Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Babyville

3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 · rating details · 13,828 ratings · 407 reviews

Meet Julia, a wildly successful television producer who appears to have the picture-perfect life. But beneath the surface, things are not as perfect as they seem. Stuck in a loveless relationship with her boyfriend, Mark, Julia thinks a baby is the answer . . . but she may want a baby more than she wants her boyfriend. Maeve, on the other hand, is allergic to commitment. A...more

Paperback, 464 pages

Published March 23rd 2004 by Broadway Books (first published September 1st 2000)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Favorite Chick-Lit

111th out of 1,229 books — 3,050 voters

One Word Titles

182nd out of 582 books — 58 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Dec 10, 2008 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, jane-green, 2003

This was not my favorite Jane Green novel.

It was the story of three women - Julia, Maeve and Sam. All three women are struggling with their relationships and - more truthfully - their identity.

I get that we - as women - struggle with who we are and how to define ourselves apart from our "better half" and our ability to procreate. I really do get that. I guess I struggled with taking it seriously with this book - which is probably why I didn't like it too much. I had little empathy for any of t...more

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 03, 2007 Cristina rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: The ladies!

This is another that I already have forgotten what happened. It's a good "nothing else to read" book that won't disappoint with lower expectations.

The problem with Jane Green novels is that after reading one, you've kind of "read them all". HOWEVER, I still enjoy them. They are easy and go so fast. They make great vacation books.

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 02, 2008 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is about three women in their thirties, Julia, Maeve, and Sam.

Julia is a producer with a live in boyfriend who is "trapped" in a boring relationship. Like so many people I know in real life, she realizes deep down that she is not happy, but after investing 4 years in a relationship she is determined to make it work. She figures that the spark always goes out in a relationship. Julia, like so many people in real life, doesn't know how to make herself happy and when her boyfriend Mark d...more This book is about three women in their thirties, Julia, Maeve, and Sam.

Julia is a producer with a live in boyfriend who is "trapped" in a boring relationship. Like so many people I know in real life, she realizes deep down that she is not happy, but after investing 4 years in a relationship she is determined to make it work. She figures that the spark always goes out in a relationship. Julia, like so many people in real life, doesn't know how to make herself happy and when her boyfriend Mark does not make her happy, she decides that she needs a baby. Julia takes her obsession with trying to conceive way too far, bursting into tears at the sight of pregnant women and trying countless rituals to get pregnant. In the end, her resentment proves too much and she blames Mark for her inability to conceive. They have a terrible fight, she flees to New York and once she is outside of the relationship, she realizes that she was feeling stifled. Julia throws herself into single life and...CUT - the chapters on Julia end.

The story moves on to Maeve, a thirtysomething woman who replaces Julia in her producer job. Maeve is commitment phobic, as she was raised by a single mom who swung from relationship to relationship. Maeve is morally bankrupt and finds herself pregnant by Mark after a one night stand. Maeve seriously contemplates abortion but as she gets to know Mark she decides to keep the baby. This section ends with Maeve in labor.

The third section is about Sam, Julia's best friend. Sam is kind of the "glue" - through Sam we learn what happens to Julia and Maeve. Sam's section is about a woman who is probably suffering from postpartum depression but is also feeling a lot of emotions that many new mothers feel. She feels fat and unattractive, lonely and bored (but doesn't want to return to work) and the only good thing she feels that she has going on in her life is her baby. In a bid to cheer her up, her husband sets up a "date" with another couple. The husband in the other couple (Dan) is a complete sleaze and he flirts with Sam. Sam, totally vulnerable and frustrated with her husband already due to her depression, falls head over heels for Dan. She starts to lose weight, buy new clothes, and basically acts like a college girl. Her husband isn't sure what is going on, but he's thrilled that Sam isn't depressed anymore. Ultimately, Sam finds out that Dan is a sleaze and they live happily ever after.

The ending of this novel, needless to say, is feel good. All of the women end up happy. The story is a typical chick lit Hollywood movie kind of story. Jane Green is not a great writer - she writes in the present tense and her style is too repetitive for me. I seriously considered putting this book down forever during the Julia section (at least the first 100 pages). Julia is so insipid and whiny that I just couldn't bear it. Nonetheless, I know several women like Julia so it is realistic. Once I moved on to Maeve, the book improved markedly and I began to enjoy it more. By the end, I was sorry to have finished it. (less)

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2008 Melynda Yesenia rated it 1 of 5 stars

i'm really glad this was a trashbook, totally free.

total, unabashed chicklit. however, this also managed to keep me interested past the first three pages which is usually all i can stand of the genre. a quick pace, imperfect characters and rotating narrators all help to temper the fluff-factor of the story and writing style.

still, i couldn't ultimately care. some of the resolutions refrained from being totally cookie-cutter perfect but i still wanted one of the women to become a real person-- p...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 04, 2009 Donna rated it 1 of 5 stars

This rating/review is based on getting to about page 60 of this book. I couldn't read past that. I found the storyline to be not all that interesting. Hardly any of the main characters were likable people. And it was coarse and vulgar. After 60 pages, I knew I couldn't read another couple of hundred pages of this. Disappointing chick lit!

1 like · like · see review

Sep 27, 2010 Julie added it · review of another edition

Shelves: bookmooched, chick, lit, in, 2007, but, no, longer, own

I tried to force myself to finish this book after reading the "Julia" segment. Ultimately, I failed. I am an avid reader of all types of books, including chick lit. As the mother of two young children, I had looked forward to some light summer reading about women going through the same phase of life. However, these women are nothing like me or any of the many thirty-something women and mothers that I know. For example, how many women are DESPERATE to get pregnant, and then dash off to New York,...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 04, 2008 Candice rated it 1 of 5 stars

Oh my. Having a hard time with this one-- I'm about 115 pages in and its pretty insipid; total SNORESVILLE and predictable... I might have to give up soon... I have no idea how someone could give this anything more than 2 stars... I keep thinking it might pick up or get interesting or better...

yeah, if I could give it 1.5 stars I would, but overall, yeasch. half star would go for the humiliation at the end of the book heard over the baby monitor-- wow, that was terrible. Other than that, ugh.

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 15, 2013 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Read to the end of this only because I have nothing else to read at the moment. It was so predictable and twee. Julia's section was the worst because I couldn't warm to her at all - she was completely crazy! Blaming her husband for her inability to conceive because "I had an abortion in my teens" - but refusing to get either of them tested, because nothing could have possibly changed since then, don't you know. Instead relying on stupid semi-magical remedies like juniper berries and bizarre paga...more

like · see review

Jul 25, 2012 Connie Fischer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Julia wants a baby desperately and is unable to conceive. She focuses so hard on becoming pregnant to the point that she drives her boyfriend away. Maeve almost breaks out in a rash at the thought of being a mother. However, a night of - oops - unprotected sex changes all of that for her. At first, she tries to convince herself that she couldn't possibly be pregnant and tries to ignore the whole thing. Then, she is determined to have an abortion yet keeps putting it off until it's too late. Sama...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 02, 2011 Ayuwidya Ayuwidya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bercerita dari tiga sudut pandang perempuan dan kehidupannya. Julia, perempuan yang terobsesi punya bayi, tapi saat ia cuti kantor ia meyakini sebuah kebenaran yang selama ini tidak berani ia akui. Ia tidak yakin bahwa pasangannya, Mark, adalah orang yang tepat untuknya. Maeve, perempuan yang tidak berencana punya anak, malah punya anak dari Mark. Ia berencana untuk aborsi dan berkeras untuk tidak hidup bersama Mark. Sam, sahabat Julia yang kemudian juga jadi sahabat Maeve. Ibu rumah tangga yang...more Bercerita dari tiga sudut pandang perempuan dan kehidupannya. Julia, perempuan yang terobsesi punya bayi, tapi saat ia cuti kantor ia meyakini sebuah kebenaran yang selama ini tidak berani ia akui. Ia tidak yakin bahwa pasangannya, Mark, adalah orang yang tepat untuknya. Maeve, perempuan yang tidak berencana punya anak, malah punya anak dari Mark. Ia berencana untuk aborsi dan berkeras untuk tidak hidup bersama Mark. Sam, sahabat Julia yang kemudian juga jadi sahabat Maeve. Ibu rumah tangga yang kelimpungan mengurus anak yang masih kecil. Ia merasa salah memilih suami dan jatuh cinta pada laki-laki lain.

Jane Green bermain pada pemikiran perempuan-perempuan modern tentang bayi. Bayi dalam novel ini ditokohkan menjadi figure yang membuat perempuan-perempuan ini berfikir ulang mengenai hidupnya. Bayi kemudian menjadi topik sentral yang mendominasi pikiran tokoh-tokoh perempuan dan menjungkirbalikkan kehidupannya.

Dilihat dari kajian antar budaya, tentu saja pemikiran tokoh-tokoh perempuan moderen tentang bayi ini sangat berbeda dengan budaya yang tertanam di pemikiran perempuan-perempuan Indonesia, mayoritas. Contohnya Julia, ia tinggal bersama dengan Mark, ingin punya bayi darinya, tapi ia tidak ingin menikah dengannya karena belum yakin. Maeve yang mengandung anak Mark, ia tidak menganggap Mark adalah Ayahnya, tapi hanya laki-laki yang menghamilinya. Punya bayi tidak menjadi alasan untuk seorang perempuan mengejar laki-laki yang menghamilinya dan minta dinikahi. Bandingkan dengan beberapa produksi fiksi Indonesia yang menjadikan hal ini menjadi tema.

Lebih dalam, menarik juga dilihat dari studi gender ketika perempuan menjadi sangat obsesif terhadap tubuhnya. Meskipun ia mengandung anak, yang tentunya meilibatkan substansi tubuh laki-laki, tetap mereka menganggap semua yang ada di tubuhnya adalah miliknya. Segala keputusan mengenai tubuhnya absolut di tangannya. Termasuk untuk melakukan aborsi, perempuan tidak merasa perlu meminta persetujuan laki-laki. Dalam novel ini, terlihat juga bahwa laki-laki menyetujui paham ‘perempuan pemilik tubuhnya’ ini.

Namun, bagaimanapun si tokoh-tokoh perempuan ini direpresentasikan sebagai perempuan yang gagah, di akhirnya mereka berteduh di pelukan laki-laki. Jane Green mengembalikan cerita ke jalur fiksi romantis yaitu happily ever after.

(less)

like · see review

Jun 03, 2011 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit

One of the better Jane Green books I have read recently. Three stories of three different girls are intertwined in a non-intrusive way. Pretty much the one thing the stories all had in common was that the characters all where on a path that they all thought they wanted, something happened that they could have controlled, but chose not and they where all happy with the outcome anyway, even if it wasn't what they originally planned.

Julia wants a baby with her boyfriend whom she is not happy with,...more One of the better Jane Green books I have read recently. Three stories of three different girls are intertwined in a non-intrusive way. Pretty much the one thing the stories all had in common was that the characters all where on a path that they all thought they wanted, something happened that they could have controlled, but chose not and they where all happy with the outcome anyway, even if it wasn't what they originally planned.

Julia wants a baby with her boyfriend whom she is not happy with, but thinks a kid will change that. They try for like a year and nothing and she assumed it's him, cause she got pregnant many moons ago when she was younger. She gets so depressed with the whole situation (even though she does nothing about it, like going to a doctor) and her job forces her on sabbatical and she flees to New York where one of her best friends live. Loves it, ends up being for the best.

Maeve, the non-stop party girl, takes over Julia's job while she is on sabbatical and hooks up with Julia's boyfriend (who also works at the same company) and she becomes pregnant during a one night stand. Babies are the last thing on her mind and she debates getting an abortion and puts it off so long that it becomes too late. She tells Mark (the boyfriend) and he is elated by the news and they get to know each other better during her story.

Sam is Julia's other best friend who has a new born baby. All she wanted in life was to be a full time mother, but she is learning that it's not all it cracked up to be. She is board, but she refuses to hire help a few days a week to give her some time for herself. Her marriage is suffering and as soon as she meets Jack, the husband of a friend of Chris (her husband), she falls in love with him and is convinced they are going to have an affair. Sam becomes friends with Maeve because she is also a new mother in the neighborhood and knows that this idea is bad. Ends up that Jack is only flirting with her because he knows she likes him, but has no plans to do anything (as Sam overhears Jack and his wife talking about it over the baby monitor). I wish they had brought in Maeve earlier in this story, as you could see it coming a mile away.

To many problems that just "luckily" worked themselves out when actions could have been used to avoid it all, but where not used. I did like the intertwined relationships the girls had with each other and that the reader was not beaten over the head with them. They overlapped and moved the story along as well.

Grade: B(less)

like · see review

Apr 05, 2011 Alyssa rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I don't know how this book is possibly rated so highly on goodreads. The story itself seemed generally relatable and appealing (mid-30s woman feels the biological clock ticking, wants to have a baby with boyfriend she isn't interested in so much after 4 years, she's jealous of friends with babies). I was interested to read it because it would represent "mommy lit" as a subgenre of chick lit. However, the writing was SO awful that I could not finish the book. I gave it a chance and read the first...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 21, 2009 BarkLessWagMore rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, chick-lit

I read Babyville as an abridged audiobook (only because an unabridged format was unavailable to me) and it wasn’t the witty, sarcastic read I was expecting it to be. At times it was downright depressing and sometimes irritating. What happened to the humor Green’s previous books were lauded for? Was it all cut out in this abridged version? If so, that’s a shame for both the author and the reader.

This version of Babyville features the stories of three women all facing baby issues of one sort or an...more I read Babyville as an abridged audiobook (only because an unabridged format was unavailable to me) and it wasn’t the witty, sarcastic read I was expecting it to be. At times it was downright depressing and sometimes irritating. What happened to the humor Green’s previous books were lauded for? Was it all cut out in this abridged version? If so, that’s a shame for both the author and the reader.

This version of Babyville features the stories of three women all facing baby issues of one sort or another and whose lives intertwine in the most unexpected of ways. Julia’s story is first. When the story opens Julia is a successful businesswoman who, at first glance, appears to be in a satisfying relationship with her long-time beau Mark. But trouble simmers below the surface. Julia and Mark’s once passion-filled relationship has fallen into a rut. Julia feels stifled, bored even, by her quiet life with Mark. She’s an outgoing city girl and Mark is a homebody. She’s comprised much to make a life with Mark and has decided that having a baby will fix everything wrong in their relationship. She couldn’t be more mistaken but that’s beside the point because the two soon realize conceiving isn’t quite as easy as they expected. Julia obsesses over becoming pregnant, ruining her business reputation and straining her already troubled relationship to the breaking point. Julia’s pain, frustration and misguided anger are realistic and dramatically written and Mark’s tolerant attitude is almost pitiful. It’s easy to feel the pain of this couple and when the inevitable happens it’s was quite a relief.

Next up is Maeve’s story. Maeve is another successful career gal but one who is desperate to avoid babies at all costs. She has no interest in kids and intends to keep it that way. When an out of the ordinary encounter with a handsome colleague leads to a one night stand that leaves her pregnant she immediately makes an appointment to have an abortion. Everything changes when she tells the impregnator of her condition and realizes that she is not alone in this after all. Maeve grows incredibly as a character and her relationship is the most satisfying of this trio. Unfortunately, because so much is going on (what with the three separate stories and all) her story quickly ends and the focus shifts to Samantha (Sam).

Sam is happily married to her long-time love Chris and is expecting a baby when the book begins. When her story rolls around she is a new mom intent on becoming the Best Mom Ever. She spends her days cooking organic meals for baby George and neglecting her long-suffering (but always loving) husband. Eventually she feels unappreciated and fat and contemplates having a lusty affair with a new friends’ husband with near disastrous (and very embarrassing) results. Initially, I really liked Sam and felt horrible for her as her depression continued to spiral out of control. But as her story progressed she came off as somewhat of a self-centered nitwit and I lost a huge chunk of respect for her character though she does redeem herself in the end thankfully.

As a working woman and a mother I could find a bit of myself in each of these women and I suspect many of us can as well. But, though their plights are realistic it is often difficult to like these women completely (at least in this version). They come across as self-centered and shallow. The men actually come off much more loving and tolerant than the gals.

Another problem was the fact that this audio moves fast. Just as we’re getting to know the characters the storyline switches focus to an entirely different set of people with different “baby” issues. Is it the abridged format or just the way the book was written? I guess I’ll never know because I don’t feel inclined to read the unabridged version after this experience.(less)

like · see review

Oct 04, 2010 Brooke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

It has been a while since I delved into the British Chick-Lit scene....the title of this book caught my attention from the book share table at my gym and I'm so glad it did! While not a stellar piece of fiction, I really enjoyed this book. Being early on in my pregnancy when reading it (4 months) I was able to relate with most of the characters & loved their growth. Even when some of the characters were doing not-so-happy things, you could understand where they were coming from (blinders on...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 18, 2013 Sariah rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Nov 29, 2012 Farah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chicklit, reviewed

Akhir-akhir ini gue selalu bermasalah sama novel terjemahan.

Nemu kalimat yang berasa ngga enak dikit, langsung turn off. Males lanjutin baca. Itu yang terjadi sama beberapa buku yang udah mulai gue baca dari berbulan-bulan lalu tapi sampe sekarang masih aja belom kelar. Itu karena gue tinggalin acara baca bukunya di tengah jalan. Lanjutin bacanya entar aja kapan-kapan hiahahaha.

Tapi novel ini salah satu yang selamat dari perasaan sudden turn off. Mungkin karena seperti The Man I Should Have Marr...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 28, 2011 Patti rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was my first Jane Green book. I definitely like her stuff - I like the plots and characters, so I was willing after this to read her other books - I picked this because it seemed like a good place to start. It will remain to be seen if I like all of those, too, but I'm at least willing to read them - quick reads, so at least beach-worthy (not that I get to actually *read* at the beach anymore, but you know what I mean). I have some gripes and some likes which follow.

I'm still not sure if I...more This was my first Jane Green book. I definitely like her stuff - I like the plots and characters, so I was willing after this to read her other books - I picked this because it seemed like a good place to start. It will remain to be seen if I like all of those, too, but I'm at least willing to read them - quick reads, so at least beach-worthy (not that I get to actually *read* at the beach anymore, but you know what I mean). I have some gripes and some likes which follow.

I'm still not sure if I like her writing style. I understand the need for writing in 3rd person (heck, I often do it myself), but at least during the first 1/3 of this book, I wasn't keen on her switching voices constantly without any warning. It's a bit distracting not to really know who it is that is supposed to be talking/thinking. I think what probably bothered me about they style was that she was playing fast and loose with what I'd consider 3rd person - it almost seemed lazy. I guess I feel like I can say that as a writer; sure, it's a pain to have to craft the story so that you can tell multiple points of view, but she, literally, switches to another paragraph and that's IT. So, you can be reading and you're in one person's head and then in the very next paragraph, you're in another person's head, no warning, no way of knowing except that you have to figure it out. It's a good thing the plots are not more complex and it isn't a heavily detailed story like Diana Gabaldon's novels, because this style would NEVER work in that setting.

I enjoyed the book more when she switched to 1st person in Maeve's voice. The writing flowed well and I almost think I'd rather read her stuff if it's written in 1st person - she seems to write better when she limits the perspective of her story. I guess maybe I prefer to employ the device that Diana Gabaldon uses, where it's blatantly obvious another voice is being used, a different character is offering their perspective. Maybe it's a British thing? I don't know.

One thing I really *did* like was the fact that the stories wove together in such a way that the chronology overlapped AND progressed between the thirds of the book. That might annoy some people, but I actually liked it. It was, in some ways, like there were 3 novellas and they were woven into a single story.

I also liked most of the characters, probably with the exception of Julia. I didn't hate Julia but I was seriously annoyed with her. It might have been the fact that she was obsessed with having a baby but for the wrong reasons. She was supposed to have been a more mature, sophisticated woman than to have tried to hold on to a man and a relationship she had never really wanted. If Mark hadn't pursued her, she would never have given him a second thought. She knew things weren't working for nearly 3 of the 4 years they were together. And yet, she wanted to have a BABY with him? Eh, yeah, she definitely annoyed me. Up until the point when she finally got a clue, that is. Maeve and Sam just seemed to me like more believable characters. Chris and Mark were both fantastic catches in my opinion, but obviously for the right woman.

So, this got 3 stars because I liked the story overall, liked the ultimate result, despite the fact that there were bits where I didn't love the writing. I'm interested to see what her other books are like.(less)

like · see review

Nov 21, 2012 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I feel like I've been in a perma-reading slump since ... oh, around the end of the summer. While I've read some books that I've enjoyed over the last few months, there hasn't been one book that's really resonated with me and made me jump out of my seat with joy. Everything's been just okay.

As I've written about before, my husband and I are expecting our first baby in early February next year. My coworker, who only reads chick lit (and, even then, doesn't read that frequently) picked up a copy of...more I feel like I've been in a perma-reading slump since ... oh, around the end of the summer. While I've read some books that I've enjoyed over the last few months, there hasn't been one book that's really resonated with me and made me jump out of my seat with joy. Everything's been just okay.

As I've written about before, my husband and I are expecting our first baby in early February next year. My coworker, who only reads chick lit (and, even then, doesn't read that frequently) picked up a copy of Jane Green's Babyville before heading on holiday in October. She enjoyed it and said it was a good lighthearted beach read. Even though she doesn't have kids, and doesn't intend to have kids, she said that she enjoyed the story and thought that I would too. So I started reading it one Saturday morning ... and then my day disappeared.

It wasn't an amazing book (I'm still waiting for my jump-out-of-my-seat-with-joy title), but it definitely sucked me in. The story is told in three parts, starting with Julia who desperately wants a baby and isn't having any luck, which is driving a wedge between her and her husband. Then is Maeve's story, who is fiercely independent and doesn't plan to ever settle down with one guy and definitely doesn't want a baby ... but discovers that she's pregnant after a one-night stand. And finally, there's Sam's story, who's the new mom who's trying to figure out how to balance it all.

I love books that involve different characters and different storylines, yet somehow the characters all become connected and intertwined in one another's lives and this book definitely had that going for it. I didn't notice at the time, but Goodreads says that the book is written in present tense, which perhaps boosted its un-put-down-ability. (The only other title that I can really recall reading in the present tense is The Hunger Games, and I remember the writing style definitely contributing to the pace of the book -- when a writer writes in present tense, you're in the moment with the character, rather than hearing the character reflect on what he or she did previously. It definitely creates tension and drama.) I'm surprised that I didn't notice the tense in Babyville, but perhaps that's because I was just coasting along with the fun, lighthearted storyline.

So, if you're looking for a lighthearted easy read, this one is definitely one to check out. The same coworker has also lent me a copy of Jane Green's The Other Woman, which I'll be checking out soon ... especially if this reading slump doesn't hit the road soon.(less)

like · see review

Jun 06, 2011 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, family-parenting, new-york, british-chick-lit, overdrive-media, library

Cute story. This was my first book by Jane Green and I loved the audio version; The narator had a beautiful voice, appropriate accent and excellent elocution. What I really loved about this story was the merging of characters and events. The story began with Mark and Julia, a couple who have dated for a long time; they are trying desperately to have a baby to no avail. Julia blames Mark and takes off for NYC for some downtime with a girlfriend. In the meantime, Mark meats Maeve, an up and coming...more

like · see review

Apr 29, 2009 Weni rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chicklit

Semua tentang bayi...
Ada Julia yang terobsesi utk punya bayi. Menganggap hadirnya seorang anak akan menjadi solusi atas hubungannya yang semakin hambar dengan Mark (mereka blm nikah, tp tinggal bersama). Situasi makin memburuk ketika Julia mengungkapkan kekecewaannya, seolah Mark lah yang tdk bisa punya anak (Julia sdh pernah hamil dan menggugurkan kandungannya). Julia akhirnya pergi ke New York bersama Bella, merasa lega krn tdk lagi bersama Mark, bahkan tdk lagi terobsesi untuk punya anak.

Lalu...more Semua tentang bayi...
Ada Julia yang terobsesi utk punya bayi. Menganggap hadirnya seorang anak akan menjadi solusi atas hubungannya yang semakin hambar dengan Mark (mereka blm nikah, tp tinggal bersama). Situasi makin memburuk ketika Julia mengungkapkan kekecewaannya, seolah Mark lah yang tdk bisa punya anak (Julia sdh pernah hamil dan menggugurkan kandungannya). Julia akhirnya pergi ke New York bersama Bella, merasa lega krn tdk lagi bersama Mark, bahkan tdk lagi terobsesi untuk punya anak.

Lalu ada Maeve, yang menggantikan posisi Julia di kantor ketika Julia pergi ke New York. Maeve alergi pada komitmen. Punya bayi sama sekali tdk ada dalam agendanya. Bayi hanya akan merepotkan dan mengganggu karirnya. Manusia boleh berencana, Tuhan yang menentukan :D Seks semalamnya dengan Mark ternyata membuat Maeve hamil. Maeve ingin aborsi tp Mark, stlh tau bhw dia adalah ayah si bayi, meminta Maeve pikir2 dulu. Mark begitu bahagia akan menjadi ayah. Melihat perhatian Mark dan (terutama) melihat calon anaknya melalui USG, Maeve berubah pikiran.

Terakhir, ada Sam, sahabat Julia. Kehidupan pernikahannya sangat menyenangkan. Sampai George, buah cintanya, lahir. Sam menjadi orang yang berbeda. Dia tergila2 pada George, tp melupakan dirinya sendiri dan Chris suaminya. Sam berusaha keras jadi ibu terbaik. Semua dikerjakan sendiri. Dia letih tp tdk ingin dibantu. Dia mengalami stress pasca melahirkan tp tdk mau mengakui. Hari2nya diisi dengan kemarahan dan dilampiaskan pd suaminya. Bahkan lama kelamaan Sam merasa Chris bukanlah suami yang tepat buatnya. Dan ia mulai tergoda dengan pria lain, suami teman Chris, yang memang suka menggoda wanita.

Seperti umumnya kisah chicklit, cerita ini juga berakhir bahagia. Maeve menjadi teman Sam dan hidup berbahagia dengan Mark dan Poppy, putri mereka. Sam menyadari kekeliruan dan kebodohannya. Chris adalah laki2 terbaik buatnya. Julia menetap di New York, berpacaran dengan Jack, dan hamil.

Bagaimanapun, saya lebih menyukai karya Sophie Kinsella hehe...(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 08, 2008 Angela rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Quite possibly one of the worst books I ever read. It makes women look flightly and indecisive without really addressing serious issues the characters face in a way that is appropriate to their problems. Also, if you are even remotely thinking of having a baby, don't read this book! It makes having kids sound like a death sentence!

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 04, 2010 Melissa (i swim for oceans) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I love Jane Green's writing. I really do. I think she creates fun rom-coms, great characters, and entertaining plots. That said, Babyville was the epitome of boring for me. I found it incredibly difficult to relate to the characters...perhaps because I am absolutely nothing like either of them? Or...it could be the fact that I'm pretty sure each character was a stereotype.

Now, I don't like giving bad reviews. It makes me sad when a book slips right out of my mind after I've read it, or I have to...more

like · see review

Dec 16, 2007 Kelly (TheWellReadRedhead) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, chick-lit, pregnancy-motherhood-baby

I loved Jemima J, and thought Mr. Maybe was so-so. I was prepared to go either way with this one, and I did enjoy it quite a bit. I thought the 3 perspectives in the novel were interesting, and I took a particular liking to Maeve. Green did a great job of weaving all the stories together. A fun, light read!

3 likes · like · see review

May 12, 2013 Dark-Draco rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gave-up-reading

'Chick-lit' isn't my favourite genre, although I have enjoyed reading some of it, so it has to grab me from the off to persuade me it's worth sticking with. Sadly, I didn't get to the end of the second chapter. Julia isn't sure she has the right man in Mark and decides that having a baby will make it all better - even after she admits to herself that she knows this isn't a good idea. Errrrr so why do it? I might have stayed with it just to see her get kicked in the teeth for it, but the writing...more

like · see review

Sep 02, 2010 Abby rated it 1 of 5 stars

As the title would suggest, this book is all about babies. Trying to get pregnant, trying not to get pregnant, and adjusting to life after pregnancy with a newborn.

What could have been an interesting look at the topic was spoiled by three of the most unlikeable main characters I have ever encountered in a fictional book, as well as a completely, pat, happy ending undeserved by the characters. All three women were completely selfish and self absorbed, and it's next to immpossible to enjoy a book...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 24, 2013 Melissa Chambers rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another slam dunk from one of my favorite authors, Jane Green. I love how she has the ability to create flawed characters who we may or may not even root for, but who we see qualities of ourselves and people we know in. I love the separate but intertwining stories in this novel, and getting into the heads of these very real characters and hearing the thoughts they would never dream of revealing to anyone. Ms. Green has a unique talent.

Footnote: I started this book about seven or eight years ago...more

like · see review

Feb 10, 2009 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

When i read this book i just couldn't put it down i wanted to know what was going to happen next for the characters in the book. I love the fact that each of the three main women in the book are concentrated on with there own little mini books in the book...

1 like · like · see review

Sep 04, 2011 Katie GrazingPages rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shock horror, a book that is not part of the young adult section. Crazy. I've been on such a young adult (book) frenzy recently but I still love my chick lits. A this one was amazing. I love Jane Greens writing. She can really tell a story.
Babyville follows the lives of Julia, Maeve and Sam. Julia is desperate for a baby and after months of trying she can think of little else, Maeve is a career girl and babies are the last thing on her mind, and Sam is pregnant with her first child. The book is...more

like · see review

Oct 28, 2009 Michele Minor rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is about three women venturing into motherhood. The beginning of the book is about Julia who is trying for a baby with her boyfriend Mark in order to improve their relationship. The problems that they have in conceiving a child makes their relationship worse not better. When Julia has the chance to go to New York City for work she takes it and gets involved in the single lifestyle. Maeve is committment phobic who suddenly gets pregnant after a one night stand. The father of her baby is...more

like · see review

Apr 10, 2013 Margo Brooks rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobooks, fiction-british

I am not a fan of chick lit, which is why this novel only rates two stars for me, but I thought it was a very realistic portrait of 30 something's and their struggles to conceive, weather pregnancy, and survive the first year of motherhood. It always amazes me that expectant mothers assume that conception, pregnancy and motherhood will not be as hard as everyone says, and these characters are no exception. I didn't like them that much, but I think that many women will see themselves in these wom...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (33)

More editions...

Genres

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

383 users

Romance

30 users

Adult

9 users

Adult Fiction

7 users

Contemporary

6 users

European Literature > British Literature

6 users

Family

5 users

Modern

5 users

Womens Fiction

5 users

Humor

4 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Mommy Tracked
by Whitney Gaskell
Fourplay
by Jane Moore
Diary of a Mad Mom-to-Be
by Laura Wolf
The Solomon Sisters Wise Up
by Melissa Senate
Angels
by Marian Keyes

About Jane Green

Jane Green (born in 1968 in London, England) is an U.S.-based British author. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, four children under the age of 5 - including a set of twins - and dog Palmer. She attended the University of Wales, Aberystwyth from 1987-88, although she left without completing her degree and worked as a journalist throughout her twenties. At the age of 27 she was inspired to...more

More about Jane Green...

Books by Jane Green

Jemima J: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Babyville

12 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

title link	preview: Babyville
avg rating	preview: Babyville Goodreads rating: 3.52 (13828 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31099.Babyville?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320411749l/31099.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31099.Babyville?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Babyville by Jane Green[/url]

Babyville

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website