{The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Oakie}
I often see posts requesting recs for books like this, because I am always looking for books like this! Absolutely no judgement to the trope heavy, throwaway, spicy reads, they do a job. But if you're looking for something with real romance that feels less like a trope box ticking exercise with spice thrown in, this is it. Oh and I can't forget the yearning. My god, the yearning, longing, aching, NEED, to be with another person.
For people who enjoy:
Katherine Centre
Cara Bastone
Carly Fortune
Emily Henry
Curtis Sittenfeld
I'd say even Lily King
I was very close to not reading this because I don't love books that focus on pregnancy, wanting children or children/motherhood in general. I don't have children, I'm not one of those weirdos that hate kids, but I've never had the urge to reproduce. It's an alien concept to me and I struggle to understand characters that are obsessed with it. That being said, I do think a lot of the time it's because authors who write about it (especially in the romance space) do an atrocious job of describing motivations both internal and external. It seems to be a given that women want children and that's something that the reader should accept and understand no questions asked.
Lauren Oakie does a good job of exploring the topic, I think anyway. As someone with little interest in fertility and the process of getting pregnant, I wasn't put off that the MC had such a focus on it. It reminded me that a well written book can be enjoyed regardless of the subject and a good author can elicit sympathy for a character even if the reader can't fully empathise with their motivations or comprehend the actions they decide to take.
I was worried after reading the blurb that it would be slow paced, it isn't at all. The initial setup of the husband being caught cheating and the MC reconnecting with her ex colleague happens quickly. Overall I think the book is well paced. It takes place over one summer with flashbacks to significant moments in the relationship between the characters.
I didn't even mind the interrupted almost sex scenes (there are a couple). In most romance books I despise it because it's such an obvious attempt to pad out the story and build artificial tension. I felt like it made sense here and the tension, tensed...all the way through.
I'm so glad I found this book and I'm excited to read the author's next book which is out in June!
CW/TW:
Years long struggle with infertility - happens before the book starts but there are flashbacks and discussions about it of course
Cheating spouse - off page
Pregnancy loss - one flashback scene describes it during the early stages of a pregnancy, so not graphic but obviously triggering for some
Surrogacy - I have recently been reading/lightly researching into the ethics of surrogacy and I think it's very iffy. This isn't really explored in this book much, but the surrogate is treated with kindness and as far as the process can be non-exploitative, it is in this story.