Unexpecting: Baby! Baby? Baby?!

Unexpecting #1

by Holly Kerr

Casey is pregnant. And she’s not happy about it.
"FINALLY! A pregnant woman who...Loved being Pregnant!"

Kindergarten teacher/wine saleswoman Casey Samms has always wanted to be a mother. Now that the blessed event is actually going to happen, she's ready to give up the wine and chocolate brownies and prepare for the swollen ankles and sleepless nights.

But she has no idea what to do about the father.

Her plan for immaculate conception—or as close as she could get to it via sperm donor—is ruined by the one drunken night with her roommate J.B. and the expired condom that spoils everything.

Who knew condoms had expiry dates?

Sexy J.B., with his long list of past girlfriends, is the last person Casey expects to stick around for the morning sickness and doctor visits but this time J.B. isn’t running away. He's reading the baby books and asking the questions and that time when he touched her belly...

Casey has nine months to get ready to do the baby thing on her own, but J.B. isn’t making a move to get out of the way.

One night changed Casey’s life. Is J.B. ready to change as well?

Find out how Casey deals with the unexpected in this sweet, laugh-out-loud, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy about second chances (and third...and fourth...)

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Book Club, Ebooks, Amazon

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Holly Kerr wants everyone to have a happily ever after, full of fun banter and friends to talk about it with.

She’s a lover of water, wine, and dirty martinis, prefers beach to mountain, Star Wars over Star Trek, and really wishes she liked chocolate.

She writes fast-paced, sweet romantic comedy with the door shut, action chick lit about sassy Canadian super spies, and women’s fiction about families and small towns.

Find out more when you sign up for her newsletter, and get a taste with Cupcake Connections, a short story featuring some of her favorite characters. www.hollykerr.ca

Reviews

[Margo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author has some definite tendencies:
1. She includes a lot of characters and does a good job of differentiating them and defining their social set.
2. She definitely doesn't flinch from showing her heroines' flaws.

The problem is that with a crowded book and diluted focus, both H and h are defined by their worst behavior.

I think she would do better to pare down her character list and focus on her MCs more. I'm still going to keep checking her books out to see how her style evolves.

[Tracey Cramer-Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't have a high opinion of J.B. from the start because when Casey arrived home after the worst day ever what does he do as a 'friend'? He has sex with her. She seems to think he's a really good guy and it's 'the only way he knows to offer comfort' but to me it was a guy taking advantage of a drunk and emotionally vulnerable woman. ('Offering comfort' would have been holding her all night.) Yeah, the pregnancy had to happen to make the rest of the story happen, but I wasn't keen on how. This kind of casual sex between friends seemed to be no big deal, making the characters seem more like they were in their twenties than in their thirties (aka not very mature). So I had a bit of an uphill battle with this story to begin with, and it didn't help that it was all in Casey's POV so I had no idea what J.B. was thinking. (I like discovering underlying reasons for a character's behavior, but we only got hints from things a somewhat clueless Casey learned about his backstory.)

The first half of the book was full of Casey's friends' drama and mommy angst and the ex-boyfriend as a potential daddy-donor. I hung on until Casey finally figured out she was pregnant which was over 50% of the way through the book (and then with triplets - really?). Then I wanted to see how J.B. reacted, of course, but had to wade through more friend drama and no romance whatsoever (in fact, there's a scene of J.B. showing his 'overnight guest' out one morning; why was that necessary to the story?). Even the high point where he finally told her how he felt was underwhelming (but yes, by then he's redeemed himself!), followed by a rushed explanation of a wedding and the births. I wanted to like this story with its slight twist on the accidental pregnancy trope, and maybe others would enjoy the friend drama that overshadowed the 'relationship' between Casey and J.B., but it wasn't my cup of tea.

[Trayse Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is horrible with a capitol H. If you like pregnancy based Rom-Com that’s actually light hearted and funny, steer clear of this book.

The main character is a flakey whiner who shares the same lifestyle as her 5 year old students, her friends are cunts and the love interest is as personable as styrofoam.

I can’t believe there’s a sequel, seeing as the first was such torture, I couldn’t finish it.

1 star is generous.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirty-five year old Kindergarten teacher Casey Samms' biological clock is ticking ... for years she has dreamed about having a baby ... but the problem is finding the right man to be the father. She is romantically challenged, but that little problem isn't going to stop her, she is determined to do whatever it takes to have a baby of her own!

Baby! Baby? Baby!? is a humorous story about one woman's journey of desperately getting what she's yearned for a long time ... a baby. In her debut novel, author Holly Kerr weaves a fun tale written in the first person narrative, told by sassy Casey Samms, who is a tad bit quirky, confused, desperate and obsessed ... awww hell who am I kidding, she's a hot mess! Casey takes the reader along for the ride as she embarks on a journey to make her dream of having a baby come true, albeit with a few mishaps, twists and turns, and unexpected surprises along the way.

Romantically challenged, forever the bridesmaid, and faithfully following the chapters in the 1941 book, A Young Woman's Guide to the Joy of Impending Motherhood by Dr. Francine Pascal Reid, what's a girl to do when she's in her mid-thirties and doesn't have the right man in her life to be the baby daddy? Why of course to do whatever it takes!

There is so many laugh-out-loud moments throughout the story, I couldn't help but feel for Casey and cheer her on even when she pulls some crazy antics. This sassy lady reminded me of myself when I was in my late thirties and found my biological clock ticking ... sigh ... There was so much that I could relate to in this story: from desire, anxiety, obsession, sorrow and acceptance. I suffered a miscarriage in my first marriage and desperately tried to get pregnant in my current marriage, but alas we weren't blessed to have children, unless you count my three four legged babies. I think at some point in a woman's life from her mid/late twenties to early forties, the biological clock ticking and the desire to have babies is a natural part of our makeup, and any woman can relate to and sympathize with how Casey felt in the story. Like the old saying goes ... life works in mysterious ways!

I really enjoyed the author's style of allowing Casey's sassy voice tell a humorous and endearing story. It felt like I was sitting in a chair next to Casey as her story unfolded. I loved how each chapter began with a quote from the 1941 book, A Young Woman's Guide to the Joy of Impending Motherhood by Dr. Francine Pascal Reid. The antiquated quotes made me chuckle, I'm thinking Casey needed a revised edition of the book with more modern suggestions on pregnancy and motherhood to follow. lol

With a quirky cast of characters; engaging dialogue and zany interactions; and a lighthearted storyline that has a mixture of humor and real-to-life issues; Baby! Baby? Baby!? is a fun story of life, love, friendship, and following one's dreams that will captivate you and leave you with a smile.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Lisa (lifeinlit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

* Originally posted on Lost in Literature.

4.5 stars!

Okay... so let me begin by saying I may have a small obsession with pregnancy... and books about pregnancy... and babies... etc. So when I saw this blog tour, I just had to sign up for it. I can't say my obsession with pregnancy and babies is anywhere near Casey's obsession in this story, but I just really enjoy reading about it. :)

Casey is obsessed - totally, over-the-top obsessed - with the idea of having a baby. She hears her biological clock ticking loudly in her ears, and it scares the bejezus out of her. She thought for sure at the age of 35 she would have already been married with a family... but to her dismay, that's just not the way life fell into place. She begins to consider alternate ways of having a baby, such as artificial insemination from an anonymous doner, or finding someone who might be willing to "take one for the team" and help her make a baby.

Baby! Baby? Baby!? is an adorable story. I loved it! Casey, so clumsy and silly, really touched me. I related to her completely. Though I wouldn't act the way she did, and I didn't understand fully why she did some of the things she did, I did relate quickly to her strive to get what she wanted... no matter what the cost. The cast of characters were wonderful and immediately likable. Except for Casey's supposed BFF Brit... I really just wanted to punch her through my Kindle. Talk about a Bridezilla!! Holy cow!! She definitely got on my last nerve, and I really wish Casey would have stood up to her right away. Casey's other BFF Morgan was great, and a classic good friend if you ask me. She was there when Casey needed her, yet she wasn't perfect and had her own faults. Then Casey's roommates Coop, Emma and B.J... LOVED them!! I was finding myself wishing I could go live in their house too. A gourmet meal daily by chef roommates... yes, please! :)

I loved the way each chapter started with a caption from a book Casey received from her mother. This book was written in the 40's, and some of the things are just hilarious!! And a bit scary, if you really think about them. I really liked that added touch to the story.

I would definitely recommend Baby! Baby? Baby!? It was delightful, funny and entertaining. I look forward to seeing what Holly has in store for us next! I would love to see a story about Casey's roommates, Cooper & Emma. (Hint hint, Holly... :D)

[Maven_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpecting: Baby! Baby? Baby?! by Holly Kerr is a contemporary romantic comedy about Casey Samms, a woman in her mid‑thirties whose lifelong dream of becoming a mother suddenly becomes very real when a drunken night with her roommate J.B. leads to an unexpected pregnancy and no clear plan for who the father will be.

Casey has always wanted to be a mom and has even considered immaculate conception via donor, but nothing prepared her for the unexpected consequences of that one night and how much it will change her life, her self‑perception, and her relationship with J.B., who surprisingly doesn’t run away when pregnancy reality hits. What begins as a laugh‑out‑loud romantic comedy winds through the emotional ups and downs of prenatal appointments, friends’ reactions, and Casey’s own anxieties and hopes as she gets ready to face motherhood head‑on.

From the first chapters I found myself rooting for Casey’s messy, human journey because it feels so grounded in everyday hope and worry: her biological clock, her plans (and how they derail), and her self‑effacing humor made her voice genuinely engaging and relatable even when she’s questioning herself. J.B.’s unexpected willingness to stick around and grow up added a tender second‑chance romance layer that brought both laughter and real heart to their evolving dynamic, shifting the story from purely comic to comfortingly hopeful.

This isn’t a story about instantaneous perfection, but about two imperfect adults figuring out how to support each other while planning for one of life’s biggest changes. The narrative balances light, laughable moments with thoughtful looks at fear, excitement, and preparation for a future that feels both thrilling and terrifying. Readers tend to enjoy Kerr’s witty voice and the way she keeps Casey’s emotional life at the center of the rom‑com plot, making the comedy feel warm rather than shallow.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars. I’m giving Unexpecting three and a half stars because it made me smile, empathize, and genuinely care about Casey’s choices and the romantic arc with J.B., even if the pacing and emotional depth feel lighter than some readers might prefer.

If you enjoy feel‑good, character‑driven romance with real emotional stakes and lots of humor about life’s surprises, this is a delightfully entertaining read.

[Samantha March · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly Kerr is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Baby! Baby? Baby!? Casey Samms is a thirty-five year old kindergarten teacher who has become obsessed with having a baby of her own. She’s been searching for the right man to settle down with, but he continues to escape her. She decides that having a baby on her own has to be the way to go – but her friends and family members are less than supportive on that idea. When an ex appears back in her life, Casey thinks she might have stumbled upon the right guy. But as Casey’s dream comes true, a lot of unexpected surprises come with it.

What a fun read! I might not be baby-obsessed, but I thought Casey was extremely relatable. I also thought the book she is reading, A Young Woman’s Guide to the Joy of Impending Motherhood (written in the 1940’s) was hysterical. I loved the tidbits to start off each chapter, and plenty of those had me rolling. Casey’s journey was really fun to follow, through all the crazy ups and downs that her story takes us on. At times I thought Casey was bit too...slow to catch on to what was happening, but regardless, I really had a blast reading about her. The supporting cast each have their little moment as well and really added a lot to the overall story. One I would recommend!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. At first I was unsure of how I felt, being that the main character, Casey Samms, wanted a baby so badly that she was willing to do almost anything. But then I fell in love with her quirky personality, her slightly clumsy ways, and her boy problems. I mean, it's not every day you find bump into an ex, thinking there's a chance to rekindle the flame and make him the baby-daddy, only to get the shock of your life.

Then we add Casey's flames, from the roommate that was in love to her to the roommate she "falls" into bed with every few months ... and then there's the soon to be ex she caught doing what with a girl in a church?! There were so many twists and turns, and the quirky characters were so loveable! Well, with the exception of Casey's "friend" Brit. I really wanted to reach into the book and shake her ... but at least she got what was coming to her.

Holly Kerr really brings you into the book and makes the characters come alive. This was a very well written, and edited, chick lit book. Perfect for a bath and wine, or a read on the beach. Be warned, though, that I picked it up and finished it the next day. I was hooked.

[KayRae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wordy and slow

Boring and endlessly long internal monologues and introduction of numerous side stories. No character development of the main male character. Gave it one star cause it was free.

[Gwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this one off Kindle unlimited because I liked the premise and thought it would be a fun read. The use of quotes from a vintage parenting book (real? Fake? Idk) at the beginning of the chapters was cool. There also were some strong found family dynamics with the roommates, which was really sweet.

With a combination of an inconsistent timeline, spelling and Grammer errors and super weird pacing, I just didn't really like it. Some of the characters were good and the relationships had potential, but there were some super unlikeable side characters, which I just found frustrating and unecessary because nothing was ever resolved with them. There was lots of build up to a relationship in this story, basically 4/5 of the book. Again, there was potential and the guy was great, but there was so much build up and hardly any time to actually see the relationship. Nobody every worked through anything and issues just magically fell away. Relationships simply formed. It was overalls a pretty frustrating and unsatisfying read.

[Jo Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey Samms, the 35-year-old main character, desperately wants a baby, and it seems like she'll go through whatever lengths it takes to have one. Casey is a Kindergarten teacher who also manages a wine boutique in the afternoons. She has an older sister named Libby, two best friends, Brit (such a brat) and Morgan. Casey also stays with her two guy friends, J.B. and Cooper. I don't want to give too much of the story away, but I absolutely LOVED this novel! It's a must read for any woman. Although I'm nowhere near the stage in my life that Casey is in, I found her character to be completely relatable and downright entertaining. There were definitely some traits in Casey that I noticed that I have, which made me love her even more. Overall, I loved this novel and the characters (even Brit--a little) because they were so down to earth. This is by far the best book I've read in 2013! I highly recommend this novel!!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting a quick and fun chick lit book. Instead I got a book I was unable to put down. Holly Kerr made me fall in love with Casey, the main character. Her funny, quick witted personality makes you root for her almost instantaneously. Casey dreams of being pregnant and having kids. She won't let her man troubles stand in her way either. Funny, endearing and highly relate-able to women everywhere. A must read from a talented new author.

[Madonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Baby! Baby? Baby? by Holly Kerr. If this is a sample of her work, I want more! The story was entertaining with all the different characters...so like real life. All of them were different with different ideas about what would make them happy. Glad the way the problems were solved and that you didn't throw in any tragedies.

Loved the surprise and just thoroughly enjoyed the read. I have Good Reads to thank for the book. Now, I am just wanting more!

[Amphibian Press · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I saw this cover, I was charmed. As someone who has always wanted children myself, I found it charming to read about a heroine who, despite the fact that she is grown-up, independent, and modern, has her sights set on motherhood. She isn’t in it for the whole happily-ever-after, the right man would be a bonus but by far isn’t necessary. I liked this distinction between the goals of motherhood and marriage, which are far too often lumped together in a heteronormative narrative. Still, I was rooting for romance and a happy ending, especially since the book is full of so many near-misses.

The execution did not disappoint. Kerr’s writing is snappy and engaging, and Casey was sassy yet sympathetic character who managed to have several breakdowns throughout the book without getting annoying. There were several twists, and at least one took me fully by surprise, which is rare in romantic comedies, which tend to stick with formulas. I rooted for Casey through all the ups and downs, and grinned at the ending, which left me feeling warm and fulfilled. I love happy endings, especially ones that cover most of the characters in the book.

Despite all this, there were two elements that didn’t sit quite right with me. The first was that this book included an extremely toxic friendship. Instead of resulting in positive change or walking away from the friendship, both women stayed who they were, with Casey making excuses for her friend right through the very last page. Having had several toxic friendships in my own life, I wish this had had a healthier ending, and felt a pinch that Casey didn’t leave the friendship when she threatened to.

The other thing that didn’t make me feel quite comfortable was a little bit of an air of homophobia, or at least biphobia, with the phrase “turned gay” being thrown around more than I’d like. However, the gay characters themselves all were complete characters which avoided stereotypes, making it easy to believe the judgment and misunderstanding was on the end of the characters, rather than the writing. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic comedy, especially those who aren’t ashamed to want what they want, regardless of society telling us to play it cool. I’m very interested in the sequel, Unexpectingly.

*Originally reviewed on amphibianpressbooks.com

[Evelyn Dotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the funniest books I have read in a while! Casey is a teacher and works in a wine shop. She is 35 and wants a relationship and baby desperately. She is a failure at relationships, which the one the book opens with will have you howling! She lives with her friends, Cooper, Emma, and JB. Emma is Cooper’s girlfriend. She has hooked up with JB three times, including at the beginning of the book, but that is all there is between them. Casey is contemplating visiting a sperm bank to get her baby. Out of the blue, the one man she had a four-year relationship with and who she dumped unceremoniously for a trip to Europe has reappeared in her life. Her BFFs, Morgan and Brit, want her to think twice before jumping into single motherhood. Brit is about to be married and turns into a bridezilla~ Morgan, has had a six-year relationship that has its own issues. When Casey discovers her perfect plans with the ex will not quite go according to plan, he offers another solution. Meanwhile, when Casey discovers she is pregnant from the one night with JB, everything starts falling apart! OMG! This is where the book starts truly spiraling into hilarity! What ensues after will be very memorable for the reader and at points will have you with tears of laughter falling down your face! Read the book for the first part of everyone’s journey…and let us not forget Casey’s mom and sister…I will leave that relationship to the readers! Enjoy while I go on to book two!

[Megb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when one’s life doesn’t turn out the way they expected it to? What does one do to fix it?

Casey has always wanted a baby. That has been one dream she’s always had - to become a mother - but she’s 35 and things haven’t happened the way she thought they would so now she feels she is forced to figure out a way to have a baby sans husband. But then life throws another curveball at her and well. You just have to read the book to find out what happens next ;) but let me just tell you this... ITS WORTH THE READ! This book kept my attention very well, it had me laughing out loud! I loved Casey and her quirkiness. She was so relatable. If you want a fun romantic comedy this book is for you!

[Jean Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since Casey was a child, all she ever wanted was to be a mother. Now in her mid-thirties, with no hopeful prospects for a husband, or even a possible man willing to step up, she decides to visit a sperm bank. She tells all her friends and family her plan and gains very little support, but before she can put the plan into action, she finds she's pregnant. There is only one possibility of who the father could be, a dear friend, housemate and occasional bed-partner. JB doesn't want kids or a wife. Casey knows this and accepts it, but she does want a baby. And so the story goes. There's a few surprises along the way, with the ending a bit predictable, but it's a fun story. Careful what you wish for!

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been in my library for so long, and considering how much I’ve loved the rest of the author’s work, I have no idea why it’s waited as long as it has. That was so much fun! It has the author’s classic over-the-top personalities, unlikely situations, and of course those perfectly hilarious cringe-worthy moments the rest of us are just grateful to only be witnessing. I loved that both Casey and JB have their big a-hah moments and that they both learn and grow throughout the book. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this cast of quirky characters.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant book. I was in stitches the whole way through; the characters get up to the most entertaining antics. That said, I was also incredibly touched, and may have shed a quiet tear or two as well. A really well written book, with a very distinctive voice, and characters I immediately fell in love with due to how vividly they come to life. One of the best books in the genre that I've read for a long time.

[Kotori · Rating 3 out of 5]

boring

the book aims at telling it all from first person viewpoint, but its unfortunately verbose.
the blow by blow is a wordy snore-fest & while there is nothing essentially wrong with the story, it lacks any real emotional connection.
the author fails to make us feel for the characters and with no buy-in, I wasn't able to finish.
bleh do not recommend.
Bridget Jones povo cousin.

[Sally Speight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving it 3 and a half stars as it was a good book and I did finish it but I honestly think the first half of the book was a bit of a struggle, but it was worth it. The character of Brittany was a struggle infact I honestly started skipping parts of her in the story. She was mean and annoying she was very much a bully which I don't really like in books, unless the story calls for it as a storyline. I will read the second book as I'd like to know how it ends.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was the perfect book for keeping my mind occupied without requiring too much thought. The characters are likable, and the plot moved along pretty quickly. I don't care much if it's a bit predictable. I worry about how the story is told instead of looking for a surprise around every corner.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Buzard-Moffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected For Sure

I really liked this Pregnancy Story. FINALLY! A pregnant woman who didn't complain the whole time and blame it on him (she did that a bit but then took her share of the blame also) one who Loved being Pregnant. An enjoyable story with great characters and now I'm going to read the next book and find out what's happening with Casey, JB and the Babies.

[Kay Hagan-Haller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, quick read from Holly Kerr. Believable characters with today’s problems in love and life. Main character is faced with her biological clock ticking but having another failed relationship kicking her into thinking it might be time to have a baby on her own instead of waiting for the perfect relationship. Enjoyable

[Amy Perrault · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. I loved every part of it. About a 35 year old wanting to have a baby & gets pregnant by accident with a roommate & has triplets. When he finds out she's pregnant he doesn't speak to her for weeks then is there always & the get married. Can't wait to find a way to read the 2nd book.

[Myisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed

This book was cute and funny. I could not put it down because I was eager to see what happens next. The one thing I hated was the relationships between the different women, except Emma, she was lovely. I can't imagine being friends with unsupportive people. I hated the doctor too. Lol any book that causes me to want to choke characters is well written. A good read.

[jackie smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expecting by Holly Kerr

I just loved this book from start to finish and I loved all the characters except maybe Brittany. This the first book I've read from this author but I'm a fan now! Thank you Holly for this wonderful story.

[IsaRay · Rating 2 out of 5]

10 stars for creating such unlikeable characters, even if that wasn't the intention. h is unbearable, with the maturity of a 5-year-old instead of a 35-year-old. I didn't encounter the 'com' in romcom, and the 'rom' is hard to find. Chaotic and frustrating.

[Bronny · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give negative stars i would

Don't bloody bother
I've honestly not read a more terrible book.
How does this author have so many ratings
Wtf

[Christine Ascencio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I really loved the story. The characters are amazing. I loved that Casey and J.B. got married in the end. It was just so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.