While away at science can’t been in Maxi do a little science project of their own Maxie wants to research what’s the big deal about losing your virginity and how it affects her socially Ben just wants to make sure he’s gay but when Maxie tells Ben she’s pregnant and that hey here’s some papers we’re putting the baby up for adoption he is totally taken aback. After contemplating signing the papers for a few days then decides he wants to keep the baby at the role he grew up without a dad and doesn’t want the same thing for his child. When he tells his mom and her new husband Roger this they make a plan and she will support him if keeping the baby is what he wants but there are certain steps he’s going to have to do to prepare for raising a child. Maxis parents are not happy about been wanting to keep the baby but essentially they go ahead with planning for the adoption and interviewing wanna be adoptive parents. They’re not prepared for Ben showing up for everything from doctor‘s appointments to interviewing said potential parents and are not happy with it and while all this is going on been tries to manage his crush on Gio. Ben suffers from High anxiety and social awkwardness so he doesn’t always pick up on clothes that others drop all he wants to do is the right thing but is the right thing keeping this little baby when he gets excepted into a highly regarded science engineering summer program he is super excited but when his mom reminds him they don’t allow babies to go to summer camp he is angry but still determined to keep the baby or at least if he changes his mind it would not be because of selfish reasons. There is so much more to this book and there’s a lot of funny parts to the book I mean lol laugh out loud funniness but there’s also seriousness and serious topics unfortunately I’m not only guess the ending but knew how it was going to end before I even got to the middle when you write a book about any marginalized people and make everyone who’s not from that group evil it’s not hard to figure out how the story will go but having said that this is still a funny book and one I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I didn’t do it justice with this brief summary because there is way more to it I still highly recommend it. It was a lot of fun and although I knew the ending, I laughed most of the way there. I want to thank Net Galley and Saint martins press for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

An unexpected joy of a read. The author was able to make me connect with the characters and truly feel their emotions. The relational quality of the story was well plotted and seemed very real.

The ending was a bit underwhelming which is why this is a 4 star read for me.

This is an example of ‘great idea, poor execution.’ I found the whole story very mediocre, given the really interesting subject matter. The majority just dragged on and on for me, and while I’m very aware that Ben is a teenage boy, his lack of self awareness and disregard of his friends and family, made this hard to read.

Ben, I think, is very clearly neurodivergent in some way and I would have loved for that to be touched on more. Anyone aware of his panic attacks or mood swings, never appears to worry about what it means or why it happens and that was odd to me. I just couldn’t find myself liking any of them, really except Maxie. Which isn’t saying too much considering she isn’t given nearly as much development in the book as she deserved.

My connection to these characters only really hit in the last ten percent of the story, when everything was wrapping up. Everything came to a very sweet conclusion but for all the turmoil, it seemed as though it all came together too perfectly. They spent almost the entries pregnancy at odds or fighting, only for it to all be completely fine and perfect with one single decision. It didn’t seem realistic to me. Also, the relationship with Gio could have easily been omitted since it never amounted to much.

I do think the message behind this story is important though and teenage pregnancy is a heavy topic that should be discuss in all its variables. It can be thoughtful at times and I did appreciate the conversations Ben was having with others. It simply missed the mark for me, in particular.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3/5 Stars - I will say before this review I am not 100% sure I am the best fit to actually read this book (I think that's the first i've ever said that!)

General Description: Ben sat his mom and stepdad down two months ago to tell them he's gay. Present day: Ben sat his mom and stepdad down to tell them he got his best friend, Maxie, pregnant and that he wants to keep the baby. Ben has to figure out his feelings for his friend Gio, his relationship with his best friend Mo, and of course, try to handle the situation of wanting to keep the baby while Maxie may have a different idea of what she wants to happen with the baby. How will Ben's year work out?

The good:
- The love interest was like the savior of this book. He was the voice of reason and I really enjoyed him.
- The mother was fantastic in my opinion, I really enjoyed seeing that support for a main character in this book.
- The subplot with the stepdad made my entire heart swell.

The loss of 2 stars:
- Ben as a whole I did not find very likeable. He was inconsistent (he seemed extremely smart and had a social circle, but that was not always portrayed in the book) and even after being told how to address a situation, he'd forget and make it worse? He shows some growth suddenly at the end, but it was not steady progress that made sense to me.
- Slower paced book as well

Overall: I think this could be a really impactful book for some out there and it has a unique take on teen pregnancy, but it was not the book for me.

I recently finished reading "Unexpecting" by Jen Bailey. While the book had its moments, a few aspects left me somewhat torn. The protagonist, Benjamin Morrison, embarked on an intriguing and frustrating journey. His choices often perplexed me, and his likeability varied throughout the story. It's not uncommon for characters to have flaws, but Benjamin's decisions sometimes felt more bewildering than relatable.

One area I wish the book had delved into more deeply was the development of the supporting characters, particularly Maxie. She held the potential for a richer storyline, yet her presence remained underexplored. Greater insight into her perspective and growth could have added a layer of complexity to the narrative.

One notable strength of the book was its pacing. The pacing was well-structured, maintaining my interest and keeping me turning the pages. The challenges Benjamin faced, especially concerning his unexpected impending fatherhood, were presented in a way that kept the story moving forward.

However, I must admit that the ending left me somewhat underwhelmed. The plot's trajectory inevitably led to a conclusion that was not particularly surprising. The predictability of the end diminished the impact of the emotional journey that the protagonist had undertaken.

Despite its shortcomings, "Unexpecting" had its merits. The story's pacing was a standout feature and effectively kept me engaged. While the main character's decisions were occasionally frustrating, they added a layer of complexity to the narrative. With more attention to character development and a less predictable ending, the book could have been a more well-rounded reading experience.

Interesting story that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The author did a good job of making you feel all the emotions the characters were feeling from frustration to sadness to happiness.

Two months ago, Benjamin Morrison sat his mother and stepfather down and came out as gay, which it why it comes as a huge surprise when he sits them down again to tell them that he is going to be a father after an experiment with his best friend Maxie at summer camp. What surprises them even more is that he wants to fight to keep the baby and raise them as a single parent. To prove his commitment to being a father, Ben works hard to balance school, robotics club, a new job, and parenting classes, but it proves much harder than he anticipated and his schoolwork and relationships with his friends start to suffer. Despite his passionate reasons for wanting to raise the baby, Ben starts to have doubts with every challenge he faces and every sacrifice he stares down. When an unexpected complication arises, he starts to realize that being a parent means making the hard choices, even if they aren’t the ones you want to make.

I knew from just reading the description of this story that it would break me - and I was right. I sobbed like a baby, so hard in fact that my eight year old daughter walked in and asked if she needed to bring me tissues because “I can see your boogers.” For reasons I’d rather not get into, a lot of this story resonated with me and hit me deeply.

This story is pitched as Juno meets HEARTSTOPPER and, while I can’t speak to the second part (I may be one of the only people right now who hasn’t read or seen it), it definitely gave a lot of the same vibes from Juno. The story is told strictly from Ben’s POV and it definitely is the POV that provides the biggest gut punch when it comes to the emotional aspect of the story. He is determined to do what he believes is right, but he is also a teenager who had grand plans for his future. His complicated relationship with his stepfather (and father figures in general) plays a big part in his motivations and it allows the reader to really understand how much it means to him.

There are a lot of big feelings in this book, not just from Ben, but the supporting cast around him as well. Bailey treats each character with such respect and gives them their own moment to have the big feelings that Ben doesn’t realize that they are having. I’m not sure if it is intentional, but it felt to me like Ben is neurodiverse (or at least coded as such) and that nuance to his character made a big impact on how he interacted with those he loved, which added even more depth to the story.

One of the biggest takeaways from this story is the concept of family and what it means to be a parent. Ben goes on a huge journey that teaches him (and reminds us) that family does not always just mean blood. This story is one that will leave you battling all the emotions as Ben goes through all the ups and downs that come with growing up and with parenthood, especially those that happen prior to birth.

While it may be obvious from reading the description of the story, I’d also like to give some trigger warnings because I feel like they are some pretty big ones. This story contains depictions of teenage pregnancy, pregnancy complications, and bits of homophobia and bigotry.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Unexpecting is not the typical YA contemporary, and I think the early polarizing response shows that. But I respect that this book exists, and doesn’t tell the typical story, even where the trope of teen pregnancy is concerned.
Ben is an interesting person to focus the narrative on, as he’s a gay teenage boy, and were it not for him questioning it and choosing to experiment sexually, he would not have ended up in this situation. While the prospect of having a child does upend his life, I respect how willing he is to take on the responsibility, such a contrast to many narratives where the once-tender boyfriend dumps their pregnant girlfriend. He’s even prepared to take on primary custody, with consideration for what the baby’s mother, Maxie, would sacrifice, if she were to raise the child.
However, while Maxie is a supporting role in the narrative, the impact on her is not neglected. From discussing how her reputation was impacted, with people accusing her of “turning” Ben gay, to how she’s not really being given as much of a say in this, despite being the one carrying the baby. Her parents in particular are rather overbearing in making their desires known, and Ben is fighting against that, but Ben does try to consider how Maxie feels, even if others don’t.
There’s a romance subplot, but I don’t know that it merits the Heartstopper comparisons, as it’s hardly central. I did like Ben and Gio together, but it’s not mind-blowing, nor is it the best part of the book.
This is a wonderfully original take on a common archetype, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a compassionate, nuanced depiction of queer identity and teen pregnancy.

When I first read the synopsis I was really interested in this book because I haven't seen a lot of books about teen pregnancy in the father's perspective. Also the cover is stunning!

I will admit there were some times where I thought the book dragged a little and it was a bit predictable, but all in all it was a powerful coming of age story. If I could, I would give it a 3.5!

Thank you @netgalley @wednesdaybooks and @stmartinpress for giving me an digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

One thing I liked is that the author didn't shy away from discussing difficult topics and kept the story grounded in reality. When Ben decides to take responsibility, his mom makes him start a job to pay for the baby's needs. The author makes a point by explaining how Maxie, the mother of the baby, will suffers the most. Maxie will have to take a break from her extracurricular activities and disrupt her plans for college by opting to take some summer courses to finish up high school.

The only thing I didn't like was the romance aspect of the story. It felt unnecessary to the story especially when Ben has so many other things to worry about such as mentally preparing for the baby , his new job, the Robotics club etc. If he has time for romance, was he really that busy? The romance defeats the whole purpose of showing that Ben is too busy, tired and overworked to be even thinking about a relationship. Also, the ending seemed a little obvious based on the blurb.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a more serious and emotional book.

Thank you for a chance to read this book before publication. Unfortunately, I DNFed this book, and I did not feel like it was for me. I liked how it shared the perspective of the father during a teen pregnancy. I didn’t like how Maxie’s wishes weren’t prioritized. This was the reason I did not finish the novel. The pregnancy seemed to be about everyone BUT the mother of the baby. I’m not sure if that was the point of the story, but it wasn’t enjoyable to read in my eyes.

E-ARC generously sent to me by Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

DNF at 33%. While the premise of Unexpecting was interesting, I’ve just found that I don’t like books about teen pregnancy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Ben is about to start his junior year of high school when he learns he is going to be a dad. Something is family wasn’t expecting since he just came out as being gay. He has to figure out how to balance school, new responsibilities and the job he picked up. He is adamant he doesn’t want to give the baby up but as he moves through life, he’s starting to realize maybe the baby would be better off being adopted. In the end, will Benjamin step up and be a dad or make the hardest decision of his life and give his baby up?

This was a good read and I was rooting for Ben the entire time, unsure of what his decision in the end would be. I love the supporting cast of characters that were around Ben during the story. The author made the decisions and the balancing of responsibilities realistic and that only added to the story.

the book touched on many different topics especially teens navigating high school, sexuality and teen pregnancy.

At times Bens lack of common sense was irritating and his love interest in Gio seemed forced and unnecessary. I waited to hear more of Maxie's side of the story and how she was handling everything. Overall i really enjoyed the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Jen Bailey, and St. Martin's Press: Wednesday Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a very refreshing read and something truly original, which is perhaps one of the highest compliments I can give! There aren't that many books featuring teen pregnancy anyways and to tell the story from the perspective of Ben, the 16-year-old father who happens to be gay, is even more unique. I applaud Bailey so much for telling this story and handling it with care. There were several important parts that showed the reality (aka difficulties) of pregnancy/teen pregnancy, but also really lovely parts, like bringing awareness to Maxie, the mother of the baby, and her feelings throughout. I think that there is a lot of good to learn from this book, but my biggest issue with it is that there is just too much going on. I think the story would have worked better without a slight romance subplot and without focusing as much on Ben's involvement in the robotics club or on his job. There were so many moving parts that it sometimes took from the underlying story at hand. I understand that Ben's LGBTQ+ identity and high involvement was a crucial part to him understanding whether or not he was prepared to be a father, but I think it could have been given less page time in order to focus more on other parts. I appreciated this book was super realistic while still being positive and for the author truly having many different interests in mind from the characters to the readers. I can definitely see how crucial and important this book will be to younger readers and in library collections, regardless of the plot pacing issues.

Unexpecting is a really important read that explores the struggles of two teens coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy. Despite being friends for years Maxie and Ben have difficulties communicating and navigating this process as a team. Maxie, feeling forced to go along with her parents wishes is persuing adoption, while Ben desires to keep the baby. This story is a wonderful exploration of the challenges and difficult decisions that come with an unexpected pregnancy.

1. The pretty Fall cover stole my heart. Pretty covers get me everytime.
2. I should have known I wasn't going to enjoy this book after it was comped with Juno. Even if it's a Queer Juno.

This was a dnf for me so I do not have any other insights about Unexpecting. I do, however, highly recommend the older Lifetime movie Too Young to Be a Dad.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a review copy.

I sped through this book! The main character is at times selfish, dismissive and pig headed (just like a real 16 year old boy) but you can tell through his journey in the book he’s learning and growing. I love how clueless and unintentionally hurtful he starts off as it pays off well to see him grow.

I do wish we got more of the two most interesting side characters: Maxine, whom is having their baby, and Gio, the boy he has had a crush on since he was 12. The ending I dealt could have gone on for another chapter or two too give us a little glimpse of after the birth of the baby.

As for the negatives really it was just that. I wish we got more development one those two and maybe Mo, the third musketeer of their friend group. I did like the introduction of the eventual adoptive mothers it was a bit cliche but I’m a sucker for those. Definitely read it.

Ben, Mo, and Moxie are the stars of their high school robotics club, and BFFs. They are lovable, nerdy, and looking forward to taking the SAT and college programs. A wrench is thrown into the works when Maxie gets pregnant, and gay Ben is the father.

Maxie's parents want her to adopt out the baby; Ben wants to raise it himself, with the support of his mom and new stepfather Roger. Ben needs to prove himself to everyone and becomes overwhelmed, and alienates himself from Mo, the robotics club, and worst of all, Maxie.

This teen pregnancy book is different because it focuses more on the father than the mother, and touches on how what is assumed and expected can be flipped on its head. Ben finds strength and growth from his family, peers, and boss, but only after he hits rock bottom. The end is incredibly sweet and endearing.

Recommending for high school library acquisition.

This was so excellent and unlike any YA I've read. It was compelling and readable, and a book I'd absolutely put on my library shelves for kids.