I gave this book 3.5 stars. I struggled with it - I found myself frustrated with Ben a lot. I tried to keep in mind he is 16 years old but I felt the way he was written he acted much younger. This was very well written for the most part - there were a few times where I couldn't tell if we were on the same day or if we moved on to the next day and I was left confused.

Overall, I think the message in this book is really important - I just don't think I was the correct demographic for it. I loved the expecting father POV in the book - most teen pregnancy stories have a POV of the mother. I also loved the all the diverse characters and the LGBQT representation.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange fir my honest opinion.
3.5 stars
This was a sweet book about a boy who gets his best friend pregnant after sleeping with her to confirm to himself that he is gay. He initially wants to keep the baby but agrees to help interview prospective adoptive parents. He ultimately makes a decision to put the baby’s needs first.

There is also a little bit of romance but it’s a minor storyline.

4/5 ⭐️
I’m struggling to figure out what to say about this book because my emotions were extreme while reading it. But I really enjoyed this book. First off, it made me feel nostalgic, bringing me back to like early high school when teen pregnancies were strangely the big thing to make movies and tv shows and reality shows about. But I liked that this had a more modern twist of it being told in the baby daddy’s pov and not only that, but he’s gay. It also took a different angle I think than any of those other movies & shows did. It showed what you might be giving up if you choose to become a parent, and how tough this decision is. It showed how as high schoolers, you are sitting at a fork in the road that lead to wildly different paths. Neither one is the wrong choice, but it’s not an easy one to make.
I understand how some other reviewers weren’t a fan of the main character, because of how stubbornly he wanted to keep the baby and raise it himself. But I understood what was motivating him and liked seeing how he was blind to the reality of this choice. In part, I think it is because as the dude, he doesn’t really experience this change as the girl does. It’s still abstract to him. But thankfully we saw some pretty great people in his life who helped him navigate his final decision. I personally loved Gio and Roger the most. Like the emotional intelligence Gio had was impressive and appreciated.
Overall, this story was great. I definitely would recommend this to anyone, but especially teens. And as I was reading it, I just kept imagining it would make a great teen movie on Netflix. So yeah, I definitely recommend checking this book out.
Thank you to Wednesday Publishing & NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Unexpecting is a book that caught my attention right away with its description. I liked the idea of a teenager questioning himself and wondering where he fits in. IF he fits in. IF he has a certain label. Having the added addition of being 16 and pregnant makes for one heck of a story with an (unsaid) neurodivergent, science loving teenager that thinks of things very matter of factly.

Ben and his friends go to a summer science camp and an experiment between him and his good friend Maxie goes a bit upside down. With Ben coming out gay, it's a surprise that he now finds out he is going to be a father. While his mother and her husband are surprised, they also are super supportive of him and any decisions he decides to make. They have his back.

While I liked the premise and really enjoyed Ben and his mom, the beginning felt a little too YA for me. I just couldn't connect with the writing style and had a few guesses at how the storyline would go. But as the story progressed I think I was more committed and invested to the story and where it was going to go. I liked Ben and his steadfast desire to be a present father for his unborn child. The way he went about things wasn't always the best, but the support he had from his mother and ex step-brother, Gio as well as someone he didn't think was there for him made me like where the story was going to go. Although I did guess the outcome rather early on, I did get a bit emotional toward the end and loved the message of found family and finding love in unexpected places.

Overall, this was a pleasant YA story that does not glorify teenage pregnancy, but rather puts in the work at what it entails. And the group of people Ben has around him that supports him no matter what was a joy to see. While this book wasn't exactly for me, I did like parts of it and think there is definitely an audience for this YA LGBTQ+ book. 3+ stars

Unexpecting by Jen Bailey is an emotional rollercoaster that beautifully captures the essence of found family, parenthood, and the transformative power of love. This poignant story blends the heartwarming elements of Juno with the touching vulnerability of Heartstopper, leaving readers with a profound sense of hope and admiration.

At the center of the narrative is Benjamin Morrison, a high school junior whose life takes an unexpected turn following an experiment at science camp. Suddenly faced with the daunting reality of impending parenthood, Ben's world is upended, and he must navigate the complex terrain of teenage fatherhood. What makes this tale all the more compelling is the backdrop of Ben's journey of self-discovery, as he comes to terms with his own identity as a gay young man.

Jen Bailey crafts Benjamin's character with such depth and authenticity that I can't help but empathize with his struggles and triumphs. Despite the challenges that come his way, Ben remains resolute in his decision to raise the baby as a single father, and his determination to fight for his rights is truly inspiring.

The emotional weight of Ben's choices becomes palpable as the story progresses. The toll it takes on him is evident in the toll on his relationships, academics, and friendships. Yet, amid the turmoil, a renewed friendship with a boy from his past offers a glimmer of hope and support, reminding us of the power of genuine connections during challenging times.

Throughout the novel, Bailey captures the intricate complexities of parenthood, particularly when faced with difficult decisions. Ben's internal struggle, shaped by the absence of a father figure in his own life, adds an extra layer of poignancy to the story. The fear of repeating the void he experienced is a haunting reminder of the sacrifices and strength it takes to be a parent.

As we witness Ben's journey, we are reminded of the importance of resilience, love, and the courage to make difficult choices for the greater good. The book is an emotional whirlwind, expertly tugging at heartstrings and evoking profound introspection.

Unexpecting shines light upon the enduring nature of familial bonds and the resilience of the human spirit. Jen Bailey's prose is exquisite, carrying readers through the highs and lows of Benjamin's story with grace and sensitivity. This novel explores the strength of the human heart, a celebration of love in all its forms, and a reminder that even in the face of adversity, hope and redemption can blossom.

In the end, Unexpecting is a heartwarming and positive ode to the complexities of life, love, and parenthood. It leaves readers with a profound appreciation for the power of family, both the ones we are born into and the ones we create, and a renewed sense of belief in the strength that resides within us all. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating and deeply emotional story that will stay with them long after the final page is turned.

Before Benjamin came out, he wanted to make sure he was really gay, and his best friend Maxie wanted to lose her virginity, so they had sex. Some time later, they must deal with the consequences—Maxie is pregnant. But while her parents won't accept an abortion, Ben, who lost his father as a baby, doesn't want to give his child to adoption. Can he, however, give up his ambitions of passing to a good university to work to have enough to raise a child by himself?

I won't lie, I didn't like all aspects of this book. So I'd say it's more of a 3.5 rounded up. Ben was unbelievably naive about how his future would be raising a child for someone who is supposed to be smart, and his friendship with Maxie was hard to buy, as it fell through much before Ben showed that he was willing to fight her family in court for the child. A little of Ben's drama didn't feel natural and deserved a little more development, it's what I mean.

But to compensate, the book focuses elsewhere, on points you don't always see stories about teenage pregnancy cover. Ben's mother trying to make he see the level of responsibility that he'll have even before the baby is born is the best part. Also, the meaning of family. The side characters were all charming (I mean, almost all), I loved them.

We've also got a budding romance with the boy, Gio, who works at the place Ben needs to start work to save money. Gio is very cute, I'm in love with him, especially. Even if the point of the book isn't romance, it's also worth it.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Bailey certainly takes a unique approach to teen pregnancy in this debut novel. Ben has recently come out as gay when he finds out one of his best girl friends, Maxie, is pregnant - with Ben's baby. Not only that, Ben is determined to be a father and raise the baby, despite Maxie's decision to give the baby up for adoption. This could have been a really great exploration of a sensitive subject, but I was incredibly turned off by Ben's character, Maxie's complete lack of any agency or personality, and a cringe-inducing borderline incestuous love interest for Ben in the eleventh hour. While it may be realistic for a teenager to be self-absorbed and selfish, I really don't want to read about it for an entire novel. I pride myself on never DNFing ARCs, so here I am. Ben is a little shit. He is selfish, entitled, self-absorbed, a horrible friend, and less than appreciative of his incredibly supportive family. Maxie was never anything but a baby vessel in this book and in Ben's eyes, and despite the focus of the novel being Ben and his experience, I think a little more care could have been taken with Maxie's one-dimensional character. The ending, which was clearly telegraphed the moment a certain scene appeared mid-book, was way too tidy and convenient, and the one good outcome was Ben finally got himself in therapy, which he desperately needed. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for a digital review copy.

I loved the cover of this book which is what originally caught my attention. This was definitely a quick YA read. I found the storyline somewhat predictable in regards to an unexpected teen pregnancy. I did however appreciate the different perspectives that were represented and how the overall situation impacted each person differently. The relationship that was built between Ben and his stepdad was a breath of fresh air as most times that relationship is portrayed as difficult/turbulent. I do felt like the book just ended, I think it would have been beneficial to have like a follow up of 6 months or a year later to tie all the loose ends up.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, this is a voluntary honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚.

I honestly struggle with my rating on this book, while I completely respect the concept, I just didn’t really find it impactful - maybe it was just that I wasn't too attached to the characters…

Ben finds out his best friend Maxie is pregnant with his baby… he’s gay and wanted to experiment with Maxie, but neither of the two was expecting the outcome.

There’s a huge theme around teenage parenthood, which I really did find enjoyable. I think it’s so important for more books to discuss such themes. I also loved the found family between the characters to be so impactful.

I also did enjoy the diversity of the characters and LGBTQ+ representation throughout the book.

It does at times feel too juvenile, but again, it is a Young Adult story so it’s meant to be written that way. I just really struggled at times to connect with the story. The characters, especially Ben, sometimes had thoughts that just didn’t make sense.

While I do think the majority of the book is a coming-of-age trope, there is a small romance aspect I didn’t really feel attached to. I did find the ending to be rushed and there were also a few miscommunication moments I didn’t love.

Overall, I understand what the purpose of this story was. I liked it for what it was, I just didn’t feel too attached to the characters. I do still think it’s a great story and will resonate with an audience out there.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Pregnancy, Homophobia, Panic Attacks/Disorders, Death Of A Parent

🦇 Unexpecting Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

🦇 Benjamin Morrison didn't expect to become a single father at 16; not when he's focused on getting into MIT and dedicating time to his STEM club. When Benjamin decides to keep the baby, he doesn't realize how overwhelming the situation will become.

💜 It's easy to feel for Ben and his situation. Jen Bailey does a wonderful job at examining the complexities of growing up, becoming a parent, and the desire to have a normal teen experience. Though he's already come out, navigating his sexuality adds a layer to the story and Ben's struggles as well.

🦇 Recommended to any YA lovers looking for a beautiful, unique coming-of-age story.

✨ The Vibes ✨
💜 YA Romance
💜 STEM Love
💜 LGBTQIAP+
💜 Single Father

🦇 Major thanks to the author @j.leigh.bailey_author and publisher @stmartinspress / @wednesdaybooks for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley @netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #Unexpecting

3.5 stars
Benjamin Morrison is an enthusiastic student who one-day dreams of passing through the doors of MIT. Ben's involved with the STEM club and loves the days he gets to hang out with his best friends Mo and Maxie. Ben thought the hardest thing in his life was coming out to his mother. But now Ben has to tell her and his newest stepfather, Roger, that he's going to be a father. Although his mother is stunned by this news, she promises to stand by Ben and help him in any way she can.

A story about family, fatherhood, friendship, and love.

I didn't have a lot of expectations going into this coming-of-age story. I appreciated the fact that Jen Bailey gave us a character that is different from other teen pregnancy novels. I loved Ben's mother who always seemed to know what to say. I love how she supported Maxie as well and encouraged Ben to also consider his friend's feelings. I wasn't at all surprised by how the book ended. As soon as certain characters were introduced, I saw the end of the story. Yet, I kept reading because I enjoyed the journey.

On the other hand, I didn't really think the romance storyline for Ben was quite necessary. It was a distraction for me and I admit that I was impatient to just focus on what was already a good story. Makes for a good sequel though. But that is just my personal take!

All in all, a solid story.


Goodreads review 15/07/23
Expected Publication 22/08/23








Thanks to St.Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

For Juno fans, teens who want to explore the What If's of accidental pregnancy, and any reader who wants to see how found families begin—a million stars.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book might be my new comfort story. I lost count of the tears I let loose. I was so happy with how many minority groups were included in this story from LGBTQ+ to biracial couples and more. As someone who recently came out to my family, this book meant so much for me to read and it hooked me so deeply. Ugh I just want to read it over and over again. Brilliant writer, brilliant story!

4.75 stars!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This had such an interesting premise - a gay neurodivergent teen finds himself about to be a teen father. Learning more about what family truly means and about love and sacrifice

E-ARC generously provided by Wednesday Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting take on teen pregnancy, teen parental rights, and science?

great story, great writing, and great characters in tough situations

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the review copy.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free book.
I have not read many YA books that deals with teenage pregnancy, but I appreciated the story that Bailey created here. Ben found out he was going to be a father at sixteen, and this story follows his decision to want to try and keep his baby. I think Bailey captured how complex it is to become a parent, especially when Ben and Maxine are still high school students. The overwhelming feeling of taking on so much responsibility translated so well to the page. I felt so deeply for Ben. He has to deal with his past and absent fathers while trying to form thoughts about what fatherhood is to him, while still desiring normal teenage things. He was also dealing with his sexuality, which added another layer to this story. There's a lot going on, and it fit with the overall theme of this story. It's one I recommend to YA fans or young adults themselves.

This book was pretty good. It was adult concepts in what felt like a YA book. The characters didn’t feel mature (I understand they’re 16). I wasn’t sure what to call the genre…I thought it would be romance between Ben and Gio, but that was so small. And I felt bad for Maxie because Ben seemed to not view her as a friend anymore after she got pregnant. I just think a lot of their problems could have been solved with therapy, or sitting down and talking it out.

This book kept getting better as I read it. Loved the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend