Julie Kagawa

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a great finale to a really good trilogy. Went into the trilogy apprehensive after reading the first book many years ago. However, I have loved the journey through each book and how well rounded the character's came out to be in the end. I loved that the action continued to flow throughout the 300 pages and so we were never left dangling or lingering too long in one place. For a book less than 400 pages it sure packed a punch.

I love every single one of the character's and my heart strings (and tear ducts) were tugged constantly. Kagawa did so well with these character arcs.

I wish there was an epilogue to the epilogue. 
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