SBTB Goodreads Group discussion

Hi, folks!

I'm in the middle of a historical series in which it seems that the end result for EVERY couple is a child. Normally, it doesn't bother me, but lately, I've been wanting a break from the kiddos. Are there any novels out there (especially historical romances) in which the couple doesn't have a child by the end? Bonus points if they don't want kids, and actually discuss this.

Thanks!

In Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas the couple doesn't have kids. The heroine believes she can't have kids due to medical issues and being older which she discusses with the younger hero. It's not an issue that is magically fixed and they don't adopt.

Anyone but You by Jennifer Crusie was my first romance where it not only didn't end with an epilogue featuring kids or the heroine being pregnant, but where the couple in it didn't even want kids. It's contemporary.

Thanks for the Sherry Thomas reco - I like her Charlotte Holmes series, so I will pick up Not Quite a Husband.

HEA with baby is not my thing at all, and often I just have to skip the baby epilogue. Recently with Mary Balogh I have encountered babies and children not only in the epilogue, but throughout the entire main story.

I guess I am saying I would really appreciate some baby free romance recos as well.

The Countess Conspiracy is one where kids are off the table.

Not historical but Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau has a heroine who doesn't want kids. She's in her mid-thirties and is a professor.

Amanda wrote: "Not historical but Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau has a heroine who doesn't want kids. She's in her mid-thirties and is a professor."

Thanks! I just bought it. :)

Ah, Joanna beat me to it in rec'ing The Countess Conspiracy! In that one, though, warning that the heroine has had recurring miscarriages and first hubby couldn't care less and kept wanting to have kids (or more to the point a heir).

Old and old-ish Baloghs ALWAYS have a "babylogue" but I forgive her since I'm a fan!! Her most recent series, however, does not have an automatic baby epilogue although two of the couples are in later books shown with their brood (or referred to as parents of X, Y or Z).

In the most recent one, the heroine is post menopausal so extra points for that. The next one in the series is a May-Dec romance with the heroine the December. I'm looking forward to that one.

Argh it is the May December Someone to Trust that was overflowing with children and babies. I generally like her, or can skip the babylogue, but they invaded the entire story.

WAIT!! Did you read that already? OMG, lucky!! Apart from the kid overload, did you like it??? (Sorry, OP, for hijacking this briefly)

I can only imagine how a Christmas-themed Balogh book would be overflowing with children and babies!!!

It was 'OK,' but not my favourite of her books, or even of this series.

To be fair, a snowed-in, Christmastime, family celebration would justifiably have buckets of children. Also, it was less steamy then her books generally have been. With all those children, it is difficult to find any private time I guess!

Critterbee❇ wrote: "It was 'OK,' but not my favourite of her books, or even of this series.

To be fair, a snowed-in, Christmastime, family celebration would justifiably have buckets of children. Also, it was less st..."

Ooooh, I had high hopes for this one!!!

Critterbee❇ wrote: "It was 'OK,' but not my favourite of her books, or even of this series.

To be fair, a snowed-in, Christmastime, family celebration would justifiably have buckets of children. Also, it was less st..."

Am I going to be lost not having read the previous books in the series? I have an arc of it that I'm planning to read soon and I'm not sure I'll be able to get to the other books in the series first. I had started the first book and gave up because I found it slow. I own all of the other books, but haven't gotten around to reading them yet.

Celine wrote: "Am I going to be lost not having read the previous books in the series? I have an arc of it that I'm planning to read soon and I'm not sure I'll be able to get to the other books in the series first. I had started the first book and gave up because I found it slow. I own all of the other books, but haven't gotten around to reading them yet."

Good question. I read all of the books in the series and still found it a bit confusing to sort who was who - there are a lot of characters! I don't think it would matter that much if you read out of order, because generally everybody knows who partners up in this series.

I really liked books 2 and 3, and book 4 was pretty good as well.

I just read Any Groom Will Do by Charis Michaels - it’s historical, she can’t have kids due to an illness as a child, she’s fine with it, very up front with the hero about it, and there’s no magic baby in the end. I think I might remember some more, let me look through my lists.

Okay, in contemporary - Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie - neither want children and they don’t change their minds.

I have nothing helpful just a thank you for posting this and for the suggestions. Sometimes, I get so tired of the baby epilogues. Whenever I say anything about it I get the "but that's everyone's HEA" as if you cannot be happy without a baby. So frustrating. Especially if one of them really didn't want children in the beginning. Sorry first post and lost myself in a rant.

*Sometimes the baby epilogues make me so happy too. Go figure.