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jenniferworrell's review
4.0
It's nice to see a smattering of essays by people who are on the same side of this issue as me—not everyone is meant to have kids, or needs to, or should "because they'll grow to love it." A lot of these essays have the same flavor—these women love kids, but under whatever circumstances did not end up with one. But there are a few that resonated with me completely, from women who are just indifferent or completely against the idea for themselves. The stories that spoke to me most clearly were those by Suzy Soro, Betsy Salkind, Judy Morgan, Nancy Shayne, Jeanette Schwaba Vigne, Cheryl Bricker, Merrill Markoe, and Katheryn Rossetter (a beautiful story, no matter which side of the fence you're on). There was at least one woman who described a stronger affection for dogs and cats than children, completely ignoring a child when there was a pet in the room...that is me all around.
overdueshrew's review
5.0
Loved this book - I would buy it and re-read it. The essays were intelligent and honest and most of them humorous, by women who were physically unable to have children and how they coped, and also women who made a distinctive choice to not have children, for a multitude of reasons.
I thought maybe one of them would have a great snappy comeback to the nosy questions/statements like "When are you going to have kids?" and "You'll understand when you have kids," but no one really has a perfect comeback to those. You just learn that the choice you made (or was made for you) is not really the most radical choice in the world. And that happiness and satisfaction is not necessarily found through giving birth - it's really found wherever you want it to be.
I thought maybe one of them would have a great snappy comeback to the nosy questions/statements like "When are you going to have kids?" and "You'll understand when you have kids," but no one really has a perfect comeback to those. You just learn that the choice you made (or was made for you) is not really the most radical choice in the world. And that happiness and satisfaction is not necessarily found through giving birth - it's really found wherever you want it to be.
ninotchka's review
3.0
A good collection with some variety of opinion but not as much variety as I had hoped for. I did like that the women talked about how they were nurturing and mothering without having children.
angeljkay's review
3.0
I have been working on my own creative non-fiction on this topic for years. This wasn't as funny as I had hoped, which means there is still room in the world for my book. If you would like to be a contributing author, I am open to submissions. :)
paulieg's review
2.0
Uneven and repetitive, although some of the essays were quite funny. Would have enjoyed the whole thing more if EVERY essay didn't feature an almost verbatim version of the line "Don't get me wrong, I *love* kids" in its second paragraph like how that logo-faced can of Pepsi Free appears in every other scene of "Back to the Future."
christiana's review
2.0
The nice thing about short story/memoirs is that you're usually guaranteed at least one story you like. The bad thing about short story/memoirs is you're usually guaranteed at least one story you hate. I think this was sold to me as comedic looks by women comedians that were childless by choice. In fact, it is more short stories of women comedians over 50 looking at why they ended up not having kids (which ended up being a completely different story).
Although some stories really did resonate or affirm, others were just depressing (as in "I just always thought I could have my comedy career instead and now that I'm kind of retired and looking back, I'm regretful"). I laughed a couple times, but mostly I'm glad I didn't read this in public because I think people would have asked me if I was ok.
Although some stories really did resonate or affirm, others were just depressing (as in "I just always thought I could have my comedy career instead and now that I'm kind of retired and looking back, I'm regretful"). I laughed a couple times, but mostly I'm glad I didn't read this in public because I think people would have asked me if I was ok.
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