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alysereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I liked the overall premise of this book and thought the execution was pretty well done, and shows the impact choices and reactions can make on people’s lives. It was a compelling exploration of motherhood and all the choice a woman can make. I enjoyed it and thought it was a fast read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Death of parent
saj_81's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this exploration of what it is to be a woman and potentially a mother. The descriptions of Rose's relationship with her parents were especially moving.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Death of parent
oatmilkjuqi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, and Death of parent
lizaxwin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Solid four! I really liked the overall message this books sends (and this might be a bit of a spoiler): no matter if you choose to have kids or not, you are still your own person, motherhood doesn’t define every fiber of your being!
Also, Luke was an arse. Glad Rose left him in every alternate life because he was really abusive in a way.
Also, Luke was an arse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Moderate: Abortion and Gaslighting
ettbokland's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility and Abortion
lisasplans's review against another edition
4.5
I have never read a book like this before. This book is fiction but it spoke to me very personally about my own life experiences while reading the story of Rose Napolitano. It follows nine different versions of life Rose could have had depending on whether she became a mother or not. We so rarely hear stories of women who choose not to become mothers. It is so often just stories of the “joys” of pregnancy and how great being a mother is. But not all women are born with a desire to become a mother nor do we all love being pregnant. Thank you Donna Freitas for bringing your words to life and sharing the other side of this coin.
Thank you to @momadvice for picking this book for our January book club.
Thank you to @momadvice for picking this book for our January book club.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Cancer, Infertility, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
jessbelsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion
bookbunny's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Abortion, and Death of parent
darkmattersoybean's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoiler text for my whole review just to be safe.
Not spoiler version: This was a good book on the battles of being a childfree person in a society that thinks people with uteruses have to have children to be worth something. I’m definitely considering buying a physical copy for my bookshelf. I just didn’t agree with some plot choices.
Also, it was extremely hard to follow the lives despite them being numbered, but I didn’t particularly care as I just tried to get the gist of the life and not bother with the exact details.
Major spoiler review:
I really thought this was going to be a five star book for me. I really wanted it to be as someone who is very childfree themselves. I could see myself in a lot of the iterations of Rose. My heart ached through the entire book for her because I understood the pain.
BUT the ending ruined it for me. I understand the author was trying to make a point about motherhood. I respect that. People who chose to be mothers or parents are messy and complicated but do it out of love. But that sort of ending made me feel left behind. Like once again my experience was being invalidated. Because all roads led to Addie and motherhood, and the only one that didn’t, Rose died because of pregnancy complications.
I wish there had been a Life 10. Just a brief glimpse of a life without an Addie. Just to make the point that people can live full and fulfilling lives without being a parent. Heck, I would’ve taken a Luke and Cheryl Addie that Rose mentored but that wasn’t her child. I just wanted one life where Rose lived a completely childfree life (with or without Thomas) and got a Noble or something for her research. (I realise we got a glimpse of that with her aunt Frankie, but I didn’t connect with Frankie like I did Rose.)
I really had hope for this book and I still really enjoyed it and will probably buy a physical copy. I just don’t agree with how every iteration led to the same result in one way or another.
Sorry if my review offends anyone. I just have a lot of feelings about this. Thanks for reading.
Not spoiler version: This was a good book on the battles of being a childfree person in a society that thinks people with uteruses have to have children to be worth something. I’m definitely considering buying a physical copy for my bookshelf. I just didn’t agree with some plot choices.
Also, it was extremely hard to follow the lives despite them being numbered, but I didn’t particularly care as I just tried to get the gist of the life and not bother with the exact details.
Major spoiler review:
I really thought this was going to be a five star book for me. I really wanted it to be as someone who is very childfree themselves. I could see myself in a lot of the iterations of Rose. My heart ached through the entire book for her because I understood the pain.
BUT the ending ruined it for me. I understand the author was trying to make a point about motherhood. I respect that. People who chose to be mothers or parents are messy and complicated but do it out of love. But that sort of ending made me feel left behind. Like once again my experience was being invalidated. Because all roads led to Addie and motherhood, and the only one that didn’t, Rose died because of pregnancy complications.
I wish there had been a Life 10. Just a brief glimpse of a life without an Addie. Just to make the point that people can live full and fulfilling lives without being a parent. Heck, I would’ve taken a Luke and Cheryl Addie that Rose mentored but that wasn’t her child. I just wanted one life where Rose lived a completely childfree life (with or without Thomas) and got a Noble or something for her research. (I realise we got a glimpse of that with her aunt Frankie, but I didn’t connect with Frankie like I did Rose.)
I really had hope for this book and I still really enjoyed it and will probably buy a physical copy. I just don’t agree with how every iteration led to the same result in one way or another.
Sorry if my review offends anyone. I just have a lot of feelings about this. Thanks for reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
srijoninandy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Rose Napolitano doesn't want a kid. She has a fight with her husband, Luke, regarding some pre-natal vitamins. Then the book outlines the nine different versions of what happens following that fight.
I thought long and hard to try to find something good to write about this book, but I couldnt. So I decided to keep this review short.
The nine lives were written in a haphazard manner and it became truly difficult to follow the storyline of each Lives. Even though Freitas mentioned the serial no. of the lives in the chapter headings, but that was of little help. Instead, she should have written them in continuation.
I couldn't relate to the main theme of the book, that is the big question of whether to have kids or not. I'm still not in that stage of life, hence the entire topic kinda bored me.
But if you are someone who's thinking about having kids or already have one, maybe you would better relate to the book. Though, the structure and writing style were great turn off for me, there's still a chance that it might not be so for you.
I thought long and hard to try to find something good to write about this book, but I couldnt. So I decided to keep this review short.
The nine lives were written in a haphazard manner and it became truly difficult to follow the storyline of each Lives. Even though Freitas mentioned the serial no. of the lives in the chapter headings, but that was of little help. Instead, she should have written them in continuation.
I couldn't relate to the main theme of the book, that is the big question of whether to have kids or not. I'm still not in that stage of life, hence the entire topic kinda bored me.
But if you are someone who's thinking about having kids or already have one, maybe you would better relate to the book. Though, the structure and writing style were great turn off for me, there's still a chance that it might not be so for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
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