Baby Proof by Emily Giffin / Review

Admittedly, I am generally a book snob. Usually I am fairly selective about what I read, and I do classify people as “non-readers”, “readers”, “real readers.” It’s not necessarily nice, but it is the truh. (And after all, there are worse things to be than a book snob. Like a book lemming, for example. That’s far worse.)

Still, every so often after a deluge of heavy, serious reading, I do enjoy some chick lit. It’s not something I’m proud of either, but, in the interest of full disclosure, here it is. For me, an Emily Giffin novel is the right kind of chick lit — usually better written and more creative than your average I-am-a-20-something-wanting-to-find-Prince-Charming-but-oh!-the-scandals-and-foibles-along-the-way-to-my-happy-(usually New York)-ending fare. Plus, she’s a UVa alumna. So what — I’m biased.

All of that being said, I really enjoyed Giffin’s first two novels Something Borrowed and Something Blue. They were easy, fun reads with interesting plots and endearing characters. Not so with Baby Proof. Disappointingly, for me Giffin’s third novel was just another chick lit book.

Claudia Parr, a high-powered New York City book editor, has the seemingly perfect life and marriage to Ben Davenport. Everything collapses, though, when Ben reneges on their pre-marriage pact to never have children.  Suddenly single and missing her “soulmate”, Claudia is forced to decide what she really wants in life and what she is willing to sacrifice in order to have it.

Other than the fact that this novel was an easy read, there was nothing that made me want to read. I felt like I had already read this book a few times over.  No matter how weighty my reading list, it will probably be awhile before I turn to Emily Giffin for relief.