My Girlfriend Is Not the Father

by Dana Hawkins

🌈 Don’t miss this feel-good, friends to lovers romance – perfect for fans of Alexis Hall & Alexandria Bellefleur, this 2026!🤰After getting poked, prodded, and shot (just hormone injections!), Lucy Green is on the cusp of fulfilling a decade-long pact with her best friend to be his surrogate. Now, all she has to do is stay single, healthy, and keep down the prenatal vitamins.

A year ago, Jade Hudson's wife went back on all her previous promises and declared that she wanted children with or without Jade. Forced out of her marriage, Jade is now rebooting her life in small town Minnesota, pouring all her energy into her new salon and prioritizing self-worth.

Sparks begin to fly between Lucy and Jade, but accepting new love feels a long way off. Neither can deny their growing feelings, but with both their lives verging on transformation, the timing could not be worse. Will they be able to ignore their feelings or can they look past their life developments and risk it all for a chance at love?

Perfect for fans

❤️Sworn off love

❤️Awkward meet-cutes

❤️Small town

Praise for Dana

“My god this book… my heart is so warm… I could have read thousands of pages of these characters… One I already can’t wait to re-read and… I cannot recommend it enough!!” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The emotional depth was so good, the communication between the characters was incredible. I don’t even know how to put into words how much I absolutely LOVE this book. Obsesseddddddd.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Easy 5/5⭐️ Read this book with a smile on my face almost 100% of the time! … It was so wholesome seeing two women navigate life with so many ups and downs while also discovering what love truly is… Their connection from the beginning had me hooked!… Such an awesome book!… 100% recommend it to everyone.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Queer, Friends To Lovers, Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

336 pages, Paperback

Published March 26, 2026

About the author

Dana Hawkins is a contemporary romance author of fun and sparkly stories. When not searching the country for the perfect cup of piping hot Americano, she spends her time chasing her kids and rewatching ’90s movies. After living for twenty years in Seattle, she recently trekked back to her hometown in Minnesota. She is a huge romance-genre book nerd and borderline obsessed with happy-ever-afters.

Reviews

[Jaime Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely adorable. It’s soft and funny and achingly real all at once, delivering a roller coaster of feelings.

I personally saw so much of myself in Lucy, which made this reading experience even more special. Seeing an unapologetically curvy, awkward woman who leans into her preferred sense of humor felt so validating and rare in the best way. Dad jokes are truly the epitome of humor.

The story doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of healing through working past old traumas and unlearning self-deprecation — all while also navigating that incredibly delicate, sometimes blurred line between being proud of your partner and feeling envious of them. It felt so raw and was paired beautifully with its emphasis on found family and learning how to truly love yourself.

At its heart, this is a story about love in all its forms—romantic, platonic, and self-love—and how they intertwine to help us grow into who we’re meant to be. It’s comforting, affirming, and full of warmth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!

Favorite Quotes:
“She was in in love purgatory and didn’t know how to escape.”

“You’re everything I think about. You have this halo around you, these, like, slices of light and joy and loveliness.”

“Be as humble as you want but don’t sell yourself short.”

“So, this is what it feels like to have someone who is truly in my corner—who doesn’t think their light dims when mine shines.”

[Andrea (looseleftlesbian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will say, that this book had really good moments. I felt myself relating to the characters, probably because we are around the same age. When Lucy talked about being a “text only” friend and having a box of handwritten notes from the people she loved, I especially related to that. I also gasped when Lucy and her dad talked about walking uphill both ways with bread wrappers on their feet. Does every parent tell their millennial child this?

However, the book fell short for me. I felt like the pacing was off and there was a lot of telling and not showing. There would be mentions of Lucy and Jade hanging out and double dates but not many actual scenes of it. I did like that the author didn’t shy away from the reality of dating someone who is a surrogate. It wasn’t rainbows and butterflies and I appreciated that. I would have just liked to see more showing. I think this messed with the chemistry between the MCs. I honestly didn’t feel any chemistry. The “conflict” was too easily solved as well.

I loved the premise of the book and it would be hard to write with a plot that included a surrogate and a character who was divorced due to not wanting children. That aspect of it was well done. I know the author was a surrogate herself, so it was cool to see the ins and outs of that. It just fell short for me.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ Blurb -
After getting poked, prodded, and shot (just hormone injections!), Lucy Green is on the cusp of fulfilling a decade-long pact with her best friend to be his surrogate. Now, all she has to do is stay single, healthy, and keep down the prenatal vitamins.
A year ago, Jade Hudson's wife went back on all her previous promises and declared that she wanted children with or without Jade. Forced out of her marriage, Jade is now rebooting her life in small town Minnesota, pouring all her energy into her new salon and prioritizing self-worth.
Sparks begin to fly between Lucy and Jade, but accepting new love feels a long way off. Neither can deny their growing feelings, but with both their lives verging on transformation, the timing could not be worse. Will they be able to ignore their feelings or can they look past their life developments and risk it all for a chance at love?
💚 Review -
Friends To lovers is one of my favourite romance tropes and the author did this so well. The story was cute and fluffy, with good pacing and easy to follow. I loved Lucy's character and I wanted her to have the happy ending that she deserved. From the first chapter I knew that I would love it. Plus the Cover was cute. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
🩷 Thank you to the publisher HQ Digital, the author Dana Hawkins and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ This book was emotional and relatable! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I adored Jade so much! I thought she was perfect for Lucy even when sometimes I just wanted to shake both of them lol. Lucy was a breath of fresh air. Bold and true, strong and open (mostly ;)). I enjoyed their developing relationship even as time sometimes passed quickly, and with the pregnancy I got it.

Most of the side characters were fun and supportive. Loved the dog!

All I need now is a bonus epilogue!! Recommend!

[Kristene · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to give my sincere thanks to the author and publisher for trusting me with this ARC. I do not take ARCs lightly and know how important these reviews are to the authors and publishers of ARCs, and I am just grateful to be entrusted with this work. For this reason, I do my best to write thoughtful, detailed reviews.

⭐ Overall Thoughts & Impressions:

For me, this was a SIX-star book, if that were possible!

This was truly a delightful sapphic rom-com read. It was so human, so real, and so perfectly messy in all the right places.

The main characters are two sapphic women with very different personalities and life stories. One decides to be a surrogate for her gay best friend and his husband, while the other has just opened her own salon and is rebuilding her life after a divorce with another woman.

What made this stand out so much to me was how emotionally immersive it felt. I laughed, stressed, felt goosebumps, and by the end I realized I was genuinely sad to be leaving these characters behind 😭 And the best part was that I was not overwhelmed at all by any specific emotion, it was SO well-balanced and honestly very “real-life” vibes. If anything, I was overwhelmed by how amazing this whole story was delivered.

🌶️ Spice Level:

I don’t feel like I am a great judge of spice ratings. However, in judging how descriptive the spice was and how much occurred in the book, I would rate this 2.5.

It was definitely very romance-forward, emotionally rich, but not overly explicit. For me, it was a perfect balance and the descriptive parts were very satisfying but not over-done.

💕 The Characters:

Jade struck me as a softer masc character who is still figuring out who she is and what she is capable of. She struggles with trust, but she is brave enough to take emotional risks, which made her incredibly compelling to follow.

Lucy, the surrogate, felt like a neurodivergent coded character that everyone would instantly want to be friends with. She is quirky and bubbly, with a constant stream of internal thoughts that she does not always say out loud. Her narration brought both humor and emotional depth to the story, and I adored living inside her head. (I am an ADHD therapist, so I really adored her character and thoughts!)

The side characters were just as strong. The personalities were not exaggerated or cartoonish. They felt so real that I genuinely believed I was reading about people I might know in real life.

💘 Romance and Chemistry:

The romance between Jade and Lucy felt earned rather than rushed. The attraction builds gradually through shared vulnerability, awkward moments, and genuine care for one another. It was very real!

Their emotional connection was just as satisfying as the physical one, and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.

✍️ Writing Style and Pacing:

The writing was so well done and so well paced that I genuinely could not put this book down.

The story never dragged and never felt rushed. Not a beat was missed.

I also loved the balance between humor and heavier themes. There were moments that made me smile and laugh, but they were woven seamlessly alongside conversations about fear, commitment, bodily autonomy, and chosen family. It honestly felt like healthy real-life!

🤰 Pregnancy and Surrogacy Representation:

The surrogacy journey and Lucy’s experience with pregnancy were written with such honesty and specificity that it immediately stood out.

At the end, the author disclosed that this story was inspired by her own experiences, and I could absolutely see this. The physical and emotional realities of pregnancy were portrayed in a way that felt deeply informed and incredibly validating.

As someone who has vowed to never become pregnant, I learned so much from this book. It deepened my respect for people who take on that journey and reinforced why I think pregnant people are absolute goddesses ✨

I also appreciated how thoughtfully the surrogacy process itself was explored, including how it impacts relationships, boundaries, and emotional vulnerability.

As a therapist, if I ever have a client in this situation, I will recommend this book for them to read and process!

🐶 Setting and Vibes:

A good portion of the book takes place in a salon, and that setting added so much warmth and charm to the story. I personally love salon backdrops in stories!

And yes, there is also a very sweet dog in the story. This sweet dog lives at Lucy’s cute and cozy home with a spacious backyard. (I found myself wanting Lucy’s home decor 👀).

⚠️ Content Notes:

If pregnancy related themes are not your thing, this may not be the book for you. There is frank discussion of bodily changes, medical experiences, and relationship stress surrounding surrogacy, as well as the experience of labor itself.

Also, if are feeling vulnerable about divorce, there is a lot of emotional processing around divorce and this may be a considered a trigger warning.

📚 Final Recommendation:

What truly made this a “six-star” read for me was how real everything felt. It was SO REAL.

The characters, the friendships, the chosen family, the complicated emotions, the love that grows slowly and imperfectly.

I honestly felt like I had made four new friends by the end of this book and now had to say goodbye. I wish everyone had the kind of chosen LGBTQIA plus family that appears in this story.

If you are open to learning about pregnancy, surrogacy, found family, and beautifully messy romantic relationships, I think you will absolutely love this. 💕

✨And Lastly…

I was so blown away by this book…it was my first ARC in 2026 and the best book I have read so far in 2026…that I am looking at Dana Hawkins’ other works and plan to read more of her books! I am so happy I read this! 🥰

[Rach Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book - I loved it!

I usually really love one character in particular, but I loved both Lucy and Jade - they both had elements that I could really empathise with - Lucy’s lack of strong feelings for anyone but a select few and her struggle to sometimes read people, Jade’s strong feelings about not wanting children but also her insecurities in her relationship because of how that linked into her previous relationship. I think this subject is difficult to write without romanticising a lot of it, but Dana Hawkins did a fab job of really shining a spotlight on both sides of the relationship without making one of them look negative or selfish and obviously a lot of that has come from her own personal experiences which really do give the whole story an honest and very real vibe.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picking up this book was a great decision. It was cute, witty, spicy and deeply emotional. Lucy and Jade seem like opposites in so many ways, but each of them is really struggling to understand themselves and figure out how they fit into the world. I enjoyed getting to know them, as well as their friends in this story. Besides causing me to laugh aloud, the story led to a lot of introspection for me.

Jade is the character I related to most from the beginning, as she had just gone through a divorce. Her journey to understand her avoidant attachment style and to learn how to do things differently in a new relationship resonated with me immensely. She has a history of being the least interesting person in the room, and that thought hurts her constantly. She feels she isn't good enough for her family of origin, which is made up of doctors and lawyers, while she "only went to beauty school." Even when she has a thriving business and gets nominated for best hair salon she feels invisible and like Lucy will outshine her. Her journey toward more balance was inspiring. Trusting that someone does want you specifically is so hard, and being vulnerable to let someone know that you feel overlooked can be terrifying.

A big part of Lucy's story is that she wonders if she is broken as she has never felt romantically moved in any previous relationships. I was a bit hopeful that the author was going to bring up the Ace/Aro spectrum, but the only mention was during a doctor visit where Lucy is asked if she is asexual, to which she answers a shocked no, and that she loves sex. This could have been handled a little better in my opinion, as the Ace/Aro community tends to get erased or pushed to the sidelines in a lot of queer media. Demiromantic could potentially fit Lucy, but that term isn't even mentioned. Lucy says "I don't really click, romantically, with anyone." As the story begins, Lucy is immediately sexually attracted to Jade, but then the romantic feelings start popping up as they become really close friends. Lucy is shocked on a few occasions that this is possible. I was disappointed that this wasn't given a name, and I am reluctant to share this book as widely due to this ignorance. Another bit that had me scratching my head at the end was that I don't remember any mention of a trans or non binary character. In these days full of so much anti-trans rhetoric, and with the launch of this book happening right before Trans Day of Visibility, it seems odd and almost alarming that there are no gender expansive characters mentioned. Since this is the first book of Hawkins' I have interacted with, I'm not confident about her position on this. The silence is eerie, and while I hope it was just a case of that being overlooked, I fear it points in the anti-trans direction.

Dana Hawkins is an author I hadn't heard of before getting this ARC, but I enjoyed reading this. I appreciate her mission to "write stories where coming out is not an 'issue' and that being LGBTQIA+ is nothing to 'overcome.'"

[kay.grace424 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted so much to love this book, and I am heartbroken that I didn't.

My main qualm with this book was that there was a lot of story and relationship development that happened off-page. I felt like I was hearing the story from a third party rather than reading it myself, because it skipped over major developments and had huge time jumps. I get why the author had those time jumps; to encapsulate this large timeline of them falling in love and then the experience of pregnancy, from the beginning of their journey consulting doctors to the actual giving birth. To stay within the normal confines of a contemporary romance, I understand why those time jumps had to happen, but what we had to sacrifice to be able to get this timeline within the page count wasn't worth it. I missed a lot that I wish I had seen. That being said, there were big moments on the page. It just felt like it was only the big moments and not the smaller, more mundane ones that really round out a romance story. The romance in the first part of the book felt like it was just there to serve the purpose of getting to the final destination of becoming a couple during the surrogacy journey. The result was that I was not really invested in them as a couple, especially when they were having conflicts; I found I was not rooting for them. I had no emotional connection to the characters and their relationship because I feel like I missed out on so much.

I won't comment too much on this to avoid spoilers, but their main conflict in the second half of the book never felt fully resolved. They had one short conversation about it, which felt very one-sided, as if one party wasn't taking responsibility for their part. Then there was a two-hour time jump, and it was just mentioned that they talked about a lot in that time. This was another moment where I felt like I was cheated out of an important landmark for them as a couple. I would not have minded a longer page count if we had gotten more of the couple.

It hurts my heart to give this the rating that I'm giving it because I was rooting for this book. I've read three books by this author, and I enjoyed the previous two; this is a unique and interesting story. I was so looking forward to reading this book. I had all the positive vibes going in, and it just completely fell short for me, which breaks my heart as a reader, especially since the story was so personal to the author. At the end of the day, I want to be rooting for the couple in the romance, and I never felt like I could, nor did I really want to, at times. I commend the author for wanting to tell this story, and the aspects of the surrogacy journey were the book's jewel.

🌶️🌶️(can't 100% remember how many scenes but a lot is mentioned off page and there are at least 2 I think on page)

[Vesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy haiku:
Selfless act for friends
Deep connections difficult
She loves salty meats

Jade haiku:
Past path diverges
Fresh start in the twin cities
Self realisation

Book haiku:
9 month sacrifice
Avoidant conversations
Your water just broke


Funny story, my wife and I have this thing called the “price of admission”. It’s the price that you are willing to pay to be with someone. For me, the price my wife paid was that I absolutely, categorically, did not want children, and that was stated from the very start, so there was no surprises in our relationship. (Those of you who know me know we now have 2 kids but that’s a story for a different time). Families are a funny thing. As is instinct. I understand every single character in this book and all their varying opinions. But Jade’s character is the one that piqued my interest the most. Had my wife and I not had this conversation from the very beginning (it was on my profile!) how would she have felt if 3 years down the line I said “no kids”. Would she have made the same choice. I know now that probably she would because she was willing to pay it before she really knew me. But in Jade’s world this was not the case. And I totally get her feelings, it’s completely valid to be angry and resentful that you feel you were never going to be the number 1 choice. But I also understand that there is nothing her ex could have done to stop that feeling of wanting to be a parent.

A wise woman once told me that being a parent wasn’t for you, it was for the child. That you bring that life into existence and help them thrive, and there is nothing more rewarding in my life than seeing that everyday. It is a different kind of love.
But it is absolutely ok to not want that. And to be incredibly happy as you are without it.

For me, this was what the story really came down to. That as women, we can do whatever we want with our bodies and the choices we make. We need to think about what makes us happy, and sometimes that involves some really difficult choices and sacrifices.

Oh and that progesterone shot. Absolutely felt it.

All that being said, if ever there was a time for me to shout “stop making assumptions” it’s with this book. One character shut off to the idea of relationships due to unresolved family pain, the other paranoid that they will never be good enough because of choices made by their ex. Both characters refusing to say the things that go through their minds. So much frustration and so much potential just sat there, teetering on the edge of the knife.

A great read and a lot of perspectives over these incredibly personal choices.

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jade’s eyes widened, then she glanced at Lucy. “Oh, it's um not… the baby is… ah…”

Lucy’s hand gripped Jade’s. “My girlfriend is not the father.”

​
I had a really good time reading this book, possibly because I found the whole process of surrogacy and the possibility of trying to date someone in the process really interesting. The fact that the author herself went through the experience made so much sense due to all of the vivid details.
​
At the start of the book, Lucy and the dads are already years into the surrogacy process, right before the actual implantation. It's the literal worst time for Lucy to meet someone, with a ton of unknowns. Jade also has some issues with having been divorced a couple of years ago, a bustling salon to run, and trust/insecurity issues galore. Yet they just can’t seem to stay away from each other despite their mutual reservations.
​
I saw a lot of other reviews mention the timing issues they were having with this book, and I kind of agree. While I felt like the romance was sometimes put on the back burner in order to follow the entire surrogacy process, I also felt like the romance progressed in a way that the breaks and gaps in time had a reason. I just wish we got a little more insight into some of the off-page character development.

Jade had what I would consider extreme trust issues and avoidance, which led to a lack of communication and running away. At times, I felt like it was a bit brushed over and never fully resolved. Lucy, on the other hand, had become the center of attention with the pregnancy, big mental and physical changes, and her first real relationship. I gave Lucy a lot of grace because of this, and it irked me a little that she wasn’t aware of why Jade was occasionally freezing her out, simply because Jade was treating her as too delicate to know.
​
Through the chaos, however, they managed to make it work. Jade was an amazing support and went out of her way for Lucy many, many times, probably off-page during the gaps as well. Once Jade figured out her issues, it was smooth sailing. I think the part of this book I enjoyed the most, though, was Lucy’s transformation and experience, as well as the reality of being a surrogate and the partner of one. It was rough and messy, with a bunch of confusing feelings, and it honestly opened my eyes to how complicated the entire process is.
​
Tropes
Surrogacy, forced proximity, starting over, small town, previously divorced fmc, early 30s fmcs, sapphic

ARC reader, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Oli R · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Girlfriend is Not the Father by Dana Hawkins hooked me with it's question mark of a title. I knew even before I read the summary this book was going to keep my attention. And I was right.

The summary explains the title well but for me just drive the hook even further. Lucy, is a spunky, perpetually single, lesbian who loves her dog, her dad and her best friends, Drew and Mason a gay couple. Fulfilling a pact from long ago, Lucy is starting the process of becoming Drew and Mason's surrogate.

Jade is a purple haired vegetarian who loves sriracha. She is recently divorced and doing her best to heal and move on from it despite many a complication. As part of her starting over she recently opened up her own salon, Jade's, which is doing well but still comes with it's own set of challenges.

When Lucy and Jade meet in a grocery store one day in the quirkiest of meet-cutes, the beginnings of chemistry are clearly there. But things are emotionally complicated for them both with Jade's divorce and Lucy's surrogacy journey. Additionally there's the complication that Lucy signed a legal document stating she was single as part of the surrogacy contract.

The slowburn dual POV of this book is perfectly paced and allows the reader to really get to know the characters and in the end see a lot of character growth. Both Jade and Lucy have some emotional moments of self discovery that felt so raw and relatable. Lucy seems to be some form of ace/aro and that was handled well for the most part but I am not sure she ever really developed an understanding of what that meant for her. I wish that had been explored more but really that was the only even slightly negative thing I have to say about the book. I will be reading this book again and recommending it to friends.

This is my first Dana Hawkins book, but I had always heard great things about her writing, specifically that she intentionally writes books about real life experience in worlds that lack homophobia and transphobia. This book was a great introduction to her work and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author Dana Hawkins for the opportunity to read this before release via Advanced Reader Copy.
My Girlfriend is Not the Father comes out March 26 2006 and I highly recommend checking it out.

[K.Mwrites · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Thank you to the author Dana and HQ for allowing me to read this as an arc copy Via NetGalley. I really appreciate it.

OK this book is genuinely good.
The writing is impeccable, because I received this copy pre release I tried to find any faults to report back and there were none writing wise.

Something to take into consideration is that this book is nothing like your ordinary romance book Lucy has just become a surrogate when she meets Jade so they never get a standard romance, there are always trial and tribulations.

Because of this I really struggled understand the way Lucy acts at times, when you read this, you should try to have some empathy if you want to like Lucy because especially towards the end she can become a little infuriating. She does some things that I thought were unfair and barely recieved any push back from Jade.

I also feel like the romance developed quickly when reading for example there is a scene where they have a small disagreement and one leaves the other. and then next minute they are fine again. This takes a span of at least two weeks but in the book is was a couple of chapters, this happens a few times so I can't really see how their loved developed.

Now that aside, the comedic writing was hilarious, Lucy is truly one of the funniest FMC's I have ever read. Jade is more calm and monotone but they work so well together. Lucy's dad too, he had me chuckling at time. This is set in America but the humour really struck me as British which I could resonate with. Or maybe it was the way I read it, either way it was great.

I would definitely recommend this book to those new to wlw or LQBTQ romance becuase it does have elements of spice but they are short and not too descriptive.

This is rated a three is purely because the concept is one I have never read before and it was stunningly written especially for third person which I don't usually gravitate to, I would say to read the author's letter at the end it's really sweet and provides a great insight into the some of the aspects of the book. But it, for me and how I rate, doesn't qualify for a 4 star. I would definitely recommend but I don't think I would re read.

This is the first for me from this author and I will be reading more!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers giving me an arc to review via netgalley.

4 🌟
I really liked this book, all the characters felt real and the book didn't feel rushed in both relationships and plot. All the characters had their own personality and I was surprised with Jades and Lucy's, usually with the books i read, the character with the sunshine personality is the one that craves that connection with people where the opposite with the standoffish personality doesn't want that connection with people but with Jade she did.
Jade is the one I connected with the most, while I have never been in a relationship, I have that fear that if I do have a relationship that the other person will want a child out of the blue. I also know the feeling that while I maybe would be a good mum, I only wish to be a aunt figure in a childs life and not be a parent. I also have respect for jade, she knew that being a parent who's not involved in the childs upbringing yet still in their day to day life could be damaging to the child. Another connection is that jade and I are both vegetarian.
Lucy is a ray of sunshine yet has a more complex personality, while she wants to hug everyone and has a sunny personality, she struggles to connect with people and only has Drew, Mason, her dad and her dog, Chucky, in her life. She even keeps a distance from her work colleagues, even while having a work wife, She also keeps her at arms length.
I was extremely glad that the author chose to give lucy that lack of a motherly bond towards the child and only views herself as a aunt. I especially loved the interaction between her father and her, he himself is distant aswell but you could clearly tell he loves her, even going outside his comfort zone to tell her about her mother, which is a topic they both avoid. We both have an unhealthy obsession with golden girls! Although I do feel lucy is a mixture of blanche and rose
I loved the pace, the setbacks of their relationship and the explorations of their fears.
I was hoping for a 2nd book where we can explore further into their relationship and see their relationship without lucy being a surrogate but the book tied up nicely and it was lovely to see jade bond with the child as a aunt figure.

[Mayras mini book reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to read this ahead of its release date thanks to NetGalley.

I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a sapphic romance that is grounded on real life and very mild in the spicy department. I like to think of it as “door cracked open” not “closed door” or “open door.” Also, looking for a twist in the pregnancy trope.

The surrogacy aspect is what made me interested in reading this book. I was glad to see the process shown from lawyers to delivery and all the pregnancy phases.
Lucy and Jade’s meet cute was also entertaining. Unfortunately, other than their meet cute, first kiss and a very vague first time together a lot of their dates and time spent together were told to the reader after the fact and not on page. I would have loved to have seen some of those double dates.
Their relationship issues felt pretty set in reality based on both of their relationship history. Did I enjoy the constant miscommunication or non communication throughout the book? No.
This is why I had such a hard time believing them as having such a deep connection and relationship that would make never in love Lucy fall in love.
I think they were both flawed characters but only Jade made the journey to grow. Lucy kinda stays the same.
What did not feel real set in reality was the whole media tour revolving around Lucy and the dads. I feel like a lot of the issues that were brought up by this could have been done in a more realistic manner that matched the real life setting of the story. I just found it very hard to believe.
The employee and salon drama with Jade felt unnecessary overall to the story and was resolved too quickly.

I will say, the surrogacy plot was a great twist on the pregnancy trope in a romance story. I also feel like it was written with a great balance between the romance story and the surrogacy story. Both moved each other along.

Since it is a romance and most people always wonder if the book is spicy, I would rank this as a .5 out of 5. There is one spicy scene. Details are vague and so is the wording for a lot of the private parts. A heavy petting scene had more detail than the sex scene.

[neeshreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

Dana Hawkins has outdone herself once again – blending the perfect amount of funny and heartwarming moments with a slow burn romance that brings the steam! While the title immediately made me giggle, the depth of feeling elicited was incredible!

💕Friends to Lovers
🔥Slow Burn
💖Perfectly Socially Awkward MC
💜Finding Love After Divorce
🥰First Loves
🏠Small Town Vibes
✨Sparkly
🌈Queer joy
💙Best Friends & Found Family
🐶Cute Dogs

Lucy is about to fulfill a decade-long pact with her best friend to be his surrogate, and the only thing she has to do is stay single and healthy, something that hasn’t been a problem because relationships haven’t really been Lucy’s thing.

A year ago, Jade’s ex-wife gave an ultimatum that went back on all the previous promises they made to one another – she wanted children with or without Jade. Now, Jade is trying to prioritize her self-worth in a small town in Minnesota creating her dream salon.

When Lucy and Jade have a chance meeting at the grocery store over a lost wallet and lack of sriracha, sparks begin to fly, but the timing is all wrong. Both Lucy and Jade’s lives are drastically changing…but is there enough room for love to grow too?

I LOVED this sapphic rom-com! Lucy’s jokes were so bad that they were good, Jade and Lucy complemented one another and the emotionally-driven romance that developed between Jade and Lucy was real, messy and relatable – each woman’s feelings as they dealt with major life changes were valid and deserved equal attention while navigating healing past insecurities. The love that bloomed between Lucy and Jade was gradual, always there in the background, afraid to be named, but showed through shared moments of vulnerability and wanting what was best for each other. I loved the emotional connection just as much as the physical one – the appreciation for Lucy’s changing body was beautiful. I was rooting for Jade and Lucy the entire time and the angst created through the hard moments had me on the edge of my seat and unable to put this story down!

Can’t recommend this one enough!

[Holly_bookbanter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to review My Girlfriend Is Not the Father by Dana Hawkins.

This is now my third book by this author, and to say I’m hooked would be an understatement. I’ve always been a fan of LGBTQIA+ stories but a lot of them tend to focus on either the trauma of coming out or societal pressures, etc. but her books are different.

Hawkins writes real authentic stories about queer people just living their lives. Yes, it’s a queer romance, but the story is about love and connection and finding partnership when you don’t really know what that means. She creates these characters that are flawed and open and have baggage, but also love enthusiastically and unabashedly.

In this book, we meet Lucy, who is in the process of becoming a surrogate for her best friend Drew and his husband Mason. Single and with a dating history that is about as basic as you can get, Lucy doesn’t expect to meet anyone. But a sweet meet cute in the grocery store changes all of that.

Jade, is a business owner, and learning how to be independent after her marriage ended and she moved out of state. When they meet both are hesitant to start anything up. Lucy nervous about the fact that she’s entering into this new phase of her life, and Jade because she’s not sure she’s ready to take on a partner while focusing on her business.

While you can see the yearning and the eagerness to please each other, both Lucy and Jade struggle to communicate when things should be said because no one wants to rock the boat.

This book is so much about finding family, trusting others, learning to speak up for yourself, and all the emotions that surround you at the start of a new relationship with an added bonus of an unexpected adventure.

Hawkins doesn’t just write good stories, she writes characters that you relate to and that make you want to reflect on your own choices while somehow also wrapping you up in a snuggly blanket. If you haven’t already tried one of her stories, you’re missing out.

4.75/5
1.5/5 spice

[megan.flirtythrills · Rating 5 out of 5]

my girlfriend is not the father🤰🏻🍼🙅🏻‍♀️
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
thank you to @netgalley & the author @d.hawkinsauthor for the digital arc 💌
HAPPY PUB DAY!!!🌈
this book??? i’m actually obsessed. the concept alone had me hooked and it delivered in every way.
lucy, an early 30s lesbian, agrees to be a surrogate for her gay best friends, something she’s promised them for years. she’s single, has never been in love, and figures the timing is perfect… until jade enters the picture.
jade is tall, gorgeous, freshly divorced, and very much not looking to have kids… which makes lucy’s situation even messier. their meet-cute is straight out of a romcom and what follows is this soft, confusing, butterfly-filled “are we friends or more?” dynamic that had me kicking my feet.🤭
the chemistry between lucy and jade is INSANE. the slow burn, the tension, the timing of everything with the pregnancy… it felt so real and so different from anything i’ve read before. i loved how raw and honest the emotions were. i just wanted them to communicate better!!! damn you miscommunication trope. i will say w lucy, the neurodivergent rep was handled so thoughtfully and never framed as something that needed fixing. she was an incredible character💖 i was rooting for/siding with during her and jade’s issues😂
even though i cannot relate to being pregnant with my best friends’ baby while falling into my first ever relationship, i felt completely immersed in their story. i was giggling, tearing up, and literally gasping out loud. i also adoreddd lucy’s bffs, drew and mason. they deserve everything and more. 🫃🏼
this is my second book by dana hawkins and she’s officially a fave. her characters just feel so real and unique every single time.
highly recommend if you love friends —>
lovers, grumpy x sunshine, spicy sapphic romance, emotional depth, and characters that will absolutely consume your thoughts 💖

[vivi ʚɞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆˙✮ 3

Me 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Lucy
Jokes that never land.

Honestly, I really liked the premise and the characters here. First of all, I loved the grocery store meet cute— I was kicking my feet and giggling while reading it. I love a good golden retriever x black cat trope, and that’s exactly what Lucy and Jade are. But I have to say that what I really enjoyed was learning about the surrogacy process, which was drawn from the author’s personal experience. Not only did it add a layer of authenticity to the book, but it also dove into all aspects of surrogacy: the legal, the medical, and the emotional complexity for everyone involved. And it was done in a way that didn’t feel *too* technical, which is always nice.

While there was a lot to like here, the pacing is what got me. The book takes place over the span of 9+ months, which makes sense given the plot, but it felt almost repetitive. It was a constant cycle of miscommunication and Jade not speaking up, and as much as I love angst, you can only have so much of it. It felt like the same conflict and resentment being revisited in slightly different ways, which made the book drag for me. I kept waiting for things to pick up, and they just… never quite did. I also felt like we were getting flashes of moments between Lucy and Jade rather than a natural progression of time. I thought they were cute as a couple, but the chemistry was hard to latch onto when we were consistently skipping through time.

Nonetheless, I still found this book to be an enjoyable experience. This is my second book from the author, and one thing she consistently does well is give her characters a natural charm and humor that makes them fun to read. If you like banter, angst, and an opposites-attract trope, then this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been pregnant twice and been rewarded with two amazing children for that very special effort. To do all that voluntarily as a surrogate for your best friend and his husband is next level generous when you don’t even get a child of your own in the end. Thus, it was interesting to read about Lucy and her thoughts and experiences to get it all happen, being pregnant and in the end giving birth and making her friends eternally grateful and happy parents. All this playing out at the same time as Lucy meets this wonderful woman Jade, the first time she even considers a real relationship and that at the worst timing ever. This book is not really a romance as such, more a story about a journey to deal with all this and I really liked reading about this since something very new to me, surrogacy is not even legal in Sweden where I live.

Jade is such a n awesome person. She divorced her ex-wife because she didn’t want children and then she ends up dating a woman that is pregnant. That is quite the challenge for her initially on top of the fact that Lucy is more for casual things and Jade equals intimacy with love. They are dealing with so many challenges, and it is not only Lucy that is so generous being a surrogate for her friends, but Jade is also sacrificing a lot, she is giving up her partner during the pregnancy for a life that is very different from what you would normally expect when you date someone.

I received a free ARC from HQ and Dana Hawkins via NetGalley and leave an honest review voluntarily.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Girlfriend is Not the Father by Dana Hawkins
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Meet Lucy Green, she is one of the most cheerful people you could ever meet, which explains why her middle name is Sunshine! Lucy has a best friend, Drew, who wants to have a baby with his husband Mason. Lucy has agreed to be their surrogate. While navigating the world of surrogacy and all the medical and legal business that comes along with it, Lucy meets Jade and her world is turned upside down.

Jade Hudson has just moved to this small town in Minnesota from whirlwind Chicago and she is trying to start a new life. Jade has recently divorced her wife, due to her wanting children after Jade has explicitly stated she never wants kids. She has started her own salon and is crazy busy. But when she runs into the owner of the wallet, she found at the local grocery store, Jade thinks maybe love could be in her cards again.

I loved reading this story but was annoyed by the fact that neither woman would talk to each other, which is honestly super accurate. I completely related to Jade and Lucy made my heart sad. I laughed so much at this book but also felt the sadness of both characters. This was one of my first lesbian read and I think the author did a really good job! It was realistic and relatable.

This was my first Dana Hawkins book and I really enjoyed it. This is a friends-to-lovers romance involving LGB, which I love and has an awkward meet-cute which is endearing. I highly suggest this read!

This was an ARC read from Grey's Promotions.

[Smutty Professor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up because the premise was so different, and that ended up being one of my favorite parts. A romance centered around a surrogate pregnancy is just not something you see a lot, and it made everything feel a little more complicated in a way I actually liked.

Lucy and Jade were interesting together, but their relationship isn’t super straightforward. There’s definitely attraction, but also a lot of hesitation, miscommunication, and just really bad timing. It very much gave right person, wrong time vibes for most of the book. I liked them both individually. Lucy has that chaotic, golden-retriever energy, and Jade is way more reserved, but I do wish we got more actual scenes of them together. It felt like some of their relationship development happened off-page, and I wanted to see some of those moments. The surrogacy storyline was one of the strongest parts of the story. It didn’t feel glossed over at all, and you can tell there’s real experience behind it. I liked that it showed the emotional and physical sides without making it feel like it was too much or overly technical.

The pacing was a little off for me though. There are a lot of time jumps, and it felt like some important things just got skipped. I kept wanting more showing instead of being told what happened. That being said, I did enjoy it. It’s definitely more character-driven and a bit different from a typical romance, which I really liked. This one definitely stood out!

[Noelle Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Stories, and Dana Hawkins for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Quick Summary: Lucy has been lifelong friends with Drew. Lucy agrees to be a surrogate for Drew and his husband, Mason. Lucy signs a paper saying she is single. Lucy meets Jade. Lucy and Jade try to resist that they are falling for each other. What will happen next?

This is the 5th ARC I’ve read by Dana Hawkins! I’ve loved each and every one, and this was no exception! I was definitely intrigued by the title, and once I read the summary, I knew I had to read it. I’ve always been interested in surrogacy, between having endometriosis and being queer. I’ve since decided that I don’t want kids, but that’s a different story. 😂 This was such a cool concept, and the author executed it really well. The only “issue” I had with this book was during the middle, it seemed to drag out a little but at the same time the timing kept jumping ahead. It was a weird mix between feeling fast and slow. Besides that, I really enjoyed the story! I loved Lucy and Jade, as well as the dad’s storyline. They were so sweet and supportive, and I was definitely rooting for them to become parents. It was cool to read about surrogacy, and how the four of them navigated things.

My Girlfriend is Not the Father will be released on March 26th, and I definitely recommend checking it out! 🩵

[Alice Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every second of this book was absolutely amazing, truly. Dana never disappoints, her books are always amazing, her characters are always so easy to fall in love, they're relatable, and this book, and these characters were no exception. Not only was it an amazing story, but it was written so fucking well, as usual with Dana.

Lucy and Jade were the absolute cutest honestly. Were they perfect? No, much like everyone they had their flaws, but they were perfect for each other. They made so much sense, they just kind of completed each other. I loved them so much, both as a couple, and as characters in general. Lucy was an absolutely amazing friend to Drew and Mason. Not everyone could do what she did, and it was fucking amazing. Did it make me cry? of course it did, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Worth every tear I shed honestly.

I don't think I'll ever stop recommending this book. From beginning to end I was hooked, I couldn't get enough, I never wanted it to end. I loved every second of this book. Thank you endlessly Dana, and NetGalley for my ARC copy, I had the best time reading this and I will be thinking about it for a very long time.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to love this but I only liked it... I felt that the pacing was off. So much happened off-page. So much connection, so many conversations, relationship building details, were just skipped right over. Days, weeks, and months just passed by and we wouldn't know it unless it was stated and you just had to roll with it. Also, it threw me off that the non-American English spelling of words was used i.e. "colour", "sanatiser", "per cent" when the story is supposed to take place in Minnesota. I know this is such a personal story for the author and that makes me even more sad that I didn't love this book. There were some things I liked though. The characters were likeable and funny. I felt that they were mostly well-rounded and their stories were relatable. It did flow mostly but kind of felt clunky in some parts since so much was skipped over. I haven't had a baby of my own yet but I know now what giving birth and contractions will potentially feel like. Brilliant writing as always!! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC and Dana Hawkins is still an instant-read author for me!

[Anisha Choudhury | A Literary Autopsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be the first to admit: slow burns aren’t usually my go-to. But a lesbian slow-burn this well-written? Give me more.

Jade Hudson is officially the blueprint for me. I can’t even begin to touch that subject without sounding like a total fan, but her psychological struggles after a long-term marriage were so well-handled. Then you have Lucy, whose sunshine vibes are actually a brilliant defense mechanism for some deep-seated stuff she hasn't quite dealt with. I love that Dana Hawkins didn't just make her bubbly—she gave her a reason to be that way.

The real meat of this story is how Lucy and Jade’s pasts prevent them from just talking to each other. It shows that anyone can have a relationship, but it takes actual work and communication to make it successful. Hawkins packed so much heart into this 8-hour read—gay best friends and surrogacy drama. I’m left totally awestruck.

Note: If you’re looking for a Sapphic romance with actual depth and characters who feel like real people, this is your next download.

P. S.: I received an Advance Reader Copy to share my honest feedback. My Girlfriend is Not the Father did not disappoint.

[Thao Ngo]

ARC REVIEW
This was honestly just really sweet.
I didn’t realize until after, but Dana Hawkins was actually a surrogate for her best friend, which makes the emotional side of this feel more grounded. It’s fiction, but there’s a sincerity to it that shows.
Both Lucy and Jade are carrying stuff.
Lucy lost her mom young, so her emotional walls make sense. She’s figuring out adulthood without the one person she’d probably want advice from. That grief just quietly sits with her.
Jade was happily married for years before her wife suddenly decided she wanted a baby after they’d agreed on being childfree. That kind of switch would mess anyone up.
And now she’s dating someone who’s pregnant.
It’s such a wild setup when you think about it. Falling for someone while they’re going through pregnancy, knowing the baby isn’t staying with them. That’s a lot.
The timing is messy. They’re flawed. It’s a dramatic way to get to know someone. But it felt human to me.
Overall, it’s cute, original, and has more depth than you’d expect from the title. I’ll definitely keep reading Dana Hawkins.

[princessguayaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in love with this book!!!!! I've been missing some good sapphic romance and this book gave me just that!

This story made me laugh, made me feel giddy and so emotional. The plot was unique and kept me entertained the whole book. I adored Lucy and Jade's relationship from the start. Their relationship feels so pure and healthy, it's just perfect 🥹 I love that they were always accepted and loved throughout their whole journey. As a queer girlie myself this book just made feel warm inside in the best way. 🩷

I teared up so much during the ending 😭 it was beautiful! I'm so happy both of our girls got the ending they deserved.

Also I am in awe of our author Dana for going through this surrogacy experience! No wonder this story felt so heartfelt and personal 🥹🫶🏻 I adored this love story so much!!! 10/10 NO NOTES 🩷

You'll love this book if you love:
🩷 Friends to Lovers
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn
🥹 Found Family
🏳️‍🌈 Queer Accepting Community
🐕 The Absolute Cutest Animal Sidekick

Thank you so much Net Galley and HQ for this arc of this amazing book! 🥹

[Ellie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really easy and quick read that was funny and heartwarming.

The overall plot was a really interesting concept and it is always refreshing to read about women who don't want kids. Both main characters meet at a very chaotic time in their lives but still find a way to make things work and its Sriracha that starts it all off which I loved.

All of the characters were relatable and funny, but still had their human flaws. The friendship dynamic between Lucy and Drew was just so accurate for childhood friends and still incredibly sweet. The relationship between Lucy and her dad really made me tear up in the end and was just perfect.

I wish there was a little bit more romance between the main characters instead of time passing and the whole issue with relationship declarations was a non issue in the end.

Overall I really enjoyed this story.

Thank you to HQ and Dana Hawkins for this ARC.

[Niamh Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

This book was honestly so adorable. Soft, funny, and a little bit achy all at once - fully a rollercoaster in the best way.

I saw so much of myself in Lucy, which made it hit even harder. An unapologetically curvy, slightly awkward woman who leans into her humour? Rare and weirdly validating. (Minus the pregnancy part - absolutely not for me, but we move.) Also, the dad jokes? Elite. No notes.

It doesn’t shy away from the messy side of healing either - working through old stuff, unlearning self-deprecation, and that weird in-between of being proud of your partner but also a tiny bit jealous of them. It felt really raw, but balanced so well with found family and learning how to actually like yourself.

At its core, it’s just a really warm story about love in all forms and how it all overlaps as you figure your life out. Comfort read energy, but with depth.

Thanks NetGalley and Dana Hawkins for the opportunity to read this ARC! 🌈

[Kim Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. I was immediately drawn in by the title and knew that the book had a great premise. I immediately was invested in the Lucy and Jade's story, and wanted to see them navigate the ups and downs inherent in romance-novel love stories.

Lucy's pregnancy added an unexpected twist to the novel, and to their relationship. I thought some of the details of the surrogacy process were a bit lengthy, and stood in the way of the romance plot. It took quite a bit of build up (and pages!) before our couple was finally together and enjoying their relationship. Half-way through, I was invested in the story, but still wanted it to pick up the pace. I did pick up a bit, and I enjoyed seeing how it all worked out in the end.

Overall, it was a fun read. And I certainly appreciated the affirming world that the author created for her queer characters to be loved and supported at home, at work, and in their community.