Marry Your Baby Daddy

by Maryann Reid

When their unassuming Grandma June dies, Giovanna, Keyah, and Fatima are shocked to learn she had saved a small fortune and has left three million dollars to them, her granddaughters. But there's a each sister must marry the father of her children no later than six months after reading the will.
Piece of cake, right? Wrong! Each sister has a complicated relationship with her "baby daddy." Giovanna, a successful lawyer and a proudly independent woman, has no desire to marry Douglas---even if he makes her breath catch when he walks in the room and is a wonderful dad to their daughter. She's got a feeling that Douglas is keeping secrets. Keyah's boyfriend, Jag slipped a ring on her finger years ago but seems content to stay forever engaged. And Fatima's on-again, off-again relationship with Dune is filled with more ups and downs than a roller coaster. So why would Grandma June want her granddaughters to marry these men? Because sometimes Grandma really knows best. The clock is ticking. Will it be a countdown to wedding bells or disaster?

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Award-winning author and tv/radio social commentator Maryann Reid has been featured by countless media outlets including USA Today, Essence, Glamour, The CBS Early Show, and The Wendy Williams Experience. She is an expert wordsmith and has a plethora of connections with women all over the world from her travels to Europe and The Caribbean, and is a popular guest lecturer at colleges, where she has taught her writing and business skills to groups who want to lead their ideal life on their own terms.

Maryann has been profiled in The New Yorker, Newsweek, Oprah.com, and NBC Nightly News for her innovative approach to life and solving its complex issues, including creating the uber-landmark event Marry Your Baby Daddy Day. This event originated from her third book, Marry Your Baby Daddy (St Martins Press, 2005) that was optioned by Hollywood actress Holly Robinson-Peete and Dolores Robinson.

As an author and professional speaker, Maryann has gathered a diverse roster of credentials and affiliations:

–Author of several books and short stories by St Martins Press and Penguin Putnam
–Published her first book, Sex and the Single Sister (St Martins Press) at 25 years old in two weeks
–Lecturer at various universities including St John’s University and Fordham University in NYC in Creative Writing and Business Communications
– Philanthropist, referred to as the “Oprah of Brooklyn”, for her work arranging all-expenses paid weddings for loving moms and dads, via her event Marry Your Baby Daddy Day
– Expert and social commentator on top-rated nationally syndicated radio shows like NPR’s Fresh Air, The Michael Baisden Show, Fox News Radio, CBS Radio, The Gayle King Show on Oprah Radio, etc
– Invited by USATODAY to write a novella, Single Black Female, for the acclaimed Open Book section of their website

Since her debut book Sex and the Single Sister, Maryann has been invited to speak to some of the most innovative groups all over the country and has received over 20 million media impressions worldwide via major news outlets like ABC News 20/20, NBC Nightly News and CNN.

Maryann received her BA in Journalism from Fordham and developed her writing and love for news at Random House and CNN. She later received her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Miami. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY and steadily working on new products for women. Maryann welcomes ideas and collaboration.

Reviews

[Yvonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up from a bargain bin. It was a cute and simple read.

[Angie Riddick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Was a slow starter but it did pick up. Glad the outcome was positive for the sisters.

[Kiara Timmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read.

[The Bourbon-Sipping Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marry Your Baby Daddy by Maryann Reid is a captivating rollercoaster of romance, drama, and family dynamics that will keep you glued to the pages. The premise is both unique and intriguing: sisters Giovanna, Fatima, and Keyah each inherit a million dollars from their late grandmother, but there's a catch. To claim their inheritance, they must marry their baby daddies within six months, without revealing the inheritance to their partners. If even one sister fails to meet the deadline, all three lose the fortune. As the clock ticks, the race to the altar begins in earnest.

Maryann Reid’s storytelling prowess shines through as the plot unfolds effortlessly, balancing the complexity of each sister’s relationship with their baby daddy against the backdrop of this high-stakes challenge. Giovanna, a successful lawyer, is pragmatic and driven, having settled for a child with her childhood friend Douglas, whom she views with gratitude rather than romantic love. Her willingness to overlook her feelings for the greater good adds a layer of emotional depth to her journey.

Fatima's situation is equally compelling but in a different way. Her baby daddy, Dune, is the quintessential charming bad boy—handsome and skilled, but emotionally unavailable. Fatima’s struggle to reconcile her feelings for Dune with the desire to secure her future makes for a gripping narrative. Will she be able to transform him from a playboy into a husband?

Keyah's predicament is perhaps the most relatable and frustrating. Living with her baby daddy Jag and already sporting a promise ring, she’s caught in a state of limbo. The promise of marriage seems perpetually deferred as Jag enjoys the benefits of their relationship without making a formal commitment. Keyah’s journey is both heart-wrenching and hopeful as she navigates her path to marital bliss.

Despite the somewhat far-fetched premise, Reid makes the story engaging and believable. The emotional and psychological complexities of each sister’s relationship add a layer of realism that grounds the narrative. The final twist, with Grandma June’s letter, reveals that she knew exactly what she was doing all along, providing a satisfying conclusion to the sisters’ journey.

The book does have its pacing issues—the beginning feels slow, and Giovanna’s storyline occasionally drags. Nevertheless, Reid's skillful character development and the intriguing plot keep the reader invested. The growth of the sisters as they confront their personal and romantic challenges is both entertaining and enlightening.

Overall, Marry Your Baby Daddy is a delightful read that combines humor, drama, and romance in a compelling package. It's a story of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery with a unique twist that keeps the pages turning. Though it may not be perfect, it's a story that many will enjoy and find worth recommending. I rate it a solid 3 stars—an engaging book that leaves you eager for more.

[The Urban Book Source · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sisters Giovanna, Fatima and Keyah are placed in a unique situation when their deceased grandmother bequeaths them each one million dollars in her will. However there is one stipulation; to receive the money each sister must marry their baby daddy within six months without revealing to them the potential inheritance. If even one sister fails to be wedded by the cut off date all three will automatically lose out. The premise of author Maryann Reid’s Marry Your Baby Daddy is original and the book moves forward effortlessly as the race to the altar begins.

Each sister’s relationship with their baby daddy is different yet similarly complicated. Giovanna is a successful lawyer who opted to have a baby with a childhood friend, Douglas, while tiring of waiting for Mr. Right to come along. Happy that Douglass agreed to father her daughter the only emotion Giovanna holds in her heart for Douglas is gratitude. However Giovanna is fully prepared to overlook her lack of love towards Douglas if it will help herself and her sisters become financially independent. Douglass adores Giovanna and their daughter and has always desired to make their union more traditional but as readers will come to find out his desire is for more selfish reasons.

Fatima’s baby daddy, Dune, is a D-O-G in every sense of the word. Too good looking for his own good and blessed with superior bedroom skills Dune is only interested in stringing Fatima along. Can Fatima look past all of Dune’s indiscretions and make him husband material? Keyah is perhaps the closest and at the same time farthest away from weeded bliss. Her and baby daddy Jag live together and he’s already given her a promise ring. But there hasn’t been talk of an actual marriage in years as Jag seems content on getting the milk for free.

The drama of Marry Your Baby Daddy unfolds as each sister undergoes the pressure of not only mending their relationships with their baby daddies but making them marriage worthy. Although far-fetched the book works because although you might be convinced that the premise could never happen, the resulting effects if it did happen are very realistic.

What did you like best about the book?
The plot Ms Reid effectively made the unbelievable believable providing an enjoyable read.

What did you dislike about the book?
The book started off slowly and Giovanna’s storyline dragged during certain parts.

How can the author improve this book?
Ms. Reid should ensure that all the novels primary characters being interesting enough to engage the reader.

[Kimberly OutspokenMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good book that I enjoyed reading it and couldn't put down. These young ladies grew in their journey, in the quest to marry the father of their children before the clock ran out so that they could become millionaires . And the final letter from Grandma June at the end proved that she knew what was best for her granddaughters all alone .

[Delonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay read, reviewed for The Urban Book Source.

[Regina taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

i love it but i thought it could do better

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars