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The Surrogate
A probing novel about a newly married couple, the surrogate they hire to carry their baby, and the unexpected consequences of their decisions.
Ruth is a no-nonsense fortysomething journalist from the Midwest desperate for a child with her new husband, Hal. A divorced attorney and the father of two teenage boys, Hal is open to having another child. But more than anything he wants Ruth to be happy—to become the mother she’s always wanted to be. Their hope rests with Cally, a nineteen-year-old who wants to go to college—but doesn’t have the cash. The arrangement seems perfect for everyone.
All through the pregnancy, Ruth and Hal look forward to the new baby that will make their family complete. But within a day of the baby’s birth, Cally has a change of heart – and engineers a harrowing escape from the hospital with the newborn. When Ruth and Hal discover that she and their daughter are gone, a whole series of doubts and secrets are revealed, and it’s no longer clear what’s “right” and what’s “wrong.”
Set in the vast, sparsely populated upper reaches of northern Minnesota in the middle of winter, The Surrogate follows Ruth, Hal, Cally, and her boyfriend through the ice and snow, from the city to the dark, frozen north country as they run away from, and ultimately towards, one other.
In The Surrogate, Toni Halleen raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of family, love, and relationships. What would you do for your partner, when the going gets tough? How much is a pregnancy “worth?” And who, if anyone, “deserves” to be a mother?
Ruth is a no-nonsense fortysomething journalist from the Midwest desperate for a child with her new husband, Hal. A divorced attorney and the father of two teenage boys, Hal is open to having another child. But more than anything he wants Ruth to be happy—to become the mother she’s always wanted to be. Their hope rests with Cally, a nineteen-year-old who wants to go to college—but doesn’t have the cash. The arrangement seems perfect for everyone.
All through the pregnancy, Ruth and Hal look forward to the new baby that will make their family complete. But within a day of the baby’s birth, Cally has a change of heart – and engineers a harrowing escape from the hospital with the newborn. When Ruth and Hal discover that she and their daughter are gone, a whole series of doubts and secrets are revealed, and it’s no longer clear what’s “right” and what’s “wrong.”
Set in the vast, sparsely populated upper reaches of northern Minnesota in the middle of winter, The Surrogate follows Ruth, Hal, Cally, and her boyfriend through the ice and snow, from the city to the dark, frozen north country as they run away from, and ultimately towards, one other.
In The Surrogate, Toni Halleen raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of family, love, and relationships. What would you do for your partner, when the going gets tough? How much is a pregnancy “worth?” And who, if anyone, “deserves” to be a mother?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 2, 2021
79 people are currently reading
7193 people want to read
About the author
Toni Halleen
2 books121 followersToni Halleen worked for many years as an employment law attorney. She was born and raised in the Midwest, earned a B.A. in Women's Studies from Mount Holyoke College and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota. Toni won Mentor Prize in fiction from the Loft Literary Center, and her writing has appeared in Wigleaf, Structo, Gravel, and the Star Tribune.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews
November 2, 2021
Argh! I need to calm down and find a way to lower my heart rate! This book exhausted the hell of me! Definitely it’s more compelling experience than running 10 miles long marathon! But it’s worth to try! What an amazing adrenaline rush!
The main story reminded me of Other People’s Children’s story with a small twist: at this book surrogate mother has change of heart and she decides to keep the baby by running away from adoptive parents!
It’s a quite heart pounding, action packed, thrilling cat-mouse game ( or literally adoptive parents vs surrogate mother chasing game ) you cannot put the book down, you keep changing sides between the characters because when you read their point of views you realize that none of them is the bad guy of the story. Everybody seems right from their perspective. You cannot get mad any of them and eventually you get sad, because one of the sides has to sacrifice own happiness for the baby. Nobody is the winner of this story!
Ruth is in her forties, a journalist,married with her lovely attorney husband with two teenage kids from his ex marriage. Only thing is missing from her life is pure happiness of raising her own kid. Of course her husband supports her decision which make them search about surrogacy.
They finally find a perfect candidate: 19 years old Cally who cannot raise a baby by herself, pursuing her dream to attend the college for brighter future but as soon as giving birth to her baby, she changes her heart, running away with her baby!
Of course Ruth and Hal go after her. Their chasing game drags them into sparsely populated upper reaches of Northern Minnesota in the middle of threatening snowy winter.
It was engrossing, nail biting, soul crushing, mind numbing journey!
If you look for something unputdownable, exciting, keeping you in your toes, planning to finish in one seat reading, this is a great fit for you!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
The main story reminded me of Other People’s Children’s story with a small twist: at this book surrogate mother has change of heart and she decides to keep the baby by running away from adoptive parents!
It’s a quite heart pounding, action packed, thrilling cat-mouse game ( or literally adoptive parents vs surrogate mother chasing game ) you cannot put the book down, you keep changing sides between the characters because when you read their point of views you realize that none of them is the bad guy of the story. Everybody seems right from their perspective. You cannot get mad any of them and eventually you get sad, because one of the sides has to sacrifice own happiness for the baby. Nobody is the winner of this story!
Ruth is in her forties, a journalist,married with her lovely attorney husband with two teenage kids from his ex marriage. Only thing is missing from her life is pure happiness of raising her own kid. Of course her husband supports her decision which make them search about surrogacy.
They finally find a perfect candidate: 19 years old Cally who cannot raise a baby by herself, pursuing her dream to attend the college for brighter future but as soon as giving birth to her baby, she changes her heart, running away with her baby!
Of course Ruth and Hal go after her. Their chasing game drags them into sparsely populated upper reaches of Northern Minnesota in the middle of threatening snowy winter.
It was engrossing, nail biting, soul crushing, mind numbing journey!
If you look for something unputdownable, exciting, keeping you in your toes, planning to finish in one seat reading, this is a great fit for you!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
November 12, 2021
There are some books that come across your radar when the fireworks in your mind explode and you just know that you have to read it as soon as humanly possible. Then there are books like The Surrogate. Sure, it sounds good. Sure, I'll request it. But other than that very little expectations are made of it. It will probably be a dud is what I assumed when picking up this title to read. WRONG!
I am here to tell you this book is utterly compelling. Is it because my expectations were so low? I have no idea but this darn book was unputdownable for this reader.
Ruth and Hal meet, fall in love, and get married. He is divorced with two teenage sons already but when Ruth see's him with his children and his ex-wife she realizes that she wants to have a child with Hal. She wants to be part of that family unit. Unable to conceive she decides to hire a surrogate to carry their child. Meet Cally. She's a healthy 19 year old young woman that seems to pass all of their tests. They are convinced she will be the perfect person to carry their baby.
Once the baby is born Cally has a change of heart. She has come to love this baby she carried and can't find it in her heart to hand over her baby to Ruth and Hal. So she runs away with the belief that she just wants a few more days with her then she'll bring her back to them.
I will say no more. These characters really came to life for me. Halleen did an excellent job in characterization. The characters are nuanced and flawed but so genuinely human. I cared about everyone in this novel (with the exception being Cally's jerk of a boyfriend) even though I may not have agreed in what they were doing I could understand why they were doing it and what their motivation was. Short chapters keeps the pacing on point allowing the reader to greedily flip the pages. The ending was just beautiful and everything I wanted it to be. An impressive debut to be sure. 4 stars!
Thank you to Wendy @ Simon & Schuster who kindly sent me a complimentary copy.
I am here to tell you this book is utterly compelling. Is it because my expectations were so low? I have no idea but this darn book was unputdownable for this reader.
Ruth and Hal meet, fall in love, and get married. He is divorced with two teenage sons already but when Ruth see's him with his children and his ex-wife she realizes that she wants to have a child with Hal. She wants to be part of that family unit. Unable to conceive she decides to hire a surrogate to carry their child. Meet Cally. She's a healthy 19 year old young woman that seems to pass all of their tests. They are convinced she will be the perfect person to carry their baby.
Once the baby is born Cally has a change of heart. She has come to love this baby she carried and can't find it in her heart to hand over her baby to Ruth and Hal. So she runs away with the belief that she just wants a few more days with her then she'll bring her back to them.
I will say no more. These characters really came to life for me. Halleen did an excellent job in characterization. The characters are nuanced and flawed but so genuinely human. I cared about everyone in this novel (with the exception being Cally's jerk of a boyfriend) even though I may not have agreed in what they were doing I could understand why they were doing it and what their motivation was. Short chapters keeps the pacing on point allowing the reader to greedily flip the pages. The ending was just beautiful and everything I wanted it to be. An impressive debut to be sure. 4 stars!
Thank you to Wendy @ Simon & Schuster who kindly sent me a complimentary copy.
September 16, 2021
This is told from multiple perspectives, jumping back and forth in time, primarily the first few days after the 20-year-old surrogate Cally decides she wants more time with the baby and instead of signing the final documents, makes her escape from the hospital with her screw-up ex-boyfriend.
I had empathy for Ruth, the 42-year-old who didn’t find her love in Hal until her body decided it was too old to procreate. I would also feel powerless in that situation because even if you have your surrogate sign paperwork that says she won’t drink caffeine or otherwise live up to the very high standards society seems to expect pregnant women to fulfill, you can’t actually control the behavior of another human being, no matter how much time you spend with them. However, that said, she comes across as super bitchy. I’m one hundred percent sure I’d act the exact same way in that situation, but it still didn’t endear me to her.
Cally enjoyed being pregnant and needs the money for college. She liked having all the attention focused on her. Feeling a living creature inside her body for the final months of pregnancy once Baby began kicking and the pain of childbirth could certainly get your thinking a little scrambled, but she makes one bad decision after the other, so it was also hard to like her.
I immensely disliked the ridiculous, predictable ending.
I was given an advance copy from NetGalley. This novel RELEASES NOVEMBER 2, 2021.
I had empathy for Ruth, the 42-year-old who didn’t find her love in Hal until her body decided it was too old to procreate. I would also feel powerless in that situation because even if you have your surrogate sign paperwork that says she won’t drink caffeine or otherwise live up to the very high standards society seems to expect pregnant women to fulfill, you can’t actually control the behavior of another human being, no matter how much time you spend with them. However, that said, she comes across as super bitchy. I’m one hundred percent sure I’d act the exact same way in that situation, but it still didn’t endear me to her.
Cally enjoyed being pregnant and needs the money for college. She liked having all the attention focused on her. Feeling a living creature inside her body for the final months of pregnancy once Baby began kicking and the pain of childbirth could certainly get your thinking a little scrambled, but she makes one bad decision after the other, so it was also hard to like her.
I immensely disliked the ridiculous, predictable ending.
I was given an advance copy from NetGalley. This novel RELEASES NOVEMBER 2, 2021.
December 4, 2021
What happens when a 19-year old surrogate mother changes her mind and engineers a harrowing escape from the hospital maternity ward with her newborn?
This breathtaking and ultra-compelling domestic drama is riveting, mesmerizing, and impossible to put down.
It's a powerful and emotive tale that brilliantly explores the topics of love, hope, motherhood, fatherhood, parenting, and the ethics of surrogacy, in new and profound ways.
Absorbingly atmospheric, this heartwrenching story is set in frigid northern Minnesota in the middle of winter. showcasing protagonists that are unlikeable and deeply flawed.
The book's gripping storyline unfolds from the multiple POVs of Cally (the surrogate), Hal and Ruth (the parents), and Cally's boyfriend Bigger. All protagonists have their own unique agendas.
Yet the most surprising thing about this "twisty" book is that "The Surrogate" is author Toni Halleen's debut novel. The author's characterizations are over-the-top and her plotting is insightful, clever, and delightfully unpredictable.
To date, the book is one of my best reads of 2021.
I listened to the audiobook that featured a full-cast narration. All of the narrators did an outstanding job; making the audiobook narration a stellar listening experience.
Toni Halleen is now one of my "go-to" authors and I look forward to listening to this author's future titles.
This breathtaking and ultra-compelling domestic drama is riveting, mesmerizing, and impossible to put down.
It's a powerful and emotive tale that brilliantly explores the topics of love, hope, motherhood, fatherhood, parenting, and the ethics of surrogacy, in new and profound ways.
Absorbingly atmospheric, this heartwrenching story is set in frigid northern Minnesota in the middle of winter. showcasing protagonists that are unlikeable and deeply flawed.
The book's gripping storyline unfolds from the multiple POVs of Cally (the surrogate), Hal and Ruth (the parents), and Cally's boyfriend Bigger. All protagonists have their own unique agendas.
Yet the most surprising thing about this "twisty" book is that "The Surrogate" is author Toni Halleen's debut novel. The author's characterizations are over-the-top and her plotting is insightful, clever, and delightfully unpredictable.
To date, the book is one of my best reads of 2021.
I listened to the audiobook that featured a full-cast narration. All of the narrators did an outstanding job; making the audiobook narration a stellar listening experience.
Toni Halleen is now one of my "go-to" authors and I look forward to listening to this author's future titles.
June 18, 2021
2 ⭐️⭐️. Okay this book was by far one of the hardest for me to write a review for. The more I kept thinking about the book, the more annoyed I got and kept lowering my rating. I won’t lie, it starts off with a bang and is a solid 4 stars in the beginning but then as I kept reading I could see where the author was going with it. This is going to be hard to write a review without giving spoilers but I’ll do my best. If it doesn’t make sense to you, then it will if you choose to read the book. It’s a story where at first you believe Cally is this awful person who wants to keep her baby. But then you start thinking that it’s such a tough situation for everyone. You feel for Cally and you feel for Ruth. But then the author makes it obvious that they want you to root for Cally more by making Ruth’s character obnoxiously annoying at times. At about 80% of the book I was annoyed with everything that was happening. It was unrealistic and kinda dumb. I did not like the ending and it has nothing to do with who or who didn’t get the baby. My issue was, that in my opinion, I feel as though the author portrayed surrogacy in a negative way. Families come together in so many different ways. I can speak from experience. I adopted my daughter at 9 months old. And while I know that all situations and all children are different, I was fortunate and my child bonded instantly to me. I feel as though this author has an issue with surrogacy and adoption (since a comment was made in the beginning about adopting and genetics). I just didn’t like the way many things were portrayed in this book. If you are someone considering a surrogate, I wouldn’t recommend this book at all.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2022
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 3.5 stars
Story - 3.5 stars
November 9, 2021
Not Thrilling. Melodramatic.
While reading this book, especially toward the end, I kept saying aloud to myself, “I really hate this stupid book!” So, there you have it.
Now let’s get to the *why.*
Itsy bitsy spoilers below. Proceed with caution.
The story follows Ruth and Hal as they hire Callie to provide surrogacy services for them. But, this is billed as a thriller/suspense so, we know it won’t go off without a hitch.
Yet, the novel has too many “hitches” and they’re all the *wrong* kind:
1) Everyone is unlikable. Now this usually isn’t too big a hurdle for enjoyment but…with a thriller the reader needs a clear “baddie” and with so many crusty individuals (read: actually they’re all painfully milquetoast) it’s hard to peg one as the “baddie” and this leads to my second hitch…
2) There is no one to *root* for. With no clear “baddie” and no sympathies garnered for any of the main characters, the reader is left on the sidelines, observing the story with little to no buy in or little to no care about what happens. Who will get the baby? Answer: who effing cares? (This is not to mean one won’t care about the innocent baby…but even that is left flat as the kid is a prop).
3) Some super melodramatic plot choices will make many readers groan and if like me, actually consider chucking the book across the room. (Hint: how the author gets all the characters back in the same vicinity).
4) Lots of backstory that will *feel* like it’s needed to build tension (it will in the moment) but in the end the reader will realize NONE of it mattered , NONE of it was pertinent to the main plot, and ALL was page filler. What was the point? It didn’t make me sympathize with anyone more or less, didn’t drive the plot…(I feel a groan coming on…)
5) 99% of the suspense that was written was throw-away fade-to-commercial BS type suspense. Like the author needed to hit a few higher pulse points to drag this limp story up to anything resembling a thriller (it’s not) and so, devised things to halt the progress of the characters—for the sake of halting the characters’ progress…nothing more. Cheap tricks. (Hint: after Callie has to pee…what happens to her? Oh no! What about the baby!? …next chapter {commercial break}. When we see Callie again the next chapter we learn…NOTHING happened. It was a gimmick.)
So I’ve already given this review more time than I should have spent reading the book.
Recap: This isn’t a thriller. Whatever “suspense” the book has is wholly manufactured and unnecessary to the main story writ large. No one is bad. No one is good. No one should care.
⭐️⭐️
While reading this book, especially toward the end, I kept saying aloud to myself, “I really hate this stupid book!” So, there you have it.
Now let’s get to the *why.*
Itsy bitsy spoilers below. Proceed with caution.
The story follows Ruth and Hal as they hire Callie to provide surrogacy services for them. But, this is billed as a thriller/suspense so, we know it won’t go off without a hitch.
Yet, the novel has too many “hitches” and they’re all the *wrong* kind:
1) Everyone is unlikable. Now this usually isn’t too big a hurdle for enjoyment but…with a thriller the reader needs a clear “baddie” and with so many crusty individuals (read: actually they’re all painfully milquetoast) it’s hard to peg one as the “baddie” and this leads to my second hitch…
2) There is no one to *root* for. With no clear “baddie” and no sympathies garnered for any of the main characters, the reader is left on the sidelines, observing the story with little to no buy in or little to no care about what happens. Who will get the baby? Answer: who effing cares? (This is not to mean one won’t care about the innocent baby…but even that is left flat as the kid is a prop).
3) Some super melodramatic plot choices will make many readers groan and if like me, actually consider chucking the book across the room. (Hint: how the author gets all the characters back in the same vicinity).
4) Lots of backstory that will *feel* like it’s needed to build tension (it will in the moment) but in the end the reader will realize NONE of it mattered , NONE of it was pertinent to the main plot, and ALL was page filler. What was the point? It didn’t make me sympathize with anyone more or less, didn’t drive the plot…(I feel a groan coming on…)
5) 99% of the suspense that was written was throw-away fade-to-commercial BS type suspense. Like the author needed to hit a few higher pulse points to drag this limp story up to anything resembling a thriller (it’s not) and so, devised things to halt the progress of the characters—for the sake of halting the characters’ progress…nothing more. Cheap tricks. (Hint: after Callie has to pee…what happens to her? Oh no! What about the baby!? …next chapter {commercial break}. When we see Callie again the next chapter we learn…NOTHING happened. It was a gimmick.)
So I’ve already given this review more time than I should have spent reading the book.
Recap: This isn’t a thriller. Whatever “suspense” the book has is wholly manufactured and unnecessary to the main story writ large. No one is bad. No one is good. No one should care.
⭐️⭐️
October 20, 2021
You know I love a book about motherhood so this was a must read. Thanks to Harper Audio I was able to experience this multi narrator audiobook which lends well to the way the story unfolds. Definitely recommend that route if it’s available to you.
What I appreciate most about this story is that we get all viewpoints (4 povs) in regards to a surrogacy. The story is somewhat predictable until the last third and looking back I appreciate the setup for what becomes a bit of a tense situation - in more ways than you can imagine.
I found the characters difficult to like but the situation itself is complex so I gave them more grace than usual.
I think if you enjoy books about motherhood and the costs of trying to become one, then you too will enjoy it.
3.75 stars rounded up
What I appreciate most about this story is that we get all viewpoints (4 povs) in regards to a surrogacy. The story is somewhat predictable until the last third and looking back I appreciate the setup for what becomes a bit of a tense situation - in more ways than you can imagine.
I found the characters difficult to like but the situation itself is complex so I gave them more grace than usual.
I think if you enjoy books about motherhood and the costs of trying to become one, then you too will enjoy it.
3.75 stars rounded up
January 3, 2022
I really have no idea what to categorize The Surrogate by Toni Halleen as. It didn't really come across as a thriller to me, but it's also not quite women's fiction in my mind either. I guess we can just say this is a genre-bending novel that I did not want to put down! The story alternates between multiple viewpoints and I loved that the audiobook had a full cast of characters to match this. Clearly, I decided to listen to it, and I was very impressed with the entire cast, which is Stacey Glemboski, Laurie Catherine Winkel, Andrew Eiden, George Newbern & Lisa Flanagan. Eiden is one of my favorite male narrators, but each of them did an excellent job and I was happy I decided to go the audio route. I really enjoyed that this book is set in Minnesota which is my home state and where I was while reading it, and I always love reading books set in places I am familiar with.
I really liked every single one of the viewpoints in the book, but the most interesting to me was definitely Ruth and Cally. I especially liked being able to hear Ruth's backstory with Hal throughout, and I loved how Halleen unraveled their story as a couple. At first, I was a little confused when we were getting flashbacks from Ruth's character, but once I figured out what was happening, I was good to go. The pacing was very steady and there was just something about her writing that made me not want to put The Surrogate down for a second. This is actually a debut novel as well and based on how much I enjoyed it; I really can't wait to see where Halleen goes with her next book. There's only so much I can say about The Surrogate without spoilers, so my advice is to pick it up if you like a mix of genres in one book and if the synopsis sounds good to you!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really liked every single one of the viewpoints in the book, but the most interesting to me was definitely Ruth and Cally. I especially liked being able to hear Ruth's backstory with Hal throughout, and I loved how Halleen unraveled their story as a couple. At first, I was a little confused when we were getting flashbacks from Ruth's character, but once I figured out what was happening, I was good to go. The pacing was very steady and there was just something about her writing that made me not want to put The Surrogate down for a second. This is actually a debut novel as well and based on how much I enjoyed it; I really can't wait to see where Halleen goes with her next book. There's only so much I can say about The Surrogate without spoilers, so my advice is to pick it up if you like a mix of genres in one book and if the synopsis sounds good to you!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 9, 2021
First, thank you to the publishers at Harper and Netgalley for this e-ARC of The Surrogate.
The Surrogate takes place within 3 parts with 4 different viewpoints; Cally (the surrogate), Ruth and Hal (the parents), and Digger, Cally’s ex-boyfriend.
After waiting until her early 40s to have children, Ruth discovers she’s unable to have children. Hired by the Olson’s to carry a baby, Cally is a natural surrogate, meaning her egg will be mixed with Hal’s sperm. After the birth though, Cally changes her mind and runs away with the little girl. Devastated by their loss, Ruth and Hal set out to find their stolen daughter, but in Minnesota, the rules regarding surrogacy leave a lot to be desired. Did Cally really steal their child, or does she legally belong to her?
Set in the early 2000s, we’re looking at a time in history where cell phones weren’t common yet, and disappearing was a lot easier to accomplish. Taking place during a Minnesota winter, The Surrogate will have you scared out of your mind for the tiny newborn. As a mother of two, I really resonated with this story, especially with the feelings revolving around Nell/Elizabeth.
The climax was my favorite part, when everything comes to a head, and you think you’ve figured out the ending. I was wrong, but the ending is sweet and I think will be well taken by readers.
The Surrogate releases November 2! Preorder your copy today!
The Surrogate takes place within 3 parts with 4 different viewpoints; Cally (the surrogate), Ruth and Hal (the parents), and Digger, Cally’s ex-boyfriend.
After waiting until her early 40s to have children, Ruth discovers she’s unable to have children. Hired by the Olson’s to carry a baby, Cally is a natural surrogate, meaning her egg will be mixed with Hal’s sperm. After the birth though, Cally changes her mind and runs away with the little girl. Devastated by their loss, Ruth and Hal set out to find their stolen daughter, but in Minnesota, the rules regarding surrogacy leave a lot to be desired. Did Cally really steal their child, or does she legally belong to her?
Set in the early 2000s, we’re looking at a time in history where cell phones weren’t common yet, and disappearing was a lot easier to accomplish. Taking place during a Minnesota winter, The Surrogate will have you scared out of your mind for the tiny newborn. As a mother of two, I really resonated with this story, especially with the feelings revolving around Nell/Elizabeth.
The climax was my favorite part, when everything comes to a head, and you think you’ve figured out the ending. I was wrong, but the ending is sweet and I think will be well taken by readers.
The Surrogate releases November 2! Preorder your copy today!
November 11, 2021
phew! this book was an emotional rollercoaster. i’ve never had any knowledge on surrogacy until now. laws of surrogacy (in Minnesota), contracts, everyone’s emotions, was all very interesting to me.
the story follows 4 POV’s - Cally, Digger, Ruth & Hal. i was super invested in all the characters even though the only one i could actually connect with was Cally because in all honesty, if i was alone in the world, no family, friends, etc. at age 20 and saw an ad to become a surrogate for $50,000+ i would definitely consider it.
i rarely can read a book in 2 days but i did with this one!
a huge thank you to harper books & uplit reads for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
the story follows 4 POV’s - Cally, Digger, Ruth & Hal. i was super invested in all the characters even though the only one i could actually connect with was Cally because in all honesty, if i was alone in the world, no family, friends, etc. at age 20 and saw an ad to become a surrogate for $50,000+ i would definitely consider it.
i rarely can read a book in 2 days but i did with this one!
a huge thank you to harper books & uplit reads for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 28, 2021
This little snippet was all I needed to read to add this one to my TBR 👉🏻 “A probing novel about a newly married couple, the surrogate they hire to carry their baby, and the unexpected consequences of their decisions.” Books about parenthood always get my attention and this one was far more complex and thought provoking than I expected, so so good!
I did end up going with the audio version of this one and it really worked well in that format for me. There are several viewpoints so you get several narrators and they were all fantastic, so just a heads up for my audio loving friends. This one raised so many questions about motherhood so I could see it being popular with book clubs as there is a ton to discuss. For the first portion of the book I assumed I knew where it was headed but things took a turn and the tension ramped up, I definitely wasn’t expecting thriller vibes but it was great, especially coupled with strong characterization and an engaging plot.
I did end up going with the audio version of this one and it really worked well in that format for me. There are several viewpoints so you get several narrators and they were all fantastic, so just a heads up for my audio loving friends. This one raised so many questions about motherhood so I could see it being popular with book clubs as there is a ton to discuss. For the first portion of the book I assumed I knew where it was headed but things took a turn and the tension ramped up, I definitely wasn’t expecting thriller vibes but it was great, especially coupled with strong characterization and an engaging plot.
June 8, 2021
Ok so I really really enjoyed this book!! I basically read this in a day and a half, super easy read & very easy to just keep reading ‘one more chapter’. I truly didn’t want to put it down. I’m at 4-4.5 star rating on this one, rounded down. Anymore I’m pretty picky about books I give 5⭐️ to & this wasn’t quite there. I really liked this book but it’s not one that left me wowed & adding to my top book list. I feel like some of the writing was somewhat adolescent or something you’d get from a new author. Maybe it was to give full effect to the character’s personality & demeanor but I think some of the writing could’ve been stepped up a bit (mostly in the beginning). I think my other hang up preventing me from giving it a full 5 is it kind of seemed drawn out in the beginning, had me asking myself where was the author going with things. I was by no means bored though, i just feel like it’s missing something (I don’t know what?).
The story alternated between 4 narrators. There’s Cally who has decided to be a surrogate for a married couple to earn money for college, the couple/intended parents Hal & Ruth & then Cally’s on-again-off-again boyfriend Digger. I was drawn to Cally’s character right away she seems innocent..sheltered maybe. Even though she’s 20 she seems like a young child in some ways like you want to protect her & bring her under your wing. Ruth comes off as an overbearing uptight mother-in-law, and up until the end there was zero part of me that liked her. The author did an excellent job at making her very cringey! Her husband Hal is alright, for the most part he seems charming & laidback. Towards the end I felt myself switching who I liked between the two, I just felt that as her husband he should’ve handled situations differently & been more supportive of his wife. And then there’s Digger. Initially I thought he was trying to come off as a bad boy, hard a$$ on the outside & really a sweet softy. No. He sucks & is a perfect douche bag of a boyfriend character.
As a female & Mother this book gave me major anxiety since it is based on surrogacy. One woman spends 9 months growing a baby, her baby, in her body with her own egg (yes I know she signed up for that) & then to hand it over to someone else to raise. Ugh all the feelings here. As a mom I think maybe I was biased & that was why I was extra drawn to Cally & rooting for her. I really couldn’t imagine being in either of their shoes. This was such an interesting & suspenseful read seeing how things transpired between the four of them after the baby was born, especially once Cally realized that someone she thought she could count on she really couldn’t & some unexpected people she could. One of which is Vera who comes into the picture later & I just love Vera’s character!! As for the ending I don’t think I’d change much, for the most part I love how things turned out! This was one of those books that had me from the beginning & that I couldn’t put down until I was finished. Absolutely recommend this one!
Many thanks to Netgalley & Harper for the ARC!!
The story alternated between 4 narrators. There’s Cally who has decided to be a surrogate for a married couple to earn money for college, the couple/intended parents Hal & Ruth & then Cally’s on-again-off-again boyfriend Digger. I was drawn to Cally’s character right away she seems innocent..sheltered maybe. Even though she’s 20 she seems like a young child in some ways like you want to protect her & bring her under your wing. Ruth comes off as an overbearing uptight mother-in-law, and up until the end there was zero part of me that liked her. The author did an excellent job at making her very cringey! Her husband Hal is alright, for the most part he seems charming & laidback. Towards the end I felt myself switching who I liked between the two, I just felt that as her husband he should’ve handled situations differently & been more supportive of his wife. And then there’s Digger. Initially I thought he was trying to come off as a bad boy, hard a$$ on the outside & really a sweet softy. No. He sucks & is a perfect douche bag of a boyfriend character.
As a female & Mother this book gave me major anxiety since it is based on surrogacy. One woman spends 9 months growing a baby, her baby, in her body with her own egg (yes I know she signed up for that) & then to hand it over to someone else to raise. Ugh all the feelings here. As a mom I think maybe I was biased & that was why I was extra drawn to Cally & rooting for her. I really couldn’t imagine being in either of their shoes. This was such an interesting & suspenseful read seeing how things transpired between the four of them after the baby was born, especially once Cally realized that someone she thought she could count on she really couldn’t & some unexpected people she could. One of which is Vera who comes into the picture later & I just love Vera’s character!! As for the ending I don’t think I’d change much, for the most part I love how things turned out! This was one of those books that had me from the beginning & that I couldn’t put down until I was finished. Absolutely recommend this one!
Many thanks to Netgalley & Harper for the ARC!!
June 13, 2021
I wanted to like this book and parts of it are terrific. It does a good job of getting inside the mind of the surrogate as she flees with her baby, but there is a lot of padding at the beginning of the book (the intended parents meet cute and first date are given in detail) and towards the end, the narrative becomes overly contrived. It really felt like the author either didn't know how to tie all the threads of the book together in a realistic way or just wanted the book over. Also, the author seems very much against surrogacy and possibly also adoption.
November 15, 2021
The Surrogate by Toni Halleen took me by surprise. I went into it ready to read a contemporary story about motherhood and surrogacy, but instead found myself reading an unputdownable suspense novel that kept me on the edge with its strong beginning, short chapters and constant drama and action.
The multiple POV worked perfectly for the story and helped the readers understand the characters more, illuminating their strengths and flaws, making them appear human and relatable. It was difficult taking sides because the readers could sort of get the "why" of the actions and decisions. I was totally unsure how things would pan out.
And even though the conclusion was extremely unpredictable and frankly, a bit too neat for my liking, all in all I found the story, characterization and everything in between marvelously done.
However, I will not recommend this book to readers with infertility, surrogacy and pregnancy triggers, but if you're just looking for a decent suspense story and are not bothered by the above three, it's a good quick thriller to pick up.
The multiple POV worked perfectly for the story and helped the readers understand the characters more, illuminating their strengths and flaws, making them appear human and relatable. It was difficult taking sides because the readers could sort of get the "why" of the actions and decisions. I was totally unsure how things would pan out.
And even though the conclusion was extremely unpredictable and frankly, a bit too neat for my liking, all in all I found the story, characterization and everything in between marvelously done.
However, I will not recommend this book to readers with infertility, surrogacy and pregnancy triggers, but if you're just looking for a decent suspense story and are not bothered by the above three, it's a good quick thriller to pick up.
July 14, 2021
Ruth and her husband Hal would like to have a baby together but Ruth is not able to since she now in her early 40's. So they hire Cally to be their surrogate. After the birth, Cally changes her mind and decides she wants to keep the baby girl and runs off with the help of Digger, an on and off again boyfriend.
The story is told in alternating POV between Hal, Digger, Ruth, and Cally. This aspect kept the story interesting. I found myself quite invested in the characters and read this book in one day. Chasing after Cally turns into a great cat and mouse game and I had to know if Ruth and Hal would get their little girl back. It is a very well written book and you will find it hard to put down. This is an amazing debut by Toni Halleen!! I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper for my ARC in exchange for my honest review
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
The story is told in alternating POV between Hal, Digger, Ruth, and Cally. This aspect kept the story interesting. I found myself quite invested in the characters and read this book in one day. Chasing after Cally turns into a great cat and mouse game and I had to know if Ruth and Hal would get their little girl back. It is a very well written book and you will find it hard to put down. This is an amazing debut by Toni Halleen!! I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper for my ARC in exchange for my honest review
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
November 2, 2021
What a wild ride! I went into this book expecting a thriller, but it’s actually a family drama and mystery that kept me full of anticipation until the end.
The Surrogate is a probing novel about a newly married couple who hire a surrogate to carry their baby; however, the surrogate changes her mind and escapes the hospital with the baby. (This is not a spoiler; it happens on the first page.) Before the birth of the child, the newly married couple create their own legal contract, without seeking help from a surrogate lawyer, which results in many serious confrontations and consequences.
I enjoyed the multiple points of views in The Surrogate and the timeline was easy to follow. Each chapter contained an important moving piece to the overall mystery, which kept me engaged throughout the entire book.
It’s important to note The Surrogate is a fiction that takes place in the early 2000s. Insemination is done with the sperm of the intended father and egg of the carrier, which although is the traditional method, is very rare these days.
There are parts of The Surrogate that might be hard for readers to get through. If you’re sensitive to stories about surrogacy, infertility, or are triggered by anything dealing with infant endangerment, then please be advised.
Overall, The Surrogate was quite the page turner. There are many controversial issues that arise in the book and questions surrounding surrogacy laws and parental rights, creating opportunities for discussion— bookclubs might enjoy this one for that reason.
Thank you to UpLit Reads, Toni Halleen, and Harper Collins for the Advanced Readers Copy and final copy of The Surrogate in exchange for an honest review.
The Surrogate is a probing novel about a newly married couple who hire a surrogate to carry their baby; however, the surrogate changes her mind and escapes the hospital with the baby. (This is not a spoiler; it happens on the first page.) Before the birth of the child, the newly married couple create their own legal contract, without seeking help from a surrogate lawyer, which results in many serious confrontations and consequences.
I enjoyed the multiple points of views in The Surrogate and the timeline was easy to follow. Each chapter contained an important moving piece to the overall mystery, which kept me engaged throughout the entire book.
It’s important to note The Surrogate is a fiction that takes place in the early 2000s. Insemination is done with the sperm of the intended father and egg of the carrier, which although is the traditional method, is very rare these days.
There are parts of The Surrogate that might be hard for readers to get through. If you’re sensitive to stories about surrogacy, infertility, or are triggered by anything dealing with infant endangerment, then please be advised.
Overall, The Surrogate was quite the page turner. There are many controversial issues that arise in the book and questions surrounding surrogacy laws and parental rights, creating opportunities for discussion— bookclubs might enjoy this one for that reason.
Thank you to UpLit Reads, Toni Halleen, and Harper Collins for the Advanced Readers Copy and final copy of The Surrogate in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2021
This one is good! I went into the book thinking I would empathize with one character more and I was wrong. The Surrogate provides alternating views and I ended up feeling the most for Cally which I wouldn’t have predicted. I would call this a combination of a legal and psychological thriller and it was interesting learning a little about the laws (in one state) surrounding surrogacy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harpercollins for the eARC.
The Surrogate is set to be published on November 2, 2021. This is one you will want to keep your eye out for. I’m excited to see what Toni Halleen writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harpercollins for the eARC.
The Surrogate is set to be published on November 2, 2021. This is one you will want to keep your eye out for. I’m excited to see what Toni Halleen writes next.
July 16, 2021
This book wasn’t on my radar at all but I received it in the mail, the cover looked so intriguing so I dived in.
The premise definitely got me and I loved the short chapters and alternating points of view. The story moves quickly and is definitely an enjoyable domestic thriller!!!
The premise definitely got me and I loved the short chapters and alternating points of view. The story moves quickly and is definitely an enjoyable domestic thriller!!!
November 2, 2021
Happy Publication Day! Thank you Uplit club and Harper for the gifted copy.
3.75⭐️
The Surrogate is a heart pounding novel about a young woman Cally, who is under a Traditional Surrogate Agreement (TSA). She has second thoughts after giving birth to a beautiful baby girl. The pursuit of what happens to the baby girl after Cally took her is a thrilling ride. That alone elevated the star points of this book!
Toni Halleen has given a good debut thriller about family, infertility, and surrogacy. The altering povs and timelines kept the story suspenseful. But the timelines were too close together, sometimes I lost the story track, but it wasn’t quite confusing because after reading a few lines, I was back on track. There are a few characters introduced towards the end who play with the storyline, but they all complemented each other well!
Ruth and Hal, seemed distant and close at the same time, I have no idea how the author managed to write them that way. Ruth being a reporter came off rude at places and felt like she had inferiority complex. I’m not complaining though, her character arc came off good at the end. I didn’t care much for Hal, he was half in and half out from the start! I’m just happy they all got the ending they deserved.
Overall, Toni Halleen has made an impressive debut with a well framed and quickly readable suspense thriller.
3.75⭐️
The Surrogate is a heart pounding novel about a young woman Cally, who is under a Traditional Surrogate Agreement (TSA). She has second thoughts after giving birth to a beautiful baby girl. The pursuit of what happens to the baby girl after Cally took her is a thrilling ride. That alone elevated the star points of this book!
Toni Halleen has given a good debut thriller about family, infertility, and surrogacy. The altering povs and timelines kept the story suspenseful. But the timelines were too close together, sometimes I lost the story track, but it wasn’t quite confusing because after reading a few lines, I was back on track. There are a few characters introduced towards the end who play with the storyline, but they all complemented each other well!
Ruth and Hal, seemed distant and close at the same time, I have no idea how the author managed to write them that way. Ruth being a reporter came off rude at places and felt like she had inferiority complex. I’m not complaining though, her character arc came off good at the end. I didn’t care much for Hal, he was half in and half out from the start! I’m just happy they all got the ending they deserved.
Overall, Toni Halleen has made an impressive debut with a well framed and quickly readable suspense thriller.
November 22, 2021
I like stories with the perspectives of each character and surrogacy is certainly a topic that people have wildly opposing and/or passionate views about. This was well written with good character development and it was a quick read. If I were more emotionally involved with the main characters of Ruth or Cally I would have rated the book higher but even though I liked the story these women just never really touched me deeply. Still, this is a good debut novel and I look forward to the author's next work.
November 10, 2021
This book was so well written guys! Many many times, I thought I knew what will be unfurling and HOW I WAS WRONG!
I felt for every single character. They were well developed, and the relationship between Ruth and Cally was not easy to draw, because it's a complicated one. The story is told from the perspectives of Ruth, Cally, Digger and Hal, and it helps to understand the complexity of the emotions they are all feeling at different on different timelines.
Many thank to the publisher and UpLit Reads for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I felt for every single character. They were well developed, and the relationship between Ruth and Cally was not easy to draw, because it's a complicated one. The story is told from the perspectives of Ruth, Cally, Digger and Hal, and it helps to understand the complexity of the emotions they are all feeling at different on different timelines.
Many thank to the publisher and UpLit Reads for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Read
October 29, 2021THE SURROGATE is many novels at once – harrowing, joyful, thought-provoking, revelatory – and a book that after many twists and turns will leave you wondering, what is a family, anyway? And what would I do to keep it safe?
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/10/29/a-you...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/10/29/a-you...
October 10, 2022
Thank god that’s over! What a frustratingly tedious read!
This book was completely oversold as some great treatise on the complications of surrogacy. It wasn’t. It was a rambling, shallow, boring story that the author attempted to dress up with alternating POVs and controversial subject matter.
It doesn’t even matter how deeply unlikable each character was (except for the surrogate) because, despite their flaws, I honestly felt bad for each one over how swiftly the author glossed over the trauma she wrote into each character. It’s like she pulled traumatic events out of a hat and randomly assigned them to each character for ~spice.
The last 1/4 of the book was soap opera-esque in its twists and turns, as if to make up for the tedium of the prior 3/4. There were inconsistencies too (Hal previously expressing incredulity over Callie potentially having a boyfriend, despite him removing the sex clause in her contract? This was never addressed). The writing was just….bad.
I would be willing to bet the money I don’t have that the author wrote her little piece about childbirth and then whimsically imagined to herself, “what if this was all about surrogacy!” Like Ruth’s characterization, the writing here reflects entitlement to content and attention that isn’t justified. I’m glad the “victim” here is just my wasted time - not a human child and mother like the ones in this book.
That being said, I think this book also perpetuates harm in the way that it purports to educate the audience about surrogacy and then does absolutely none of that. The story’s convenient ending prevents the audience from critically thinking about the subject matter. Another disrespectful choice by the author. The whole thing just felt like a flippant thought experiment. Surrogacy is a real actual thing that real actual people go through and engage with, though you wouldn’t get that at all from reading this book.
Editing to add: this book was also ableist AF.
Also? I’m seeing a lot of the criticism of this book is that it’s anti-surrogacy. I would like to add my own two cents as someone who believes surrogacy cannot be ethical in our society as it exists now: this book was absolute garbage, and it did a horrible job of even demonstrating anti-surrogacy if that was its aim. It was aimless, rambling, and disrespectful. Whatever your opinions on surrogacy, this book SUCKED at “exploring” the subject and should never have been written. I want my time back!
This book was completely oversold as some great treatise on the complications of surrogacy. It wasn’t. It was a rambling, shallow, boring story that the author attempted to dress up with alternating POVs and controversial subject matter.
It doesn’t even matter how deeply unlikable each character was (except for the surrogate) because, despite their flaws, I honestly felt bad for each one over how swiftly the author glossed over the trauma she wrote into each character. It’s like she pulled traumatic events out of a hat and randomly assigned them to each character for ~spice.
The last 1/4 of the book was soap opera-esque in its twists and turns, as if to make up for the tedium of the prior 3/4. There were inconsistencies too (Hal previously expressing incredulity over Callie potentially having a boyfriend, despite him removing the sex clause in her contract? This was never addressed). The writing was just….bad.
I would be willing to bet the money I don’t have that the author wrote her little piece about childbirth and then whimsically imagined to herself, “what if this was all about surrogacy!” Like Ruth’s characterization, the writing here reflects entitlement to content and attention that isn’t justified. I’m glad the “victim” here is just my wasted time - not a human child and mother like the ones in this book.
That being said, I think this book also perpetuates harm in the way that it purports to educate the audience about surrogacy and then does absolutely none of that. The story’s convenient ending prevents the audience from critically thinking about the subject matter. Another disrespectful choice by the author. The whole thing just felt like a flippant thought experiment. Surrogacy is a real actual thing that real actual people go through and engage with, though you wouldn’t get that at all from reading this book.
Editing to add: this book was also ableist AF.
Also? I’m seeing a lot of the criticism of this book is that it’s anti-surrogacy. I would like to add my own two cents as someone who believes surrogacy cannot be ethical in our society as it exists now: this book was absolute garbage, and it did a horrible job of even demonstrating anti-surrogacy if that was its aim. It was aimless, rambling, and disrespectful. Whatever your opinions on surrogacy, this book SUCKED at “exploring” the subject and should never have been written. I want my time back!
April 7, 2022
THE SURROGATE
Toni Halleen
I always love character-driven stories and this one was really no different. It is as the title indicates a story about a surrogate, the woman and man that wanted her services, and what happens when a woman carries a baby with the intent to give it to the intended parents. The woman identified as the intended mother, Ruth was a hard-hitting journalist who only heard her bio clock well after it was assumed its last alarm had been silenced. The intended dad, Hal or Harold August Olsen, was already a father, so a divorced Dad with two unruly teenage boys who are really little shits. The surrogate is Cally, a young woman without means, who is smart but unable to afford college so is more than willing to carry a baby for these people.
Cally and Ruth never really hit it off, but they are on good terms, but there is an indication based on Ruth's insecurities that Hal and Cally have a closer relationship. These people work together to get to the due date and seem to do a pretty good job at it but then it all falls apart. Told from multiple POVs, the story hops around a bit but nothing more than most so the back story is filled in as we go. I find this to be an effective method to tell the current day story and paint a picture that explains why the current day is happening.
Rather predictably Cally begins to get cold feet about the transfer day, which is fairly easy to understand as the book is set in snowy northern Minnesota. This fact adds to the atmospheric setting of the book and I was waiting for the baby to freeze to death or catch her death of a cold. Cally, believing she needs more time leaves the hospital through her room window and drives away into the night with her ex-boyfriend, Digger. Digger thickens the plot in a fairly expected way and even Cally wonders about her decision several times to bring him into the picture. The ending was predictable, but don't let that stop you from reading this because I really enjoyed it. Halleen's writing style is straightforward and concise so I really liked it and the story moved at a good clip so you were always in motion and moving forward.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Toni Halleen
I always love character-driven stories and this one was really no different. It is as the title indicates a story about a surrogate, the woman and man that wanted her services, and what happens when a woman carries a baby with the intent to give it to the intended parents. The woman identified as the intended mother, Ruth was a hard-hitting journalist who only heard her bio clock well after it was assumed its last alarm had been silenced. The intended dad, Hal or Harold August Olsen, was already a father, so a divorced Dad with two unruly teenage boys who are really little shits. The surrogate is Cally, a young woman without means, who is smart but unable to afford college so is more than willing to carry a baby for these people.
Cally and Ruth never really hit it off, but they are on good terms, but there is an indication based on Ruth's insecurities that Hal and Cally have a closer relationship. These people work together to get to the due date and seem to do a pretty good job at it but then it all falls apart. Told from multiple POVs, the story hops around a bit but nothing more than most so the back story is filled in as we go. I find this to be an effective method to tell the current day story and paint a picture that explains why the current day is happening.
Rather predictably Cally begins to get cold feet about the transfer day, which is fairly easy to understand as the book is set in snowy northern Minnesota. This fact adds to the atmospheric setting of the book and I was waiting for the baby to freeze to death or catch her death of a cold. Cally, believing she needs more time leaves the hospital through her room window and drives away into the night with her ex-boyfriend, Digger. Digger thickens the plot in a fairly expected way and even Cally wonders about her decision several times to bring him into the picture. The ending was predictable, but don't let that stop you from reading this because I really enjoyed it. Halleen's writing style is straightforward and concise so I really liked it and the story moved at a good clip so you were always in motion and moving forward.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
March 30, 2022
In an era when we're doing so much work to correct narrow and harmful views about womanhood, and motherhood specifically, Toni Halleen does a disservice to her subject by using it for paranoia fodder. As a mode of storytelling, I believe that thrillers are amoral. I don't think they always mistreat their subject matter. But I do think that Halleen wrote this book by simply reaching again and again for the most easily accessible thrill in her story, and because motherhood is such a laden, complex subject, what this easy grab effected was a sort of erasure.
There are a ton of anxieties that accompany surrogacy, of course. We do not yet have a clear social structure to support families who choose surrogacy, so it's an anxious thing. Anxieties about the validity of a woman who chooses to have children through a surrogate. Fear that the surrogate could run away with the baby. Those are anxieties we have seen before.
What would have been cool is if she had named those fears, and dismantled them. Told her readers, yes, your fears are valid and seen, but there is another way to think about this. Instead what she did was paint Callie, the surrogate, as unstable and selfish, and Ruth, the receiving mother, as also unstable and self-centered, but make it fashion. There was no nuance to these women. They were the nightmare caricatures of women we imagine to be in these situations, but any sense of the real lived experiences of women who carry out complex social interactions with grace and dignity has been elided. The hopes of readers who want surrogacy to be a dignifying thing are buried in the wash of paranoia.
Extremely disappointed in Toni Halleen, who, if her dust jacket tells the truth, should know better from her years of dedicated women's studies. Hopefully her next book will be a "just kidding, here's the real inner lives of these women you thought were crazy."
There are a ton of anxieties that accompany surrogacy, of course. We do not yet have a clear social structure to support families who choose surrogacy, so it's an anxious thing. Anxieties about the validity of a woman who chooses to have children through a surrogate. Fear that the surrogate could run away with the baby. Those are anxieties we have seen before.
What would have been cool is if she had named those fears, and dismantled them. Told her readers, yes, your fears are valid and seen, but there is another way to think about this. Instead what she did was paint Callie, the surrogate, as unstable and selfish, and Ruth, the receiving mother, as also unstable and self-centered, but make it fashion. There was no nuance to these women. They were the nightmare caricatures of women we imagine to be in these situations, but any sense of the real lived experiences of women who carry out complex social interactions with grace and dignity has been elided. The hopes of readers who want surrogacy to be a dignifying thing are buried in the wash of paranoia.
Extremely disappointed in Toni Halleen, who, if her dust jacket tells the truth, should know better from her years of dedicated women's studies. Hopefully her next book will be a "just kidding, here's the real inner lives of these women you thought were crazy."
October 15, 2021
Okay, let me start this review by saying how much I enjoyed the writing. The chapters were short and the story developed nicely. It was a quick and easy read.
However, the more I think about this book, the more I hate it. It takes one of the most beautiful and selfless things you can do for a person into this hellish nightmare. It sounds like the author has some weird hang ups with adoption and surrogacy with how she talks about genetics, bonding and society pressure. It’s like everyone around the characters (nurses, coworkers, etc) all have these same hang-ups too instead of truly viewing surrogacy for what it is - an amazing and lovely gift. It turns this beautiful thing into something that’s all about money and very little about the child.
This book is super problematic. If you consider adoption or surrogacy as beautiful things, have ever struggled with conceiving, know anybody who has or even so much as like children, then don’t read this book. I have a lot of thoughts and could go on, but we’ll leave it at that for now.
However, the more I think about this book, the more I hate it. It takes one of the most beautiful and selfless things you can do for a person into this hellish nightmare. It sounds like the author has some weird hang ups with adoption and surrogacy with how she talks about genetics, bonding and society pressure. It’s like everyone around the characters (nurses, coworkers, etc) all have these same hang-ups too instead of truly viewing surrogacy for what it is - an amazing and lovely gift. It turns this beautiful thing into something that’s all about money and very little about the child.
This book is super problematic. If you consider adoption or surrogacy as beautiful things, have ever struggled with conceiving, know anybody who has or even so much as like children, then don’t read this book. I have a lot of thoughts and could go on, but we’ll leave it at that for now.
January 8, 2022
This book is out of my comfort zone of my usual thrillers novels. It is contemporary fiction with a smidge of suspense. You guys- I gobbled this one down! Devoured it. Stuffed my face with it! (Yes, I know…all food references but you get the point!) It was amazing and I recommend it for everyone!
There are four different points of view in the story- Cally (the surrogate), Digger (her ex boyfriend), Ruth and Hal (the intended parents.) I felt something for every single one of these characters, and it was hard to pick someone to root for because they all had reasons that made sense for them to keep the baby and to explain the actions they took. (Well maybe everyone except for Digger.🙄) Ruth and Hal hire Cally to be their surrogate, but after Cally gives birth, she needs just a few more days with the baby before she hands her over. Things take off from there and tensions rise for everyone involved!
I will definitely be checking out more Toni Halleen books in the future! I can’t believe this was a debut! Bravo, 👏🏻, bravo!
There are four different points of view in the story- Cally (the surrogate), Digger (her ex boyfriend), Ruth and Hal (the intended parents.) I felt something for every single one of these characters, and it was hard to pick someone to root for because they all had reasons that made sense for them to keep the baby and to explain the actions they took. (Well maybe everyone except for Digger.🙄) Ruth and Hal hire Cally to be their surrogate, but after Cally gives birth, she needs just a few more days with the baby before she hands her over. Things take off from there and tensions rise for everyone involved!
I will definitely be checking out more Toni Halleen books in the future! I can’t believe this was a debut! Bravo, 👏🏻, bravo!
August 18, 2021
3.5 stars
Story has four POVs:
Cally~ the young college age surrogate
Ruth ~ the 40 something overbearing intended mother
Hal~ the other half of the intended parent
Digger ~ Cally’s boyfriend
This started out similar to other surrogate stories I have read ~ true more f-bombs than I like but the other stories didn’t have a character similar to Digger.
Turned out far more interesting than I thought and I ended up liking it!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Harper for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my honest professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 2, 2021
Story has four POVs:
Cally~ the young college age surrogate
Ruth ~ the 40 something overbearing intended mother
Hal~ the other half of the intended parent
Digger ~ Cally’s boyfriend
This started out similar to other surrogate stories I have read ~ true more f-bombs than I like but the other stories didn’t have a character similar to Digger.
Turned out far more interesting than I thought and I ended up liking it!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Harper for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my honest professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 2, 2021
July 24, 2021
So. Hard. To. Finish.
This novel was truly one of those books that I skimmed most parts and had to force myself to finish. The description sounded really interesting but the characters are all pretty one dimensional and there was zero guess work as to the ending.
This novel was truly one of those books that I skimmed most parts and had to force myself to finish. The description sounded really interesting but the characters are all pretty one dimensional and there was zero guess work as to the ending.
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