lori85 's review for:

What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir by Kristin Newman

4.0

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So first off: this is not a childfree memoir. While the title echoes the semi-sarcasm used by some childfree women when knocking mombies, crotch goblins, and the LifeScript™, Newman's story is actually one of delaying marriage and children to enjoy a period of travel and independence. It ends with her marrying a single dad; a quick Google search reveals she has since had at least one child of her own. But that is not to say that childfree women won't get anything out of this book. Newman isn't exactly a traditional type herself - she has "sown wild oats" in a manner expected of men but reviled in women and regrets nothing. Her escapades at exclusive parties, on adventurous treks, and roaming exotic cities are a lot of fun to hear about, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (I listened while working from home). Some reviews criticize her for naval-gazing and self-indulgently angsting about her love life, but isn't the whole point of a memoir to talk about yourself in some form or another?

I actually think I would've been so-so toward this book this if I read it. But Newman did her own audiobook narration and was very engaging.