Kit Kidding knows her audience, women who do not want kids and enjoy their child-free life, and she loves them. She's built her entire brand around her choice (see the best-selling book she wrote and her username "@kitwithoutkids"). However, when she meets Will, a very handsome and charismatic chef helping her out with creating content for one of her brand deals, she is forced to contend with the reality (and reasoning) of her choice to remain child-free. Will is part of a package deal, Will and his daughter Addie are inseparable, and as Kit grows closer with both of them, she begins to question how exactly she fits in.

I'll be honest, I totally devoured Instamom. I loved Kit's character growth and was rooting for her the whole time. This book reckons with a lot of the conversations surrounding children that many people with uteruses are asked to face. Whether or not it's in a life plan, once people hit a certain age, the questions of "When will you have kids?" and that is terrifying to contend with. Kit's character and the other "child-free by choice" characters that are in this story show the wide range of reasonings that accompany a child-free life. They also show that not wanting kids does not mean you hate kids in general.

Guertin writes Kit and her journey beautifully. Kit sticks to her morals and beliefs but learns how to grow and change within those. This book was a delightful experience for me to pick up and one that I could not put down.

Overall rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4)

Instamom will be available for purchase on June 29th. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's available for purchase. Also, be sure to check out Chantel Guertin's website!

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Instamom by Chantel Guertin tells the story of Kit Kidding, a social media influencer whose brand is based on being child free by choice. Then, Kit meets chef Will MacGregor at an influencer event and has a one night stand. Kit and Will are brought back together for the purpose of Kit's social media presence and she learns that he's a single parent to an eight year old.

This book was a really quick read for me, and I really enjoyed the overall concept. I liked Kit's character and that she was portrayed as strong and independent, and I loved that the heart of her brand was really just supporting women in whatever choices they made. I also really enjoyed Kit's character development and story arc and the things that she learned about herself and her career as the book progressed. I had a really hard time with the other female characters in the book, which was my biggest issue while reading. Kit and Will's relationship, although it developed quickly, was full of tension and the author's writing made it easy to feel Kit's emotions throughout the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this modern romance with underlying themes of female empowerment. Definitely check it out if you enjoy romance/women's fiction, character growth, and relationships with a lot of back and forth!

Thank you so much to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this title. This did not affect the contents of my voluntary review. All opinions are honest and my own.

I had so much fun reading this one!!! The characters felt so real, the relationships so natural and the banter was extraordinary!

All through the story I felt like I was reading about a real influencer, getting glimpses of what happens behind the camera lense and how difficult it most be to pretend 24/7 so you remain ‘true’ to your persona.

I enjoyed reading about Kit and Will’s relationship, as well as Kit and Addie’s, but what I liked the most was the growth Kit experienced, how she stands up for herself and raises her voice to empower women to be true to their beliefs and to be able to make the choices they want - whether it is having or not children, their career path or being in a relationship.

I loved how it handled serious topics without being overwhelming and the fact that Kit loves books and even has her #bookstagram account was amazing!!

I definitely recommend this one!!!

Thank you Chantel Guertin, NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an eARC of this book in exchange of an honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

This review will be posted on my Instagram account on June 29th: @bm.bookish.girl

Cute fun story. It was a fast and easy read but a little too predictable. I felt like I knew the whole story by the 2nd/3rd chapter. All the characters were great which made it a fun read regardless of the predictability

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I wanted to like it and was excited based on the description but I couldn’t get into it and then when I did it was predictable and annoying.

I know this will be a hit amongst Bookstagrammers this year!!!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ebook copy.

I don’t know what I expected going into this book - but it definitely wasn’t what I got from it.

At first I was little annoyed with how quickly Kit and Will hopped into bed together. Their chemistry was quickly apparent so I kept reading. Kit Kidding had built her brand around being child-free and encouraging women to do the same if it’s what they desired. So what happens when she falls for a guy with a daughter?

Alright, this is where it got good for me. Kit is all about social media (as an influencer she has to be), but Will doesn’t have any social channels and doesn’t want any. He doesn’t understand why Kit does what she does and isn’t afraid to say so.

I think my favorite thing about this book was how it addressed social media. When Kit started to really look at her life and realized she wasn’t sharing anything real - I was so happy. When she started being honest with herself and those around her it put a big old smile on my face. The way it showed that you don’t need the perfect picture or caption or whatever. Just be you. That’s who you’re meant to be.

Influencer Kit thinks she has her whole life plan set and is making a living from doing just that. Inspiring other women to reach their goals and live their best life without the pressure of having kids. Until she meets someone who makes her doubt wether that’s really what she wants to do or is she lying to herself?

I was hooked from the first chapter! I was literally laughing out loud and smiling to myself as I was reading the banter from the main characters right from the beginning. It just felt so cute and kept me reading on “one more chapter”.
However at one point I just got frustrated with the main character and her love interest, once they finally decided to give their relationship a shot, I didnt feel the connection between them that I felt in that first chapter. They didn’t really get to know each other, and I felt like there was no communication with either one of them. They would talk, but they weren’t really saying anything. Will, the love interest, never directly tells Kit that he has a daughter, he just puts it out there and thats that. Without explaining his situation or anything he just expects for Kit to accept it. And same with Kit, she never really tells Will exactly what her whole Instalife is about. Someone just puts it out there and thats that once again. There was no talking about it or understanding each others points of view. It was all just fun being around each other but there wasn’t any depth to their relationship.

Same with the rest of the other characters that were there mentioned like Kits sister and her friends, it just wasnt believable. She mentions she has a sister and friends but when she’s around them, their conversations don’t really give you that connection between them. I even kept forgetting them because she made her life just seem so busy and all about herself and her work.

The beginning of the book was cute but as I kept going I just felt frustrated with the situation and the characters and I just didnt feel connected to the story anymore. And it sucks because I really wanted to love this book!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy to review!

3.5 stars--ending was really good.

There are things I liked about this book about Instagram/Social Media influencer Kit, whose brand of living a Childfree life has made her one of the biggest names and support for likeminded women. I really liked how strong and self-assured Kit is, she makes no apologies for her choices and isn't willing to compromise--until she is. She meets Will, a personal chef tasked with helping non-cook Kit to prepare and photograph meals for one of her sponsors, a meal kit company. The two of them have immediate chemistry, the only catch: Will is the single dad of an eight-year-old daughter.

The parts I didn't like were how long it took everything to get going in the story, and then how often it was Kit who was expected to change, compromise, and overall put up with terrible behavior from others around her, especially the other women. Once I got to the ending I could kind of get it, but I felt super uncomfortable for her that everyone seemed to be picking on her and taking advantage of her and for whatever reason she seemed to just take it.

The ending did redeem the book for me, because Kit finally does stand up for herself and call Will out on some things. I liked that she does some self-exploration and also strives to understand how her past and the childhood experience of losing her mother affect her present-day life. It was also great to read throughout about how (especially) women need to stand up for the choices that others make, particularly in regards to having children. Although I personally have children, I can identify with and support those who choose not to because I potentially could have gone down that road quite easily. I just felt like it took a bit too long to get to that point in the book for Kit to champion choice and to champion the changing of one's mind about those choices. I also loved the career pivot she embraced and I can get behind that wholeheartedly. Overall this is a satisfying read, but you need to stick with it for the payoff.

4.5 Rounded up. I was a little nervous for the book for tackling a topic like this. I have several close family members that aren't having kids so I felt defensive on their part but I also have kids so was feeling worried for the kid representation as well. I think the author handled this topic perfectly! I read her back story and this is sort of a autobiography for her - I suggest you read her review of this book on Goodreads to see what I'm talking about. So this book had a lot of heart.

This the story of Kit Kidding, an influencer who became famous on Instagram for not wanting kids. She's written a book on the topic and speaks at conferences, etc. When the story begins, she meets a sexy chef named Will and after a hot night together, feelings get involved. However, she doesn't realize that he's a dad!

Kit struggles throughout the book are so relatable - how to not lose yourself and also be honest with yourself. The banter in this book was so great and hooked me from the beginning. Kit ad Will have serious conversations so this is not necessarily a light and fluffy book but it had so much heart and depth that the more serous side didn't overpower the story. I also loved how Kit has a Bookstagram account!

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own!

I really wanted to love this book. As someone who is childfree by choice myself, I really started to identify with Kit, but then all the things she says she supports about being childfree by choice started to become fodder for me to feel slightly attacked. Seeing Kit change her mind and "grow up" just reinforced to me that people think I'll change my mind if I meet the right kid, or that this is just a phase, or that I'm just being selfish, or I'm immature, or any of the other things people say to me all the time in real life. I considered DNFing for a lot of the book, but Kit's speech at the conference swayed me. She did reinforce that even if she was changing from being childfree, she was still in full support of a woman's right to choose. Being childfree is at its root a matter of choice and by saying she supports the right to choose, it kept me reading to the end.

I enjoyed this book, it follows Kit Kidding a influencer.
Her whole platform is base around not having kids. She even has a book out promoting the same thing. So when she meets Will and finds out he is a single dad she instantly decides it won't work. But with a contract stating he has to help cook her meal kits so has little choice. She tries to stay detached and not get involved but slowly she start to get feelings. Kit can relate to Addie (Will's daughter) and it brings up a lot of buried emotions.
This story has a bit of it all, I got a lot of Kits struggles. I liked that her true friends and family rallied around her in her hard times.

Instamom by Chantel Guertin is a feel-good story about a young social media influencer, Kit Kidding, who has chosen a child-free life and champions the rights of women to not become mothers. She is leading the perfect life according to her Instagram posts and one day, she meets Will MacGregor. Against her better judgement, Kit becomes romantically involved with Will even though he has an eight-year-old daughter, Addie.

There are some really sweet and spicy moments between Kit and Will and Chantel Guertin interweaves issues of societal expectations, women’s choice, and the impact of creating superficially perfect lives on social media into the story.

This is a charming read with extremely likeable characters and I found myself rooting for Kit who was grappling with the life she had mapped out for herself. The plot moves along at a good pace and I loved the giggly parts of the tale. If you are looking for a feel-good romantic story, Instamom could well be for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my own request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

OK bookstagrammers, here's a book you can probably relate to. Instamom follows the life of Kit Kidding, an instagram influencer who has grown her brand and following on the premise of NOT wanting kids and the luxurious, adventurous life that you can have without kids. She struggles with the typical influencer battles - trying to enjoy your life while also making it "insta-worthy" and setting unrealistic expectations. While this battle is enough on its own, in walks single, swoon-worthy Will who she has an instant connection with. Until she realizes he is also a single dad. Now she has another problem - the man or the brand?

I feel like so often Instagram and social media have grown in a way that is unrealistic and this was such a refreshing read to see someone battle with & overcome the challenges of having followers and also being human. I wasn't the biggest fan of Kit or Will if I'm honest. They both were stubborn in the most annoying ways. Yet it was an honest take on what happens when two very opposite worlds collide and the romance side of this book is exactly what you expect from a light rom-com read. Instamom is a quick & refreshing read to add to your list for this summer!

4 1/2 "Influential" Stars!

Instamom is a timely novel with heart. It delves into the difficult issues of single parenting, living life via screens (ie., influencers), the inability of one group to understand why another thinks differently (those who choose to remain child-free vs. those who assume they don't like kids) and more.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but was intrigued by the premise. I actually really ended up loving it. The characters were relatable and easy to empathize with. It was easy to understand how Kit felt confused about how to move forward. She had a livelihood based on living child-free and promoting that lifestyle. When life throws her a curveball in the form of a single dad, she has to figure out if it's worth altering her entire existence for a chance at something wonderful.

Will stole my heart instantly. He's witty, can cook, sensitive, he's a wonderful dad and is notably quite an attractive man. What's not to love? Even though there were a few things he did that I found frustrating, overall, he's a great book boyfriend. Then there is his precious daughter, Addie. What a sweetheart!

There were numerous times in the book, where you just wanted the two of them to talk things through and stop avoiding the big issues. But, it made sense that it was a slow, evolving process that helped them figure out what they truly wanted.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

After reading the synopsis, I was on the fence about whether or not I would like this book. I really enjoyed it! I found the characters to be endearing and the book to be entertaining, I would definitely recommend!

Absolutely LOVED this book. It was the perfect summer read - I was actually having fun while I read, as if I was right alongside the characters. I don't need a book to be a work of art to rate it five stars, in fact there is a quote from the main character in the book that says just this! If a book is good, it's good and this is definitely one you'll want to grab for some lazy summer reading!

Guertin married two of my favorite topics for her influencer main character's storyline: books & social media. She did a fabulous job creating a very believable life for Kit Kidding - a childless, single, Instagram influencer who spends her days & nights at glamorous events for her bevy of social media clientele. The plot twist? Kit falls for a man she meets along the way who has a daughter. While she struggles to keep both lives separate, she realizes that's nearly impossible with her gaggle of followers and Will's dislike for publicity and social media.

Will and Kit face pressure from outside influences (friends & family), his daughter Addie and women who are in fact in love with Will, as they attempt to build a relationship. All almost seems lost when Kit finally has enough of her competition and decides to retreat to her family home and risk everything - her career, her friends and her relationship with Will. But it's during her time at home with her father that she experiences an awakening about how she's been living her life & how she wants to live it going forward.

Great for fans of Emily Giffin, Lauren Weisburger and Sophie Kinsella. Guertin ultimately gives the reader what they want in the end - Will & Kit together - but I love that she did so in the unconventional way of the entire book. While they ended up together and living together for the most part, Kit still kept her own apartment and they weren't married. So while it was definitely a "happily ever after," it was a fairy tale ending worthy of 2021.

First off, thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Chantel Guertin for an ARC copy of InstaMom.

Kit Kidding is a child-free instagram star who promotes brands from clothing to a food delivery box service. She prides herself on her child-free life and even speaks to women around the country about their decision to be child-free despite the world pressures of having children. However, when the food box delivery service hires chef Will MacGreggor to help with cooking the food for her content, Kit finds herself questioning everything. Will is a chef, widower, and dad to eight-year-old Addie. Sparks fly between Kit and Will, and the more time Kit spends with Will and Addie, the more attached she finds herself. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Kit must decide whether to stay true to her online brand, or become part of Will and Addie's life, permanently.

InstaMom is EXACTLY what I needed to read. Kit Kidding's confidence and ease to figure out who she is as a woman is inspiring. I have a really hard time with Bookstagram lately; I'm at a point in my life where I'm no longer enjoying social media the way I once did and of course, without the daily postings, my engagement tanks on my posts. It's frustrating and really makes me feel 'imposter syndrome'. However, Kit made me realize that social media is there to make ME happy, and no one else. I no longer feel pressured to post every single day and while I"m working on the lack of engagement hurting my ego, I know I'll get there. I'm learning my boundaries. Honestly, Kit is a fictional character but it resonated with me and she made me feel like I was right there in the audience of her last big speech. Kit is the encouraging friend we all need nowadays.

All seriousness aside, I thoroughly loved the Bookstagram shoutout. We're a fun little community and it makes me happy to see some recognition in books! Thank you for the emotional rollercoaster. InstaMom is for sure going in my 'favorites' pile!

Oh to have the life of an Instagram influencer, or maybe not? Kit Kidding is living the dream, being paid to promote everything her heart desires. But is that a fulfilling life? Is that enough? Kit openly rejoices in her choice to not become a mother, but that can lead to a lonely existence, coming home to her sterile apartment day in day out. Enter Will McGregor the sexy chef who is teaming up with Kit on a food promotion, one problem, Will has a daughter.
Instamom is a fabulous romantic story, that covers a roller coaster of emotions, does Kit break her own rules to fall in love with a ‘Dad’ or does she stick to her guns and preach to her followers about her fabulous child free life. Chantel Guertin hits the mark perfectly; this story is engaging and pulls you into the life of an influencer and the perils that come with it. A very well-crafted narrative with a few very unlikable characters. I felt for Kit and her dilemma, I was cheering her on from the side-lines hoping for the outcome that I wanted. Did I get my happy ending? You will need to read it to find out!
If you love a light romantic story Instamom is for you, I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking into the back catalogue of Chantel Guertin promptly. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books for this early reading copy.

Kit Kidding is a popular Instagram influencer who has made her claim to fame off the platform of women choosing to live a child-free life and yet still have it be a fulfilling one. And then she has what she assumes will be a one-night stand with a chef who is catering one of the influencer events she is attending. Not only does Will MacGregor despise social media, he is also a single parent of a young daughter. However, Kit and Will are thrown together again as he is the chef assigned to help her prepare meals for one of the food-meal services that Kit has a contract with, and soon Kit finds herself undeniably falling for not only Will, but his 8-year old daughter Addie. Kit finds herself having to decide how she can indeed have a relationship with a single father, and yet continue to be the brand of her Women WIthout Kids platform, and must examine inside why she has proclaimed to be proud to be childless. In the process, Kit discovers the life she is leading may not be what she really wants anymore if she is to be true to herself.

There is nothing surprising in "Instamom"- its a predictable story, but it works, and is a perfect, quick summer beach read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. "Instamom" is scheduled to be released on 6/29/21.