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Stretch Marks: A Novel
by
Kimberly Stuart (Goodreads Author)
An earth-conscious, yoga-practicing twenty-something is forced to face her estranged relationship with her mother in this comic yet poignant novel about moms and daughters.
Mia Rathbun is an overworked and underpaid Chicago social worker who belongs to PETA and recycles the tops of pizza boxes. Her boyfriend, Lars, is a free-spirited freelance writer (read: mooch) who disd...more
Mia Rathbun is an overworked and underpaid Chicago social worker who belongs to PETA and recycles the tops of pizza boxes. Her boyfriend, Lars, is a free-spirited freelance writer (read: mooch) who disd...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
September 1st 2009
by David C. Cook
(first published 2009)
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Story Description:
Mia Rathbun is an overworked and underpaid Chicago social worker who belongs to PETA and recycles the tops of pizza boxes. Her boyfriend, Lars, is a free-spirited freelance writer (read: mooch) who disdains the conventions of marriage but is happy to build a life with Mia. That is until Mia becomes pregnant.
Left on her own, Mia just begins to accustom herself to the looming prospect of single parenthood when her mother, Babs, shows up to "help." The two have an estranged relati...more
Mia Rathbun is an overworked and underpaid Chicago social worker who belongs to PETA and recycles the tops of pizza boxes. Her boyfriend, Lars, is a free-spirited freelance writer (read: mooch) who disdains the conventions of marriage but is happy to build a life with Mia. That is until Mia becomes pregnant.
Left on her own, Mia just begins to accustom herself to the looming prospect of single parenthood when her mother, Babs, shows up to "help." The two have an estranged relati...more
I have really mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I thought Stretch Marks was a really trendy book, and had I not received a copy to review, I doubt I would've ever picked it up at a bookstore. It's not common to see a Christian fiction book with talk of yoga, PETA, and carbon footprints. On the other hand, the author tackled the subject of single motherhood, and I really applaud her for thinking outside the box and writing about a subject that is more common in Christian circles than m...more
Kimberly Stuart “delivers” an unexpected wild cast of characters and fast moving plot in Stretch Marks!
The main attraction, Mia Rathbun, is a single woman living the crunchy granola lifestyle in Chicago. Mia’s live in love interest, Lars, is a free spirited writer who promptly exits physically and emotionally once Mia discovers she is pregnant.
Determined to take care of herself and stand on her own two (swollen) feet, Mia finds herself in unfamiliar territory as she begins to assume the role of...more
Teachable Moments
A very conscientious person, Mia recycles; she doesn't eat meat, is a card carrying member of PETA and works as a social worker looking to salvage the world for everyone. Like most mothers and daughters, Mia and her mom have a strained relationship. It's much easier to deal with Babs, her mother, from a distance. Happily involved with Lars, her live-in boyfriend, Mia`s life is comfortable, for the most part. Mia's core is knocked off center when she learns that the flu she's bee...more
A very conscientious person, Mia recycles; she doesn't eat meat, is a card carrying member of PETA and works as a social worker looking to salvage the world for everyone. Like most mothers and daughters, Mia and her mom have a strained relationship. It's much easier to deal with Babs, her mother, from a distance. Happily involved with Lars, her live-in boyfriend, Mia`s life is comfortable, for the most part. Mia's core is knocked off center when she learns that the flu she's bee...more
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It was an easy read with no real depth. I was hoping by the subtle mentions of God through various characters that it was going there. It didn't. I wasn't a big fan of the main character, Mia, although I did enjoy her interaction with her mother - Babs. Now that I could relate to (don't worry Mom - not in a bad way!) She was just a quirky character that sometimes said inappropriate things, but added humor to the scenes she was in and wanted the best for her daughter.
The writing was fine and it w...more
The writing was fine and it w...more
Mia is a eco-conscious vegetarian living in Chicago with her boyfriend and doing her best to avoid her cruise hospitality director mother. This all works out fine until she finds herself pregnant, without said boyfriend and with her mother on her doorstep. That's when Mia's life starts to change.
I really enjoyed this book and I really like the direction Christian fiction titles like this are going. There was a realism to this book. Mia didn't not believe but she didn't believe either. Her mother...more
I really enjoyed this book and I really like the direction Christian fiction titles like this are going. There was a realism to this book. Mia didn't not believe but she didn't believe either. Her mother...more
Plot: C
Writing: C
Vocabulary: C
Level: Easy
Rating: PG13 (references to pre-marital sex, abortion, dysfunctional families)
Worldview: tangentially Christian
Your basic romance novel about a liberal young woman who gets pregnant, her even more liberal boyfriend who dumps her, her overbearing conservative mother, her wanna-be boyfriend, and her crazy best friend, and a young pregnant girl she befriends.
The writing was immature, characters one-dimensional, no clear worldview or motivations, ok dialogue...more
Writing: C
Vocabulary: C
Level: Easy
Rating: PG13 (references to pre-marital sex, abortion, dysfunctional families)
Worldview: tangentially Christian
Your basic romance novel about a liberal young woman who gets pregnant, her even more liberal boyfriend who dumps her, her overbearing conservative mother, her wanna-be boyfriend, and her crazy best friend, and a young pregnant girl she befriends.
The writing was immature, characters one-dimensional, no clear worldview or motivations, ok dialogue...more
Stretch Marks by Kimberly Stuart is a humorous look at the way pregnancy changes and stretches a woman. Mia is very happy with her life, for the most part. While her job as a social worker doesn't always fulfill her need to change the world, she pays close attention to her carbon-footprint, eats organic, does yoga, and has a live-in boyfriend, Lars. Everything changes when her unexplained nausea and fatigue turns out to be a pregnancy and Lars leaves in the night. While Mia tries to make a new l...more
This was an enjoyable story about Mia, a 20-something unwed pregnant woman and her relationship with her overbearing mother. I enjoyed the characters and found Lars' (the father-to-be) reaction to the pregnancy to be realistic. From the moment I met Adam (owner of the corner grocery store) I was rooting for him to find a way to be a more important part of Mia's life.
Stop by my blog (www.reneesuz.blogspot.com) on 8 October to read the first chapter.
Stop by my blog (www.reneesuz.blogspot.com) on 8 October to read the first chapter.
Jun 09, 2013
Michelle Slomp
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
christian-fiction
I really enjoyed this novel. I was expecting the typical Christian Lit novel where everything is perfect by the end. Although it does have a happy ending, it still is a messy authentic ending. Not everything works out perfectly in life, nor does it in this novel. It made me laugh and cry.
Funny. Unrealistic, in some ways, but if in need of a light read that comes from someone who has been there where pregnancy is concerned, this one is worth a read or two.
A lovely read. Charming and witty. Upon finishing, you'll want to be nice to your mom—and find a good grocer.
This was really sweet. Good characters, and a well constructed story line. I just really enjoyed it.
This is my fourth Kimberly Stuart novel. And my favorite. I enjoyed the relationship between Mia and her mother, particularly. It's the age when the whole mother thing finally begins to get sorted out.
This is the first novel I've read by Kimberly Stuart, but it won't be my last because I enjoyed STRETCH MARKS immensely. The characters were fun and funny--except Lars, who I frequently wanted to slap--and I motored through the engaging plot. It's a definite "good read."
funny and a very true representation of relationships in today's world
a fun summer read that was funny and sweet even for a non-mother
May 26, 2013
Brandee Watson
added it
Not your typical Christian novel. I enjoyed the book.
Oct 27, 2009
Danielle
added it
my favorite of Kim's books so far!
Stretch Marks was an absolutely fantastic read. Quite a poignant book for me, being newly pregnant, and Stuart seems to have been in my head for a short while! Wonderful & quirky are her characters and I caught myself laughing and crying along with each of them. Not overly Christian in theme, there is however an all important message of love and acceptance, especially within family relationships. I really loved this pro-family, pro-life novel and would definitely recommend you sit down and r...more
I loved this book.. great characters! Great ending as well!
Another purely enjoyable book from Kim Stuart. Warm, humerous and touching. Loved the dynamic between Mia and Babs. A great book for mothers and daughters to read together.
A book about a yoga loving granola-eating caucasian 20-something who finds herself knocked up by a selfish artistic type. In her search for what to do, she finds community in the love of her outrageous mother, and the local ethnic church.
I like to read Christian books that could be considered “controversial”. I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy other views and perspectives, but I also enjoy witnessing a life being transformed when I read a story. Stretch Marks sounded like that type of book, which is why I wanted to read it. Certainly a single, pregnant woman who has been abandoned by her live-in boyfriend could be considered controversial by some. I hope that sort of thing would not dissuade the average Christian reader because t...more
Jun 15, 2013
Delaney
marked it as to-read
Jun 08, 2013
Hilary
marked it as to-read
Jun 08, 2013
Katie
marked it as to-read
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Kimberly Stuart wants you to know that authors write their own bios and are hardly reliable sources, particularly if they are writers of fiction. Nevertheless, there are a few facts that stand out:
1. Stuart loves a good story, both written and lived.
2. Stuart loves imported chocolate and her children, though the order of her affections sometimes gets muddled.
3. Stuart writes comedic women's ficti...more
More about Kimberly Stuart...
1. Stuart loves a good story, both written and lived.
2. Stuart loves imported chocolate and her children, though the order of her affections sometimes gets muddled.
3. Stuart writes comedic women's ficti...more
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