Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes...a baby carriage? Isn't that what all women want? – The tag line for this book.

I had fallen in love with Rachel and Darcy’s love-hate relationship that started with drama, but ended in happiness. So, after reading Emily Giffins’ Something Borrowed and Something Blue, it was natural to want to complete the trilogy. Or at least, I assumed it was a trilogy based on the titles. Now along comes Claudia. Claudia was not a character in the first two books so immediately I am confused.

Claudia is a girl who grew up knowing for a fact that she did not want to have children. It was barely factor for her until she hit 30 and she was still alone. She became certain that she was not married, because of the child factor. It was a deal-breaker! No kids, no way. After she becomes comfortable with the idea of growing old alone, it finally happened for her. . . .love. Love in Ben. On date one they declare their mutual decisions not to have children. Claudia is immediately smitten and the relationship flourishes. It flourishes all the way to marriage. You would think this would be the happily ever after part, right? No, one day Claudia and Ben’s very best couple friends announce that they are expecting. Ben begins to question his original stance on children. Then after the birth of their friends’ baby, Ben’s mind has officially changed. He has a serious sit-down with Claudia. Asking her to please change her mind as well. Claudia will not budge on the idea. She is "baby proof". During this sit-down, Claudia asks Ben, are you choosing right now between a baby and me? "With guilt and grief in his eyes", Ben chooses.
This is the turning point in their story where Ben and Claudia have to truly decide if love can conquer all.

Unfortunately, I cannot relate to Claudia at all. Myself being a mother of two. I like to read as if I am the protagonist in a book. However, I could never bring myself to agree with Claudia, not even a little bit. I found her character selfish and needy. Emily Giffin did a famous good job in the believability of the character. However, the story ended poorly, without resolution. It left me empty handed and mouth ajar.