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Unexpected: A Novel
The bond between two best friends is put to the test when one of them gets pregnant in this “powerful and timely” (award-winning author Angela Johnson) contemporary young adult novel for fans of Angie Thomas and Elizabeth Acevedo.
Erykah was looking forward to junior year at East Prep High. She has a cute boyfriend, gets good grades, and has the best bestie. Money is tight, though that’s nothing new in her world. But everything changes when she gets pregnant. Having a baby at sixteen was definitely not part of the plan.
Kelly’s plan was to dominate junior year—grade-wise and on the basketball court—and eventually get an athletic scholarship. It did not include helping her best friend through a pregnancy. But that’s what best friends do, right? Besides, Kelly has every intention of being a good auntie.
As the two girls navigate the pregnancy, they’ll learn some harsh realities about the world and be forced to make some huge decisions. They’ll also discover a deep reserve of strength and compassion…for each other and themselves.
Erykah was looking forward to junior year at East Prep High. She has a cute boyfriend, gets good grades, and has the best bestie. Money is tight, though that’s nothing new in her world. But everything changes when she gets pregnant. Having a baby at sixteen was definitely not part of the plan.
Kelly’s plan was to dominate junior year—grade-wise and on the basketball court—and eventually get an athletic scholarship. It did not include helping her best friend through a pregnancy. But that’s what best friends do, right? Besides, Kelly has every intention of being a good auntie.
As the two girls navigate the pregnancy, they’ll learn some harsh realities about the world and be forced to make some huge decisions. They’ll also discover a deep reserve of strength and compassion…for each other and themselves.
- GenresYoung AdultEbooks
320 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 18, 2026
Two best friends, two unexpected pregnancies, two different outcomes. This was pretty much 16 and pregnant but make it Black and a little ghetto. We have two 16 year old best friends, Erykah and Kelly, that grew up in very different households and are learning to navigate relationships in all forms, not just romantic. As a parent Erykah made me so mad with all the lies and secrets but as a previous 16 year old girl I completely understood why she did what she did. This story has encouraged me to have the tough conversations with my daughter and be more open to listening to her and understanding her logic.
March 8, 2025
3 stars
hmmm. i'm feeling a bit conflicted on this one.
on the one hand, this was a really informative and interesting read, especially from the perspective of someone who's not american. on the other hand, i didn't love the writing style, and i agree with the other reviewers who are pointing out that this novel was very predictable.
overall, i did enjoy the story, and i really was rooting for erykah and kelly. however i think the "show don't tell" rule applies here - thomas chose to reveal a lot of details through an offhand line of dialogue, which made me kind of sad! i would have loved to read the scenes where erykah found out her baby's sex or when she picked sierra's name rather than hear about it from another character such as kelly. this is a debut novel though so i won't flame it too much.
hmmm. i'm feeling a bit conflicted on this one.
on the one hand, this was a really informative and interesting read, especially from the perspective of someone who's not american. on the other hand, i didn't love the writing style, and i agree with the other reviewers who are pointing out that this novel was very predictable.
overall, i did enjoy the story, and i really was rooting for erykah and kelly. however i think the "show don't tell" rule applies here - thomas chose to reveal a lot of details through an offhand line of dialogue, which made me kind of sad! i would have loved to read the scenes where erykah found out her baby's sex or when she picked sierra's name rather than hear about it from another character such as kelly. this is a debut novel though so i won't flame it too much.
November 1, 2024
This is a good read. The love between the two main characters is beautiful. I was rooting for their friendship. I also loved how supportive all of the parents were. I wanted to reach into this story and shake Erykah, but no matter how ridiculous she behaved, her mother was firm but incredibly loving. The author also did a great job illustrating the power of choice. Even sixteen year old girls have the right to choose what’s best for them. I didn’t love Erykah’s choices or the financial burden she placed on her mother, but I respect her right to choose. I highly recommend this read.
April 14, 2026
Format: Audiobook
The book 'Unexpected' was originally titled '16 & Pregnant'. The title changed a little over a year after publication. I didn't expect to like it. The synopsis is what grabbed my attention but with the lack of book reviews on Goodreads, I expected it to be terrible but I was pleasantly surprised. All the characters had interesting life stories. I appreciate how "real" it was written. It wasn't a life changing book but I still recommend it to young teenagers as a cautionary tale.
The book 'Unexpected' was originally titled '16 & Pregnant'. The title changed a little over a year after publication. I didn't expect to like it. The synopsis is what grabbed my attention but with the lack of book reviews on Goodreads, I expected it to be terrible but I was pleasantly surprised. All the characters had interesting life stories. I appreciate how "real" it was written. It wasn't a life changing book but I still recommend it to young teenagers as a cautionary tale.
November 18, 2024
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews