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ellie_marie_73 's review for:
The Baby
by Abigail Barnette
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, that wasn't what I expected.
I first discovered Abigail Barnette’s The Boss series while looking for a better-written, less toxic alternative to Fifty Shades of Grey—and it didn’t disappoint. Since then, it’s become my go-to series when I want something lighter and more fun. That said, this installment WASN'T particularly light or fun… but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. In fact, I thought it was great.
I shouldn’t have been surprised—this series hasn’t shied away from serious topics in the past (Neil’s cancer, for example)—but The Baby went hard. I won’t spoil the plot, but let’s just say a devastating tragedy is followed by even more emotional upheaval. It’s all handled with a raw, realistic lens. Neil and Sophie aren’t perfect. They're far from it, and their foibles are highlighted as they struggle to muddle through, and they often fall short.
I really loved seeing how their love has evolved over time. They've been through fire together time and again. At times, it feels like they might not make it, but they manage to pull through. I was especially moved by Sophie’s reflections at the end—how she doesn’t want the “old” them back; she wants who they are today, who they've evolved into through the triumphs and tragedies they've endured together. That’s what real love is. It's not stagnant; it evolves and grows into something new. It's falling in love with the new version of the same person, over and over again. And for all their flaws, Neil & Sophe do this beautifully.
The steamy stuff is still there, so if that's what you're looking for, you won't be disappointed. However, it wasn't a focal point of the book. I liked that it was still addressed, because the physical relationship between them is a big part of who they are, and glossing over it as unimportant in the face of tragedy wouldn't have been realistic.
Overall, I really enjoyed this installment, even if the emotional rollercoaster left me feeling a bit woozy at times.
I first discovered Abigail Barnette’s The Boss series while looking for a better-written, less toxic alternative to Fifty Shades of Grey—and it didn’t disappoint. Since then, it’s become my go-to series when I want something lighter and more fun. That said, this installment WASN'T particularly light or fun… but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. In fact, I thought it was great.
I shouldn’t have been surprised—this series hasn’t shied away from serious topics in the past (Neil’s cancer, for example)—but The Baby went hard. I won’t spoil the plot, but let’s just say a devastating tragedy is followed by even more emotional upheaval. It’s all handled with a raw, realistic lens. Neil and Sophie aren’t perfect. They're far from it, and their foibles are highlighted as they struggle to muddle through, and they often fall short.
I really loved seeing how their love has evolved over time. They've been through fire together time and again. At times, it feels like they might not make it, but they manage to pull through. I was especially moved by Sophie’s reflections at the end—how she doesn’t want the “old” them back; she wants who they are today, who they've evolved into through the triumphs and tragedies they've endured together. That’s what real love is. It's not stagnant; it evolves and grows into something new. It's falling in love with the new version of the same person, over and over again. And for all their flaws, Neil & Sophe do this beautifully.
The steamy stuff is still there, so if that's what you're looking for, you won't be disappointed. However, it wasn't a focal point of the book. I liked that it was still addressed, because the physical relationship between them is a big part of who they are, and glossing over it as unimportant in the face of tragedy wouldn't have been realistic.
Overall, I really enjoyed this installment, even if the emotional rollercoaster left me feeling a bit woozy at times.