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HUMORNĚ PODANÝ PŘÍBĚH O NÁROČNÉM ROZHODOVÁNÍ A CESTĚ K DOSPĚLOSTI |
Sedmnáctiletá Veronica Clarková vždycky toužila po pozitivních výsledcích – až do chvíle, kdy drží v ruce počůraný plastový proužek se dvěma růžovými čárkami. Ani důsledně používané kondomy totiž nejsou spolehlivá ochrana, zvlášť ne když do nich váš přítel tajně nadělá dírky, abyste se místo na vysněnou školu do jiného státu dostali radši doma do jiného stavu.
Veronica potřebuje potrat, ale nejbližší místo, kde si ho může nechat legálně udělat, je vzdálené přes devět set mil – a Veronica nemá auto. Strach ze ztráty tváře jí nedovolí požádat o pomoc kamarádky ani rodiče, a tak se obrátí na někoho, o kom věří, že ji neodsoudí: Bailey Butlerovou, postrach Jeffersonovy střední školy a Veroničinu bývalou nejlepší kamarádku v jedné osobě.
Hned, jak se ocitnou na cestě, si však Veronica rychle připomene, že s Bailey není nikdy nic jednoduché. Výsledkem jsou dva dny nabité kradenými auty, brokovnicí, posedlým ex-přítelem, striptérkou lobbující za práva nenarozených dětí a celou plejádou dalších bizarních příhod. Navíc se ukazuje, že stará rána z rozbitého přátelství a zrady ještě zdaleka není zahojená.
Sedmnáctiletá Veronica Clarková vždycky toužila po pozitivních výsledcích – až do chvíle, kdy drží v ruce počůraný plastový proužek se dvěma růžovými čárkami. Ani důsledně používané kondomy totiž nejsou spolehlivá ochrana, zvlášť ne když do nich váš přítel tajně nadělá dírky, abyste se místo na vysněnou školu do jiného státu dostali radši doma do jiného stavu.
Veronica potřebuje potrat, ale nejbližší místo, kde si ho může nechat legálně udělat, je vzdálené přes devět set mil – a Veronica nemá auto. Strach ze ztráty tváře jí nedovolí požádat o pomoc kamarádky ani rodiče, a tak se obrátí na někoho, o kom věří, že ji neodsoudí: Bailey Butlerovou, postrach Jeffersonovy střední školy a Veroničinu bývalou nejlepší kamarádku v jedné osobě.
Hned, jak se ocitnou na cestě, si však Veronica rychle připomene, že s Bailey není nikdy nic jednoduché. Výsledkem jsou dva dny nabité kradenými auty, brokovnicí, posedlým ex-přítelem, striptérkou lobbující za práva nenarozených dětí a celou plejádou dalších bizarních příhod. Navíc se ukazuje, že stará rána z rozbitého přátelství a zrady ještě zdaleka není zahojená.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,934 reviews
September 8, 2019
I just sat in a bubble bath and read this entire book and I feel pretty content with my life choices.
September 26, 2019
Awful and sad, it’s telling young girls that in order to move on with an education you must get an abortion. Very anti women mind set. We don’t have to kill our babies to succeed in life. This book makes women look weak. I’m not surprised a man did help write it.
May 11, 2019
❧ ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Hilarious, poignant and beautiful, Unpregnant tells the story of Veronica, a seemingly perfect high school student. She’s in the run to be valedictorian, has the “perfect” boyfriend, “perfect” friends and everything that goes with it… Until her “perfect” boyfriend pokes holes in his condom to get Veronica pregnant and stop her from moving away (I KNOW RIGHT ? WHO DOES THAT ?). With the help of Bailey Butler, her ex-best friend, Veronica goes on the road to get to an abortion… in a clinic 994 miles away in Albuquerque, NM.
🌺 #1 Unique
Unpregnant is unique. It manages to tackle serious topics (teenage pregnancy, abortion, abandonment) while being absolutely hilarious and delightful. This book’s main theme is abortion. Although it’s far from being a light-hearted topic, Unpregnant does not shy away from that (I mean, look at ALL THE TROUBLE Veronica has to go through). The moral judgment, the misogyny and control over women’s bodies is very real and the authors made sure to portray that. This is a beautiful commentary on women’s rights and how far we have to go to claim what’s rightfully ours.
🌺 #2 Friendship
Bailey Butler gave off some serious Janis Ian vibes and I was here for it. Not only did I adore the two MCs, the story also centers around friendship and appearances. It’s about trying to have this “perfect” image and losing yourself in the process. Can you really call your “friends” friends if they only care about you when you’re happy and bubbly but MIA when you really need them ? If not, I would reconsider what I call “friends”. Bailey Butler is a fierce lioness and gave true meaning to what a real friend is. I think she’s probably made it to one of my favorite characters of all time.
🌺 #3 Relevant (and soooo damn important)
It’s with sadness and bitterness that I call this book relevant today. I don’t live in the United States but the fight over women’s control on their own bodies doesn’t know any borders in my eyes. Georgia Governor signed the “Fetal Heartbeat” Abortion Law, banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, when doctors can usually start detecting a fetal heartbeat (if you wanna know more, read this article) Most women aren’t even aware they’re pregnant until the sixth week and it’s disgusting that men like Brian Kemp still feel entitled to the opinion that THEY KNOW BETTER WHAT IS GOOD FOR A WOMAN THAN A WOMAN HERSELF. However, the debate over abortion is worldwide and again, incredibly relevant. I think this book is a perfect way to tackle these issues and I applaud Ted Kaplan and Jenni Hendriks for the way they handled it.
💫Keep up with me on my blog! 💫
Hilarious, poignant and beautiful, Unpregnant tells the story of Veronica, a seemingly perfect high school student. She’s in the run to be valedictorian, has the “perfect” boyfriend, “perfect” friends and everything that goes with it… Until her “perfect” boyfriend pokes holes in his condom to get Veronica pregnant and stop her from moving away (I KNOW RIGHT ? WHO DOES THAT ?). With the help of Bailey Butler, her ex-best friend, Veronica goes on the road to get to an abortion… in a clinic 994 miles away in Albuquerque, NM.
🌺 #1 Unique
Unpregnant is unique. It manages to tackle serious topics (teenage pregnancy, abortion, abandonment) while being absolutely hilarious and delightful. This book’s main theme is abortion. Although it’s far from being a light-hearted topic, Unpregnant does not shy away from that (I mean, look at ALL THE TROUBLE Veronica has to go through). The moral judgment, the misogyny and control over women’s bodies is very real and the authors made sure to portray that. This is a beautiful commentary on women’s rights and how far we have to go to claim what’s rightfully ours.
🌺 #2 Friendship
Bailey Butler gave off some serious Janis Ian vibes and I was here for it. Not only did I adore the two MCs, the story also centers around friendship and appearances. It’s about trying to have this “perfect” image and losing yourself in the process. Can you really call your “friends” friends if they only care about you when you’re happy and bubbly but MIA when you really need them ? If not, I would reconsider what I call “friends”. Bailey Butler is a fierce lioness and gave true meaning to what a real friend is. I think she’s probably made it to one of my favorite characters of all time.
🌺 #3 Relevant (and soooo damn important)
It’s with sadness and bitterness that I call this book relevant today. I don’t live in the United States but the fight over women’s control on their own bodies doesn’t know any borders in my eyes. Georgia Governor signed the “Fetal Heartbeat” Abortion Law, banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, when doctors can usually start detecting a fetal heartbeat (if you wanna know more, read this article) Most women aren’t even aware they’re pregnant until the sixth week and it’s disgusting that men like Brian Kemp still feel entitled to the opinion that THEY KNOW BETTER WHAT IS GOOD FOR A WOMAN THAN A WOMAN HERSELF. However, the debate over abortion is worldwide and again, incredibly relevant. I think this book is a perfect way to tackle these issues and I applaud Ted Kaplan and Jenni Hendriks for the way they handled it.
💫Keep up with me on my blog! 💫
November 24, 2022
There isn't probably a more important topic than abortion rights nowadays, wherever you're from or live. And for all those people who are against it, the point is that abortion should be considered a right no matter what.
Moral of the story: it's your right to have kids as much as it's your right not to have them!
Despite the whole background subject, this is proof of how true friendship doesn't erase over the years, it simply remains suspended waiting for its moment to return.
Veronica and Bailey couldn't be more different but after haven't spoken for four years, the girls cross like six states and here - between a sip of cherry granita, a couple of burglaries and a limousine ride - their friendship will slowly resurface.
Even if the novel focuses on Veronica, Bailey is the reason why this story is so special: under her careless and insolent mood - faked, obviously - you can find a sweet, funny, selfless and brave girl.
It's thanks to her that Veronica returns home safely and in time to not be discovered, it's thanks to her if Veronica has the opportunity to go back to that life that she defines as "perfect" but which, in the end, realizes that it’s only fiction (her friends, her boyfriend, her parents, her sister). Still, Bailey voluntarily gives up everything just to make herself happy.
The story is not bad at all, but I get why some people think it's too slow or even too comical to be considered a serious story with a serious topic.
If you are one of them or you don't know what to watch tonight, I always suggest watching the movie instead. Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira won't let you done, I promise.
↠ 3.5 stars
Moral of the story: it's your right to have kids as much as it's your right not to have them!
Despite the whole background subject, this is proof of how true friendship doesn't erase over the years, it simply remains suspended waiting for its moment to return.
Veronica and Bailey couldn't be more different but after haven't spoken for four years, the girls cross like six states and here - between a sip of cherry granita, a couple of burglaries and a limousine ride - their friendship will slowly resurface.
Even if the novel focuses on Veronica, Bailey is the reason why this story is so special: under her careless and insolent mood - faked, obviously - you can find a sweet, funny, selfless and brave girl.
It's thanks to her that Veronica returns home safely and in time to not be discovered, it's thanks to her if Veronica has the opportunity to go back to that life that she defines as "perfect" but which, in the end, realizes that it’s only fiction (her friends, her boyfriend, her parents, her sister). Still, Bailey voluntarily gives up everything just to make herself happy.
The story is not bad at all, but I get why some people think it's too slow or even too comical to be considered a serious story with a serious topic.
If you are one of them or you don't know what to watch tonight, I always suggest watching the movie instead. Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira won't let you done, I promise.
↠ 3.5 stars
March 13, 2020
Unpregnant es un libro necesario pero que, para mí, se quedó cortísimo en cuanto a profundidad.
Aquí nos encontramos con Veronica, una chica perfecta, cristiana, con un novio popular y notas espectaculares, que está a punto de graduarse del colegio con los más altos honores. ¿El problema? Acaba de descubrir que está embarazada. Pensando en su futuro (y sobre todo en el qué dirán), Veronica toma la decisión de que debe abortar, así que empieza a investigar y se da cuenta de que tendrá que viajar 1.600 millas para llegar a un estado en el que lo que quiere hacer sea legal. Así, se embarca entonces en un roadtrip con su exmejor amiga para llegar a su destino y poder seguir adelante con su vida.
Digo que le faltó profundidad al libro porque muy pocas veces los autores dejan que Veronica reflexione sobre lo que está a punto de hacer que, aclaro, me parece muy bien. Cualquier mujer debe poder decidir sobre lo que sucede con su cuerpo y con su vida. Lo que me molestó es que, a veces, el libro se centra muchísimo en este roadtrip y en las mil cosas que les suceden a Veronia y a Bailey y no en, yo qué sé, sus dilemas internos por ser cristiana e ir a abortar, por ejemplo. Es que, incluso, cuando por fin sucede lo que, evidentemente, va a suceder, la reacción es completamente plana, no le dedican un segundo pensamiento, sino que lo presentan como "okay, ya pasó, volvamos a casa".
Ahora, sí disfruté el libro, aunque no me fascinó y no puedo decir que sea un gran hito ni que vaya a ser un libro que cambie a generaciones, como mucha gente dice. Lo que sí que puedo decir del libro es que abre conversaciones, hace que reacciones y, al menos, te cabrees infinitamente con un personaje que, tristemente, representa lo peor de los hombres en la actualidad. El novio estúpido de Veronica la deja embarazada a propósito, A PROPÓSITO, es un cabrón. Y así hay muchos subnormales por el mundo. ¿Qué no me gustó de esta situación en el libro? QUE VERONICA, POR MIEDO AL QUÉ DIRÁN, NO DENUNCIA A UN TIPO QUE, BÁSICAMENTE, . En fin. Lo recuerdo y me da ira.
Aquí nos encontramos con Veronica, una chica perfecta, cristiana, con un novio popular y notas espectaculares, que está a punto de graduarse del colegio con los más altos honores. ¿El problema? Acaba de descubrir que está embarazada. Pensando en su futuro (y sobre todo en el qué dirán), Veronica toma la decisión de que debe abortar, así que empieza a investigar y se da cuenta de que tendrá que viajar 1.600 millas para llegar a un estado en el que lo que quiere hacer sea legal. Así, se embarca entonces en un roadtrip con su exmejor amiga para llegar a su destino y poder seguir adelante con su vida.
Digo que le faltó profundidad al libro porque muy pocas veces los autores dejan que Veronica reflexione sobre lo que está a punto de hacer que, aclaro, me parece muy bien. Cualquier mujer debe poder decidir sobre lo que sucede con su cuerpo y con su vida. Lo que me molestó es que, a veces, el libro se centra muchísimo en este roadtrip y en las mil cosas que les suceden a Veronia y a Bailey y no en, yo qué sé, sus dilemas internos por ser cristiana e ir a abortar, por ejemplo. Es que, incluso, cuando por fin sucede lo que, evidentemente, va a suceder, la reacción es completamente plana, no le dedican un segundo pensamiento, sino que lo presentan como "okay, ya pasó, volvamos a casa".
Ahora, sí disfruté el libro, aunque no me fascinó y no puedo decir que sea un gran hito ni que vaya a ser un libro que cambie a generaciones, como mucha gente dice. Lo que sí que puedo decir del libro es que abre conversaciones, hace que reacciones y, al menos, te cabrees infinitamente con un personaje que, tristemente, representa lo peor de los hombres en la actualidad. El novio estúpido de Veronica la deja embarazada a propósito, A PROPÓSITO, es un cabrón. Y así hay muchos subnormales por el mundo. ¿Qué no me gustó de esta situación en el libro? QUE VERONICA, POR MIEDO AL QUÉ DIRÁN, NO DENUNCIA A UN TIPO QUE, BÁSICAMENTE, . En fin. Lo recuerdo y me da ira.
May 2, 2021
hacía mucho tiempo no me reía tanto con un libro. Me encantan esas historias de road trips que los personajes terminan siendo una persona totalmente distinta a la que eran a la ida de la que terminan siendo a la vuelta. Nono, me reí mucho. La satira a los provida me puede mucho y más cuando es TAN HIPERBÓLICA. No sé, es un humor muy parecido al mío y la pasé muy bien jajaja. Es un libro pochoclero que te mete en un tremendo viaje entre lectura y lectura. Lo súper recomiendo si buscan algo fresco y divertido para despejar la mente. Además tiene un mensaje muy lindo🥺 Posta me encantó, léanlo.
September 11, 2019
No. This book is problematic, does not have an accurate view or understanding of teenagers, and isn’t written well either. The necessity of a young girl needing to travel hundreds of miles to get an abortion is a horrifically real situation, and this book tries to make it comedic. This isn’t dark humor, it’s tone deaf. Just no.
November 5, 2019
Wtf is wrong with these authors? This is a horrible concept that glorifies ending human life. No matter the circumstances, a fetus is alive and deserves to continue to be alive. Lots of loving couples waiting to adopt a baby
Want to Read
June 15, 2021extremely hard to decide if this is a book worth reading when half the ratings are by angry pro lifers
February 6, 2018
I loved this book! It is essentially Super Bad with female main characters, but instead of trying to get to a party, they’re on a road trip to an abortion. Even though the topics discussed throughout the book are heavy and serious, there’s this amazing humor and report between these two female characters that you almost forget at times where they’re headed and just enjoy the ride. That being said, there’s open conversations about things such as religion, abortion, female rights and other Southern values, showing the multisided views to each and not painting anything as black and white, rather on what’s right for different people.
October 18, 2019
“You have a license, right?” Bailey drove to school every day, but with Bailey one could hardly take that as proof.
“Please.” Bailey tossed her wallet at me.
I pulled out the license. “It says your name is Rhonda and you’re twenty-four.”
“Oh, sorry.” She grabbed the wallet back, looked through it, and handed me another ID. I held it up to the light, examining it closely.
“It looks real.”
“Uh, because it is. Can we go now?”
Things I loved about this book:
• The normalization of abortion
• How it shows how awful state abortion laws are for minors. Not every minor can afford to travel 1000 miles to get one.
• It is funny with wildly absurd shenanigans that occur along the way. (And early reviewer compared it to Superbad and it definitely has those type of outrageously funny WTF???? moments).
• How Veronica thinks back to how when she was just a CHILD people in her church encouraged them to make anti-abortion signs and how abortion is a “sin”. And how when she was TWELVE, and not old enough to fully understand what she was choosing, her father told her to get a purity ring. So it examines how young children (mostly girls) are taught that their bodies aren’t there’s. And how as Veronica got older she realized how wrong all of these things her church was saying about reproductive rights was wrong. It’s something a lot of people can relate to.
• The adorable friendship that kind of picks up where it left off.
• That when she thinks of getting an abortion her first thought is being relieved and ecstatic. Because some people who get abortions are sad and grieve over it and that is okay. And some people who get abortions feel immense relief and that is okay. Both reactions are valid.
• How the chapters are sectioned off my mile markers. It was cute.
Things I didn’t like:
• All the ableist language. There were many lines using “blind”, “deaf”, “dumb”, and “stupid” in ableist ways.
• I think this would’ve worked better as a movie. The authors originally wrote it as a script. Couldn’t sell it. Decided to make it a book instead. Sold the book. HBO bought the movie rights. And now the authors are writing the script. So it will eventually become one. But the entire time I read this I was thinking how it would work better as a movie.
• The writing style wasn’t for me.
• (minor spoiler): they never actually went to roswell and i was hoping for some ET shenanigans. grrrr
• People definitely poke holes in condoms. That is a thing that has happens. I understand why they put this in the book. But I kind of wished they had chosen a “contraceptives aren’t 100% effective” route instead. Also don’t put two condoms on because that makes it less effective (which these characters did in the book). I know a couple who used the pill and condoms and still ended up pregnant. So being “safe” still doesn’t work 100% of them time. None of these contraceptives are 100% effective. So while I understand the authors’ choice of the condom tampering (which DOES happen and I could see people trapping their significant other in a relationship this way) I think it would have been more impactful for their first abortion book to go a different route: no matter how prepared you are, sometimes shit happens.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It’s a super quick read. And we need more books about abortion. It’s light hearted, and funny, and both Veronica and Bailey have their own story arcs even though the book is centered around Veronica and takes place mostly over three days. It addresses the stigma around abortion, condom tampering, coming out, coping with divorce, how shitty high schoolers are, pressure to be perfect, and how fun it can be to just let go. I enjoyed the book but would have rather watched the 98 minute comedy than read it.
Content Warnings and Trigger Warnings: condom tampering, mentions of underaged drinking, stalking, drug use (weed), mentions of drug use (acid), anti-abortion protesters, mentions of cheating, incest joke (cousin kissing), ableist language (‘are you blind’, ‘stricken deaf’, ‘stupid’, ‘dumb’), kidnapping,
September 7, 2019
I just did not like this at all. I didn't like the charcters - and actually hated a few, the relationships felt underdeveloped, and the plot was just a run-on joke.
I appreciate that the authors were going for a light-hearted comedy, when dealing with a heavier topic, but literally nothing in the story made an impression or impact on me. It went from one outlandish adventure to the next - stolen cars, attempted cow tipping, stip clubs, and a little B&E. And yeah, it was kinda fun, but with no real emotional grounding if felt wasted and one dimensional. I do think the abortion plot is kinda glossed over and used as a plot device to really focuses on the reconnected friendship between Veronica and Bailey, and while I always love a friendship-focused story, there wasn't enough here to make me care for either of the characters. I still don't feel like I really know either of them or their history or their families. I could maybe give you a few bullet points about each, but not many.
It took me around 2 hours to read this and it's just a whole blur of bleh. I really thought I would love this - or at least enjoy it, but sadly that was not the case. I seem to be an outlier with this book, so if you think it's interesting or worth checking out make sure to check our some other reviews and read a preview if you can.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I appreciate that the authors were going for a light-hearted comedy, when dealing with a heavier topic, but literally nothing in the story made an impression or impact on me. It went from one outlandish adventure to the next - stolen cars, attempted cow tipping, stip clubs, and a little B&E. And yeah, it was kinda fun, but with no real emotional grounding if felt wasted and one dimensional. I do think the abortion plot is kinda glossed over and used as a plot device to really focuses on the reconnected friendship between Veronica and Bailey, and while I always love a friendship-focused story, there wasn't enough here to make me care for either of the characters. I still don't feel like I really know either of them or their history or their families. I could maybe give you a few bullet points about each, but not many.
It took me around 2 hours to read this and it's just a whole blur of bleh. I really thought I would love this - or at least enjoy it, but sadly that was not the case. I seem to be an outlier with this book, so if you think it's interesting or worth checking out make sure to check our some other reviews and read a preview if you can.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2020
**0.5 stars rounded up** TW: rape
DISCLAIMER: I am pro-choice. Ladies, do whatever you want with your bodies. It's not my, or anyone else's, decision to make.
God, if I could rate this book 0 stars, I would.
This fucking monstrosity made me physically nauseous. It's not often that I get a physical reaction from a book, and usually, it's just tears or maybe a pang in my stomach because of anticipation. This one made me want to hurl my guts out.
Unpregnant is about Veronica Clarke, the perfect model student who gets accidentally pregnant and has to go on a road trip with her ex-best friend, Bailey, to an abortion clinic where her parents won't find out. That sounds like a pretty decent story, right?
Well, so did I. But, as you can tell by now, I was wrong.
The reason why Veronica accidentally got pregnant was because of her ex-boyfriend, Kevin, who poked holes in his condom because he didn't want Veronica to move away to college from Missouri to Rhode Island. On top of that, he even proposed to her to "trap" her, and he stalked Veronica and Bailey all the way to the clinic in New Mexico.
The reason why Veronica had to go all the way to New Mexico was that, in the state of Missouri, you need a parent's permission to get an abortion. That wasn't an option for Veronica, as her parents are very religious, very Catholic, and they believed that abortion was murder and a sin.
The reason why this book made me want to hurl was that Bailey and Veronica treated this road trip to New Mexico as a "girls' trip" and treated it as an adventure. Sure, you might want to make the victim feel a bit better, but this book was just absolutely ridiculous. They went to a strip club, had their car stolen, trespassed on private property to climb an elephant sculpture, went cow-tipping and much more ridiculous things like that. The authors played off this extremely traumatizing event as nothing and used it as a book version of the show Just for Laughs: Gags.
Bailey Butler also came out as a lesbian in this novel, which was used entirely for the furthering of Veronica's character. Everything that happens in the book is for the furthering of Veronica's character, and everything conveniently happens to help our Veronica and Bailey. They played off this whole event as nothing, and at one point, Bailey even called Veronica something along the lines of "whore" and "you should have kept your pants on and legs together." If Veronica was actually written like a real character instead of this, I don't know what to call it because it is just so so terrible, that would have been the tipping point for her. Veronica should have been dealing with trauma in a normal way, not going on a coming-of-age movie road trip.
The decision of abortion was also played down in this book as well. Bailey made fun of abortion and Veronica making the decision to have sex the entire book, and it was just harmful and adding to the stigma that there already is around abortion.
The ending was also terrible as well. Veronica and Bailey decided to get nachos after Veronica's abortion, and then they see Kevin at the same nacho place (because Kevin decided to show up at the abortion clinic and use it as another stupid excuse to keep Veronica and him together) and Bailey and Veronica steal his car. And their excuse when Kevin confronts them? "Well, you did all this, so the least you can do is let us borrow your car." No! You should have gone to the police like a normal person! He stalked you the entire time!
Having an abortion can also be a traumatizing experience depending on who you are, but not for Veronica! She went up to her ex-best friends at the end of the novel and went "yeah, I got an abortion, Kevin essentially raped me, no biggie lol" and went off to sit with Bailey. Um?????? Excuse me??
I might be able to understand that one may add comedy into a story of extremely traumatizing events, toxic people, and even self-discovery, but this? This is a fucking disgrace to books.
I have so much more to say, but if I said all of it you would be sitting here for a while reading my angry ramblings. But the TLDR is: don't read this fucking monstrosity.
~~~~
2020-08-11
EDIT: I seriously cannot believe that they're making this into a movie. I mean, come on! Read the room!
DISCLAIMER: I am pro-choice. Ladies, do whatever you want with your bodies. It's not my, or anyone else's, decision to make.
God, if I could rate this book 0 stars, I would.
This fucking monstrosity made me physically nauseous. It's not often that I get a physical reaction from a book, and usually, it's just tears or maybe a pang in my stomach because of anticipation. This one made me want to hurl my guts out.
Unpregnant is about Veronica Clarke, the perfect model student who gets accidentally pregnant and has to go on a road trip with her ex-best friend, Bailey, to an abortion clinic where her parents won't find out. That sounds like a pretty decent story, right?
Well, so did I. But, as you can tell by now, I was wrong.
The reason why Veronica accidentally got pregnant was because of her ex-boyfriend, Kevin, who poked holes in his condom because he didn't want Veronica to move away to college from Missouri to Rhode Island. On top of that, he even proposed to her to "trap" her, and he stalked Veronica and Bailey all the way to the clinic in New Mexico.
The reason why Veronica had to go all the way to New Mexico was that, in the state of Missouri, you need a parent's permission to get an abortion. That wasn't an option for Veronica, as her parents are very religious, very Catholic, and they believed that abortion was murder and a sin.
The reason why this book made me want to hurl was that Bailey and Veronica treated this road trip to New Mexico as a "girls' trip" and treated it as an adventure. Sure, you might want to make the victim feel a bit better, but this book was just absolutely ridiculous. They went to a strip club, had their car stolen, trespassed on private property to climb an elephant sculpture, went cow-tipping and much more ridiculous things like that. The authors played off this extremely traumatizing event as nothing and used it as a book version of the show Just for Laughs: Gags.
Bailey Butler also came out as a lesbian in this novel, which was used entirely for the furthering of Veronica's character. Everything that happens in the book is for the furthering of Veronica's character, and everything conveniently happens to help our Veronica and Bailey. They played off this whole event as nothing, and at one point, Bailey even called Veronica something along the lines of "whore" and "you should have kept your pants on and legs together." If Veronica was actually written like a real character instead of this, I don't know what to call it because it is just so so terrible, that would have been the tipping point for her. Veronica should have been dealing with trauma in a normal way, not going on a coming-of-age movie road trip.
The decision of abortion was also played down in this book as well. Bailey made fun of abortion and Veronica making the decision to have sex the entire book, and it was just harmful and adding to the stigma that there already is around abortion.
The ending was also terrible as well. Veronica and Bailey decided to get nachos after Veronica's abortion, and then they see Kevin at the same nacho place (because Kevin decided to show up at the abortion clinic and use it as another stupid excuse to keep Veronica and him together) and Bailey and Veronica steal his car. And their excuse when Kevin confronts them? "Well, you did all this, so the least you can do is let us borrow your car." No! You should have gone to the police like a normal person! He stalked you the entire time!
Having an abortion can also be a traumatizing experience depending on who you are, but not for Veronica! She went up to her ex-best friends at the end of the novel and went "yeah, I got an abortion, Kevin essentially raped me, no biggie lol" and went off to sit with Bailey. Um?????? Excuse me??
I might be able to understand that one may add comedy into a story of extremely traumatizing events, toxic people, and even self-discovery, but this? This is a fucking disgrace to books.
I have so much more to say, but if I said all of it you would be sitting here for a while reading my angry ramblings. But the TLDR is: don't read this fucking monstrosity.
~~~~
2020-08-11
EDIT: I seriously cannot believe that they're making this into a movie. I mean, come on! Read the room!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2019
THIS BOOK WAS SO FUNNY! I DIED. I never thought a book about a heavy topic could be SO FREAKING HILARIOUS. Yes, yes yes!!!!! Love love love. ALL THE STARS! :D
December 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It was a random check out from the library but I really enjoyed how the author captured the difficulties that the main character faces in getting an abortion. There’s humor, heartbreaking moments, and the realization that it’s okay not to be perfect. I’m glad that they are writing a companion novel to this book. I’ll definitely check it out. I’ll also be doing a full review soon!
March 14, 2022
This book talks about a taboo topic in a really flowy fun way. It talks about abortion, but also self-discovery and friendship. A quick, fun read. I wish the women from my country had the choice to do whatever they want with their bodies and could go to clinics like that. Hopefully, in the future.
Read
September 4, 2019A total romp of a story about a girl who needs to get an abortion after her boyfriend tampers with a condom (he didn't want her to leave for college) and when the scariest girl in school discovers her pregnancy, the two of them set off across state lines to get her the legal abortion for the weirdest and most uncomfortable road trip. Along the way, Veronica discovers she's allowed herself to become a person who believes she's better than everyone else, and Bailey allows her story to become better known and embrace vulnerability.
This book is very, very funny and it's clear that Hendriks and Caplan write for television, as it has that pacing and feel. It's a bit over-the-top, but the bigger point in the story is exceptionally well rendered. For a young person who is pregnant and seeking an abortion, it can become impossible for access to those services. In Veronica's case, she has to travel from Columbia, Missouri and her conservative, religious upbringing, all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico to have the procedure.
What I really loved most was the friendship that blooms between Veronica and Bailey. They had been friends when they were younger, but they grew apart as Veronica kept climbing the "good girl" ladder. Bailey seems like she's all hard edges, but we discover how much hurt and pain is in her life, relating to her father, and why it is she agreed to take this trip with Veronica. Bailey's also lesbian, and this becomes both a point of pride and acceptance and a tool wielded against her -- until it's better understood how and where the girls' religious upbringing impacts their beliefs.
Highly recommended.
This book is very, very funny and it's clear that Hendriks and Caplan write for television, as it has that pacing and feel. It's a bit over-the-top, but the bigger point in the story is exceptionally well rendered. For a young person who is pregnant and seeking an abortion, it can become impossible for access to those services. In Veronica's case, she has to travel from Columbia, Missouri and her conservative, religious upbringing, all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico to have the procedure.
What I really loved most was the friendship that blooms between Veronica and Bailey. They had been friends when they were younger, but they grew apart as Veronica kept climbing the "good girl" ladder. Bailey seems like she's all hard edges, but we discover how much hurt and pain is in her life, relating to her father, and why it is she agreed to take this trip with Veronica. Bailey's also lesbian, and this becomes both a point of pride and acceptance and a tool wielded against her -- until it's better understood how and where the girls' religious upbringing impacts their beliefs.
Highly recommended.
April 19, 2021
This was a quick, fun read. Somewhat unrealistic and bit over the top, but still enjoyable.
My biggest problem with the book was that it was too short. I didn't even get a chance to develop feelings for the characters, and the story was already over.
And when it comes to the whole abortion aspect, I think it was nicely done. I was never pro-life and strongly believe that if people who weren't ready to become parents were never forced to become one, this world wouldn't have so many unhappy children. But that's just me—others might feel differently.
All in all, a solid 3.5 star read.
My biggest problem with the book was that it was too short. I didn't even get a chance to develop feelings for the characters, and the story was already over.
And when it comes to the whole abortion aspect, I think it was nicely done. I was never pro-life and strongly believe that if people who weren't ready to become parents were never forced to become one, this world wouldn't have so many unhappy children. But that's just me—others might feel differently.
All in all, a solid 3.5 star read.
December 26, 2019
Ufff... qué tema cuando los libros te generan tantos sentimientos sobre cuestiones complejas. Un libro que no puede ser reducido al aborto. Este libro abarca todo: los temores de adolescencia, la rebeldía, la maldad, la amistad, la educación sexual, la construcción de los vínculos, las apariencias, la moral y la falta de ella, el qué dirán, y también el poder decidir sobre tu propio cuerpo. La controversia alrededor de este libro se genera por la gran grieta entre "pro vida" y "pro aborto legal". Más allá de mi postura (la cual no me apena decir, es a favor de la legalización del aborto), creo que el libro es sumamente recomendable para entender la base de todo lo que concierne la sexualidad y otros temas relevantes en la vida de cualquier ser humano.
Acá entendemos con toda claridad lo que significa tener o carecer de educación sexual integral, lo que es proteger el cuerpo, la salud, la sexualidad y la identidad. Es un libro juvenil, por supuesto destinado al público más joven. Es una grandiosa idea tener una novela cuya llegada sea así, la literatura puede ayudar a abrir la cabeza (no siempre, pero por lo menos en este caso creo que así es) y detectar situaciones que no están bien ( ).
En resumidas cuentas, un buen libro, que a pesar de tocar temas tan delicados, se torna cómico gracias a las situaciones que la protagonista y su amiga se ven obligadas a atravesar.
Les dejo la videoreseña que hice: https://youtu.be/UrPd9oZzvy0
Acá entendemos con toda claridad lo que significa tener o carecer de educación sexual integral, lo que es proteger el cuerpo, la salud, la sexualidad y la identidad. Es un libro juvenil, por supuesto destinado al público más joven. Es una grandiosa idea tener una novela cuya llegada sea así, la literatura puede ayudar a abrir la cabeza (no siempre, pero por lo menos en este caso creo que así es) y detectar situaciones que no están bien ( ).
En resumidas cuentas, un buen libro, que a pesar de tocar temas tan delicados, se torna cómico gracias a las situaciones que la protagonista y su amiga se ven obligadas a atravesar.
Les dejo la videoreseña que hice: https://youtu.be/UrPd9oZzvy0
Read
May 20, 2020Perfection does not equal success.
College draws closer everyday. Veronica Clarke just failed a test she never imagined taking. But the two pink lines on the piece of plastic don't lie when her boyfriend's a monster who pokes holes in condoms, to keep her close.
She needs to get an abortion, but she's ashamed and there's no one there to help, except for Bailey Butler. Secretly road tripping with the school's loner and her used to be bestie isn't ideal, but everything will be fine, right? Wrong.
A story of choices, chases, and conversations. A tale of young women, wheels, and a wild ride.
Trigger warnings for talk of pregnancy, sl*t shaming, major consent issues, mention of drug use, underage drinking, stalking, divorce, theft, misogyny, sexism, and sexual assault.
Smart, anxious Veronica was a quintessential good girl. With her own, her boyfriend's and society's expectations, she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders with nowhere to turn. My heart cried for her as she scrambled for help. However, her attempts to ditch her perfectionist, reputation concerned mindset for self acceptance were one of the novel's saving graces.
Crass, fierce Bailey had been ousted from the social circles of high school. Her weirder traits were emphasized in a way that made her more of a caricature instead of a character. It took a little digging, but her oddities were only the surface of a honest, solid, and caring girl, whom I loved.
Road trips need real friends. Seemingly opposite, the former best friends had many miles to go before they could patch things up. I adored how they supported one another, lightened up and grounded each other's personalities, their all too relatable history but...Their friendship was like eagerly anticipating a bag of chips only to find they're secretly stale. By the end it turned out to be incredibly formulaic and trying hard to force feed me the fact that THEY WERE FRIENDS.
*Insert pregnant pause and many attempts to keep a level head here.*
Humor can be used to bring light to important political and social topics, like abortion. But when it, both sides of the conversation, and the all too real situations many young girls find themselves in, were trivialised as a vehicle for an over-the-top jokey joyride, my heart plummeted. Even if I could've cruised with the gimmicky caricatures, I still would have been begging the GPS to course correct us back towards the plot.
Perhaps what really deflated my tires though, was when I realized the book was going to completely gloss over the sexual assault for the most part. Speaking to the pressures we put on ourselves and young girls, Jenni Hendricks and Ted Caplan's novel held a few lines about the importance of reconnecting and putting less value on reputation. Unpregnant also had a lot to say about the judgments we cast upon women's decisions about sex, their bodies, and academics. Incredibly quick, this was a tiring journey.
Unpregnant left me unhappy and underwhelmed.
College draws closer everyday. Veronica Clarke just failed a test she never imagined taking. But the two pink lines on the piece of plastic don't lie when her boyfriend's a monster who pokes holes in condoms, to keep her close.
She needs to get an abortion, but she's ashamed and there's no one there to help, except for Bailey Butler. Secretly road tripping with the school's loner and her used to be bestie isn't ideal, but everything will be fine, right? Wrong.
A story of choices, chases, and conversations. A tale of young women, wheels, and a wild ride.
Trigger warnings for talk of pregnancy, sl*t shaming, major consent issues, mention of drug use, underage drinking, stalking, divorce, theft, misogyny, sexism, and sexual assault.
Smart, anxious Veronica was a quintessential good girl. With her own, her boyfriend's and society's expectations, she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders with nowhere to turn. My heart cried for her as she scrambled for help. However, her attempts to ditch her perfectionist, reputation concerned mindset for self acceptance were one of the novel's saving graces.
Crass, fierce Bailey had been ousted from the social circles of high school. Her weirder traits were emphasized in a way that made her more of a caricature instead of a character. It took a little digging, but her oddities were only the surface of a honest, solid, and caring girl, whom I loved.
Road trips need real friends. Seemingly opposite, the former best friends had many miles to go before they could patch things up. I adored how they supported one another, lightened up and grounded each other's personalities, their all too relatable history but...Their friendship was like eagerly anticipating a bag of chips only to find they're secretly stale. By the end it turned out to be incredibly formulaic and trying hard to force feed me the fact that THEY WERE FRIENDS.
*Insert pregnant pause and many attempts to keep a level head here.*
Humor can be used to bring light to important political and social topics, like abortion. But when it, both sides of the conversation, and the all too real situations many young girls find themselves in, were trivialised as a vehicle for an over-the-top jokey joyride, my heart plummeted. Even if I could've cruised with the gimmicky caricatures, I still would have been begging the GPS to course correct us back towards the plot.
Perhaps what really deflated my tires though, was when I realized the book was going to completely gloss over the sexual assault for the most part. Speaking to the pressures we put on ourselves and young girls, Jenni Hendricks and Ted Caplan's novel held a few lines about the importance of reconnecting and putting less value on reputation. Unpregnant also had a lot to say about the judgments we cast upon women's decisions about sex, their bodies, and academics. Incredibly quick, this was a tiring journey.
Unpregnant left me unhappy and underwhelmed.
May 12, 2020
5/5 estrellas.
¡AMIGA DEL ABORTOOOO! 💚💚💚💚💚
¡AMIGA DEL ABORTOOOO! 💚💚💚💚💚
December 12, 2019
"I'd made my decision long before we arrived. Those signs were just words."
This is story that had a solid message but a less than pleasurable execution.
SUMMARY
Veronica Clark is a perfectionist. When she discovers that her boyfriend purposely got her pregnant just before the end of senior year, she panics. She is filled with shame and panic, and the only person she can turn to is her ex-best friend. Bailey and Veronica head on a road trip that is filled with many bumps in the road, and learn along the way what is means to accept who you are.
REVIEW
This is probably one of the most disappointing reads of 2019 for me. I was so excited to read this book but it ended up letting me down.
The best part of this novel, and the only redeeming quality, was the message it portrayed. Unpregnant is a story about a girl who learns that she does not have to change herself for the people around her. Veronica learns to embrace who she is and to let go of the constraints she placed around herself. Veronica goes through with the abortion even after realising that at first the reason she wanted it was because she was ashamed. In the end, the realises that she is just not ready to put aside or balance her college life at Brown to raise a child.
This was a very quick read. I read it in under 2 hours! The writing was simple and flowed easily. However, the plot was utterly ridiculous. The things that Bailey and Veronica do over the course of this novel are not at all believable.
Veronica's (ex)boyfriend manages to follow the two girls all the way to New Mexico, despite them having multiple disruptions along the way. It was crazy how often this boy showed up. I understood that he was in the story to show how some men feel the need to have control over the women in their lives, but this boy... I couldn't handle him. He was a laughably horrible character.
Furthermore, Veronica and Bailey make so many dangerous decisions over the course of this novel. I was shaking my head at the choices they made. The authors tried to make this a funny adventure on the way to get an abortion and it just did not work out well. Honestly, if I had to summarise this book it would be: The Hangover - Abortion Style.
Not good.
Overall, it was fine. I will watch the movie adaptation but I wouldn't recommend the book to my friends or followers.
This is story that had a solid message but a less than pleasurable execution.
SUMMARY
Veronica Clark is a perfectionist. When she discovers that her boyfriend purposely got her pregnant just before the end of senior year, she panics. She is filled with shame and panic, and the only person she can turn to is her ex-best friend. Bailey and Veronica head on a road trip that is filled with many bumps in the road, and learn along the way what is means to accept who you are.
REVIEW
This is probably one of the most disappointing reads of 2019 for me. I was so excited to read this book but it ended up letting me down.
The best part of this novel, and the only redeeming quality, was the message it portrayed. Unpregnant is a story about a girl who learns that she does not have to change herself for the people around her. Veronica learns to embrace who she is and to let go of the constraints she placed around herself. Veronica goes through with the abortion even after realising that at first the reason she wanted it was because she was ashamed. In the end, the realises that she is just not ready to put aside or balance her college life at Brown to raise a child.
This was a very quick read. I read it in under 2 hours! The writing was simple and flowed easily. However, the plot was utterly ridiculous. The things that Bailey and Veronica do over the course of this novel are not at all believable.
Veronica's (ex)boyfriend manages to follow the two girls all the way to New Mexico, despite them having multiple disruptions along the way. It was crazy how often this boy showed up. I understood that he was in the story to show how some men feel the need to have control over the women in their lives, but this boy... I couldn't handle him. He was a laughably horrible character.
Furthermore, Veronica and Bailey make so many dangerous decisions over the course of this novel. I was shaking my head at the choices they made. The authors tried to make this a funny adventure on the way to get an abortion and it just did not work out well. Honestly, if I had to summarise this book it would be: The Hangover - Abortion Style.
Not good.
Overall, it was fine. I will watch the movie adaptation but I wouldn't recommend the book to my friends or followers.
October 5, 2020
la verdad que me re gusto, siento que es un libro divertido y ~fresco~ para leer en una tarde.
May 29, 2023
Alors ce livre est juste incroyable. Il parle de plusieurs sujets et notamment de l'avortement et comment est-ce que c'est vu du point de vue des américains. Ce livre reflète bien la réalité de la vision de l'avortement aux Etats-unis et j'aime ce coté réaliste. Il y a aussi l'évocation de savoir quelle est son orientation sexuelle et s'assumer tel que l'on est. L'évolution de cette amitié est incroyable. C'est un livre que je recommande fortement. Par contre, un point négatif et je pense que c'est important d'en parler. Veronica est tombé enceinte suite au fait que son petit ami ai fait exprès de percer les protections. Donc je trouve que c'est une agression sexuelle et je condamne fermement ça bien évidemment.
February 10, 2020
So first of all, screw all of you anti-abortion advocates rating this book without ever having actually read it. You all are just the fucking worst. Newsflash- outlawing abortion doesn’t lower abortion rates. It just causes a rise in maternal death rates. Fuck off.
That being said, this book was a bummer. Missed opportunity to really dive into an important topic. Very surface level in every single way: plot, characters, side characters, how it handled abortion, CPCs, anti-abortion advocates, religious views, and on and on and on....
It just wasn’t good. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read, but it really wasn’t good.
That being said, this book was a bummer. Missed opportunity to really dive into an important topic. Very surface level in every single way: plot, characters, side characters, how it handled abortion, CPCs, anti-abortion advocates, religious views, and on and on and on....
It just wasn’t good. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read, but it really wasn’t good.
November 12, 2019
I coud say a lot of things about this book but I’m not gonna waste my energy in such a shitty story!
Awful, sad and disrespectful!
Awful, sad and disrespectful!
September 26, 2021
I was not expecting to fall madly in love with this book, but it looks like we're now engaged. We were made for each other and we're to be married in the fall. Please support us. 🥺
January 8, 2020
“Excuse me? We are two strong young women in control of our destinies.”
I didn’t know I needed a book about abortion till this one was literally forced into my immediate TBR. I just checked out the first 20 minutes of the audiobook on YouTube and those first 3 minutes captured me so well I was desperate to keep reading the book after the preview was over.
But this is not only an entertaining and well written book, in fact it looks like an easy read on the surface, when it’s not easy if you put yourself in the main character’s shoes. I applaud the authors for writing this book and already having it planned to be a movie because that’s what young girls deserve to see and be told.
Just look at the review of this book with the most likes and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I’m so disgusted that so many people think girls and women can’t have a choice on their own body. I hope this book does a bit of magic and convinces people of how hard it is to go on with the life you planned when you’re a female in this sick world. Very unlikely but I have hope.
But as I grew older, I’d realized so many things they told me were true in church just didn’t match up with real life.
I really enjoyed this book! The writing style was captivating and the characters very lovable from the get-go. Some stuff was very unrealistic but as this book was so well plotted it wasn’t an issue in the slightest. Maybe I would have wanted Veronica to apologize a bit better for what she told Bailey about her sexuality, but nothing more.
I’m still so shocked at how the boyfriend
August 16, 2021
Admito que vi antes la película y se parecen bastante en las situaciones y el tono, así que sabía a lo que iba. Me encanta que un libro juvenil no solo toque el tema del aborto sino que lo haga con este tono, que no sea un libro incómodo de leer, sino que uno divertido que puede hasta sacar sonrisas.
Ronnie tiene la vida perfecta: es la mejor de la clase, tiene el novio más guapo, una familia que la apoya y fue aceptada en una buena universidad. Por desgracia, todo se viene abajo cuando descubre que está embarazada y el único centro en el que puede abortar sin que nadie lo sepa está a 1600km de distancia.
Contrario a lo que se puede esperar de un libro que toca el tema del aborto, Unpregnant es un libro sumamente divertido porque es un road trip de dos ex mejores amigas. Esto lleva a que no solo sus personalidades dispares, sino que todo lo que va sucediendo por el camino vaya dando las situaciones más descabelladas.
Sé que Ronnie podría ser insoportable y todo eso, pero de alguna forma la entendí porque sé lo que es ser esa persona de la que todo el mundo espera algo, esa persona perfecta y sé la vergüenza que se siente cuando no lo eres. El cómo quieres mantener la pantalla de perfección a toda costa porque la idea de que la gente sepa que no lo eres suena terrible. Así que la entendí, entendí sus dilemas y varias de las decisiones que toma, no Kevin nunca Kevin. Quizá la personalidad de Bailey sea un poco más intensa para mí, más difícil de entender su impulsividad y su forma más extrovertida de ser. Sin embargo, adoré el cómo las dos se fueron complementando a lo largo del viaje. Esos momentos en que Ronnie se daba que cuenta de que se sentía libre y bien con Bailey o cuando la veía sonreír por algo que ella decía.
El motivo por el que me gustó el tono de comedia del libro es porque de alguna forma normalizó el tema y lo aterrizó a algo que podría no ser terrible si se tuvieran las condiciones adecuadas. Sí, Ronnie pasa por mucho para poder abortar, pero eso es porque no se dan las condiciones para que sea un proceso sencillo. Y eso que al menos ella tenía opciones. Creo que uno de los mejores momentos es cuando Ronnie colapsa enojada por el hecho de que tuviera que viajar tanto cuando había una clínica a dos horas de su casa, o el hecho de que todo tuviera que ser clandestino a pesar de que ella supiera que estaba tomando al decisión correcta.
Es un libro ligero, se lee muy rápido y las distintas situaciones que se van dando son divertidas. La amistad entre ambas chicas, a pesar de sus diferencias, es muy bonita y deja una sensación cálida en el pecho. Disfruté mucho el proceso de leer el libro a pesar de conocer la historia y el cómo se desarrollaría. Además, me parece muy bien que se toque el tema del aborto y que, además, se de la información así de explícita sobre muchos aspectos para que cada vez sea menos un tema tabú que asuste a las mujeres.
Quizá por el hecho de que es tan corto ciertos personajes son más planos, como Kevin o las amigas de Ronnie. Me hubiese gustado un poco más de complejidad en ellas y que fueran más complejas de lo que parecían. A Kevin lo odio, porque no hay otra opción, no puedes no odiarlo y, por desgracia, me parece hasta creíble, por momentos, su nivel de inmadurez y egoísmo. No pongo en duda de que existan Kevins caminando por el mundo.
Por último, el libro no es un panfleto a favor o en contra del aborto, dice que tiene que ser una elección de la que la mujer se sienta segura de llevar a cabo (e idealmente acompañada). Lo mismo con la religión, quizá acá se siente un poco más polarizado, pero tampoco se trató de ridiculizar la religión o de decir lo dañina que era, porque la misma Ronnie seguía siendo cristiana a pesar de la situación en que se encontraba. Al final todo va sobre tener el derecho y el espacio para tomar decisiones, ya sea sobre nuestras creencias y sobre nuestro cuerpo sin ser juzgadas, sino que solo apoyadas.
Unpregnant es una lectura divertida y ligera que nos lleva por un road trip con dos ex mejores amigas, logra hacer reír, pero también reflexionar sobre el hecho de que lo más difícil por lo que pasan no fuera el aborto, sino que las distintas opiniones de otras personas al respecto.
Ronnie tiene la vida perfecta: es la mejor de la clase, tiene el novio más guapo, una familia que la apoya y fue aceptada en una buena universidad. Por desgracia, todo se viene abajo cuando descubre que está embarazada y el único centro en el que puede abortar sin que nadie lo sepa está a 1600km de distancia.
"No intentaban ayudarme. Eso no era una plegaria. Eso era odio. Aun cuando no pudieran verme a través de las ventanillas oscuras, me cubrí los oídos y me hice un ovillo, sus aullidos eran como bofetadas"
Contrario a lo que se puede esperar de un libro que toca el tema del aborto, Unpregnant es un libro sumamente divertido porque es un road trip de dos ex mejores amigas. Esto lleva a que no solo sus personalidades dispares, sino que todo lo que va sucediendo por el camino vaya dando las situaciones más descabelladas.
Sé que Ronnie podría ser insoportable y todo eso, pero de alguna forma la entendí porque sé lo que es ser esa persona de la que todo el mundo espera algo, esa persona perfecta y sé la vergüenza que se siente cuando no lo eres. El cómo quieres mantener la pantalla de perfección a toda costa porque la idea de que la gente sepa que no lo eres suena terrible. Así que la entendí, entendí sus dilemas y varias de las decisiones que toma, no Kevin nunca Kevin. Quizá la personalidad de Bailey sea un poco más intensa para mí, más difícil de entender su impulsividad y su forma más extrovertida de ser. Sin embargo, adoré el cómo las dos se fueron complementando a lo largo del viaje. Esos momentos en que Ronnie se daba que cuenta de que se sentía libre y bien con Bailey o cuando la veía sonreír por algo que ella decía.
El motivo por el que me gustó el tono de comedia del libro es porque de alguna forma normalizó el tema y lo aterrizó a algo que podría no ser terrible si se tuvieran las condiciones adecuadas. Sí, Ronnie pasa por mucho para poder abortar, pero eso es porque no se dan las condiciones para que sea un proceso sencillo. Y eso que al menos ella tenía opciones. Creo que uno de los mejores momentos es cuando Ronnie colapsa enojada por el hecho de que tuviera que viajar tanto cuando había una clínica a dos horas de su casa, o el hecho de que todo tuviera que ser clandestino a pesar de que ella supiera que estaba tomando al decisión correcta.
"Desde pequeña, siempre me habían dicho que lo que estaba a punto de hacer ahora estaba mal y, en aquella época, me había parecido muy claro y obvio. Una pregunta de examen con una respuesta fácil. Pero a medida que fui creciendo, descubrí que muchas de las cosas que me decían eran ciertas dentro de la iglesia, pero no encajaban con la vida real. Y ahora que estaba en esta situación, nada parecía tan simple como prometieron que sería"
Es un libro ligero, se lee muy rápido y las distintas situaciones que se van dando son divertidas. La amistad entre ambas chicas, a pesar de sus diferencias, es muy bonita y deja una sensación cálida en el pecho. Disfruté mucho el proceso de leer el libro a pesar de conocer la historia y el cómo se desarrollaría. Además, me parece muy bien que se toque el tema del aborto y que, además, se de la información así de explícita sobre muchos aspectos para que cada vez sea menos un tema tabú que asuste a las mujeres.
Quizá por el hecho de que es tan corto ciertos personajes son más planos, como Kevin o las amigas de Ronnie. Me hubiese gustado un poco más de complejidad en ellas y que fueran más complejas de lo que parecían. A Kevin lo odio, porque no hay otra opción, no puedes no odiarlo y, por desgracia, me parece hasta creíble, por momentos, su nivel de inmadurez y egoísmo. No pongo en duda de que existan Kevins caminando por el mundo.
Por último, el libro no es un panfleto a favor o en contra del aborto, dice que tiene que ser una elección de la que la mujer se sienta segura de llevar a cabo (e idealmente acompañada). Lo mismo con la religión, quizá acá se siente un poco más polarizado, pero tampoco se trató de ridiculizar la religión o de decir lo dañina que era, porque la misma Ronnie seguía siendo cristiana a pesar de la situación en que se encontraba. Al final todo va sobre tener el derecho y el espacio para tomar decisiones, ya sea sobre nuestras creencias y sobre nuestro cuerpo sin ser juzgadas, sino que solo apoyadas.
"Eran mis mejores amigas, pero no eran la clase de amigas a las que una les contaba algo así. La nuestra era una amistad construida sobre éxitos, no fracasos"
Unpregnant es una lectura divertida y ligera que nos lleva por un road trip con dos ex mejores amigas, logra hacer reír, pero también reflexionar sobre el hecho de que lo más difícil por lo que pasan no fuera el aborto, sino que las distintas opiniones de otras personas al respecto.
May 11, 2021
¡Me encantó este libro! Es esencialmente súper malo con personajes principales femeninos, pero en lugar de intentar llegar a una fiesta, están en un viaje por carretera hacia un aborto. A pesar de que los temas que se discuten a lo largo del libro son pesados y serios, hay un humor e amistad asombrosos entre estos dos personajes femeninos que casi olvidas a veces hacia dónde se dirigen y simplemente disfrutas del viaje. Dicho esto, hay conversaciones abiertas sobre temas como la religión, el aborto, los derechos de la mujer y otros valores sureños, mostrando las opiniones multilaterales de cada uno y sin pintar nada en blanco y negro, sino sobre lo que es correcto para diferentes personas.
Fue algo fresco leer una historia sobre una niña que necesita abortar después de que su novio manipula un condón (él no quería que ella se fuera a la universidad) y cuando la niña más aterradora de la escuela descubre su embarazo, las dos se preparan, cruzando las fronteras estatales para conseguirle el aborto legal para el viaje por carretera más extraño e incómodo. En el camino, Verónica descubre que se ha permitido convertirse en una persona que cree que es mejor que los demás, y Bailey permite que su historia sea más conocida y abrace la vulnerabilidad.
Este libro es muy, muy divertido y está claro que Hendriks y Caplan escriben para televisión, ya que tiene ese ritmo y esa sensación. Es un poco exagerado, pero el punto más importante de la historia está excepcionalmente bien representado. Para una persona joven que está embarazada y busca un aborto, puede resultarle imposible acceder a esos servicios. En el caso de Verónica, ella tiene que viajar desde Columbia, Missouri y su educación conservadora y religiosa, hasta Albuquerque, Nuevo México para someterse al procedimiento.
Lo que más me gustó fue la amistad que florece entre Verónica y Bailey. Habían sido amigos cuando eran más jóvenes, pero se distanciaron a medida que Verónica seguía subiendo la escalera de la "niña buena". Parece que Bailey es muy dura, pero descubrimos cuánto dolor y dolor hay en su vida, en relación con su padre, y por qué aceptó hacer este viaje con Verónica. Bailey es lesbiana, y esto se convierte a la vez en un motivo de orgullo y aceptación y en una herramienta en su contra, hasta que se comprenda mejor cómo y dónde la educación religiosa de las niñas afecta sus creencias.
Muy recomendable.
Fue algo fresco leer una historia sobre una niña que necesita abortar después de que su novio manipula un condón (él no quería que ella se fuera a la universidad) y cuando la niña más aterradora de la escuela descubre su embarazo, las dos se preparan, cruzando las fronteras estatales para conseguirle el aborto legal para el viaje por carretera más extraño e incómodo. En el camino, Verónica descubre que se ha permitido convertirse en una persona que cree que es mejor que los demás, y Bailey permite que su historia sea más conocida y abrace la vulnerabilidad.
Este libro es muy, muy divertido y está claro que Hendriks y Caplan escriben para televisión, ya que tiene ese ritmo y esa sensación. Es un poco exagerado, pero el punto más importante de la historia está excepcionalmente bien representado. Para una persona joven que está embarazada y busca un aborto, puede resultarle imposible acceder a esos servicios. En el caso de Verónica, ella tiene que viajar desde Columbia, Missouri y su educación conservadora y religiosa, hasta Albuquerque, Nuevo México para someterse al procedimiento.
Lo que más me gustó fue la amistad que florece entre Verónica y Bailey. Habían sido amigos cuando eran más jóvenes, pero se distanciaron a medida que Verónica seguía subiendo la escalera de la "niña buena". Parece que Bailey es muy dura, pero descubrimos cuánto dolor y dolor hay en su vida, en relación con su padre, y por qué aceptó hacer este viaje con Verónica. Bailey es lesbiana, y esto se convierte a la vez en un motivo de orgullo y aceptación y en una herramienta en su contra, hasta que se comprenda mejor cómo y dónde la educación religiosa de las niñas afecta sus creencias.
Muy recomendable.
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