Martha Wants a Baby

by April Vellacott

Sharp, witty, and heartfelt, Martha Wants a Baby is a story about ambition, identity, friendship, and the messy ways we try (and sometimes fail) to feel like we’re “enough.”

Martha has done everything right. She has the dream job at Echelon (a sleek cycling empire with a cult-like following), a dependable fiancé, and the perfect house. But one thing still haunts her to-do list: motherhood.

Meanwhile, Echelon’s beloved instructor Georgie seems to have it all―Instagram fame, adoration at work, an already-gorgeous face now glowing from pregnancy―but behind the flawless façade, she’s barely holding it together.

When their lives collide, these two women form an unexpected but necessary bond―one that helps Georgie navigate her boss’s subtle bias against mothers and offers Martha a safe place to reveal the secrets that could unravel her perfectly ordered world.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 2, 2027

Reviews

[Lauren]

3.5

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me this arc.

I’ll be honest, the cover really drew me to this one. As someone who has worked in childcare, almost exclusively played with baby dolls as a child, and am now in my mid-twenties, the plot sounded very interesting and relatable too.

I liked that we got two different perspectives here to show that everyone has a different experience with pregnancy and motherhood. I especially enjoyed the focus on how to achieve a work life balance in Georgie’s chapters.

This book did not shy away from the less glamorous side of pregnancy, fertility, and early motherhood which I appreciated because it made it feel more real and less performative.

For the most part, I enjoyed Vellacott’s writing in this book. It was easy to read despite being a slower paced, character focused book. There were some metaphors that didn’t feel very natural to me but other than that I felt engaged with the story and wanted to see what these characters would do next.

The main reason for the 3.5 star rating here really is the two times Harry Potter was mentioned. In a book that is being published in 2027 I just really feel like this isn’t needed and in fact should be avoided. The damaging affects of that franchise are not a secret and in my opinion we should stop giving it our attention and publicity.
If these references were not in this book I likely would have rated it four stars.

[Angelie]

Martha Wants a Baby is my first 5 star novel of 2027. Pub date 2/2/27.

This is a quiet kind of drama book, slower paced, while exceptionally thoughtful. It’s a 2 person POV rich in character development. I felt like I knew Martha and was getting to know Georgie.

We follow Martha who, as the title clearly states, really wants a baby. She doesn’t make the best choices, though, and really gets herself “in it” for those choices. Then we connect with Georgie, who is instagram famous for her motivational abilities as a cycling instructor. She is also pregnant and facing immense challenges balancing career and new-mom pressures.

This story had me in my head a lot thinking about what I would do in similar circumstances. I found myself thinking of ways out of the situations, coming clean, or even how to further a lie (not that I would, but enjoyed that mental juggle). These women are relatable, and I found myself rooting for them individually and in their friendship.

I think anyone who has ever been pregnant, has experienced a desire to be pregnant, or has struggled with fertility will relate to this story. I also found it incredibly relatable from the standpoint of a woman who does not have children of her own, but watched so many friendships change and sometimes dissolve as a result of pregnancy. It’s about deep connection, female friendship, loneliness, broodiness, and the mounting pressures facing the modern woman. It’s validating to many.

Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams | akaSTORY for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

[Kylie Klodzinski]

Thank you to @netgalley and @akastoryabrams for the advanced reading copy of Martha Wants a Baby by @aprilvellacott 🩷

I’ll admit, somewhere between a third and halfway through this book, I wasn’t entirely sure how I was feeling about it. This is a very character-driven story that takes its time developing its two women, Martha and Georgie, and their very different lives. But by the end, I really appreciated where that slower development took me—and especially the relationship that grew between these two women.

Martha desperately wants a baby but is struggling with how to tell her husband just how much she wants their life to change. Meanwhile, Georgie has built a hugely successful career around cycling, fitness, social media, and the image she presents to the world—and her pregnancy threatens to change everything she has worked for.

What initially seem like two very different situations begin to reveal so many of the same questions. What happens when the life you want doesn’t match the timeline you imagined? And why does it sometimes feel like women are forced to choose between being a mother and having a career when both can be such important pieces of who we are?

I especially enjoyed watching Martha and Georgie’s relationship develop. As they begin to care for and trust one another, they have to decide how vulnerable they’re willing to be—and whether helping someone else is worth potentially putting something of their own at risk. And at times, this is hard, and ultimately tests their friendship.

There are so many thoughtful conversations woven into this story about motherhood, ambition, friendship, identity, comparison, and finding your own version of balance. The pacing may be best suited for readers who enjoy slower, character-focused stories, but ultimately I found that time spent getting to know these women made their journeys that much more meaningful.

A thoughtful read about the impossible expectations women can place on themselves—and that the world can place on them, too—and figuring out what really matters when there isn’t one “right” way to build a life.

[Jen]

From the opening line of the book, I had a feeling this book would be an enjoyable ride and it lived up to that and more! We follow Martha and Georgie, two women who are seemingly on opposite sides of the same dream, motherhood and success, and the ways they deal with their reality not looking the way they had expected.

To some extent, the main themes of learning to accept ourselves, not putting pressure on ourselves to meet goals that don't serve us, motherhood being difficult and lonely at times, and the pain of longing for something everyone else seems to have, are not new. However, the way the author explored them with these particular characters felt like a thoughtful reminder rather than a pointed commentary, and I really appreciated that.

Martha makes some really questionable choices, and Georgie was painfully naive and fragile at times, but they were so relatable you couldn't help but root for them. I personally felt like some people needed a little more comeuppance than they received (*cough- Annabel -cough*) and their drama felt a smidge excessive a few times, but I liked that the author didn't linger there. It wasn't about Martha and Georgie proving themselves to the people who didn't matter, it was about their friendship with each other and their relationships with the people who loved them. It was about letting other people in to see their mess, and letting go of unrealistic expectations in order to enjoy what they had. I think that was where the book really shone.

If you enjoy books about female friendship and motherhood, then I think you might enjoy this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.

[Alli Blackman]

We follow Martha, someone who wishes she had it all, and Georgie, someone who seems to have it all. Martha has a fiance, a wonderful sister, an amazing best friend, and just became a homeowner with said fiance. She started at a new job where she met Georgie.- a celebrity fitness instructor who seems to have her life figured out. She is beautiful, fit, and married with a baby on the way. What made this book special is seeing out the women view each other. While Martha thought of herself of average and falling behind, Georgie saw her as personable, honest, and a great person who doesn't need to rush anything. Georgie is incredibly hard on herself, wanting her online persona to always be perfect. This takes a lot out of her, and she turns to being almost a recluse when not on her live spin classes or on social media. She doesn't have any close friends as she doesn't open up a lot. Martha starts to see Georgie as a friend and someone who just needs a break, someone who needs a friend that doesn't judge.

This book will hit home for a lot of women. It shows that everything you see online cannot be taken at face value. It also shows that everyone is on their own timelines in life - whether that is marriage, children, buying a home, their career - and that it is OK. Friendships might look different as everyone evolves, but having open communication is the key.

[Kayla Saurus]

Do you ever want something so badly that it becomes all you can think about? That is Martha when it comes to having a baby. Martha's life feels incredibly real and nuanced from the beginning. Everyone around her seems to be pregnant, and this book does not shy away from showing both the good and the hard realities of pregnancy and motherhood that real women experience every day.

It also beautifully highlights just how important having a village is at every stage of life. Both Martha and Georgie do not always make the best decisions, but watching them navigate the aftermath felt so honest. It never felt glamorized or sensationalized.

This book was written for anyone thinking about pregnancy or stepping into new motherhood. While the target audience might feel narrow, if the premise sparks your interest it is very possible you will love this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Zoe Betts]

I really enjoyed this book! It made me stop and think about my own life and the race if felt like I was in. I enjoyed seeing all the character growth, especially Georgie and Flynn. The dual storylines of georgie and Martha’s life was really informative, it tells readers that just because someone’s life may seem one way, it’s not always like that behind the scenes. There was a great amount of background information on the characters, and I enjoyed reading about everything between their insecurities and fears. I also think it’s so important to recognize that just because your a mother doesn’t mean that’s all you are and you still are the you from before, weather that is dedicated to a career or hobby, you don’t have to loose that part of you when you become a mother. It’s such an important reminder! Overall I really enjoyed this book and the overall message it portrays.

[Stacey]

Debut Novel

This one gave me so much to think about.
Martha has the job, the fiancé, the house and the perfectly curated life. The one thing left on her list is a baby. Then there is Georgie, the spin studio instructor with the glowing Instagram presence and the pregnancy everyone envies. On the outside she looks like she has absolutely everything.

What I really loved was how this story peels back the layers of both women and shows that what we see on the outside is never the full picture. Greed, jealousy and envy are all present but handled in such a human way. Neither character is simply a villain or a saint and that complexity made the story so much more interesting to follow.

A really sharp and heartfelt debut and one I would recommend to anyone who has ever compared their life to someone else's highlight reel.

📖 Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Stephanie Peterman]

a delightful, easy read that veered a little into the chick-lit category, but ultimately stood on its own as a women’s fiction story about TV producer (martha) and peleton fit-fluencer (georgie) in the final months leading up to martha’s 30th bday and georgie’s due date. as they get closer their respective milestones, questions about what personal success and happiness means to them abound, especially in an industry that thrives on social currency and keeping up with the jones’. it gets a nice tidy ending but not without a bit of heartache to build their character and show them how to let go of the job and focus on what’s most important: love and family.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Caitlin Currier]

I've never read a book that has hit so close to home like this one did. Martha Wants a Baby does an amazing job at highlighting the pressures that women in their late 20s/early 30s face. In the book, Martha has an amazing job, a wonderful fiance, and they purchase their dream home together, but Martha still feels behind in life because she doesn't have a baby. I know I have faced these pressures and feelings being in my early 30s, especially having just been married and getting a million questions about starting a family.

Martha Wants a Baby made me laugh, made me cry, and warmed my heart. I hope this book blows up upon its release because it's incredible!

[Julia]

I liked this book. I liked the character development, but I thought the plot could have moved just a bit faster. The dual narrators and the unique perspective of employees in a company like Pelaton was unique. This book also explained some of the difficult decisions moms make--even before they're officially moms. It highlights how companies take advantage of women in those positions when it comes to maternity leave because either they don't understand, or they don't care to. I think this is worth the read and puts a lot of things in perspective you might not have considered prior.

Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Candace]

As someone in her 30s, surrounded by friends and a sister having a baby, I was looking forward to reading a relatable book. While the themes of the novel are geared at someone my age, the writing was closer to that of a middle-grade novel. There were a tremendous amount of similes and metaphors that weren’t particularly effective or necessary.
E.g. “But the desire for more time made me desperate. I was a lioness, ready to maul flesh to maintain the bond with my cub.”
“I blew a sharp breath out through pursed lips, which sounded like a wave breaking on sand.”

Though I haven’t finished, most of the plot had been predictable so far, and I don’t expect the last quarter will change my rating.

Note: this is a review copy so quotes may be subject to change.